Fall River commission moves ahead on Highlands historic-district expansion after CPC approves $69,000 for survey work; welcome-letter template sent for review

Fall River Historical Commission Chair Jonathan Lima on Jan. 28 said the commission will press ahead with surveys and outreach tied to a proposed expansion of the Highlands Local Historic District after the Community Preservation Committee approved funding for consultant-conducted historic surveys.

The CPC approved $69,000 to pay for Form B survey work needed for the Highlands expansion, and commission members said the funding was unanimously approved by the CPC and will go to the City Council for final approval. Commission members also approved a welcome-letter template for new property owners in the Highlands district and voted to send that template to corporation counsel, the mayor and the planning/engineering department for review.

The $69,000 award will be used to hire a consultant to complete Form B historic-survey reports for properties the commission identified as candidates for inclusion in the local district. "The funding for the form b's was approved ... it was approved for $69,000," said Commissioner Rick Mancini, noting the CPC vote was unanimous. Commission members said the award will move next to the City Council for final approval and that the contract awarding is expected in March.

Why it matters: Form B surveys provide the detailed documentation cities use to evaluate historic significance and to support local historic-district designations. Commission members said many of the existing surveys date to the 1980s and need updating before any expansion is finalized.

What the commission heard and decided - Mail and electronic surveys: The commission reported that staff mailed paper surveys to 17 properties the commission had voted to include in October. Paper responses have a late-February return deadline; the commission plans to launch an electronic survey with a QR code at the end of February to increase response rates. - Public meetings and consultant involvement: Commission members said the hired consultant will attend one or two commission meetings, and the process will include public meetings targeted to residents in the proposed expansion area. - Outreach material: The commission reviewed a draft welcome-letter template for new Highlands property owners. Commissioners approved a motion to send the letter template to corporation counsel, the mayor, and the planning/engineering department for review and comment. Motion: send letter template to corporation counsel, mayor and planning department for review. Mover: Rick Mancini. Second: Connie Soule. Roll-call: Rick Mancini (yes), Jason Bouchard Nawrocki (yes), Connie Soule (yes), Jonathan Lima (yes). Outcome: approved. - Timing: Commission members said the CPC award will be presented to City Council and that contracts are expected to be awarded in March; electronic-survey rollout and paper-survey deadlines aim to concentrate responses before the public meetings.

Commission business and next steps The commission also handled routine business: it approved minutes from the Dec. 17, 2024 meeting (motion by Jonathan Lima, second by Connie Soule; roll-call unanimous), and it tabled for further work an annual mailing to Highlands property owners (motion to table by Connie Soule, second by Rick Mancini; roll-call unanimous). Chair Jonathan Lima said annual reports will be ready for the commission's February meeting.

The commission set its next meeting for Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, at 6 p.m.