HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-08-2010 Regular MeetingHistoric Preservation Meeting
October 8,2010
Attendees: Kay Mariott, Gary Gover , Ross Hobbs, Eve Doherty , Ralph Thayer , Al
Sarnry , Sherry Sullivan, Nancy Milford
Councilwoman Debbie Quinn was working with Gary Gover on the Draft Ordinance for
Historic Preservation. Mary Shell sent the draft ordinance to a lawyer, Wanda Cochran,
with the historic preservation commission in the City of Mobile. According to the
attorney conducting the review, the Fairhope Downtown Historic District was surveyed
without and ordinance or commission being establish . Gary Gover said that this is not the
correct procedure according to Wanda. There is a category of historic preservation that
would be considered an "honorary" district and the City 's District may fit that category ,
but under the "honorary" district there is no basis for zoning.
It is required that the commission have regulatory authority to conduct a true historic
preservation zoning district.
According to Gary , the steps are as follows:
1) Establish and historic preservation ordinance for the Municipality.
2) The downtown district must have a local purpose or it has no meaning.
3) A historic commission will have to be established for the entire city . When an
inventory of properties is built up , then the commission will have authority over historic
properties.
4) Next, a survey of historic properties would occur.
A lot of properties in Fairhope were established through the Baldwin County Historic
Development Corporation. They may be able to inherit the historic aspect of existing
properties. If this is the case, the current properties may move out of the "honorary"
category into a true "historic" property.
Demolition Moratorium ???
The Historic Commission will have no power initially , but must get authority from the
property owners. Gary asked the group to consider potential members for a historic
commission . They will need to have some experience in historic preservation such as an
architect , historic preservationist, etc. The City of Fairhope has a form for filling out
"appointees " for committees.
An announcement was made for a Camp 2010 which will be held on Oct. 26 , 2010. It
will be 8:30pm to 4:30pm for $65.00 . They will cover the nuts and bolds on what needs
to be done to establish a historic district.