The Federal Way City Council will vote at its next council meeting in July whether the city should offer protection and preservation to historic landmarks through a partnership with King County.

As part of the Planning Commission’s 2016 work program, the adoption of a historic preservation ordinance will allow the city to apply for certified government status, making it eligible for various state grants.

But the ordinance will also protect approved landmarks from future development.

“I have seen many of our historic landmarks fall into disrepair and the land around them developed,” Federal Way resident Lynne Long said at Tuesday’s council meeting. “… As we grow as a city, places like Camp Kilworth, which turned 81 years old this year, and the Weyerhaeuser campus will become a valuable asset to our communities. Preservation is a must to ensure that future generations have a place to enjoy.”

The Pacific Harbors Council closed Camp Kilworth, which was primarily used by the Boy Scouts, in March 2016 because of financial difficulties. Trustees of the 25-acre property refused to sell the property to the city in 2005 because it would violate a 1934 deed from previous owner William Kilworth’s second wife. The deed stipulated the property must always be used for scouting proposes.

In February 2016, Industrial Realty Group purchased the former Weyerhaeuser campus for about $70 million. While company officials have stated they will preserve the former Weyerhaeuser corporate headquarters building and much of the land as it develops, the Save Weyerhaeuser Campus advocacy group thinks more needs to be done to protect the environment on the 430-acre property, which abuts North Lake.

To achieve the historic landmark status, however, the owner of properties and buildings must apply. If they are nominated, they still have to approve it.

“This program is entirely voluntary,” Federal Way senior planner David Van De Weghe said. “The Planning Commission felt strongly that it should be a voluntary program. So, your neighbor cannot nominate your home as a historic landmark. You would have to sign off on it.”

Councilman Martin Moore asked about the legality of requesting the historic status for a piece of land without the owner’s consent and was told that the city or county would then be required to compensate that property owner under a complicated “takings” law.

Once the ordinance is adopted, the council will need to create a Historic Preservation Commission.

Because the city will initially partner with King County, much of the criteria and systems are already established.

For properties to qualify, they must be at least 40 years old and either be associated with important events, people, embody characteristics of a type/period/style or yield information in history or be the work of an important designer or builder.

After the city receives the application, staff will evaluate it to ensure it doesn’t conflict with the city’s Comprehensive Plan or zoning code before passing it on to King County for review.

There will then be a public hearing notice sent out to properties within 300 feet of the potential landmark.

The county will make their recommendation, and the Landmarks Commission, to which one Federal Way City Council member will be appointed, will hold a public hearing.

Applicants can appeal the commission’s final decisions, however, and the case will be forwarded to the city’s Hearing Examiner.

Once a piece of land is designated a historic landmark status, there are no restrictions on the sale of the property, nor are there any special restrictions for setbacks or changes to standard zoning requirements for adjacent properties, Van De Weghe said.

If the owner wants to make changes to his or her property after it’s approved, he or she would need to apply for a certificate of appropriateness. If it’s a small change, the county would approve it administratively. If it’s larger, staff will make a recommendation and a Landmarks Commission public hearing will be held.