St. Helens planning commission to pursue simple architectural standards, start with windows

St. Helens planning commissioners and City Council members agreed Wednesday to pursue a stepwise effort to adopt basic architectural standards—starting with windows and doors—to guide new development in the Historic District and other targeted areas.

The planning commission’s proponent, Jacob (staff member), told the joint meeting the goal is to “take baby steps” and identify “what do you care about” before drafting technical regulations. He recommended beginning with a smaller area such as the downtown Historic District or the Holton District, rather than trying to write citywide rules all at once.

Why it matters: commissioners and councilors said recent infill and some contemporary replacements have raised concern that new construction does not always “fit” the surrounding character. Supporters said clear, objective rules for visible elements—such as requiring a minimum amount of window area or trim around windows—could improve street presence and be easier to administer than a comprehensive design code.

Commissioner Jennifer (Planning Commissioner) urged a district-focused start. “I would like to see us encompass the entire historic district, not just the Plaza District,” she said, arguing the district is where the city’s character is most at risk. Multiple participants said focusing on single elements—windows first, then doors or trim later—would make implementation simpler and less likely to conflict with state regulations.

Speakers pressed staff to keep the rules clear and objective for single-family and duplex projects, noting existing Riverfront District guidelines apply to mixed-use buildings and leave a gap for typical houses. Jacob and others recommended using the Riverfront guidelines as a framework where appropriate but not imposing them wholesale on residential neighborhoods.

Commissioners discussed outreach and tools: bringing builders into early conversations so proposed requirements would be known before plans are purchased or submitted; scanning standards used by comparable small cities; and using illustrative photos at future meetings to focus debate on concrete examples. The group also discussed using the designated landmarks process and incentive programs to preserve particularly significant properties.

Next steps and direction: the planning commission agreed to add “windows and doors” as a focused agenda item for upcoming meetings and to begin compiling examples and model standards for discussion. The commission and staff also agreed to research comparable programs in other cities and to consider whether standards should apply to remodels only above a given cost or percentage of work.

Commission members emphasized the difference between encouraging good design and adopting enforceable requirements. Several participants said that, if the commission wants mandatory standards, they should be narrowly and clearly written to avoid legal conflicts and undue burden on small projects.

Ending: Commissioners left the discussion with a clear direction to continue the item, begin with windows, and prepare visuals and examples for the next meeting so the commission can develop measurable, objective standards over several meetings.