Dunedin commission tables updated historic-preservation ordinance for more review

The Dunedin City Commission voted unanimously April 16 to table an updated historic-preservation ordinance (Ordinance 25-02) and an associated resolution (Resolution 25-13) after staff said additional state and federal review is needed.

City Attorney Jennifer told commissioners the city transmitted a revised ordinance to the Florida Division of Historic Resources and the National Park Service in January but had received limited response amid staffing and shutdowns at the federal agency. She said federal reviewers had not realized the city removed a provision allowing downtown historic districts initiated by property owners, prompting staff to “take a step back” and seek one more local review to “clear the air and then proceed very slowly.”

Staff recommended sending the measure back to the Historic Preservation Advisory Committee for review (tentatively May 14), then to the local planning agency on June 10, with a proposed first reading on July 9 and second reading on Aug. 6 if the process moves forward. Mayor Frini and other commissioners said the pause would allow opponents and proponents to see the clarified language before any readings.

The motion to table Ordinance 25-02 passed unanimously. Because Resolution 25-13 — which updates the certificate-of-appropriateness matrix — is tied to the ordinance, commissioners tabled it as well by unanimous vote.

What happens next: staff will return the ordinance and matrix to the Historic Preservation Advisory Committee for final local consideration and will await written guidance from the state and National Park Service before re-advertising the ordinance for public hearings.