Dunedin workshop advances proposed historic‑district rules; residents voice concerns about consent and scope

City staff presented a draft update to Dunedin’s historic preservation ordinance and a revised Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) matrix at a March 4 work session, asking the commission whether to advance the draft to the Local Planning Agency for formal review. The presentation proposed three core changes: separate options for landmarking a structure versus a landmark site, creation of local historic districts, and a new COA approval matrix that grants more decision authority to staff and the Historic Preservation Advisory Commission (HPAC) in many routine cases.

George King of the Community Development Department introduced the update and said the three changes were intended to give the city flexibility to protect individual buildings while offering a tool to preserve larger areas of historic character. Consultants Blair Knighting and Kimberley Horn explained key provisions: local historic districts would be formed through an application and survey process that identifies contributing and non‑contributing properties; design regulations would guide compatible repairs and new construction; and the COA process would exempt routine…