Puyallup Design Review & Historic Preservation Board Meeting Summary – April 16, 2026

The Design Review & Historic Preservation Board met online via Zoom on Thursday, April 16, 2026, at 4:00 PM. Roll call established a quorum, with Commissioners Gard, Kong, Rooney, and Staman present initially; Commissioners Schlum and Wool joined later during the meeting. The board unanimously approved the agenda and the March 19, 2026 meeting minutes. No citizen comments were submitted in writing or received via Zoom. The primary work session was a design review application for exterior maintenance and improvements at 217 North Meridian.

Consent Calendar

• Agenda approved unanimously.
• Minutes from the March 19, 2026 meeting approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were received in writing or via Zoom before or during the meeting.

Discussion Items

• Planner Jillian Holeslew presented Design Review Application PLDDG20260018 for 217 North Meridian. The property is in the CBD core zone, is a character structure, and was built in two sections in 1933 and 1950. It has been included in state historic inventories but is not listed on a historic register.
• The proposal includes replacing failing second-floor windows on the east and west facades, installing an infilled door, adding a Juliet balcony on the east facade, replacing the existing fabric awning with a five-foot-deep aluminum canopy on the west facade, and cleaning and tuck pointing the brick.
• Staff recommended approval and specifically asked the board to determine whether the replacement windows meet Part 2 of the downtown design guidelines and whether the welded aluminum canopy meets Part 5's high-quality materials requirement.
• Applicant Dalton answered board questions. The aluminum canopy will not have a glass top and is intended to match the neighboring Meridian Cafe. Windows will be from Marvin Windows and Doors and will match existing sizes and trim details; deteriorated trim will be replicated. The upper false windows will remain false because they look into a plenum/HVAC space.
• Board members offered recommendations, not conditions: consider stopping the canopy at the pilasters, align tie-backs with the false windows, and use a black finish to fit the historic facade. Applicant Dalton confirmed 1930s photos show a similar canopy historically.
• Commissioner Schlumph expressed enthusiasm for the investment, noting the building's importance to downtown identity. Applicant said future work could remove modern masonry overlay to expose original brick, and mentioned the ownership group's interest in preserving similar masonry buildings.

Key Outcomes

• The board unanimously approved the design review application as proposed, with only recommendations and no formal conditions.
• Recommendations included canopy placement and width, tie-back alignment, trim replication, and black canopy color.
• Board members encouraged the applicant to pursue local historic register listing; one board member offered to share historical research.

Staff Report

• Staff member Katie announced she is leaving the City of Puyallup effective May 1, 2026, to work for the City of Sumner. She noted Ryan is moving to Spokane. No other staff updates were provided.

Board Member Comments

• A board member promoted the Saturday cellar-to-attic tour at the mansion from noon to 4:00 PM; Vice Chair Rooney promoted the spring fair and museum/remembrance gallery. The meeting adjourned at 4:31 PM.