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DRC reviews proposal for downtown historic overlay district; public engagement, guidelines to follow
Summary
Staff presented a plan to designate a small downtown area (roughly Falwell Street to Forest Street) as a local historic overlay district to preserve architectural character; DRC members agreed to defer formal action until vacancies on the committee are filled and recommended public engagement and design guidelines next.
City planning staff briefed the Downtown Revitalization Committee on June 24 about a proposal to designate part of Main Street as a local historic overlay district to protect downtown’s architectural character.
Mike, a staff presenter, said the downtown master plan recommends protecting the core as a local historic district and that the master-plan survey identifies approximately 10 historic properties and two potential historic properties in the proposed area roughly bounded by Falwell Street on the east and Forest Street on the west. "The downtown master plan suggests that we work towards designating the downtown core of local historic district," he said, outlining steps required by the Texas Historic Commission: conduct a survey, set boundaries, engage the public, create design guidelines, and adopt a preservation ordinance.
Staff described benefits including preservation of history and culture, a stronger sense of place, and potential economic development through tourism and property-value support. Mike suggested the DRC could serve as the local preservation or landmark commission to review exterior changes and issue certificates of appropriateness under a preservation ordinance.
DRC members asked for modest boundaries and flexible design guidelines that do not create overly burdensome standards for small commercial buildings; members noted boundaries can be adjusted later in response to feedback. With multiple DRC vacancies effective after the meeting, the committee agreed to delay formal action until new members are appointed, while staff and volunteers will continue public engagement and drafting the ordinance and design guidelines.
What’s next: staff will continue public engagement and prepare draft design guidelines and an ordinance for future DRC review after membership is sufficient to move forward.
