22.28.060 Requests for demolition.
A. Anyone applying for a demolition permit for a property on the historic register or within a district on the historic register, or for a property on the historic inventory but not on the historic register, shall submit the following information with the request for demolition:
1. A report documenting the structure as a whole and its individual architectural features in photographs, drawings, and text in accordance with Bothell’s Property Research Guide as maintained by the community development department;
2. For properties on the historic inventory but not on the historic register, staff will make a determination of eligibility for the Bothell register based on the documentation above;
3. For contributing properties within a historic district, or for properties on the historic register or eligible for the historic register, the report shall also contain a thorough, deliberative analysis of each of the following alternatives (listed in descending order of preference) as to their feasibility:
a. Redesigning the project to avoid any impact to the structure or its setting;
b. Incorporating the structure into the overall design of the project;
c. Converting the structure into another use (adaptive reuse);
d. Relocating the structure on the property;
e. Relocating the structure to another property within the city of Bothell or its planning area; or
f. Relocating the structure to another property within King or Snohomish County; or
g. Relocating the structure to another property within Washington State;
h. Salvaging from the structure historically significant architectural features and building materials.
B. Any application for a demolition permit for a property on the historic register or within a historic district on the register shall be referred to the landmark preservation board for consideration of a waiver of a certificate of appropriateness prior to any action on the demolition permit. Such waiver shall be processed as follows:
1. An applicant for a permit to demolish a historic landmark shall meet with the board in an attempt to find alternatives to demolition of the property. Alternatives to be considered include but are not limited to those identified in subsection A of this section. These negotiations may last no longer than 45 days from the initial meeting of the board, unless either party requests an extension.
2. If no such request for an extension is made and no alternative to demolition has been agreed to, the board shall act and advise the official in charge of issuing a demolition permit of the approval or denial of the waiver of a certificate of appropriateness for demolition.
3. Conditions in the case of granting a demolition permit may include allowing the board up to 45 additional days to consider alternatives to demolition, including but not limited to the alternatives set forth in subsection A of this section.
4. When issuing a waiver, the board may require the landowner to mitigate the loss of the historic landmark by means determined by the board at the meeting.
5. After the property is demolished, the board shall initiate removal of the property from the register.
C. Any application for a demolition permit for a property on the historic inventory that has been determined to be eligible for the Bothell register (BMC 22.16.010) but that has not been listed shall be referred to the board for negotiation of alternatives to demolition at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the board. These negotiations may last no longer than 45 days unless both parties agree to an extension. If no alternative to demolition can be found, the board may take up to 45 additional days to develop mitigating measures (e.g., to salvage significant architectural features of the building, install historical markers or plaques, prepare publications, etc., that provide historical context for the site) and to confirm sufficient documentation of the building as set forth in subsection A of this section before the demolition permit is issued.
D. Subsequent to issuance of the waiver of certificate of appropriateness or the director’s determination, a demolition permit may be issued; provided, that a building permit has been issued for a new structure on the property occupied by the structure to be demolished. In the case where a demolition permit is sought because the structure has deteriorated to the point where it has become a safety hazard, this subsection shall not apply.
E. No public funds shall be used to cause or contribute to the demolition of a property on the historic register, within a historic district on the register, or on the historic inventory unless and until all alternatives to demolition have been explored in accordance with this section.
F. In circumstances where an imminent threat to public safety has been documented, the report requirement may be waived by the director of community development in consultation with the city attorney. (Ord. 2322 § 29, 2020; Ord. 2069 § 2 (Exh. B), 2011; Ord. 1798 § 1, 2000; Ord. 1635 § 1, 1996; Ord. 1258 § 1, 1987).