Dunedin LPA recommends historic-preservation ordinance to commission, removes city manager initiation power

The Local Planning Agency of the City of Dunedin voted July 9 to recommend approval of Ordinance 25-02, revisions to Chapter 111 of the Land Development Code and Resolution 25-13 governing historic preservation, with a condition removing the city manager—s ability to initiate local historic-district applications.

The LPA—s recommendation, made after a staff and consultant presentation and public comment, passed by voice vote, 6–1. The motion asked that the ordinance move forward without the city manager—s initiation power for district nominations; board members subsequently clarified that, under the remaining provisions, a local historic district would still require property-owner support per the proposed language.

Frances Leong, planner II for the City of Dunedin, introduced consultant Blair Knighting of Kimley-Horn, who summarized proposed changes to the Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) matrix and to landmark and district procedures. Knighting said the revised COA matrix reduces the number of exterior-review topics requiring City Commission approval and retains…