HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-28-2011 Regular MeetingHISTORIC FAIRHOPE PRESERVATION COMMITTEE
Minutes from the meeting of February 28, 2011 :
City Council Work Session held in The Delchamps Room @ 4 :45 pm
Committee Attendees and *invited guests :
Gary Gover *Cindy McBrearty
Ralph Thayer *Ken Neimeyer
Ross Hobbs *David Jones
Jim Huggins *Devereux Beamis
Harriett Gutknecht
Linda Jones
Sherry Sullivan
Ordinance :
Gary begins by stating how he and his wife were drawn to Faihope , while looking for a new home , because of its
uniqueness and quaintness . He continues by saying that Fairhope has the most number of historic buildings in all of
Baldwin County . He reviews the four historic districts with the Bayfront District having 118 historic properties , the
Downtown District having 66 , the White District having 8 , and the Montrose District having 15 . Four other areas , not within
a designated historic district, have an additional 135 historic structures . An Ordinance is necessary to protect these
properties .
Ralph reviews his background with historic preservation originally in New Orleans and now as a resident of Fairhope . He
continues to discuss the tax advantages for people with historic properties who are interested in renovating them . Also ,
'W historic preservation enhances property values .
ne Committee's invited guests took turns addressing the council and expressing their support for a preservation
ordinance . Mr. Beamis spoke first and expressed his support of an ordinance. Mr. Neimeyer followed by introducing
himself as a member of the Baldwin County Review Board and ownwer of an historic home . He feels other counties are
ahead of Fairhope in that they already have historic preservation ordinances . Mrs . McBrearty, who served on Planning and
Zoning for 17 years is in favor of protecting what we already have . Mr. Jones (husband to Linda) was next to address the
council. They live in a 1904 cottage and fell in love with Fairhope because it is unique and different. "Retain and maintain"
is the best course of action to insure the historic character of Fairhope . Mr. Huggins told the council how he grew up in
Fairhope and lives in his family's 1908 home. He states that tourists come to Fairhope and the city would do well to pass a
preservation ord inance .
The City Council Work Session responded by asking the Preservation Committee to present the ord inance to the City
Council.
Minutes prepa re d by Linda Jones