By Bill Sheets
For The Herald
EDMONDS — City officials have taken the final step toward a mechanism for preserving historical structures.
The city council has voted unanimously to allow for establishing a register of historic places.
The move comes on the heels of the city’s approval earlier this year of the Historic Preservation Commission. The latest ordinance allows the commission to propose buildings, structures, sites, objects or districts for the register.
There are a number of older buildings in the city, "and it’s logical to assume that there are still some historic gems hidden among those older buildings," city planner Rob Chave told the city council.
The process includes the nomination and evaluation of a property by the commission; notification of the public and receiving consent from the owner; and approval by the city council.
The ordinance also sets guidelines for the use of a tax incentive in which the added value of rehabilitation of a historically significant property is excluded from its assessed value for 10 years.
The city now will be certified by the state to seek grants, obtain training and assistance, use tax incentives and officially register participating properties.
The city council is scheduled to consider confirmation of Mayor Gary Haakenson’s nomination of members for the commission May 28.
Darrell Marmion, who served on the advisory committee that led to the creation of the historical commission, is one of those nominees. He praised the new historic preservation mechanism as a way to help preserve the small-town feel of Edmonds, which he said is "slowly and surely being eaten away."
For a property to be considered, it must be more than 50 years old or have "exceptional importance."
Council member Dave Earling said he wants to make sure that designation of historic districts does not disrupt private property rights.
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