Votes by commissioners followed a specific and detailed discussion of guideline interpretations. The Sidran campaign, public speakers and commission members alike openly discussed the issues of precedent and protesters. In the end the commission determined that the guidelines specifically prioritize the interests of Market uses and these did not include a permitted use for a campaign office headquarters in a non-compliant space. One can easily recognize the conflict in allowing such a use to be located in a retail space sited squarely on a shopping street within a storefront space. The commission held that it would not be in the best interest of the Market community and it would not be in compliance with the guidelines to approve this office use in this location.
Office spaces do exist in the Market and are located anonymously off street level.
The Pike Place Market Historical Commission takes its charge very seriously and engages in bi-weekly meetings devoted to preserving and enhancing the vital interests of the Market and historic district. The Historical Commission used its guidelines to come to its decision. The result is a Pike Place Market for which we can all be proud and delight in visiting time after time. To fuel some political fire suggesting otherwise harms our community by casting an unwarranted shadow upon a commission whose very existence is devoted to preserving and enhancing one of our regions most significant and identifiable places. Martin Henry Kaplan, an architect, is chairman of the Pike Place Market Historical Commission.