Yamhill council directs staff to draft historic‑district ordinance, moves review to Economic Development Committee

The Yamhill City Council voted April 8 to direct staff to draft a model ordinance to pursue participation in the Certified Local Government (CLG) historic‑preservation program and to refer further research and outreach to the city’s Economic Development Committee.

City planner Walt Wendelowski summarized steps the program requires — creating a preservation commission, adopting a preservation ordinance, updating a historic building inventory and coordinating with the National Register of Historic Places — and told council the planning commission supports exploring next steps but is concerned about recruiting qualified volunteers and securing property‑owner support.

‘‘The commission did look at this material and they were concerned whether or not there would be qualified individuals to really be part of this,’’ Wendelowski said, urging a cautious, phased approach that starts with an ordinance and a survey.

Curry Gil of the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office, who joined the meeting from Salem, described CLG as a National Park Service program administered through the state. ‘‘We award to our certified local governments grant funding in Oregon and provide technical assistance,’’ she said, and emphasized that joining CLG does not automatically impose local designation or design review unless the council later adopts those tools.

Councilors asked whether commissioners must live in Yamhill and whether the ordinance must be part of land‑use code. Curry Gil said residency rules are set by the community; an ordinance can be standalone or placed in planning code, and the state can help train volunteers who lack professional qualifications.

After discussion, a councilor moved to direct staff to draft the historic‑district ordinance and to move further research to the Economic Development Committee. The motion was seconded and approved. Council asked that the planner prepare a short memorandum and a draft ordinance for later council consideration.

Next steps: staff will prepare the draft ordinance and materials for the Economic Development Committee to review and report back to council. No local designation or mandatory design review was enacted at the meeting.