Owners would face new regulations
MEDICAL LAKE – Owners of properties with “historic” value could face new regulations under an ordinance and agreement approved on first reading by the City Council.
Under Ordinance No. 1122, consenting property owners could have their buildings placed on a historic register, managed jointly by the city and Spokane Historical Preservation.
Prior to the vote, Spokane Historic Preservation’s Logan Camporeale presented a series of questions and answers regarding the agreement outlined in the ordinance.
“Medical Lake and Spokane County legal teams are working to develop some substitute language for clause 5(c) that will satisfy both ML and SC,” Camporeale said.
Clause 5(c) requires the city to agree to protect the county and its officials, employees, and representatives from any claims or losses resulting from the city’s negligence. If the county is sued due to the city’s actions, the city will cover all legal costs. However, the county can participate in the lawsuit if it involves government laws, and if the county is found liable, the city will cover the damages.
Under the agreement, properties added to the county historic register would be listed with the Spokane County Auditor’s office. Camproeale said that while properties could not be removed in the future, they could be demolished.
“If property was demolished, it would be removed from register,” Camporeale said. “If it’s damaged and it’s a total loss or partial loss, we don’t expect the owner to rebuild it.”
He did not say under what conditions a property could be demolished.
Council members also discussed the possibility of making changes to historic properties, emphasizing that reviews would primarily focus on exterior alterations, additions, siding, windows and roofing. Most reviews are expected to be completed administratively within two business days, although significant changes would require landmark review, which could take from 14-30 days.
Ordinance 1122 also included provisions related to building value and tax incentives for rehabilitation projects.
For instance, if a historic building’s value is $711,000, and 25% ($177,885) of that value is invested in rehabilitation, the actual amount spent on rehab ($250,000) would be subtracted from the building’s reassessed value ($750,000).
This adjustment would result in reduced taxes over 10 years, providing approximately 10% of the renovation costs back to the property owner annually.
Clare is an Eastern Washington University graduate and a reporter at Free Press Publishing.
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