Committee approves substitute ordinance to reorganize historic‑zoning staff; public preservation group urges more public comment

A Government Operations & Regulations committee on a substitute ordinance to reorganize staffing for historic‑zoning functions and to codify a historic zoning administrator, passing the substitute as amended after public comment and several amendments.

The substitute ordinance, as presented by Council Member Benedict, would not change existing historic or conservation overlays but would move current Metro Historic Commission staff into the Department of Planning, preserve civil‑service status for affected employees and create a codified historic zoning administrator position that mirrors qualification requirements for the historic commission director. Council Member Benedict said, “It changes no historic or conservation overlays. They all remain as they are today. It retains all current staff. It moves them from 1 department to another.”

Why it matters: sponsors and supporters said the change would clarify code language, create an explicitly authorized historic zoning administrator and align demolition and zoning review processes under planning. Opponents and some administration officials warned of legal risk and urged a cooperative memorandum of understanding (MOU) between departments. The committee also heard that separate…