Post by BrianSullivan on Sept 10, 2010 11:27:04 GMT -5
Have you ever driven or walked down Main street and wondered why some of the signage is so out of place for a historic district? I know many people have, including the HPC.
I attended the 9/9/10 special HPC meeting. On the agenda was two buildings with applications in front of the HPC. Both were denied. The first for an incomplete application and the second because the proposals did not conform to ordinances under the HRC review.
In the bigger picture, many members of the HPC have concerns over procedures and what has been allowed to occur on Main Street and other areas of the historic district. It has been very clear that many code and building applications have been approved without going to the HPC which is supposed to oversee and ensure that historic integrity is preserved by way of ordinance. Many shops down town are in blatant violation. The HPC would rather see stores go to them before work is done. Generally speaking, the HPC will not expect anything that causes undue hardship on businesses.
Readers of this site will recall that I reported that MR. Ballew of Ballew Jewelers had brought this up at a council meeting several months ago. Council liaison John Newman is also bringing this matter to the forefront. There are expectations that this will be on the next meeting agenda later on this month. Earlier this year, the HPC passed a resolution asking to be the sole entity in reviewing sign applications. They would like to take it out of the hands of the building department which has approved a number of violations. This resolution is expected to be reviewed at the Sept 20th council meeting.
There is a sign subcommittee in place, but it only meets when an application is denied, which is never.
In 1980, there was a master plan established which outlined guidelines for signage that would have given downtown a colonial feel. It has become abundantly clear that the master plan and ordinances have been ignored and if they had not been, we would not be seeing this issue arising today.
I attended the 9/9/10 special HPC meeting. On the agenda was two buildings with applications in front of the HPC. Both were denied. The first for an incomplete application and the second because the proposals did not conform to ordinances under the HRC review.
In the bigger picture, many members of the HPC have concerns over procedures and what has been allowed to occur on Main Street and other areas of the historic district. It has been very clear that many code and building applications have been approved without going to the HPC which is supposed to oversee and ensure that historic integrity is preserved by way of ordinance. Many shops down town are in blatant violation. The HPC would rather see stores go to them before work is done. Generally speaking, the HPC will not expect anything that causes undue hardship on businesses.
Readers of this site will recall that I reported that MR. Ballew of Ballew Jewelers had brought this up at a council meeting several months ago. Council liaison John Newman is also bringing this matter to the forefront. There are expectations that this will be on the next meeting agenda later on this month. Earlier this year, the HPC passed a resolution asking to be the sole entity in reviewing sign applications. They would like to take it out of the hands of the building department which has approved a number of violations. This resolution is expected to be reviewed at the Sept 20th council meeting.
There is a sign subcommittee in place, but it only meets when an application is denied, which is never.
In 1980, there was a master plan established which outlined guidelines for signage that would have given downtown a colonial feel. It has become abundantly clear that the master plan and ordinances have been ignored and if they had not been, we would not be seeing this issue arising today.
