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Disclaimer:
Tell us what's on your mind. Your comments and information will become part of the official public record. If you do not want your personal information included in the official record, do not complete that field.
I strongly oppose Ordinance 25-02 as it still gives the City Manager power to initiate historic district applications WITHOUT 100% homeowner consent.
The Local Planning Agency voted 5-1 to remove this authority, yet the version going to City Council ignores that recommendation.
This power, combined with the existing Master Plan, creates an immediate pathway for city-initiated historic districts—triggering permit moratoriums that could delay repairs, rebuilding, or improvements, even after major storm damage.
Residents deserve transparency, clear protections, and the right to decide if their homes should be part of a historic district.
I urge the City Commission to strike the City Manager’s initiation power and keep this program voluntary.
The Agenda for this item says that staff recommends that the Commission pass the Ordinance 25-02. This is completely contrary to what happened at the LPA meeting on July 9th, wherein a vote was taken, 5-1, to recommend passing the Ordinance with the removal of the City Manager initiation of the historic district application. This Ordinance as attached to the Agenda still provides the City Manager with the authority to unilaterally initiate the historic district application. Who is driving this bus? The Ordinance does not represent the view of the LPA, and the Commission had voted in March to move the Ordinance as written, at that time, to the LPA for evaluation. I sincerely hope that the Commission follows the LPA recommendation to remove any language giving the City Manager authority to make a historic district application.