Preservation planner reports more than 2,100 certificate-of-approvals processed in last fiscal year

Holly, the preservation planner, told the Historic District Commission on Aug. 26 that the CLG year-end report shows an unusually high caseload in the past fiscal year. “I figured out we got roughly over 2,100 COAs that was this last fiscal year,” she said. "Of this last fiscal year, which is the end, excuse me, July 1 to June 30 was over 2,000…2,100 or so."

The report matters because COA (certificate of appropriateness) applications are the core administrative work the commission reviews; the planner said the volume has been consistent with recent years and is straining review timelines. Members asked procedural questions and commissioners were reminded of the role that prompt comment and dialogue play in the staff review process.

Holly said she posts comments and recommendations on Friday evenings and asked commissioners to tell her if they see items she missed or if her timing makes it harder to respond: “If there's things that I'm not, and I'm trying to get them out as quickly as possible on Friday nights… I appreciate you taking a look at them.”

The commission did not take formal action on the report during the meeting; Holly’s remarks were presented as informational, followed by brief commissioner discussion about consentable items and the pace of meetings.

Why this matters: the planner’s caseload is a measure of workload and of how quickly property owners receive design decisions, and commissioners indicated they rely on staff-issued COA recommendations when they manage consentable vs. nonconsentable items. The planner asked commissioners to raise any missed concerns so staff can incorporate them into future reviews.

Questions for follow-up: commissioners and staff may want a written copy of the CLG report appended to the meeting minutes and a short plan to address sustained high application volumes.