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Historic Preservation Commission approves Harvest Pavilion at Heritage Farm with archaeological conditions
Summary
The Clark County Historic Preservation Commission approved a certificate of appropriateness for a new Harvest Pavilion at Heritage Farm on Feb. 4, 2026, with conditions to minimize ground disturbance and consult prior archaeological reports. Supporters called the pavilion a needed resource while some urged design choices that better reflect the historic agricultural setting.
The Clark County Historic Preservation Commission on Feb. 4 approved a certificate of appropriateness for a new shared-use Harvest Pavilion at Heritage Farm, voting unanimously (6–0) to accept staff findings and conditions.
Parks planner Lindy Wallach, the applicant, told commissioners the pavilion will provide restrooms, storage and covered space for educational programming and will be integrated with a planned children's garden. "The building would be integrated with the children's garden," Wallach said, adding the structure is planned as a pre‑engineered building with CMU block walls, wood or composite siding, a metal roof and skylights.
Bart Catching of Community Planning summarized the staff recommendation and said the project was reviewed under the Secretary of the Interior's standards because the farm is on the national and local registers. Catching recommended approval with two conditions: that footings and foundations use minimal ground disturbance and that the applicant consult existing archaeological investigations prior to any ground-disturbing work.
Public commenters who have worked with the farm endorsed the pavilion as a needed resource. Rob Fried, a longtime participant in farm planning, called the pavilion "an added resource to the property" but urged the commission to remain mindful of preserving the site's agricultural landscape. Neighborhood representative Doug Wilson updated the commission on a South Cliff neighborhood National Register nomination and thanked staff for assistance on survey work.
During deliberation Commissioner Frasier urged the county to use more natural materials and design elements that add to the historic district's character rather than a strictly utilitarian appearance. Wallach said the county intends to consider consistency across future structures and to tie new work to the district's historic buildings.
The motion to approve was made by Jan Bader and seconded by Rob Thomas. A roll-call vote recorded ayes from the commissioners present; staff noted the archaeological conditions will be included in the permit language. Wallach said the project will go to a Clark County Council work session on Feb. 18 and that procurement and permitting will follow, with building installation hoped for by the end of 2026 and trail design work anticipated to begin in 2027.
The commission closed the hearing after the vote; the certificate approval is conditioned on the standard inadvertent-discovery language and consultation of prior archaeological reports.
