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Kinston commission moves regular meeting to 8:30 a.m., approves updated calendar; COA fee policy left for staff clarification
Summary
The Historic Preservation Commission voted to move its regular meetings from 9:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., approved an updated 2026 calendar to comply with state statute deadlines, and discussed COA fee practices (no action taken) after staff reported a CLG grant to update design guidelines.
At the Jan. 20 meeting the Historic Preservation Commission of Kinston approved several procedural items: a change to its regular meeting time, an updated 2026 meeting calendar, and an informational grant update. A separate discussion on Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) fees produced no action and staff were asked to confer with the Planning Director for clarification.
Vice‑Chair Travis Towne requested changing meetings from 9:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. because his teaching schedule now conflicts with the 9:00 start. Commissioners discussed scheduling and indicated they could accommodate the earlier time; Mr. Stephen Hill moved to change the meeting time to 8:30 a.m. on the third Tuesday of each month, Mrs. Kathy Reese seconded, and the motion passed unanimously. The next meeting was announced for Feb. 17, 2026, at 8:30 a.m.
Mr. Kearney reported that the City received confirmation of a Certified Local Government (CLG) grant on Sept. 9 to update the design guidelines and that required documentation has been submitted to the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO); staff are awaiting draft bidding documents from SHPO. Mr. Kearney also reported that Kinston currently does not charge COA fees, unlike several nearby historic districts, and that Kinston formerly charged $50 per COA application but no longer does. He explained that his supervisor had directed that approval of a COA now constitutes zoning permit approval, which has resulted in applicants not being charged the typical $50 zoning-permit fee. Mr. Towne said he was concerned about implementing fees because they might discourage voluntary COA submissions; the commission requested staff consult with the Planning Director and report back at a future meeting. No formal motion was taken on COA fees.
The commission approved an updated 2026 meeting calendar reflecting a change in application submission deadlines from 10 to 20 working days prior to meetings (approved earlier by City Council on Jan. 6) to ensure compliance with North Carolina General Statutes. The motion to approve the calendar passed unanimously.
