Planning board approves changes to historic-preservation review and board composition

The Planning Board on May 12 approved an ordinance that alters when certificates of appropriateness are required and changes the composition and voting rules of the Historic Preservation Board.

The city attorney explained the ordinance will send all designated historic properties — roughly 30 properties citywide, staff said — directly to the Historic Preservation Board for review rather than having the building director perform initial administrative screening. "Rather than have the director do the initial screening, all properties would simply go to the board," the city attorney said, noting the relatively small number of designated sites makes the change manageable.

The ordinance also reduces the board from nine members to seven and creates two alternate positions; it changes the quorum rule from three members to a majority of the board. The city attorney said the change is intended to ensure fuller board review given concerns that some applications might otherwise slip through administrative review. On standards for designation, the attorney said the city uses standards that mirror Miami-Dade County code and the Department of the Interior guidance, and that age alone is not sufficient for designation — architectural or historic significance must also be shown.

A board member moved to approve the ordinance as presented and another member seconded; the board voted in favor and the chair confirmed approval in the meeting record. The ordinance will proceed to the City Commission for any additional steps required under city procedure.