Planners consider historic review

Published 11:09 pm Wednesday, May 18, 2011

The full Planning Commission will consider proposed modifications to the Historic Conservation Overlay District during its meeting next month.

The commission’s ordinance subcommittee voted Tuesday to send the matter to the full commission.

The historic district’s boundaries have been under review since last year, when a Pinner Street homeowner wanted to put vinyl siding on his home and was shot down by the Historic Landmarks Commission, which regulates substantial exterior changes to buildings in the historic district. City Council later overturned that decision, initiated a study of the historic district and sent the matter to Planning Commission.

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Six areas are proposed for deletion from the historic district:

  • The Katherine Street area
  • The Mahan and Church streets area
  • The Central, Hill, Grayson and Pinner streets area
  • The Jackson Street area
  • The North, Chestnut and Pine streets area
  • The South Broad and Gittings streets area

Anything that fronts on Broad Street is not included in the proposal for deletion.

The Historic Landmarks Commission does not agree with all of the proposed changes, Planning director Scott Mills said at last month’s meeting. That commission wants to keep everything except the Mahan Street and Jackson Street areas.

Some of the proposed areas were marked for deletion because the buildings in the area have lost their historic distinction, Planning Department staff members have said. Some, perhaps, never belonged in the district in the first place.

Next month’s Planning Commission meeting will be held June 21 at 2 p.m. in City Council chambers, 441 Market St.