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Palatka board sets historic-palette baseline and discusses COA expirations
Summary
The Palatka Historic Preservation Board agreed to use the city's establishment as the baseline for an adopted historic color palette and discussed drafting ordinances on palette adoption and COA expiration timelines; staff will return with draft language.
The Palatka Historic Preservation Board on Jan. 8, 2026 moved to establish the baseline date for a citywide historic color palette as the city’s founding date and asked staff to draft an ordinance that would attach the palette as an exhibit for board review.
Miss West said she drafted proposed ordinance language to adopt the color palette (drawing from a Saint Augustine palette) and asked the board to choose which schemes should apply in Palatka. A motion to adopt the baseline "from the establishment of Palatka" was made and seconded and carried by voice vote; several members referenced 1853–1854 during the discussion but did not adopt a specific calendar date in the ordinance language at the meeting.
Board members also discussed whether COAs should have expiration dates or follow-up reporting requirements. A code-enforcement representative explained that the office enforces outstanding work tied to COAs and that some jurisdictions set expiration windows (examples cited during the discussion included 6 months to 1 year in other cities). Members debated whether structural versus cosmetic approvals should differ, whether expirations should apply to non-permitted work only, and whether fees or required progress reports would encourage timely completion. Miss West offered to draft ordinance language for the board to review at a future meeting.
Staff used the opportunity to introduce Nicole All as the city’s new CRA manager/coordinator and reported on phase 1 streetscape plantings on Oak and Laurel, asking neighbors to assist with watering because public-works resources are limited.
No binding policy on COA expirations was adopted at the meeting; the board scheduled further consideration and asked staff to return with drafting options.
