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Commission discusses voluntary preservation approach and small grant pilot to support Route 66 properties
Summary
Commissioners and staff described the city's largely voluntary historic-preservation program, recent losses and potential incentives. Staff said the commission is developing a small Route 66 grant program (roughly $5,000–$10,000 per award) and other nonregulatory incentives to encourage preservation.
Planning staff and the Historic Preservation Commission described Wildwood’s preservation approach as primarily voluntary and incentive-based and discussed a possible small-grant pilot to support Route 66-related historic properties. Staff and commissioners said stronger mandatory preservation rules received substantial public opposition during past updates, so the city has favored voluntary incentives, demolition-delay review and targeted incentives instead.
The topic matters because how the city balances voluntary incentives versus regulatory preservation standards determines whether historic resources are protected through incentives, grants and subdivision/zoning accommodations or through more prescriptive regulation.
Staff reviewed past applications of incentives: they described a subdivision-case example in which a developer agreed to waive certain lot-size requirements to preserve the River Craig historic residence; that negotiated accommodation allowed the historic building to remain while the developer adjusted lot counts. Staff said the Historic Preservation Commission and staff can also help property owners access state and federal tax-benefit programs. Commissioners and staff noted recent outcomes: a hopeful preservation outcome for the JP Connell House was contrasted with the recent demolition of the Marycliff residence, which preservation advocates called a loss.
Staff outlined a proposed Route 66 grant program intended to offer small awards (staff discussed grant amounts in the $5,000–$10,000 range for signage or minor preservation work) to spur revitalization of Route 66 properties. The program is still under development and would require further vetting through the city process. Commissioners asked staff to continue with an incentive-based approach and return with program details and eligibility criteria.
