Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Historic Preservation Design topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council adopts expanded exterior color palette for Snoqualmie historic districts
Summary
After public comment and a planning commission recommendation, the Snoqualmie City Council unanimously approved Resolution 17-21 to adopt a broader exterior color palette for buildings in the historic district and historic landmark overlay.
The Snoqualmie City Council unanimously approved Resolution 17-21 on July 14, adopting a new exterior color palette for buildings within the downtown historic district overlay and the historic landmark overlay. The resolution follows a planning commission public hearing and outreach with downtown business owners and the Economic Development Commission.
The action matters because the change increases the palette of colors allowable without a variance, which council and staff said reduces cost and time burdens for downtown business owners seeking façade improvements while retaining design guidance for historic compatibility.
Councilor Washington introduced the resolution and moved its approval; Councilor Wotton seconded. Community Development Director Mona Davis presented the planning commission's process: staff research comparing other downtowns, public outreach including business-owner comments that the previous palette felt "drab," and a May 19 public hearing. "Snoqualmie has the strictest color palette regulations of any city that we looked at," Davis said, summarizing staff findings.
Davis said the planning commission considered several options and recommended a revised palette that allows more tones and specifies where darker, lighter, pastel and accent colors are appropriate. The planning commission's recommendations include limiting extremely dark or neon colors for entire building shells while permitting them for trim or accents, allowing natural wood tones and permitting matched historic colors when verified by material testing.
Council members discussed process questions and confirmed the item is a resolution (document maintained by community development) rather than an automatic code change; Davis said the approved palette document will be kept on file by the historic preservation officer. Councilor Christensen clarified that property owners who want colors outside the palette may still pursue a variance through the planning commission; Director Davis confirmed variances remain the route for exceptions.
After discussion, council voted aye and the resolution passed unanimously. Council took no additional code amendment at this meeting; staff said next steps include aligning code language with the interlocal agreement with the King County Historic Preservation Board and updating internal references so the city's code and the palette document are consistent.
