Council updates historic preservation code to improve commission operations and add heritage road naming

The Pierce County Council adopted Ordinance O2025-524 on Aug. 26 to amend Chapter 2.88 of the Pierce County Code, which governs structures of historical and architectural significance and the county’s Landmarks and Historic Preservation Commission. Staff described the changes as designed to modernize operations and improve the commission’s ability to recruit and retain members. Key updates include more flexible language for at-large positions (for example, making several specialty seats into a pool of at-large seats to ease recruitment when particular technical specialties are hard to fill), clarified criteria for the Pierce County Historic Register, and incorporation of a new honorary and heritage road-naming program created by council in the prior year into the commission’s scope. Pierce County participates in the federal certified local government (CLG) program under the National Historic Preservation Act and must maintain a local landmarks commission and register. Staff presented a detailed explanation to the Community Development and Environment Committee on Aug. 4; fiscal and equity analyses accompanied the ordinance in the council packet. The ordinance was adopted by roll-call vote 7-0 and will take effect Sept. 1. Councilmembers said the changes responded to past difficulties filling certain specialized seats and expressed support for the CLG functions. The council directed staff to proceed with the amended code.