Historic Preservation Commission favors in-person design reviews, forms subcommittee on district rules

At its meeting, the Historic Preservation Commission agreed by consensus to make in-person design-review meetings its default instead of relying primarily on email reviews. Commissioners also formed a subcommittee to recommend clarifications to the municipal design-review boundaries, district signage, and related code language, and discussed training and a planned visit from the State Historic Preservation Office.

The shift to in-person reviews was presented as a way to improve applicant engagement and allow commissioners to see materials, ask questions, and reach compromises with applicants more quickly than an email-only review process. Commissioners cited practices used in nearby cities such as St. Charles and Hermann, where applicants typically appear in person and commissions often require applicants to attend before a building permit is issued; those jurisdictions were described as using in-person review to reach compromises and ensure required changes are made before permits proceed. The commission did not adopt a new ordinance; members said the change is a board preference and staff will continue to handle cases that do not require permits or are minor projects.

Commissioners also discussed uncertainty about which parcels fall within the local design-review area versus the C-3 zoning district. One commissioner recalled…