Council approves updated historic-district design guidelines; staff to tighten enforcement and bylaws

The Lebanon City Council approved updates to the Lehi Historic Preservation Commission’s design guidelines after staff said the commission will amend its bylaws to clarify enforcement and stop-work procedures.

Paul (planning staff) told councilors the city will pursue education and enforcement options commonly used in historic districts, including stop-work orders when appropriate, while allowing property owners time to secure work sites to avoid damage. "If somebody leaves a building in a state where it would be damaged if they didn't fix it, then we would need to not do the stop work order at that time and just make sure that they can secure it," Paul said. He said the commission’s bylaws will be amended to make enforcement language clear.

Councilors asked whether applicants pulling permits are notified that their property lies inside the historic district. Staff said building-permit applicants who are in the historic district are informed at the time of permit application; certain work that does not require a permit may create gaps in that notification.

Councilors moved to approve the design-guideline updates on first reading; the motion passed on a council vote recorded as "Aye." Staff said the commission will place a bylaws amendment on its next agenda to clarify enforcement steps and stop-work language.