The Town of Greece will once again have a historic preservation board, reinstating the citizen panel that was dissolved in 2017.
The local law passed the town board during its July 16 meeting by a unanimous vote following a public hearing continued from two previous council meetings. The law does not include a provision to allow for involuntary landmark designation, but it does give the preservation board the power to review and recommend changes to local law.
Historic preservation boards protect their community’s architectural heritage, reviewing proposed changes to building exteriors for appropriateness that are landmarks or located within historic districts.
The five-member historic preservation board will be appointed by the town board and will be open to anyone with “a demonstrated interest, competence or knowledge of historic preservation.” Each member will be appointed to a two-year term and must complete at least four hours of training each year. Membership by a licensed architect is encouraged and preferred. The town historian will be a non-voting member of the board.
The preservation board will create an inventory of historically significant buildings and districts within the town. The board could then go through the listings and reach out to property owners for designation.
The Greece Historical Society identifies five historic and iconic properties in the town: the Larkin-Beattie-Howe House, the Covert-Brodie-Pollok House, the Joseph Fleming House, the Rigney-Feeney House and the William A. Payne House.
The only person who spoke during the public hearing was Gina DiBella, who previously served as the chair of the town’s historic preservation commission. She said she was disappointed that the ordinance made designation voluntary and initiated by the property owner.
“I know the town is hesitant about giving so much power to an inexperienced board, but no historic preservation board should ever designate without diligent research and supporting documentation,” DiBella said.
Instead, she offered the state’s model ordinance which allows the property owner to contest any designation decision. She also suggested a two-step process in which the Historic Preservation Board would recommend properties and the Town Board would make the final designation following a public hearing.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Greece revives Historic Preservation Board after 9 years | Exclusive
Reporting by Steve Howe, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Steve Howe, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle | USA TODAY Network
