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Douglas designates downtown a local historic district and adopts new design guidelines
Summary
The Douglas City Commission approved a resolution designating downtown Douglas as a local historic district and adopted new residential and commercial design guidelines produced with grant funding; staff said the new rules apply to future projects and do not retroactively change previously approved work.
The Douglas City Commission on March 10 approved a resolution from the Historic Preservation Commission designating downtown Douglas as a local historic district and also adopted updated residential and commercial design guidelines for local historic districts.
City Manager Charlie Davis told the commission the resolution is one of the state requirements for the designation and that the design guidelines were produced through a grant and professional consultant work. "It's time now that y'all have to vote on them so they'll be effective," a staff speaker said.
A commissioner asked whether units already built (for example, apartment units on North Gasan) would be subject to the new guidelines. Staff clarified that previously approved units remain based on the approvals in force at their time of permitting, and that the new guidelines will govern future projects in the district.
The commission approved both the resolution and the guidelines on the consent agenda by voice vote. Staff said the guidelines aim to protect features of properties with historical significance while allowing for reasonable new development in designated districts.
What happens next: the resolution takes effect as a local designation and the adopted guidelines will be used in future design reviews in the city's local historic districts. Staff said they will implement the guidelines through the Historic Preservation Commission and usual permitting processes.
