City of Bellingham Municipal Code

17.90.040 - HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION

A. Creation, Size, and Composition. The Bellingham Historic Preservation Commission is created and members on the Commission are selected in accordance with Bellingham Municipal Code 2.54.010 and 2.54.020.

B. Powers and Duties. The major responsibility of the Historic Preservation Commission is to identify and actively encourage the conservation of the City of Bellingham’s historic resources by initiating and maintaining a register of historic places and reviewing proposed changes to register properties; to raise community awareness of the City’s history and historic resources; and to serve as the City’s primary resource in matters of history, historic planning, and preservation.

In carrying out these responsibilities, the Historic Preservation Commission is authorized to engage in the following:

1. Conduct and maintain a comprehensive inventory of historic resources within the boundaries of the City of Bellingham to be known as the City of Bellingham’s Historic Inventory, and publicize and periodically update inventory results. Properties listed on the inventory shall be so noted in the City’s manual or electronic permit tracking system or other database to alert staff and public as to the presence of a historic site, structure, object, or building.

2. Initiate and maintain the City of Bellingham’s Register of Historic Places. This official register shall be compiled of buildings, structures, sites, objects, and districts identified by the Commission as having historic significance worthy of recognition and protection by the City of Bellingham and encouragement of efforts by owners to maintain, rehabilitate, and preserve properties.

3. Review nominations to the City of Bellingham’s Register of Historic Places according to criteria in BMC 17.90.050 and adopt standards in its rules to be used to guide this review.

4. Review proposals to construct, change, alter, modify, remodel, move, demolish, or significantly affect properties or districts on the register as provided in BMC 17.90.060; and adopt standards in its rules to be used to guide this review and the issuance of a Certificate of Alteration or Certificate of Demolition.

5. Provide for the review either by the Commission or its staff of all applications for approvals, permits, environmental assessments or impact statements, and other similar documents pertaining to identified historic resources or adjacent properties.

6. Conduct all Commission meetings in compliance with Chapter 42.30 RCW, Open Public Meetings Act, provide for adequate public participation, and adopt standards in its rules to guide this action.

7. Participate in promote, and conduct public information, educational, and interpretive programs pertaining to historic resources.

8. Establish liaison support, communication and cooperation with federal, state, and other local government entities which will further historic preservation objectives, including public education, within the City of Bellingham area.

9. Review and comment to the City Council and Planning Commission on land use, housing and redevelopment, municipal improvement and other types of planning and programs undertaken by any department of the City, other neighboring communities, Whatcom County, the state or federal governments, as they relate to historic resources of the City.

10. Advise the City Council, the Planning Commission, and the Mayor generally on matters of City history and historic preservation.

11. Perform other related functions assigned to the Commission by the City Council or the Mayor.

12. Provide information to the public on methods of maintaining and rehabilitating historic properties. This may take the form of pamphlets, newsletters, workshops, or similar activities.

13. Officially recognize excellence in the rehabilitation of historic buildings, structures, sites and districts, and new construction in historic areas, and encourage appropriate measures for such recognition.

14. Be informed about and provide information to the public and City departments on incentives for preservation of historic resources including legislation, regulations and codes which encourage the use and adaptive reuse of historic properties.

15. Review nominations to the State and National Registers of Historic Places.

16. Investigate and report to the City Council on the use of various federal, state, local or private funding sources available to promote historic resource preservation in the City.

17. Serve as the local review board for special valuation and:

a. Make determination concerning the eligibility of historic properties for special valuation;

b. Verify that the improvements are consistent with the Washington State Advisory Council’s Standards for Rehabilitation and Maintenance;

c. Enter into agreements with property owners for the duration of the special valuation period as required under WAC 254-20-070(2);

d. Approve or deny applications for special valuation;

e. Monitor the properties for continued compliance with the agreements and statutory eligibility requirements during the 10-year special valuation period; and

f. Adopt bylaws and/or administrative rules and comply with all other local review board responsibilities identified in Chapter 84.26 RCW.