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Bill to require owner consent for city historic landmark designations draws mixed testimony
Summary
House Bill 1576 would bar cities from designating properties under 40 years old or from designating privately owned properties without owner written consent. The bill drew both support and opposition in testimony, with preservationists warning of unintended consequences.
House Bill 1576, which would establish a 40-year minimum age and require owner consent for city historic landmark designations, drew a lengthy and divided public hearing in the Local Government Committee.
Committee staff described the bill’s scope: beginning July 20 next year, cities could not designate a property as a historic landmark if the property is less than 40 years old or if the designation would restrict use without the property owner’s written consent. The prohibition would not apply to properties already inside a designated historic district, and cities’ compliance actions would not be subject to appeal under the State Environmental Policy Act, staff said.
Sponsor Representative Amy Walen characterized HB 1576 as a housing-supply measure meant to prevent recent buildings from being landmarked in a way that blocks redevelopment. “When we're trying to implement missing middle and…
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