Port Richey preservation committee adopts New Port Richey action plan to jump-start historic-preservation work

The Port Richey Historical Preservation Committee voted April 9 to adopt a historic-preservation action plan modeled on New Port Richey’s plan as the committee’s working template and to pursue the next steps toward becoming a certified local government.

The committee, which met for the second time, also nominated and approved a secretary and discussed the CLG application process, training needs and possible city support for preservation-related memberships. A visiting resident asked for help nominating two waterfront homes for local designation; members said the new board is in early stages but offered to review property details at the next meeting.

Committee members said adopting New Port Richey’s plan will allow Port Richey to accelerate development of local standards. The plan the committee adopted (as written, to be tailored later) lays out three main components: formulation (standards and evaluation criteria and a surveying/inventory system), implementation (intake and review processes and certificate-of-appropriateness procedures) and preservation (maintaining a local register and reviewing designation petitions for the city council).

The motion to adopt the New Port Richey action plan was moved and seconded and passed by voice vote. The committee had completed a roll call at the start of the meeting indicating the presence of Chairwoman Howard, Vice Chairwoman Christine Sullivan, Member Beva Stevenson and Member Courtney Tuttle; Member Kim La Cour was noted as absent. Earlier in the meeting the committee also moved to approve minutes from its Feb. 12, 2026 meeting.

Members discussed practical next steps: obtain copies of New Port Richey’s documents, ask New Port Richey staff (Gabriella and Dale) to present at a future meeting, complete required paperwork for CLG status and identify training options. Members raised the question of whether the city could fund board memberships in organizations such as the Florida Historical Society or the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation to reduce out-of-pocket costs for volunteers.

A visitor, identified in the meeting as Patrick, said he hoped to nominate two properties built in the 1950s for designation and asked what the board’s approach to age criteria would be. Members noted the committee must balance age thresholds (for example, 50 years vs. older thresholds), the costs and limits that historic designation can impose on privately occupied properties—especially regarding repairs and materials after storm damage—and the potential need for exceptions or creative solutions to ease owner burdens.

Members also cited the Gulf High School preservation effort in New Port Richey as a nearby example, saying local designation can be useful groundwork before pursuing state or national registers. The committee agreed to add the CLG application and related documentation as agenda items for an upcoming meeting and to invite New Port Richey staff to walk the committee through the requirements.

The committee meets every two months; members said they will follow up with staff to secure the documents and schedule the presentation that will support completing the CLG application.