Historic preservation panel recommends approval for attached ADU at non‑historic Coupeville-area property

The Eads Landing National Historical Reserve Historic Preservation Commission on Jan. 23 recommended approval of a certificate of appropriateness for an attached accessory dwelling unit, file EBY-24-066, proposed for a non‑historic single‑family residence.

The commission voted unanimously to recommend approval after a staff presentation and comments from the applicant’s designer. The project proposes a 976‑square‑foot attached ADU that shares a roof and wall with a 1,523‑square‑foot primary residence and would be sited on a parcel accessed from Blockhouse Road and set about 226 feet back from Fort Casey Road.

Commission Staff and standards Staff framed the commission’s role as reviewing applications for consistency with the Eads Landing National Historical Reserve design guidelines and the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. The staff report said the proposed addition uses the same materials, colors and rooflines as the existing house and concluded the ADU is compatible with surrounding buildings and the rural setting. The application received no public comments during the public comment period, which ran Jan. 1–15, 2025.

Project details and applicant intent According to the application materials noted in the staff report, the ADU will be 976 square feet and will use metal doors, vinyl windows, metal roofing and T1‑11 siding to match the existing house. The staff presentation noted nearby historic structures, including the Waterman Logging House and the Walter Crockett farmhouse, and said the proposed addition is at least 100–200 feet from the nearest identified historic structure and therefore outside the commission’s proximity concern as described in the staff analysis.

Cody West, the building designer for the project, told the commission the ADU is intended to keep the property owner, Deb O’Brien, living on site rather than to create a rental. "It's not intended as a rental unit. It's intended to try and keep her in her residence as long as she can," West said.

Code and procedural points Staff noted the proposal conforms with county code limits for attached ADUs, which allow an attached ADU under 1,000 square feet that shares a roof and wall with the main residence; staff also said detached ADUs are subject to different proximity rules (a detached ADU must be within 100 feet of the primary residence under county code). The commission asked for total square footage of the existing house during discussion; the building designer provided 1,523 square feet for the primary residence.

Decision and next steps A motion to recommend approval of the certificate of appropriateness for application EBY-24-066 was moved from the dais and seconded; the commission recorded a unanimous vote in favor. The commission closed the public hearing and adjourned the meeting at 10:22 a.m.

The record shows reserve staff member Josh Pitts was absent from the meeting; staff indicated the final meeting minutes will be updated to reflect minor name corrections and attendance.