Auburn council advances ordinance to speed permits for paint and awnings in Oldtown

The Auburn City Council on June 1 held the first reading of an ordinance that would let many businesses repaint facades and replace awnings through an expedited permitting process rather than a full public hearing.

City planning staff said the change is aimed at reducing what they called unnecessary barriers to maintenance and modest upgrades in Oldtown and downtown. The staff presentation noted many storefronts still use three-tab asphalt-shingle awnings and neutral "tan" facades; the streamlined path would encourage higher-quality awnings and permit use of curated historic color palettes from Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore.

"Paint and awnings are insignificant, minor repairs that are essential to the maintenance of a building," the planning presenter said, arguing the current process can slow investment and overwhelm limited staff capacity.

Supporters on the council said the change preserves architectural features and gives property owners a faster path to routine upkeep. A staff report noted the Planning Commission and Historic Design Review Commission reviewed the ordinance at a May 5 public hearing and recommended approval of both the ordinance and a related resolution that would adopt color palettes.

Council member comments emphasized that the proposal does not permit painting unpainted masonry; the expedited path applies to repainting existing surfaces. The council moved and approved holding the ordinance's first reading; the item will return for subsequent hearings and final adoption steps.

The hearing included no public comment on the ordinance. The staff presentation said the streamlined procedure would also pair with a forthcoming public-relations campaign and potential facade grant funding from the Downtown Business Association to help property owners cover paint and materials costs.

If adopted, the ordinance would change the review pathway for minor exterior work, retain protections for historic architectural details, and allow the Historic Design Review Commission to add colors by resolution in the future.