Preservation commission gets earful
Panel OKs map, hears criticism from residents
Comments (...)MORRISON – Many residents at a public meeting Tuesday said they support historic preservation. But they criticized how the city has handled the issue.
The city’s Historic Preservation Commission got an earful before deciding to approve boundaries of the city’s historic district.
The city had been using a district map that it thought the City Council had properly approved in 2010. But it didn’t pass legal muster because of a procedural error, officials said.
Instead, a 2007 map of the district was legally in effect. After the city caught the error – Alderwoman Marti Wood got the credit – it decided to have a public hearing before properly approving the map.
Resident Don Becker said the city should start over with its historic district.
“People aren’t going to back this because the city is shoving this down our throats,” he said. “I support historic preservation, but this wasn’t done right to accomplish a good purpose.”
Luke VanderBleek, another resident, said he wanted a nice-looking town, adding that he spends money in areas where properties are in order. But he said Morrison has created its historic district without keeping residents in the loop.
Business owner Bob Shambaugh said he is legally required to let neighbors know about proposed zoning changes on his property, but the city hasn’t given such notifications when it changed the boundaries of its historic district.
“I should have had my say in 2007,” he said.
Others also said the city failed to notify them of boundary changes.
Tim Slavin, the commission’s chairman, said historic preservation is all about improving the economy, because the older buildings are assets.
A resident shot back that putting people back to work in the old GE factory would be best for the economy.
Slavin replied that the historic district wouldn’t solve all of the town’s economic problems, but it would help.
Slavin said he recognized arguments that regulations in historic districts infringed on property rights. By the same token, he said, when a neighbor builds an ugly house next door, that hurts others’ property values.
The city presented maps that indicated three separate historic districts, but Slavin said the city actually had one district with three sections – downtown, the Hill and Lincoln Highway.
After the public comment, Slavin called for approval of the 2010 map. Some objected, saying the commission was ignoring their feedback.
But Slavin said the commission should approve the change. Otherwise, he said, the larger 2007 historic district would remain.
The panel voted unanimously for the changes, with a request that the City Council determine the regulations for the district. The council has the final say in the district.
It also voted to get public support for historic preservation efforts.
Thirty-two residents attended the meeting, which took place in the basement conference room at City Hall. A few stood in the hallway because there wasn’t enough space in the room, which was about the size of a living room.
After the meeting, a resident asked Slavin whether the commission could meet in a larger room the next time it discussed the historic district. He said that was a good idea.
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