City Council Minutes 2013 04 16 - Laserfiche WebLink

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City Council Meeting Minutes April 2, 2013 Page 13 of 23 established for the small area plans. Council member Yarnell thanked Planning Director Russ for the revisions. She asked if there will be a time when the graphics reflect the language. Planning Director Russ stated once the Comp Plan is approved, the map can be amended. SPECIAL DISTRICTS: Council member Loo inquired why there was no language or notations about Empire Road. Planning Director Russ agreed additional language should be added to describe it. He explained it is governed by the Industrial Zone District. OLD TOWN: Mayor Muckle requested Policy #10 (historic downtown structures) be rated higher on the priority list for Old Town. He suggested a policy statement regarding new streets being built as neighborhoods are developing or redeveloping. CULTURAL HERITAGE: Council member Loo asked why the Historic Preservation Tax is designated, but the dedication tax for open space is not. Planning Director Russ will add a paragraph for open space tax dedication. He stated it would strengthen the character definition of the City by its addition. Council member Loo addressed the creation of a Preservation Master Plan in the Comprehensive Plan and asked why it should be updated every five years. Planning Director Russ explained as the building stock becomes 50 years or older, they may qualify for historic designation. The boundaries are the Old Town Overlay and only those structures are eligible for Historic Preservation Funds. Over the next 20 years, these areas will be eligible for historical discussion and the Preservation Master Plan will decide what is relevant or not. Staff recommended updating the Preservation Plan every five years because more and more structures will be entering what the National Parks Services describes as historic. Mayor Pro Tem Dalton stated the Preservation Master Plan proposes a period of significance for historic structures for City Council approval. This would limit the building stock of 50 year old structures eligible for historic designation. Mayor Muckle stated these homes may be eligible for recognition and for state and federal grants. Council member Loo addressed the Downtown Design Handbook, which was adopted three years ago and asked why it was included in the Comprehensive Plan. Principal Planner McCartney stated Staff felt it would be important to look at the Downtown Design Handbook within the next four years. Council member Loo noted the Downtown Design Handbook was reviewed approximately three years ago by an ad hoc committee with members from the Planning Commission and Historic Preservation Commission and they concluded the document was still functioning the way it was intended. She inquired why that decision was being