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Council reviews draft historic‑preservation ordinance aimed at qualifying Lambertville as a certified local government
Summary
The mayor presented a lengthy draft amendment to the Historic Preservation Commission ordinance intended to secure Certified Local Government status and access grant funding; council members asked for public release of the draft and a presentation by state historic‑preservation staff or local HPC experts before further action.
The mayor introduced a proposed update to the Historic Preservation Commission ordinance designed to allow Lambertville to apply for Certified Local Government (CLG) designation through the National Park Service and the state. He said the draft is more than twice as long as the current ordinance because it adds definitions and fleshes out processes required by the state.
Council members repeatedly asked that the draft be released publicly and that the city invite either state historic‑preservation staff or local experts (the mayor cited Crystal Lawton and Debbie Kelly) to present and explain the changes before the council moves forward. "We need to get it out in the public so we can discuss it because this is gonna affect a lot of people," one council member said.
The mayor said much of the language was provided by the state and that some elements could be non‑negotiable; he proposed clarifying with the state whether any flexibility exists and arranging a presentation from the state historic‑preservation office.
What happens next: the mayor will consult the state historic‑preservation office about mandatory language and the council expects a staff presentation and wider public review prior to any ordinance introduction or vote.
