The Clarkdale Town Council unanimously voted to create a historic preservation ordinance on Tuesday, Jan. 14.
Clarkdale created an Historic Preservation Commission in July 2020 to develop an ordinance that would meet the State Historic Preservation Office’s requirements for the town to qualify for Certified Local Government status, which would enable the town to apply for grants that ensure consistent historic preservation practices. The commission began drafting the ordinance in early 2021.
The ordinance states that it is intended to enhance the town’s historical, architectural, cultural and archaeological resources for the welfare of its residents and to support the preservation of buildings, structures and sites that were identified in the Historic Resource Survey of Clarkdale and National Register of Historic Places Designation. It is intended to establish design standards to maintain what the commissioners consider to be the architectural integrity of a property.
Assistant Town Manager and Community Development Director Ruth Mayday told the council that compliance with the ordinance is voluntary for properties that are within the boundaries of the historic district and that it applies only to commercial properties. Property owners must fill out an application to have their properties included in the district.
Mayday explained that the town will offer property owners incentives to attempt to secure their participation, including waiving building permit fees for projects that modernize historic structures, and cited as an example a recent renovation that cost $20,000 for building permits alone.
Application fees will be waived for historic preservation projects and those projects will receive accelerated review.
“The impetus for this is to get some of these buildings that are having a tough time getting their projects done, to get them up to code so we have an active and vibrant downtown,” Mayday said.
Property owners who choose not to participate in the historic district will remain subject to the underlying central business district zoning and the Downtown Focus Area Plan. Purchasers of properties included in the district can also choose to opt out.
Three residents spoke on the proposed ordinance. Of them, Drake Meinke said it was difficult to apply for grants if a property was not part of an historic preservation district.
“Before us I think we have something that will serve the people today and into the future and help protect our buildings that are such an integral part of our community,” Vice Mayor Debbie Hunseder said.
“This is a benefit not only to these buildings, it’s a benefit to all of us as residents of Clarkdale and hopefully will continue to work to preserve the unique character of our community,” Councilwoman Laura Jones said.
Mayor Robyn Prud’homme-Bauer said that the council had wanted to ensure property owners led the way with this ordinance and that while now property owners can apply for grants, there is still not enough funding to accomplish everything they would like to see done.
“Do I think it is the panacea to preserve all of this?” Prud’homme- Bauer asked. “No, I don’t. Preservation takes the heart of each one of us to preserve our buildings and work together as a community. This is just a mechanism. It’s all of us working to make these buildings be here not just today and tomorrow, but in the long-term future for the people who are here after us.”
