St. Helens planning commission and council discuss starting architectural standards with windows in historic district

City of St. Helens planning commissioners and councilors discussed a phased approach to architectural standards at a joint meeting on March 12, 2025, with an early focus on basic, objective rules for windows and doors in the Historic District and nearby commercial areas.

The two bodies agreed the first task is to define what they care about before writing detailed regulations. "The first thing is what do you care about? We can worry about the regulations later," said Staff member Jacob, urging a step‑by‑step approach rather than tackling citywide requirements all at once.

Why it matters: Commissioners and councilors said design standards could prevent future infill and single‑family houses from clashing with the city's historic character and would give permit reviewers clearer, enforceable criteria. Several speakers said starting with a narrow set of requirements — for example, minimum window area or required trim around windows — would be simpler to implement and easier for builders to follow.

Discussion highlights

- Area to start: Multiple participants recommended focusing on the Downtown Historic District rather than the entire city. Commissioner Jennifer said, "I would like to see us encompass the entire historic district" rather than only the Riverfront District, and others urged starting small — Main Street and the Holden area were suggested as candidate zones to pilot standards.

- What to require first: Speakers repeatedly proposed beginning with windows and doors. "Maybe that's all you focus on. One time windows... You decide you like windows," Jacob said, explaining that concentrating on features could yield progress. Participants suggested objective rules such as "any wall facing a public street shall have at least one door or window of X size," a formulation described in the discussion as clear and enforceable.

- Relationship to existing rules: The Riverfront District already has mandatory design requirements that apply to mixed‑use buildings, but participants noted a gap in the code for single‑family and duplex development outside that district. One commissioner observed, "Only for multifamily. There's nothing in there for single family dwellings or duplexes." Several speakers recommended using the Riverfront guidelines as a template, not a strict model.

- Enforcement and incentives: The group debated whether standards should be required or encouraged. Some participants cautioned that making requirements too strict could discourage builders; others emphasized that without requirements some builders will not adopt the standards voluntarily.

Next steps and capacity concerns

Commissioners agreed to add focused windows-and-doors conversations to future commission meetings and to gather photos and examples to guide objective standards. Staff and commissioners discussed doing simple, incremental design topics at successive meetings (e.g., windows at one meeting, doors at another) so the commission can build rules without large additional staffing.

Commissioner Trina Kingsbury was introduced at the meeting and welcomed as a new member who will participate in ongoing discussions.

Ending

The joint meeting concluded with agreement to pursue a staged program beginning with windows and doors in targeted areas, with further work sessions and example materials to be prepared for upcoming meetings.