Historic preservation is inherently green (in more ways than one.) The construction, operation and demolition of buildings accounts for 48 percent of the United States’ greenhouse gas emissions. Historic preservation is a good thing for our environment. See "Old is the New Green"
Join the Historic walking tour of the Downtown, including five landmark buildings on Sunday, May 16 at 1pm sponsored by the Redmond Historical Society (see www.redmondhistoricalsociety.org/RHS/index.php )
These five landmarks were once the Bill Brown saloon, Brown’s garage, Redmond Hardware, Wiley home and the Odd Fellow Hall. Today they have been remade into the Matador Restaurant, Redmond Liquor Store, Gerk’s Ski and Cycle, Stone House Restaurant and Odd Fellows Restaurant.
Editor's Note:: Brown's garage has been a subject of controversy ever since it was leased by the State Liquor Control Board. Councilman Richard Cole commented in the last Council Meeting about the loud red signage suggesting the city do something to protect our 14 Landmark buildings. Various readers have posted concerns and comments on Redmond Neighborhood Blog, in an earlier story about the signage. The window-dressing with historical artifacts was installed by request of the City.
Stay tuned for my Special Report this week. Watch Tuesday's public comments on City TV - Channel 21.
Opinion By Bob Yoder
Sources: Redmond Blog readers, Council meetings, Redmond Historical Society, City Press Release, State Control Liquor Board.
"Breaking news" and "next week" are mutually exclusive. :)
ReplyDeleteThis is a response from the Planning Department to MY REQUEST OF THE MAYOR for his comment on recent news from the State Liquor Board.
ReplyDeleteBob, as you are aware the Mayor has asked me to respond to your questions regarding the siting of the liquor store.
As I mentioned in my previous e-mail to you [4-21-2010] liquor stores are considered general retail uses in the city zoning code [RCDG].
Daily, we receive requests from potential tenants, property owners, real estate agents and architects regarding whether a particular use can locate on a specific property and what requirements may be associated with the use. We treat all requests in the same manner. Once, a proposed site location is identified, the zoning district is determined and the proposed use is compared to the list of permitted uses for that zone. If the use is permitted in the zone that the property is located, then the use is allowed within that zone on the requested property consistent with any specific requirements contained in the zoning code for the property or the use.
The proposed liquor store site is located in the Old Town District which permits General Retail [except Adult Entertainment] since the liquor store is a general retail use and by definition not an adult entertainment use, it is permitted. Since the proposed use listed in the 2009 letter from the Liquor Control Board was a permitted use and the letter was requesting to inform them if they could not locate on the site; there was no need to formally respond to them. As the proposed design for the tenant improvements became more refined and an issue came up regarding the window treatments; the city worked with the Board’s architect and the Redmond Historical Society in designing window treatments that were appropriate for the building and in response to the historic nature of the building.
In general, the zoning code [RCDG] contains the rules that govern the use of private property in the city. Consistent with state law, the zoning code is based on the policies established in the Comprehensive Plan. When the current Comprehensive Plan and the zoning code were written, they were reviewed and had public hearing conducted by the Planning Commission and subsequently were then adopted by the City Council. When property owners follow the rulers contained in the zoning code they are allowed to use their property consistent with those rules.
I hope this has been helpful to you and should you have any further questions, please contact me at your convenience.
Rob Odle
Planning and Community Development Director
City of Redmond