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Committee backs ordinance requiring exterior 3D scans for demolition of historic buildings
Summary
The committee recommended an ordinance that would require exterior laser scans for historically designated buildings or buildings in historic districts as a condition of a COA for demolition; preservation staff said exterior scans are quick, limited in scope and likely to cost from a few hundred dollars to roughly $2,000 depending on complexity.
Chair Alderman Bauman introduced an ordinance developed with the UWM School of Architecture and Urban Planning to require exterior laser (3D) scans for buildings that are historically designated or in historic districts when an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness for demolition has been filed.
A preservation representative described pilot scans performed on a King Drive property and said a typical exterior scan in a straightforward case took roughly 25–35 minutes. The commission’s representative and staff emphasized the requirement is narrowly drawn to preserve exterior records for future research and will not mandate interior scanning as a general rule. Cost-ballparking ranged from an upcharge of about $500 plus hourly technician time for simple cases to approximately $2,000 for larger, more complex buildings such as City Hall.
Committee members discussed discretion to exempt minor structures (garages and sheds) and confirmed the preservation commission will adopt standards and guidelines to govern when scanning is required. The committee moved to recommend the ordinance and the item advanced to council consideration.
