CITY OF SEATTLE

ORDINANCE __________________

COUNCIL BILL __________________

AN ORDINANCE relating to historic preservation; imposing controls upon Fire Station No. 5, a landmark designated by the Landmarks Preservation Board under Chapter 25.12 of the Seattle Municipal Code, and adding it to the Table of Historical Landmarks contained in Chapter 25.32 of the Seattle Municipal Code.

WHEREAS, the Landmarks Preservation Ordinance, Chapter 25.12 of the Seattle Municipal Code (SMC), establishes a procedure for the designation and preservation of sites, improvements, and objects having historical, cultural, architectural, engineering, or geographic significance; and

WHEREAS, the Landmarks Preservation Board (Board), after a public meeting on June 4, 2014, voted to approve the nomination of the improvement located at 925 Alaskan Way and the site on which the improvement is located (which collectively are referred to as “Fire Station No. 5” for the purposes of this ordinance) for designation as a landmark under SMC Chapter 25.12; and

WHEREAS, after a public meeting on July 16, 2014, the Board voted to approve the designation of Fire Station No. 5 under SMC Chapter 25.12; and

WHEREAS, on May 6, 2015, the Board and the owner of the designated landmark agreed to controls and incentives; and

WHEREAS, the Board recommends that the City Council enact a designating ordinance approving the controls and incentives; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1. DESIGNATION : Pursuant to Seattle Municipal Code (SMC) 25.12.660, the designation by the Landmarks Preservation Board (Board) of the improvement located at 925 Alaskan and the site on which the improvement is located (which collectively are referred to as “Fire Station No. 5” for the purposes of this ordinance) is hereby acknowledged.

A.   Legal Description . Fire Station No. 5 is located on the property legally described as:  

Portion of Madison Street as established by Seattle ordinance 815, lying between inner Harbor line and Alaskan Way, lying south of block 181 and north of block 198, Seattle Tide Lands, less the south ten feet as vacated under ordinance 6519, less northern area under right of way use permit, all located in the SE quarter of Section 31, township 25, Range 4, in King County Washington.

B.   Specific Features or Characteristics Designated . Pursuant to SMC 25.12.660.A.2, the following specific features or characteristics of Fire Station No. 5 are designated: the exterior of the improvement located at 925 Alaskan Way, and the surrounding pier apron and concrete deck; excluding the boat ramp, floating dock, and fire boats.

C.   Basis of Designation . The designation was made because Fire Station No. 5 is more than 25 years old, has significant character, interest or value as a part of the development, heritage or cultural characteristics of the City, state or nation, has integrity or the ability to convey its significance, and satisfies the following from SMC 25.12.350:

1.  It is associated in a significant way with a significant aspect of the cultural, political, or economic heritage of the community, City, state or nation (SMC 25.12.350.C).

2.  It embodies the distinctive visible characteristics of an architectural style, period, or a method of construction (SMC 25.12.350.D).

3.  Because of its prominence of spatial location, contrasts of siting, age, or scale, it is an easily identifiable visual feature of its neighborhood or City and contributes to the distinctive quality or identity of such neighborhood or the City (SMC 25.12.350.F).

Section 2. CONTROLS : The following controls are hereby imposed on the features or characteristics of Fire Station No. 5 that were designated by the Board for preservation:

A.   Certificate of Approval Process .

1.  Except as provided in subsection 2.A.2 or subsection 2.B, the owner must obtain a Certificate of Approval issued by the Board pursuant to SMC Chapter 25.12, or the time for denying a Certificate of Approval must have expired, before the owner may make alterations or significant changes to the specific features or characteristics of Fire Station No. 5 designated in subsection 1.B.

2.  No Certificate of Approval is required for the following:

a.  Any in-kind maintenance or repairs of the features or characteristics listed in subsection 2.A.1.

b.  Any work to repave or replace the pier concrete deck resulting from or related to the Elliott Bay Seawall Replacement Project No. 3013171.

B.   City Historic Preservation Officer Approval Process .

1.  The City Historic Preservation Officer (CHPO) may review and approve alterations or significant changes to the features or characteristics listed in subsection 2.B.3 according to the following procedure:

a.  The owner shall submit to the CHPO a written request for the alterations or significant changes, including applicable drawings or specifications.

b.  If the CHPO, upon examination of submitted plans and specifications, determines that the alterations or significant changes are consistent with the purposes of SMC Chapter 25.12, the CHPO shall approve the alterations or significant changes without further action by the Board.

c.  If the CHPO does not approve the alterations or significant changes, the owner may submit revised materials to the CHPO, or apply to the Board for a Certificate of Approval under SMC Chapter 25.12.

2.  The CHPO shall transmit a written decision on the owner’s request to the owner within 14 days of receipt of the request. Failure of the CHPO to timely transmit a written decision constitutes approval of the request.

3.  CHPO approval of alterations or significant changes to the features or characteristics listed in subsection 2.A.1 is available for the following:

a.  The installation, alteration or removal of duct conduits, HVAC vents, HVAC rooftop-mounted equipment, grilles, pipes, and other similar wiring or mechanical elements, such as generators or solar panels, necessary for the normal operation of the building and surrounding deck.

b.  The installation, alteration, or removal of exterior security lighting, video cameras, radio antennae, and security system equipment.

c.  The installation, alteration, or removal of signage.

d.  Repaving of the surrounding pier and concrete decking including installation of new drains.

e.  Painting of the exterior.

f.  Installation or removal of equipment on the pier deck relating to the functions of the fire boats.

  Section 3. INCENTIVES : The following incentives are hereby granted on the features or characteristics of Fire Station No. 5 that were designated by the Board for preservation:

A.  Uses not otherwise permitted in a zone may be authorized in a designated Landmark by means of an administrative conditional use permit issued pursuant to SMC Title 23.

B.  Certain exceptions to or exemptions from regulation in SMC Title 23 may be available, either by virtue of the zoning designation applicable to the landmark or its status as a landmark.

C.  Special tax valuation for historic preservation may be available under RCW Chapter 84.26 upon application and compliance with the requirements of that statute.

D.  Exceptions to certain requirements of the Seattle Building Code, SMC Chapter 22.100, and the Seattle Energy Code, SMC Chapter 22.700, may be authorized pursuant to the applicable provisions thereof.

  Section 4. Enforcement of this ordinance and penalties for its violation are as provided in SMC 25.12.910.

  Section 5. Fire Station No. 5 is hereby added alphabetically to Section II, Buildings, of the Table of Historical Landmarks contained in SMC Chapter 25.32.

  Section 6. The City Clerk is directed to record a certified copy of this ordinance with the King County Director of Records and Elections, deliver two certified copies to the CHPO, and deliver one copy to the Director of the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections. The CHPO is directed to provide a certified copy of the ordinance to the owner of the landmark.

Section 7. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force 30 days after its approval by the Mayor, but if not approved and returned by the Mayor within ten days after presentation, it shall take effect as provided by Seattle Municipal Code Section 1.04.020.

Passed by the City Council the ____ day of ________________________, 2016, and

signed by me in open session in authentication of its passage this _____ day of ___________________, 2016.

    _________________________________

    President __________of the City Council

  Approved by me this ____ day of _____________________, 2016.

_________________________________

    Edward B. Murray, Mayor

  Filed by me this ____ day of __________________________, 2016.

____________________________________

    Monica Martinez Simmons, City Clerk

(Seal)