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Coeur d'Alene staff preview demolition‑review ordinance for pre‑1960 buildings
Summary
Planning Director Hillary Patterson told the committee a draft ordinance would require a brief demolition-review process for structures built before 1960, including a permit application with age verification and two exterior photos, a windshield survey by a Historic Preservation Commission member, neighbor notification, and exemptions for dangerous or interior‑only work.
Hillary Patterson, Coeur d'Alene planning director, previewed a draft demolition‑review ordinance the city plans to bring to the full council after a temporary moratorium expires this December. The ordinance would create a process for structures originally constructed prior to 1960 that adds short review and documentation steps before a demolition permit is issued.
Patterson said the proposal is intended to be “educational” and “light touch,” designed to give property owners and the Historic Preservation Commission an opportunity to discuss preservation options and to document buildings before they are demolished. Under the draft, applicants would supply the year of construction and two exterior photos, the billing department would verify a building's age, and staff or a commission member would perform a quick windshield survey to determine whether a site warrants a brief commission review.
The draft would not prohibit demolition, Patterson said, and it includes exemptions for buildings deemed dangerous by the building department and for interior‑only remodels. The plan calls for a meeting with the Historic Preservation Commission only when a windshield survey suggests the building has historic significance; otherwise staff would clear the permit. She said the intent is to limit any additional delay to roughly a month to six weeks.
Patterson noted the city's work stems from concerns after several recent losses of historic structures — including the Roosevelt Inn and other downtown properties — and from a reconnaissance survey funded through Certified Local Government (CLG) grant funds to document downtown assets. She contrasted Coeur d'Alene’s approach with other Idaho jurisdictions that impose design reviews or salvage requirements, saying the city is proposing a lighter process that focuses on documentation and owner outreach.
City financial staff reviewed the draft and concluded it would have no measurable fiscal impact on the city; the effect on property owners would be a short pause to allow for discussion and documentation. The proposal also includes an administrative appeal process.
The committee did not take final action on the ordinance at this meeting; Patterson said the draft will go to the full council next week for a decision on adopting a new section of the municipal code creating the demolition‑review process.
