16.60.060 Review of Alterations to Register Properties

16.60.060 Review of Alterations to Register Properties.

Except as otherwise provided in this section, no person shall alter an individual property on the Pullman Register of Historic Places or any property within an historic district on the register without receipt from the Historic Preservation Commission of a Certificate of Alteration, or in the case of demolition, a Certificate of Demolition. The review process shall apply to all features of the property, interior and exterior, that contribute to the designation of the property or an historic district as listed on the nomination form. The requirements below shall apply to review of property alterations or demolitions under this Section.

(1) Requests for Review. The building official shall notify the historic preservation commission or professional staff of any application for a permit to work on an individual property on the Pullman Register of Historic Places or any property within an historic district on the register. If the activity is not exempt from review, the commission or professional staff shall notify the applicant of the review requirements. The building official shall not issue any such permit until a Certificate of Alteration or Certificate of Demolition is received from the commission but shall work with the commission as appropriate to provide information regarding applicable building and fire code regulations. Said regulations shall include the Washington State Historic Building Code provisions authorized in Chapter 19.27 RCW. Applications for a Certificate of Alteration or a Certificate of Demolition shall be filed with the Director of Community Development.

(a) Application Materials. Applications for a Certificate of Alteration shall include the following information and materials:

(i) the applicant’s name and address, and the owner’s name, address, and written consent if the applicant is not the owner;

(ii) proof of ownership of the property;

(iii) a legal description of the property;

(iv) comprehensive exterior and interior photographs of the property;

(v) a scaled plot plan exhibiting dimensions and orientation of the property, location and dimensions of existing and proposed structures, and location and layout of parking areas, walkways, and landscaping, provided the proposal involves alterations to the exterior dimensions of any structure on the property;

(vi) architectural plans or other legible drawings, drawn to scale, depicting the proposed alteration activity, including a description of existing and proposed building materials and colors; and

(vii) an application fee, the amount of which shall be set by resolution of the City Council.

(b) Exemptions. The following activities do not require a Certificate of Alteration or review by the commission:

(i) ordinary repair and maintenance, as defined in Section 16.60.030;

(ii) emergency measures, as defined in Section 16.60.030; or

(iii) work involving interior features of a property that the commission has not designated as historic features unless the interior work is being considered for Special Tax Valuation.

(i) The commission shall meet with the applicant and review the proposed work according to the design review criteria in its rules established pursuant to Subsection 16.60.040. Unless legally required, there shall be no notice, posting, or publication requirements for action on the application, but all such actions shall be made at regular or special meetings of the commission. The commission shall complete its review and make its recommendations within 45 calendar days of the date of receipt of a complete application. If the commission is unable to process the request, the commission may ask for an extension of time.

(ii) The commission’s recommendations shall be in writing and shall state the findings of fact and reasons relied upon in reaching its decision. Any conditions agreed to by the applicant in this review process shall become conditions of approval of the permits granted. If the owner agrees to the commission’s recommendations, a Certificate of Alteration shall be granted by the commission according to standards established in the commission’s rules.

(iii) The commission’s recommendations and, if granted, the Certificate of Alteration shall be transmitted to the building official. If a Certificate of Alteration is granted, the building official may then issue the permit.

(a) Application Materials. Applications for a Certificate of Demolition shall include the following information and materials:

(i) the applicant’s name and address, and the owner’s name, address, and written consent if the applicant is not the owner;

(ii) proof of ownership of the property;

(iii) a legal description of the property;

(iv) comprehensive exterior and interior photographs of the property;

(v) a scaled plot plan exhibiting dimensions and orientation of the property; location and dimensions of existing structures, with an indication of which structure(s) is proposed to be demolished; and location and layout of parking areas, walkways, and landscaping; and

(vi) an application fee, the amount of which shall be set by resolution of the City Council.

(b) Exemption. Emergency measures, as defined in Section 16.60.030, do not require a Certificate of Demolition or review by the commission.

(i) The commission shall meet with the applicant in an attempt to find alternatives to demolition. Unless legally required, there shall be no notice, posting, or publication requirements for action on the application, but all such actions shall be made at regular or special meetings of the commission. Negotiations between the commission and applicant may last no longer than 45 calendar days from the initial meeting of the commission, unless the applicant requests an extension of time. If no request for an extension is made and there is no agreement on an alternative to demolition, the commission shall act to approve or deny the Certificate of Demolition.

(ii) The commission’s decision to approve or deny a Certificate of Demolition shall be in writing and shall state the findings of fact and reasons relied upon in reaching its decision. When issuing a Certificate of Demolition, the board may require the owner to mitigate the loss of the structure(s) by means determined by the commission at the meeting including the possible requirement to deconstruct and salvage building materials as part of the demolition process.

(iii) The commission’s decision and, if granted, the Certificate of Demolition shall be transmitted to the building official. If a Certificate of Demolition is granted, the building official may then issue the permit.

(iv) After demolition is accomplished, the commission shall review the property to determine if it should be removed from the register.

(4) Commission Rules. The Historic Preservation Commission is authorized to establish rules to guide its review of applications for a Certificate of Alteration or Certificate of Demolition.

(5) Appeal of Decisions on Certificates of Alteration or Demolition. Any aggrieved party may appeal a decision of the Historic Preservation Commission regarding a Certificate of Alteration or Certificate of Demolition to the City Council within ten calendar days after the date of the decision being appealed. The appeal must state the grounds upon which the appeal is based. The appeal shall be reviewed by the City Council solely on the appeal documentation and the records of the Historic Preservation Commission. Appeal of the City Council’s decision regarding a Certificate of Alteration or Certificate of Demolition may be made pursuant to Chapter 36.70C RCW, the Land Use Petition Act, in compliance with the statute and through the Whitman County Superior Court. (Ord. 21-15 §6, 2021; Ord. 14-5 §1, 2014; Ord. 10-26 §8, 2010).