La Plata preservation commission launches ‘legacy business’ discussion, seeds $1,800 in grants and appoints subcommittee

A staff member presented a proposal on July 17 to create a La Plata legacy-business program intended to recognize long-established local enterprises and offer modest support to help them remain viable.

The presenter defined legacy businesses as “long established, locally rooted enterprises that typically are operating for 20 to 25 years or more,” and argued the program could combine recognition with targeted zoning flexibility, small grants and promotional support. The staff member said the town set aside $1,800 in the FY2027 budget as seed money for up to five legacy-business grants and recommended a subcommittee to draft program criteria.

Why it matters: staff said the program would protect businesses that contribute to the town’s cultural identity and could remove regulatory barriers that unintentionally burden older businesses operating under nonconforming conditions. The proposal targets both preservation and small-scale economic development in La Plata’s downtown.

The presentation outlined possible elements: a culturally informed definition for eligibility; outreach to businesses and residents; modest financial incentives and advertising; and zoning changes such as overlays or expanded nonconforming-use protections to allow reasonable modernization or limited expansion. The presenter emphasized that a locally appropriate version of programs launched in larger cities could be scaled for La Plata’s resources.

To illustrate the concept, staff used a case study of Morris Country Store in Lynchburg, Va., a business the presenter described as “meaningful to the community” and important for heritage tourism and shared memory. The presenter quoted that owner Jennifer Moore “built around a longstanding tradition of community, food and family.”

Commission reaction was generally favorable. Commission member S1 called the presentation “Very, very well done.” Commissioners asked about the program’s origin, staffing needs and whether the town had received bottom‑up requests; staff said this was a staff‑initiated program drawing on models used elsewhere, and that the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) would draft recommendations for Planning Commission and Town Council review. Staff said the program’s draft ideally would reach council by year-end so the town could deploy the FY27 funds.

The commission voted to form a subcommittee to help staff draft the program; commissioners appointed Chair Gilpin as the interim subcommittee lead until the next meeting. Staff said the subcommittee will help shape outreach, eligibility criteria (staff is initially screening for businesses at least 25 years old) and program priorities.

Next steps: staff will draft program refinements for subcommittee review, conduct public outreach, and then forward recommendations to the Planning Commission and Town Council. If the council approves zoning or program changes, staff said modest incentives and a public recognition program could follow.