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City designates Douglas Downtown Historic District after second reading
Summary
After a second reading and public hearing with no public speakers, the mayor and board approved an ordinance creating a Downtown Historic District, establishing a historic preservation commission and requiring certificates of appropriateness for material exterior changes.
The City of Douglas Mayor and Board of Commissioners approved an ordinance on Feb. 24, 2025, to designate the Douglas Downtown Historic District and to establish a historic preservation commission charged with prescribing district boundaries and overseeing certificates of appropriateness for material changes in the district.
Bill Lawrence, who presented the ordinance at the meeting, described its purpose: "submitting the establishment of a historic preservation commission . . . to prescribe the boundaries of such historic properties or the historic districts and to provide for issuance of certificates of appropriateness prior to any material change in appearance of any property within the Downtown Historic District," he said.
The ordinance was read for a second time and opened for public comment; the city attorney noted the ordinance had been read once before on Feb. 10. No members of the public stepped to the podium to speak during the hearing. A commissioner asked whether properties that were previously on the list remained included; the mayor replied, "They're still there." The board then moved, seconded, and approved the ordinance on a voice vote.
The ordinance creates a local review process and an appeal procedure for property owners seeking relief from design requirements. The city attorney framed the new rules as applying to properties "shown on the official map of the city" and required a certificate of appropriateness before material exterior work.
The measure passed at the meeting on Feb. 24, 2025. The ordinance text and administrative steps for the preservation commission and the certificate process will be available through the city attorney's office and city staff for property owners seeking guidance.
