Wednesday, January 17, 2001
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Wednesday, January 17, 2001 |
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Historic Preservation Commission now meeting in Fayetteville By MONROE
ROARK
Last week was the first public meeting of the new Fayetteville Historic Preservation Commission. And while some local residents expressed concern about another government body possibly interfering with their rights to tend to their property, city officials said that there's no reason to worry about that. The commission, formed last year by the City Council, consists of five members Chairman Addison Lester, Cochairman Sabrina Snowden, and members Tana Heaton, Lisa Hovey-King and Tony Parrot. Much of last week's meeting consisted of discussions concerning proposed bylaws and potential historic districts. City planning director Maurice Ungaro said that an architectural survey of the entire county was conducted about 10 years ago by a Macon firm and the city could get a great deal of guidance from that. Two historic districts in Fayetteville were recommended at that time one stretching up Jeff Davis Drive from Ga. Highway 54 to Georgia Avenue on both sides of the street, and another along Hwy. 54 west past Ga. Highway 85, including the square. Ungaro recommended considering additional areas, such as the old school building that now contains City Hall and some other buildings along that stretch of Hwy. 85. The Jeff Davis district could extend somewhat on the north end, he added. Also under consideration is the establishment of guidelines for recognizing historic buildings, such as the building's age (50 years or more). A Lee Street resident asked the commission about the effect any such rulings could have on property values. Ungaro said that historic property almost always increases in value as a result of that status. He added that an owner of historic property is not prohibited from tearing down something on that property, selling it or even changing its use, provided other city codes and ordinances are met. While rezoning property from residential to commercial or office use brings with it a number of requirements, historic district or not, the city would have no extraordinary control over property in a historic district if it remains residential, Ungaro said this week. An exception to this would be if a structure was in a state of extreme disrepair, as is the case from time to time with some of the city's oldest homes and other buildings. The city has the authority to exercise a "demolition by neglect" clause and make necessary repairs, or even tear a structure down, in those cases. Two items on last week's agenda concerned requests for certificates of appropriateness. The first, for the demolition of a structure at 355 South Glynn St., was tabled because the applicant was not present at the meeting. A request concerning the enclosure of a front porch at 340 North Jeff Davis was approved.
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