CITY OF SEATTLE

ORDINANCE __________________

COUNCIL BILL __________________

AN ORDINANCE relating to historic preservation; imposing controls upon the Montlake School, 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 April 17, 2013, voted to approve the nomination of the 1924 school building with boiler room and covered playcourts (which collectively are referred to as the “Main School Building” for the purposes of this ordinance) located at 2409 22^nd Avenue East and the site on which the Main School Building is located (which collectively are referred to as the “Montlake School” for the purposes of this ordinance) for designation as a landmark under SMC Chapter 25.12; and

WHEREAS, after a public meeting on June 5, 2013, the Board voted to approve the designation of the Montlake School under SMC Chapter 25.12; and

WHEREAS, on February 3, 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 1924 school building with boiler room and playcourts (which collectively are referred to as the “Main School Building” for the purposes of this ordinance) located at 2409 22^nd Avenue East and the site on which the Main School Building is located (which collectively are referred to as the “Montlake School” for the purposes of this ordinance) is hereby acknowledged.

A.   Legal Description . The Montlake School is located on the property legally described as:

  Block 22 of Pike's 2nd Addition to Union City as recorded in Volume 1 of Plats, Page 65A, Records of King County, Seattle, Washington.

B.   Specific Features or Characteristics Designated . Pursuant to SMC 25.12.660.A.2, the following specific features or characteristics of the Montlake School are designated:

1.  The exterior of the Main School Building.

2.  The following features or characteristics within the interior of the Main School Building classrooms: original wood entry doors, built-in wardrobes, built-in storage, chalkboards, wood trim, and wood floors.

3.  The site consisting of the property described in subsection 1.A on which the Main School Building is located.

C.   Basis of Designation . The designation was made because the Montlake School 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, or period, or of 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 the 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 the Montlake School 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 following specific features or characteristics:

a.  The exterior of the Main School Building.

b.  The following features or characteristics within the interior of the Main School Building classrooms: original wood entry doors, built-in wardrobes, built-in storage, chalkboards, wood trim, and wood floors.

c.  The site consisting of the property described in subsection 1.A on which the Main School Building is located.

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

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

b.  Installation, removal, or alteration of the following landscape elements: trees less than 8 inches in diameter measured 4 'bd feet above ground; shrubs; perennials; and annuals.

c.  Installation, removal, or alteration of the following temporary site furnishings: benches; movable planters; and trash receptacles.

d.  Installation, removal, or alteration, (including repair) of underground irrigation and underground utilities, provided that the site is restored in-kind.

e.  Installation, removal, or alteration of temporary interior window coverings.

f.  Removal and replacement of playground equipment, sports equipment, play surfaces, and restriping of playcourts.

g.  Installation, removal, or alterations of site signage, for accessibility compliance or as required by City code.

h.  Removal of non-historic portable classroom buildings.

i.  Removal of, or alterations to, the non-historic greenhouse.

j.  Removal of, or alterations to, the 1925 Cafeteria building.

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 addition or elimination of ducts, conduits, HVAC vents, grilles, pipes, and other similar wiring or mechanical elements necessary for the normal operation of the building.

b.  Removal of hazardous trees more than 8 inches in diameter measured 4 'bd feet above ground.

c.  Installation, removal, or alterations of exterior light fixtures, exterior security lighting, and security system equipment.

d.  Installation, removal, or alterations of non-illuminated exterior signage less than 6 square feet in area.

e.  Installation, removal, or alterations to existing fences and gates.

f.  New painted murals.

g.  New building and site signage that is not otherwise excluded from the Certificate of Approval requirement pursuant to subsection 2.A.2.g, or as required by City code.

h.  Alterations to classrooms.

  Section 3. INCENTIVES : The following incentives are hereby granted on the features or characteristics of the Montlake School 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.  Exceptions to certain of the 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.

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.  Reduction or waiver, under certain conditions, of minimum accessory off-street parking requirements for uses permitted in a designated Landmark structure, may be permitted pursuant to SMC Title 23.

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

  Section 5. The Montlake School is hereby added alphabetically to Section IV, Schools, 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 Department of Planning and Development. 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 ________________________, 2015, and

signed by me in open session in authentication of its passage this

_____ day of ___________________, 2015.

    _________________________________

    President __________of the City Council

  Approved by me this ____ day of _____________________, 2015.

_________________________________

    Edward B. Murray, Mayor

  Filed by me this ____ day of __________________________, 2015.

____________________________________

    Monica Martinez Simmons, City Clerk

(Seal)