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THE SEA COAST ECHO
ential battles over ic preservation plan
bles was the largest of-three separate contracts for the work.
In the preservation matter, council agreed wait three more weeks before a possible ordinance enactment. That will give Scafide time to make sure the proposed regulations meet state guidelines.
The ordinance - in the making for years - would establish a commission to oversee alterations or demolitions of properties in historic districts that would be created in the future. It would also provide for protections of "landmark" sites or properties outside specific districts. Negative actions by the commission could be appealed to council for reversal.
Seal continued Tuesday to warn council members that the ordinance amounts
to a vast set of new regulations over property owners’ rights. "We're creating a monster," he said. Among other objections, Seal balks at the provision which gives the commission say-so over the appearance and size of new construction in a historic district.
Thriffiley, meanwhile, is insistent that the ordinance will boost property values in the historic city and that its protections are wanted by the majority of historic property owners. The new-construction provision, he said, "encourages people to build something aesthetically pleasing" in historic areas.
He cited construction of a huge metal shed amid historic homes on St. George Street as an example of incompatible building in his own district.
Taylor said he'd like to see an opinion poll on the proposal's popularity among those property owners directly affected. But there's no definition yet of who'll be under the new rules, since districts can't be established before the ordinance is enacted.
The proposal is expected to be on the agenda for action at council's Jan. 27th meeting..