Planning commission begins drafting local preservation ordinance, debates age thresholds and incentives

City planning staff opened a work session on a draft local preservation ordinance, laying out options for what structures and districts the ordinance should protect and how the nomination and review process would work.

Alan (planning staff) reviewed background: Jamestown already has three National Register historic districts and seven individually listed landmarks, and local protections under a new ordinance would be distinct from the national register’s tax‑credit eligibility. He said the LPO’s central task is defining criteria for eligibility and the degree of local protections and restrictions (Alan, planning staff).

Commissioners discussed multiple approaches to the point of entry for local designation. Board members suggested a range of minimum ages for eligibility — 50, 75 and 100 years were…