Agenda Date: 11/17/2020
Subject:
Title
Downtown Historic District Project Update
Body
|
Prepared By: |
Andrea Mimnaugh, Senior Planner |
PURPOSE:
Council update on progress on the downtown historic district project.
PRESENTATIONS:
Staff Presenter(s): Andrea Mimnaugh, Senior Planner
Jennifer Henninger, Community Development Director
Additional Presenter(s): N/A
SUMMARY:
At city council’s August 4, 2020 study session, city council directed staff, with assistance from the historical preservation board, to prepare an application for a downtown historic district to include Alamo Avenue. The staff presentation that evening included a schedule for developing and processing the application, running from September 2020 through city council consideration in December, 2021. The purpose of the presentation this evening is to update city council on staff and HPB’s progress to date.
PRIOR ACTIONS OR DISCUSSIONS:
In early August of this year, City Council provided direction to staff to process a downtown historic district application. Staff put together a timeline and list of tasks associated with the creation of the district and presented it to the Historical Preservation Board on September 21, 2020. At that meeting three committees were formed to complete the following tasks: update the 1997 downtown historic survey, determine integrity and significance of each property, establish a proposed boundary, and identify historic themes within the district. At the October 19, 2020 HPB meeting, the first committee which focused on the update to the historic survey, presented their progress. Their second and final presentation on the completion of the work is scheduled for the November 16, 2020 meeting.
ANALYSIS:
Staff Analysis
The project is on schedule and there have been no unexpected challenges at this time.
Council Goal, Objective, and/or Guiding Principle
The 2040 Vision identifies preservation and celebration of local history as one of the City’s core values. The Historic Downtown District supports Comprehensive Plan Policy HART 2 and Action HART 11.
Fiscal Impacts
None identified. Staff does not anticipate utilizing consulting services to supplement staff capacity.
Alternatives
The project is on track as planned. As such, no alternatives have been discussed.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends moving forward with the project as planned.