The Historic Landmark Commission voted to pursue staff option 1 with modifications'a phased outreach approach commissioners described as "option 1.5"'to explore designation of a new local historic district generally along North Elm and North Locust between West McKinney Street and West University Drive (US 380).

Historic preservation staff told the commission that GIS and past reconnaissance surveys identified about 110 historically eligible structures in the proposed area and four existing Denton historic landmarks but no state or national landmarks. Staff summarized the legal framework: designation can be initiated by the commission or by a petition of property owners, and Texas Local Government Code requires owner consent for inclusion or, if owners do not consent, a supermajority (three-fourths) vote by city council and planning bodies (staff cited "specifically this section 2 11"). "The state requires property owner consent for designation or inclusion," staff told commissioners.

Commissioners debated trade-offs between HLC-initiated designation and an owner-driven petition. Some expressed concern about starting a process without clear neighborhood buy-in; others argued staff-and-HLC initiation would produce momentum and allow the commission to recruit local stakeholders. Commissioner Patricia Treat (who moved the motion) described the commission's direction as a hybrid: finalize the proposed boundary as presented, proceed with the formal designation steps, and concurrently plan outreach and identify community contacts and an advisory group to help sustain the effort.

Staff and commissioners also discussed the research burden: reconnaissance-level surveys (from 1996, 2012 and 2015) provide preliminary dates and photos, but many parcels will require updated photographs and deeper ownership/use documentation before final designation. Staff recommended forming small subcommittees for research and community outreach to avoid walking quorums and to share the workload; commissioners agreed to pursue that structure.

The commission recorded a motion and voice vote to proceed (motion by Commissioner Patricia Treat; second recorded), and the chair confirmed there were ayes and no nays. Staff will proceed to finalize the boundary, plan owner outreach (including a proposed community information session), and return with updates and subcommittee structure.