Planning Commission to study expanded historic-district color palette to ease business variances

Mona Davis, senior planner in the Community Development Department, told commissioners that Snoqualmie’s municipal code requires historic-design review in the historic overlay and that a Type I permit is required to change exterior paint color using the approved palette.

"I'm Mona Davis, senior planner in the community development, department," Davis said. She said local business owners report the variance process to change colors is "lengthy and expensive" and that the existing palette offers "aren't a lot of options currently." Davis said staff will prepare materials for the commission to review at a future meeting, likely the next regular meeting.

Commissioners discussed options, including widening ranges of neutral tans and grays, researching what other historic downtowns in King and Snohomish counties do, and whether federal historic-district status imposes color obligations. One commissioner noted that many palette change requests have been close to approved colors and suggested allowing a range rather than single named swatches. Another asked staff to pull data on the number and processing time of color variances over the past five years to quantify the business impact.

Commissioners asked staff to return with two areas of focus at the next review: (1) the constraints or obligations that currently drive the color palette (including whether federal historic-district rules apply), and (2) best practices from comparable historic districts in Western Washington. Davis said she would bring examples and legal context for the next meeting.

Ending: Staff will return with a proposed expanded palette, comparative examples and variance-data to support further Planning Commission discussion.