Shelby Historic Preservation Commission reports First United Methodist Church as local landmark, plans district expansion

Katie Curran, chair of the Shelby Historic Preservation Commission, presented the commission’s annual report during the council’s public-comment period and summarized the commission’s work over the past year.

Curran said the commission issued seven Certificates of Appropriateness (COAs) and identified eight properties that either completed updates or are in the process of doing so. She told the council the First United Methodist Church completed the nomination process and was designated a local historic landmark this past December; Curran said the church is about 258 years old, as noted in the commission’s report.

The commission recently installed downtown signage to mark the historic corridor and plans additional local landmark signage for features such as gate posts, a Girl Scouts house and a barn. Curran said the commission is studying an expansion of the historic district to include more of Main Street: staff reviewed 16 properties, 12 of which met historical criteria, letters were sent to affected property owners, and a public hearing is scheduled in March to discuss the proposal.

Council members asked clarifying questions about the district expansion and the role of the brochures the commission distributes to property owners; Curran described the brochures as informational material intended to assist owners in preservation rather than to impose restrictions.

No formal action was taken on the report during the meeting beyond the council receiving the commission’s report.