Second Reading of an Ordinance amending Chapter 2, Review Authority, Chapter 3, Applications and Permits, Chapter 4, Zoning Districts, and Chapter 16, Definitions, of the Unified Development Code (UDC) regarding the rules, standards and regulations of the Historic Districts (Amendment No. 2) -- Sofia Nelson, CNU-A, Planning Director

Summary of Proposed UDC Amendments

Back up Materials:

Additional materials that may support your review of this item include the following:

• 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 historic priority resources within the community- 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.

City Council Action:

At their March 26, 2019 meeting, the City Council accepted the Planning and Zoning Commission's recommendation on First Reading of the Ordinance:

· Review of Low Priority Resources inside a Historic District

• COAs for Buildings designated medium and high prioritywithin 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, single and two-family residential structures no longer will be exempt from COA review and shall require approval of a COA by HARC.

· Use of In-Kind Materials

• The use of in-kind materials for low and medium priority resources

· Review of Demolition Process Outside of a Historic District

• 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 directed and HARC shall continue to retain responsibility for final decisions on COAs.