Chapter 2.29
DESIGN REVIEW AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION BOARD
Sections:
2.29.030 Appointment of members – Terms.
2.29.040 Resignation, removal and vacancy.
2.29.070 Authority and duties.
2.29.010 Board created.
There is hereby created a city of Puyallup design review and historic preservation board. The word “board” shall be deemed to mean the city of Puyallup design review and historic preservation board whenever used in this chapter. (Ord. 3001 § 1, 2012).
2.29.020 Board membership.
(1) The membership of the board shall consist of seven members.
(2) A majority of the members shall be residents of the city of Puyallup.
(3) To the extent possible:
(a) At least two members shall be architects licensed in the state of Washington;
(b) At least two members shall be directly involved in trades or professions that are relevant to building design, such as construction contracting, structural engineering, development and so forth;
(c) At least one member shall have expert knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education in historic preservation; and
(d) Other members shall be persons that have a local interest, such as a downtown merchant, a local property owner or member of an arts group, or are engaged in a relevant discipline, such as a realtor or historic preservation specialist.
(4) Members shall serve without compensation.
(5) Members shall be subject to the code of ethics as set forth in Chapter 35A.42 RCW, prohibitions on conflict of interest as set forth in Chapter 42.23 RCW, and the appearance of fairness doctrine as set forth in Chapter 42.36 RCW. (Ord. 3001 § 1, 2012).
2.29.030 Appointment of members – Terms.
(1) Members of the board shall be appointed by the mayor, subject to confirmation by the council.
(2) Members shall serve a full four-year term, or the remainder of an unexpired term, as the case may be.
(3) No person shall serve more than two consecutive four-year terms. Unexpired terms shall not count toward this limitation, except when a membership position becomes vacant while the person holds the position. The consecutive two-term limit shall not be construed to create an entitlement to a second term of membership on the commission. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the council may authorize a person to serve more than two consecutive terms if the board composition criteria in PMC 2.29.020 will not be achieved due to lack of qualified candidates for board membership.
(4) A full term shall commence on the first Wednesday in March and shall expire four years thereafter on the Tuesday immediately preceding the first Wednesday in March.
(5) Terms shall be staggered so that approximately half of the terms expire every two years. Specifically, four terms shall expire in one year, and three terms shall expire two years thereafter. (Ord. 3139 § 1 (Exh. A), 2017; Ord. 3070 § 1, 2014; Ord. 3001 § 1, 2012).
2.29.040 Resignation, removal and vacancy.
(1) Pursuant to RCW 42.12.020, a member resignation shall be made to the city council. In accordance with RCW 42.12.010(2), a member resignation shall be deemed to occur upon the effective date of the resignation.
(2) Members may be removed prior to the expiration of their term by a majority vote of the city council.
(3) A board position shall become vacant for the same reasons applicable to elective offices in Chapter 42.12 RCW and council positions in RCW 35A.12.060.
(4) Prior to a third consecutive absence, a member may request that the board excuse one or more absences. The board shall determine the validity of the request, and approve or deny the request.
(5) Vacant positions shall be filled by mayoral appointment, subject to confirmation of the council. (Ord. 3001 § 1, 2012).
2.29.050 Officers.
(1) The board shall elect from among its membership a chairperson and vice chairperson, and such other officers as it deems necessary. The term of office shall be one year. Officers shall be elected at the first meeting that occurs on or follows the first Wednesday in March.
(2) The chairperson shall preside at meetings and shall rule on all points of procedure.
(3) If the office of the chairperson becomes vacant, the vice chairperson shall assume the responsibilities of said office and shall serve in said capacity until the board elects officers during the next term. In the event such a vacancy occurs, the board shall elect a new vice chairperson who shall serve until the board elects officers during the next term. (Ord. 3001 § 1, 2012).
2.29.060 Meetings.
(1) The board shall hold meetings as necessary for the proper discharge of its duties. The board may postpone or cancel a present or future board meeting.
(2) Meetings of the board shall be open and public pursuant to Chapter 42.30 RCW.
(3) A quorum for conducting business shall be a simple majority of the membership of the board.
(4) Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern board meetings, and the board may adopt additional suitable rules of procedure.
(5) The public shall be notified of upcoming board meetings and the preliminary agenda for each meeting. Such notice may include, but is not limited to, written notification to the city’s official newspaper, publication of a notice in the official newspaper, posting of upcoming meeting agendas, or such other processes as the board determines will satisfy the intent of this requirement. (Ord. 3001 § 1, 2012).
2.29.070 Authority and duties.
(1) Design Review.
(a) The board shall review all applications requiring building permits within the following categories and located within the CBD, CBD-Core, and RM-Core zones, as set forth in the Downtown Design Guidelines:
(i) Construction of new buildings that contain more than:
(A) Four thousand square feet of nonresidential space; or
(B) Six dwelling units per building; or
(C) Ten total dwelling units on site; or
(D) Ten thousand total square feet;
(ii) Exterior alterations, redevelopment or additions to existing buildings (excluding exterior signage and mechanical equipment that does not substantially alter the exterior appearance or condition of the building) that affect:
(A) Twenty-five percent of an exterior elevation that is a street- or alley-facing facade; or
(B) Fifty percent of an exterior elevation that is facing a side lot line or adjacent property; or
(C) Buildings constructed prior to 1949 in the CBD and CBD-Core zones only.
(b) The board shall review the following applications:
(i) Innovative sign design review, as outlined in PMC 20.60.090;
(ii) Design review of new structures in the mixed-use design review overlay zone, as defined by PMC 20.52.003, that contain more than:
(A) Four thousand square feet of nonresidential space; or
(B) Six dwelling units per building; or
(C) Ten total dwelling units on site; or
(D) Ten thousand total square feet;
(iii) Review and recommendation to the director regarding heritage tree permit decisions, as outlined in PMC 20.58.025; or
(iv) Other projects or duties as assigned by the city council.
(c) The design review and historic preservation board’s review of an application shall be in accordance with the Downtown Design Guidelines as adopted in PMC 20.26.050.
(d) The board may approve, approve with conditions, or deny proposed project designs. Approval with conditions may involve tentative approval, subject to the applicant returning to the design review board with corrections, or final approval subject to the applicant incorporating conditions into final plans for city staff signature and approval. In the instances of denial, the design review board shall adopt specific findings, including recommended corrections to address deficiencies.
(e) The board’s conditions and comments shall be incorporated into the city’s development review conditions letters and be binding upon the project, and, where applicable, SEPA determinations and hearing examiner decisions for the respective projects.
(f) Any design review decision granted by the design review and historic preservation board shall become null and void if not exercised within one year of the date of approval. If such design review decision is associated with a land use application, the one-year approval time frame shall start from the date of land use permit approval. A design review decision shall be deemed exercised and remain in full force and effect when a complete building permit application, which is related to the board’s decision, has been submitted.
(2) Historic Preservation. The board shall perform the functions and responsibilities as established in Chapter 21.22 PMC. (Ord. 3300 § 2, 2024; Ord. 3193 § 1, 2019; Ord. 3119 § 1, 2016; Ord. 3001 § 1, 2012).
2.29.080 Appeals.
(1) Appeals of board decisions shall be to the hearing examiner. Appeals shall be filed with the city clerk within 10 calendar days after the date of the board’s decision.
(2) A notice of appeal shall be in writing, signed by the appellant, accompanied by the required appeal fee, as established by the city, and shall contain the following information:
(a) Appellant’s name, address and phone number;
(b) A description of standing, as the applicant or applicant’s representative authorized to appeal;
(c) Identification of the application and decision which is the subject of the appeal;
(d) A brief statement of grounds for appeal; and
(e) A statement of the relief sought. (Ord. 3119 § 2, 2016; Ord. 3001 § 1, 2012).