Historic Preservation Review Board – June 25, 2008 @ 7:00 PM

The meeting of the Historic Preservation Review Board was called to order by Chair, Mary Jane Anderson, at 7:05 PM at Town Hall.

Chair Anderson called the roll.

Members present: Mary Jane Anderson, Chair; Michael Jean Carpentier and David Waldron.

Member Absent: Kevin Peterson, excused

Also Absent: Sandy Strehlou, HPRB Coordinator due to illness

Approval of the minutes for the HPRB meeting of April 23, 2008 was postponed due to lack of members present that were also present on April 23, 2008.

The minutes of the HPRB meeting of June 11, 2008 were approved as written.

Updating the Historic Preservation Manual

With no communications from the town or citizens and no design reviews the board went directly to work responding to the document prepared by HP Coordinator Sandy Strehlou titled, HP Manual Review – Section Two Strehlou Notes an ongoing project of updating of the current HP Manual.

The Following notes record the board’s responses to suggestions in the Strehlou Notes document. For clarity the information from the Strehlou Notes document is in bold and the board responses are in regular type

1. Miscellaneous

1A. Chapter headings and page banners.

The board agreed that things they like about the present manual are 1) the shape 2) binding, lays flat 3) bands at top and bottom of pages 4) the heavy paper.

The board agreed that it made sense to clarify the content of the manual before deciding on the content on the bands.

Chair Anderson suggested possibly using subtle differences in color of bands for different sections.

1B. Mid Century and Recent Past, not just Turn of the Century references.

The board agreed this issue needs to be addressed and is critical to the overall revision of the manual. Waldron mentioned that Coordinator Strehlou has a good idea of the priorities involved and Chair Anderson suggested architectural historian Boyd Pratt might be a helpful in rewriting updated language.

1C. Downtown, Residential, Transitional vs Downtown, Residential, Waterfront

The board agreed that the manual needs to better address the waterfront and recommended four sections. 1) Waterfront 2) Downtown 3) Residential 4) Transitional

1D. Illustrations

The board agreed that adding correct addresses by illustrations is a good idea.

2. Historic Character of Friday Harbor (p21-23)

2A. Sketch of Friday Harbor’s History

The board agreed with Strehlou’s suggestion (It should be a stand alone chapter)

2B. A Look at the Historic Character (pg 24)

Suggestion 2B.1 (pg 24) – agreed, second sentence needs to be updated.

Suggestion 2B.2 (pg 24) – add 1890s – 1940s, at the bottom of the first paragraph change the end of the sentence.

Suggestion 2B.3 (pg 24) – agreed, second sentence of second paragraph should be followed by the "examples" that were moved to the Appendix.

Suggestion 2B.4 (pg 24) – agreed, combine and reduce "A Look at Historic Character" (pg 24 only) with "Vernacular Architecture of Friday Harbor (pg 27)

Historic Downtown Streetscape (pg 25) - agreed

Suggestion 1 - agreed, should follow point B (previous pg) as point C. also, consolidate Downtown guidelines in Downtown section.

Suggestion 2 – agreed,

Historic Residential Streetscapes (pg 26)

Suggestion 1 (pg 26) – agreed, redistribute content into four sections, 1) Waterfront 2) Down Town 3) Residential 4) Transitional

Suggestion 2 (pg 26) – no, there is a covered balcony on Historical Museum.

Vernacular Architecture of Friday Harbor (pg 27)

Suggestion 1 (pg 27) – The board suggests that each of the four sections have its own definition of vernacular architecture.

3. Present Character of Friday Harbor Downtown (pg 33-36)

Suggestion 1 (pg 33) – agreed, add 1st paragraph to end of pg 24

Suggestion 2 – done

Suggestion 3 (pg 33) – yes, Add language for newer buildings (OPALCO, John Scott Realty and others) no, regarding new design review projects.

Suggestion 4 - (pg 33) – Chair Anderson suggested this might go in general guidelines for rehabilitation downtown on page 40. The board agreed to consider writing a stronger statement on restoring to original features in the general guidelines.

Suggestion 5 – (pg 34) – Skip wording in band for now – work out later

Suggestion 6 – (pg 34) – bullet points #1 still true, #6 yes, & #7 yes, #10 leave as is, #13 leave as is, #14 take out.

Suggestion 7 – (pg 35) – agreed, rewrite the last sentences.

Suggestion 8 – (pg 35) – agreed, part of the new Waterfront section

Suggestion 9 – (pg 35) – agreed, 4 new sections

Suggestion 10 – (pg 35) – use 1940 as end date (not 1960)

Suggestion 11 – (pg 35) – agreed,

Suggestion 12 – (pg 36) – agreed, move to intro - highlighting may be appropriate in other places for clarity.

Suggestion 13 – (pg 36) – agreed, yes highlight, yes rewrite demolition language, yes, make bullet point for new construction. no to adding "new mechanical utilities" use "new exposed mechanical utilities" instead.

Suggestion 14 – (pg 36) – agreed, put streetscape language elsewhere, add to Downtown section "design considerations" spaces between buildings.

Suggestion 15 – (pg 36) – Leave as is

New Home Trust Project

The board discussed the upcoming Home Trust property on the Buck property. The project will be asking for concessions from the TFH but is outside of the historic district. The board agreed that they would like to have the project come before the board in a voluntary capacity. Chair Anderson will speak to Kristine Odle and David Waldron will speak to Peter Kilpatrick. Ms. Odle and Mr. Kilpatrick are on the Home Trust board.

Peggy Sue McRae

8:10 Meeting adjourned