PORT TOWNSEND — A six-month moratorium has been placed on razing historic homes in the National Landmark Historic District and on the construction of homes larger than 5,500 square feet, which some city leaders call “McMansions.”
The Port Townsend City Council approved interim ordinances initiating the moratorium with a 6-0 vote, with Councilwoman Catharine Robinson absent.
The move allows the council to appoint a task force to review issues concerning historic home demolitions and building large homes on small lots.
The six-month moratorium allows city leaders to maintain the status quo while new plans or regulations are considered.
As it is now, city law allows homeowners to do with historic homes what they want.
Deputy Mayor George Randels, former chairman of the city Planning Commission, said the interim ordinance applying to new residential construction would put on hold the construction of “monster houses” on 5,000-square-foot lots where historic homes might have once stood.
The moratorium on such large-scale homes would limit home square footage to 50 percent of a 5,000-square-foot lot, or 2,500 square feet.
The council also suspended R-III zoning in the National Landmark District, leaving it at R-II, which reduces maximum density from 16 to eight units on a 40,000-square-foot lot.
“You are doing the right thing,” Port Townsend resident Andrew Reding told the council.
He was the only resident to comment on the council’s actions.
Reding asked if the interim regulations would, in effect, protect or preserve buildings that the city does not want to preserve.
City Attorney John Watts said the council’s actions could be reviewed and regulations modified, if need be.
In other action Tuesday night, the council:
Several R-III homeowners objected, saying they were concerned they could only build one home on their properties.
City officials, however, said to not take the action could threaten the ability to build affordable housing in Port Townsend.
The cost is about $25,000, paid through Broadstripe cable TV’s franchise agreement with the city.
The action will help the League present ways in which bicycling is part of a solution for local policy concerns, such as air quality, traffic safety, traffic congestion, obesity, social inclusion and economic growth.
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Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
