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Board debates COA rules, roof-materials and when structures become 'contributing'
Summary
Board and staff reviewed how certificates of appropriateness (COAs) are handled for noncontributing structures, options for like-for-like roof replacements, and the possibility of targeted surveys to update contributing-status assessments; staff said a structure generally must reach 50 years to be considered contributing.
Board members and staff spent an extended portion of the meeting reviewing how the historic-preservation review process treats noncontributing structures and roof replacements, and whether the design guidelines should be amended to reflect hurricane-hardening concerns.
Staff explained that like-for-like roof replacements (shingle for shingle or concrete tile for concrete tile) are typically approved at the staff level as a COA, but replacements that vary from original materials (for example, switching to standing-seam metal) often require board review. "So something like, a like for like placement, so shingle for shingle or concrete tile for concrete tile. The staff is empowered to essentially approve those at staff level as a COA," staff said. Board members discussed the policy reasons: staff and some board members noted that some noncontributing properties could become contributing in the future and that major alterations should be visually appropriate.
Members also discussed whether to pursue a new or targeted resurvey to identify houses that have turned 50 since the last effort; staff said a full resurvey has not been adopted by the City Commission but targeted consultant work or internal survey work are options. The 50-year threshold for contributing status was cited repeatedly as the working rule.
