Background:
The City Council directed staff to update the UDC’s standards and processes relating to the historic districts as part of the 2018/19 UDC Annual Review process (Amendment No. 2). The purpose of this amendment is to incorporate recommendations from the 2016 Historic Resource Survey, streamline the standards based on the City's historic resources, and address challenges in the review process. In November 2018, December 2018, and January 2019, the City Council discussed the City's historic resources, current processes, and provided direction and guidance on changes to improve the historic standards and review process.
Summary of Proposed UDC Amendments
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City Code/UDC Section
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Proposed UDC Change
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City Code 2.50
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HARC to provide City Council with a recommendation on COAs
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UDC Section 3.03
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Update public notice requirements for City Council review of COAs
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UDC Section 3.13
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• Reflect City Council as the decision maker, instead of HARC
• Make a Master Sign Plan an application that can be approved administratively if all design guidelines are met
• Include the use of in-kind (like or similar material) replacements of architectural features on medium and low priority resources
• Include “creating or adding to an existing street facing façade” to Table 3.13, therefore requiring City Council approval
• Remove review of Low Priority (outside a National Register District) and Non-Contributing Structures
• Remove 60-day demolition delay period for properties outside of a historic district
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UDC Section 16.02
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Updated to Clarify Definition
· Historic Structure, Contributing
· Historic Structure, Non-Contributing
· Historic and Architectural Review Commission
· Downtown and Old Town Design Guidelines
· Certificate of Appropriateness
Develop New Definition
· National Register of Historic Places
· Replacement Materials, In-Kind
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Back up Materials:
Additional materials that may support your review of this item include the following:
- UDC Amendments reader guide. This is a summary of the amendments that outlines discussions with City Council, specific sections of the UDC being amended, preservation goals established by City Council and other strategies City Council discussed when directing work on the UDC amendments.
- Summary of the conducted public outreach- The 11.2019 presentation made to City Council is attached for your review. It includes a summary of each of the conducted surveys and community feedback.
- Map of the low priority structures within a historic district- The following interactive map to review all historic structures (in and outside of a historic district). https://georgetowntx.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=22cfe94aa87c4224a6b87347e0668220
UDC Advisory Committee (UDCAC) Recommendation:
The UDCAC held a public hearing and discussion on this item on 3/13/2019. The UDCAC requested a continuance of the item until 3/18/2019 to allow for additional participation from two commissioners that were missing from the meeting. On 3/18/2019 the UDCAC provided the following recommendation with a vote of (4-0 with 1 member abstaining on the overall motion):
- Recommended denial on the UDC Amendments as drafted with the following recommendations:
· Review of Low Priority Resources Inside a Historic District
- COAs for Buildings designated medium and high priority within a designated historic district shall be reviewed by HARC where they are currently reviewed by HARC.
- COAs for Buildings designated low priority within a designated historic district shall be reviewed by HPO, where currently reviewed by HARC.
· Use of In-Kind Materials
- Recommended the use of in-kind materials for low and medium priority resources
· Review of Demolition Process Outside of a Historic District
- Recommend the 60 day hold be applicable to the following resources outside of a district:
- High Priority Resources- to be reviewed by HARC
- Medium priority Resources- to be reviewed by the HPO
· Review Authority Change
- No change to HARC authority was recommend- significant discussion on this particular recommendation took place. The UDCAC asked staff to share that at the time of making the recommendation on this item it was difficult to identify how making HARC an advisory committee would help improve the development process.
Planning and Zoning (P&Z) Commission Action:
At the March 19th Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting the commission with a vote of 4-0 made the following recommendation:
Moved to accept the recommendation prepared by the UDCAC with a modification to the recommendation on low priority resources inside a historic district. The full recommendation is as follows:
Recommended denial on the UDC Amendments as drafted with the following recommendations:
· Review of Low Priority Resources inside a Historic District
- COAs for Buildings designated medium and high priority within a designated historic district shall continue to be reviewed by HARC where they are currently reviewed by HARC.
- COAs for Buildings designated low priority within a designated historic district shall be reviewed by HPO where they are currently reviewed by HARC for the exception of requests for demolition of low priority structures inside a historic district. Demolition of low priority resources, inside of a historic district, shall receive a public review and notification and reviewed by HARC. Additionally, the commission recommended that single and two-family residential structures no longer be exempt from COA review and shall require approval of a COA by HARC.
· Use of In-Kind Materials
- Recommended the use of in-kind materials for low and medium priority resources
· Review of Demolition Process Outside of a Historic District
- Recommend the 60 day hold continue to be applicable to the following resources outside of a district:
- High Priority Resources- to be reviewed by HARC
- Medium priority Resources- to be reviewed by the HPO
· Review Authority Change
- No change to HARC authority was recommend and HARC shall continue to retain responsibility for final decisions on COAs.