Spokane Municipal Code

Title 17D City-wide Standards

Chapter 17D.100 Historic Preservation

Section 17D.100.220 Certificates of Appropriateness – Demolition of Historic Landmarks or Contributing Resources Within Spokane Register Historic Districts

1. No permit for the demolition of an historic landmark or a contributing building located within a local historic district shall be processed or issued until the commission issues a certificate of appropriateness for the proposed action. A building permit for a replacement structure under this section may not be accepted, processed, or issued prior to the issuance of the demolition permit.

2. Within forty-five (45) days of the HPO’s receipt of an application for a certificate of appropriateness concerning the demolition of an historic landmark or a contributing resource located within a local historic district, the applicant and the HPO shall meet to determine if there are feasible alternatives to demolition. The attempt to find feasible alternatives may continue beyond forty-five (45) days if both parties agree to an extension.

3. If no feasible alternative to demolition has been agreed to within the forty-five (45) day window and any extension(s), the commission may either issue or deny the certificate of appropriateness for demolition by taking into account the following:

   1. The historic importance of the property;

   2. The nature of the redevelopment which is planned for the property;

   3. The condition of the existing structure;

   4. The effect on the surrounding neighborhood of the planned replacement use;

   5. The overall effect of the proposed redevelopment on the neighborhood character and the elements of the neighborhood’s urban design; and

   6. Any proposed mitigation measures under which the owner would salvage significant architectural features of the structure after properly documenting the building before demolition.

4. If the commission denies the application for a certificate of appropriateness for a property for which a demolition permit is sought, no demolition permit may be issued. The applicant may appeal the denial, within thirty (30) days to the Hearing Examiner, who shall review the commission’s decision. Such appeal is conducted by the Hearing Examiner on a closed record; that is, the Hearing Examiner may only consider the written record of the commission’s deliberations, findings, and recommendation and no additional evidence shall be considered by the Hearing Examiner.

5. The Hearing Examiner may affirm the denial or may remand to the HPO or commission, as appropriate, for further consideration.

6. If the commission issues a certificate of appropriateness for the demolition of an historic landmark, or a building located within an historic district, such certificate shall include conditions such as:

   1. any temporary measures deemed necessary by the commission for the condition of the resulting property after the demolition, including, without limitation, fencing or other screening of the property;

   2. the provision of ongoing, specific site security measures;

   3. salvage of any historically significant artifacts or fixtures, determined in consultation with the HPO prior to demolition;

   4. if no replacement structure is constructed on the site within six (6) months of the issuance of the certificate, the owner must landscape the site for erosion protection and weed control and provide for solid waste clean-up;

   5. abatement of any hazardous substances on the property prior to demolition;

   6. requirement for dust control during the demolition process; and

   7. that the certificate of appropriateness for demolition of the building is valid for three (3) months.

Date Passed: Monday, February 12, 2018

Effective Date: Saturday, March 31, 2018

ORD C35580 Section 2