POULSBO — The extent of the Design Review Board’s authority was put on trial this week as the Sons of Norway were told to go their own way.

In a 6-1 decision Feb. 4, the Poulsbo City Council approved the Poulsbo Sons of Norway lodge to build a 602-square foot deck in place of the smaller deck already existing on the lower half of its southwest side. The only stipulation council made was that one Planning Department Condition, originally suggested by Poulsbo’s DRB, be stricken from the requirements.

Councilwoman Kathryn Quade was the dissenting vote.

The debate centered around a condition requiring the deck railing to be made either of wood or a wood/plexiglass combination. Architect Robert Peterson had originally designed the structure to be made primarily of tempered glass and stainless steel wires, however, when the proposal was reviewed by the DRB, members had different ideas.

Minutes of the Dec. 18 DRB meeting note that board members felt the glass would work fine, but were skeptical of the metal cable that would be used. They preferred the lodge be required to continue the all-wood look of the halls’ current upstairs deck railing. Planning Director Barry Berezowsky later used this recommendation to draft the Planning Department Condition.

“The DRB is an advisory body. My position is their responsibility to the deck’s design was as a recommendation to the planning director,” Berezowsky told council Wednesday night. “I considered the input and did require a condition in the planning director’s opinion that described the compatibility issue that the design needs to be compatible with other such structures in the surrounding area.”

But Councilman Dale Rudolph had reservations about the DRB’s authority extending that far.

“This all really started with Shucks, Hollywood Video, insult to injury. I don’t think the council ever intended to start telling people what designs to use on their decks,” he said.

Councilwoman Kathryn Quade shot back that she felt exactly opposite.

“Why would we have a DRB then?” Quade questioned. “I sat on this board, we had similar things come up like color, design, backlighting. The DRB’s purpose is to try and retain the character or the feeling of the building to be built or renovated.”

While the DRB’s job is to assure compatibility, Councilman Mike Regis pointed out that both the Marine Science Center and the Poulsbo Yacht Club have plexiglass and stainless steel cable combinations on their buildings. He felt this meant that the Sons had the option to use these materials, since they were present nearby.

“I respect the DRB and what they’re trying to do, but they put aside the practicality of what the railing was serve as and stated their own preference,” Regis commented.

In the end, the rest of the council agreed to let the heritage organization choose the materials to be used and struck the condition from the approval. Rudolph cautioned his fellow council members that he doesn’t think this will be the last time such a debate will surface.

“I don’t think we ever anticipated dealing with an issue of compatibility with your own building and as we move forward with things like the Old Town Study, we’re going to dealing with issues like this again,” Rudolph said.

Whatever the route, Sons of Norway Administrator Mariann Samuelsen expressed appreciation for the council’s vote of confidence. She said the deck will be used primarily for the lodge’s Sunday pancake breakfasts, Wednesday Kaffe Stua luncheons and for folks who rent out the downstairs room for events like small wedding parties. These uses are primarily open to the public.

“We’re very excited,” she commented. “I think it’s a great thing. We have one of the best spots in town and now we’re going to utilize it better.”

Four parking spots are being eliminated to create the deck but Samuelsen said it will not impact the already parking-strapped Anderson Parkway.

“We have parking spots on top and we’re just going to use those,” she explained. “Usually, we don’t use more than those anyway. Those downstairs spots had been reserved for employees only and we usually only have two here at a time.”