Ordinance 2539-01 - Laserfiche WebLink

r' ORDINANCE NO. 2539-01 rEt.77. AN ORDINANCE amending the historic resources ordinance, Ordinance No. 1355-87 as amended by Ordinance No. 1956-93 (Chapter 2.96 EMC) Whereas, the Historic Commission is a long standing commission of the City of Everett whose primary function is to identify and actively encourage the conservation of the City's historic resources, to raise community awareness for the City's history and historic resources and to serve as the City's primary resource in matters of history and preservation; and Whereas, according to the City Charter, City boards and commissions are to be advisory unless otherwise provided by the Charter or State law; and Whereas, under Chapter 2.96 EMC, the Historic Commission fulfills several functions including designation of historic structures and districts and the review of historic register properties all of which are functions wherein the Commission must act in an advisory capacity under the Charter requirements. However, under EMC 2.96.080, the Commission also serves in the capacity of the local review board for the review and approval of special valuation status. Per Chapter 84.26 RCW, the local review board is vested with decision making authority when serving in that role; and Whereas, EMC 2.96.060 generally requires that the Historic Commission review any proposed change of use, reconstruction, remodel or demolition of any property on the register or within any historic district on the register. Such work shall not proceed without the Commission's review of a request for a certificate of appropriateness or, in the case of demolition, a waiver of certificate of appropriateness; and Whereas, in the Historic Commission's consideration of requests for demolition of historic structures the Commission is to require that "significant façade features are saved and incorporated as part of the design." This language unduly limits the ability of the Commission to consider other alternatives which the Commission feels may be more appropriate given the circumstances of the particular property and, as such needs to be expanded providing the Commission with greater flexibility in this regards; and Whereas, the purpose of this ordinance is to make some amendments including some clarification and corrections, providing internal consistency within the Historic Resource Ordinance ensuring that, where appropriate, the actions of the Historic Commission are advisory to the Mayor or City Council as required by the City Charter and to provide the Commission with greater flexibility when considering mitigation for the demolition of a historic property;