Design Review & Historic Preservation Board Meeting - March 19, 2026
Design Review & Historic Preservation Board Meeting - March 19, 2026
The Design Review & Historic Preservation Board met on March 19, 2026, at 4:05 PM, adjourning at 5:45 PM. Board members present: Chair Kris Stamon, Vice Chair Paige Rooney, Ajay Garg, Abdul Khan (left at 4:50 PM), and Shelly Schlumpf (arrived at 4:30 PM). Absent: Matthew Pitts and Diana Wolfe. Staff present: Administrative Clerk Yessenia Abarca, Planning Manager Katie Baker, Senior Planner Kendall Wals, and Assistant Planner Jillian Hulse-Lew. The meeting included elections, approval of minutes, and two worksession topics: a design review application for the Firehouse Pet Shop and a comprehensive update to the city's Design Review Standards.
Consent Calendar
- Agenda approved as amended (swapping items 8.a and 8.b) by a 4-0 vote.
- Kris Stamon elected Chair by a 4-0 vote.
- Paige Rooney elected Vice Chair by a 4-0 vote.
- Minutes of February 19, 2026, approved by a 4-0 vote.
Public Comments & Testimony
No public comments were submitted.
Discussion Items
- Design Review Application – Firehouse Pet Shop Façade Improvements (Permit #PLDDG20260006): Assistant Planner Jillian Hulse-Lew presented the proposal for the building at 203 West Stewart, constructed in 1924 and classified as a character structure. The project includes replacing existing T-111 siding with American Fiber Cement Atina NXT panels and factory-seam metal siding, installing new aluminum storefront windows and a door. Owner Brian Cody described his plans to waterproof the building and improve its appearance while preserving a red firehouse theme. Board members expressed support for the project. A motion to approve the application as presented passed 6-0.
- Design Review Standards Update: Senior Planner Kendall Wals introduced the draft update, presented by Bob Bengford of MAKERS Architecture & Planning. The update aims to comply with HB 1293 by making design standards clear and objective. Key elements include a new block frontage map categorizing streets into storefront, landscape, mixed, and unspecified frontages; specific storefront transparency (60% between 30 inches and 10 feet), weather protection, and minimum floor-to-ceiling heights (15 feet for Class A, 12 feet for Class B); through-block connection requirements; and building articulation metrics (maximum intervals of 30–75 feet depending on context). The draft also establishes a voluntary departure process for flexibility. Board members discussed materials restrictions (e.g., fiber cement panel limitations on ground floors), parking garage design, and the need for clear intent statements for departure standards. The board was asked to provide feedback within two to three weeks.
Key Outcomes
- Agenda approved with amendment to swap worksession items.
- Kris Stamon elected as Chair, Paige Rooney as Vice Chair.
- February 19, 2026, minutes approved.
- Firehouse Pet Shop façade improvements design review application approved (6-0).
- Board members to submit comments on the Design Review Standards Update draft by early April 2026.
- Staff noted no pending design review applications for the next meeting, with a possible meeting cancellation.
Meeting Transcript
Yes, Sadia. It's looking like we don't have a quorum yet. Is that correct? That's correct. I'm only seeing three logged in as of right now. If we want, we can wait five or ten minutes, uh see if somebody else would log in. I think that would be a good idea. Okay. So I think we're good, right? I believe so. If you would like to call the meeting to order, I can do roll call. Perfect. So yes. Uh like to call this meeting to order. Time is 405. So yes, good evening. Good evening. The People Design Review and Historic Preservation Board meeting for March 19th, 2026 is now called for order. Call to order. Well, the clerk please call the roll. Board member Conn. Aye. Board member Gard. Present. Board Member Wolf is excused. Board Member Schlumpf. Board Member Pitts. Vice Chair Rooney. Here. Chair Staman. Present. Thank you. With four out of seven present, we do have a quorum for this evening. Great. Okay, next item on the agenda is approval of the agenda. And it looks like is there a staff change noted. Yes, that is correct. Oh, go ahead, Kendall. Sorry. When we prepared the agenda, we intended to have the design review application go before the design review standards update item. So that's 8B on the agenda going before 8A. And so we wanted to note that if the board is supportive of that change. Yeah, I I would be. I saw that. I was like, man, I feel really bad for that applicant having to wait through an exciting uh presentation. So yeah, I would I would be for that and uh I guess put in motion to approve the agenda with uh that revision. Looking for a second. All second. Thank you. All in favor say aye.
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