Wednesday, July 25, 2001
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Wednesday, July 25, 2001 |
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Fayetteville historic district on back burner By MONROE
ROARK
Residents of downtown Fayetteville were assured by the City Council Thursday night that a proposed historic preservation district would not be enacted anytime soon. An ordinance establishing the district was posted for first reading at the council's regular meeting, but council members said it would be removed from the agenda at the Aug. 2 meeting. Mayor Kenneth Steele initially recommended doing that immediately, but it was decided that the item would have to stay on the agenda for now because the Aug. 2 meeting has already been advertised. The historic preservation district has come under fire in recent weeks due to residents' concerns that unreasonable restrictions would be placed on their property and they would be unable to sell or tend to their homes and businesses as they see fit. Steele assured the large crowd gathered at Thursday night's meeting that it is not the city's intention to do anything that would be construed as "intrusive government." The most likely scenario indicated by the council was returning the matter to the city's Historic Preservation Commission for further study while getting additional input from local residents. Steele acknowledged that the city probably did not communicate the intent of the ordinance as well as it should, which has led to many residents not understanding what the council wants to do. "I take responsibility for not communicating it to you," he told the audience.
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