Property owner expresses concern; vote set Tuesday

By DAVE HAMRICK
dhamrick@thecitizennews.com

A proposed historical preservation law in Fayetteville might drive away the businesses the city is seeking for downtown, warns a local business owner.

“If you smother everyone with all these rules, you're not going to get the restaurants downtown,” Alex Rodriguez told the Planning Commission during its work session.

The commission is expected to decide its recommendation concerning the new ordinance during its regular meeting Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall.

Designed to preserve historic resources in the city and attract more state and federal grants for the downtown area, the law would create a historical review commission.

After conducting a survey of all properties 50 years old or older, the commission would designate historical buildings, properties and districts in the city, making those areas more easily eligible for the National Register of Historic Places and thus more easily eligible for grant money.

Rodriguez, who owns several buildings on Fayetteville's historic Courthouse Square, said he is concerned that designating properties as historic under the ordinance might also make it more difficult for business people to use them.

Owners of historic properties would have to get the commission's permission before making any significant exterior changes, and new construction in historic districts also would have to pass the group's scrutiny.

“It just makes things so much longer,” said Rodriguez, adding that construction and renovation plans already have to meet numerous other city restrictions and pass the scrutiny of the Planning Commission.

“Why do we need another committee?” he said. “I'm concerned that this might be another layer of hassles for business people.”

Commission members pointed out that owners can take up to a 20 percent tax credit for rehabilitation work on buildings designated as historic.

They suggested a few minor changes in language and added definitions, but generally seemed ready to recommend that the City Council approve the proposed ordinance. The ordinance has received a thorough review and enthusiastic endorsement from Fayetteville Main Street Committee, which is working to revitalize the city's downtown.

If the commission votes its approval Tuesday, City Council could act as soon as its Monday, Feb. 7 meeting, 7 p.m. at City Hall.