Sunday, August 5, 2001
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Sunday, August 5, 2001 |
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Historic district law, amphitheater delayed
By MONROE ROARK
Plans to declare an historic preservation district in Fayetteville have become a political hot potato this election year, and City Council has decided to slow the process down. Council Thursday sent the proposal back to its Historic Preservation Commission for further study, rendering an already light agenda even lighter. An ordinance allowing creation of such a district was approved last year, but proposed activation of the actual district has brought complaints from residents that use of their property would be too greatly restricted under the law. Council had already removed from its agenda discussion of building a community amphitheater in The Villages at LaFayette Park, a 200-home, mixed use development under construction next to Fayette County High School. A presentation on the proposal was not ready in time for the meeting, City Manager Joe Morton said. Plans for the development already include town houses, single family homes, shopping, offices and a hotel The proposed amphitheater would be on the north end of the development and would share a parking lot with the high school. An ordinance that would help finance improvements to the Main Street district as well as the proposed historic district took a step toward final action. Council conducted first reading of the law, which would increase the city's hotel/motel tax from 3 percent to 5 percent, providing more funding for Main Street activities. That ordinance will come up for possible action at the group's next meeting. Meanwhile, The Villages is now part of the Main Street district. Council approved adding the development to the district along with three individual properties on Georgia Avenue, Church Street and Jeff Davis Drive. Now the development will be subject to the district's architectural and design restrictions, designed to maintain an early 20th century atmosphere in the city's downtown area. Council also officially approved a call for election Thursday night, setting the stage for the Nov. 6 vote for three City Council seats Post 3 (now held by Larry Dell), Post 4 (Walt White) and Post 5 (Al Hovey-King). Qualifying for those races is Sept. 10-12 for a fee of $180 per candidate, and the voter registration deadline is Oct. 9. The city will use two polling places for the first time: Fayette County Library and the LaFayette Educational Center. An ordinance calling for some slight changes in the Main Street District was approved, as was a beer and wine license for Grand Buffet at Banks Crossing. A first reading was held of an ordinance raising the city's motel tax from 3 percent to 5 percent.
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