The Greenwood Historic Preservation Commission is considering revising its application fees and requirements for developers and owners of buildings in the city’s fashionable historical district.
Six members of the commission, including Chairman Luke Schissel, attended an hourlong meeting Monday afternoon at City Hall and heard Brantley Snipes, executive director of Main Street Greenwood, go over the proposed changes.
Other members attending the meeting were Howard Smith, the Rev. Calvin Collins, Louise Delaney, Mary Rose Carter and Bob Gregory.
Snipes said she has reviewed the requirements for owners and developers in Natchez and incorporated some of those requirements into a first draft. She said Greenwood’s application process is fairly weak by comparison.
Snipes said she would like to incorporate some Natchez requirements into the city’s ordinance including:
• Providing a street address and parcel number of the building in the historical district.
• Developing a city map that will note whether a specific building is a landmark or just a “landmark site.
• Specifying the type of work being contemplated.
• A detailed description of the planned project.
• Designating architects to be involved on all restoration and improvement projects within the district.
• Requiring a bond for city contractors.
Snipes said city Realtors would be brought up to speed on the new requirements — if adopted — by means of a professionally prepared brochure.
Today, the fee to run a legal notice in the Commonwealth is $20 a month. In actuality, such notices actually cost the city between $60 and $80 at a time, said Thomas Gregory III, the city’s chief administrative officer.
“Natchez has much higher numbers. I think they start at $100,” Snipes said.
Snipes said she is proposing, as part of the revisions, that applicants struggling with financial hardships could have their application fees waived.
Under existing laws, the commissioner could begin a program of tax abatement to help struggling property owners.
Schissel said determining the proper color palette for historic buildings might lead to a constitutional challenge.
“I can see it now. In federal court, a constitutional issue — paint color,” he said jokingly.
Schissel said the proposed regulations, which might be acted upon, have been needed for some time. He said the commission could act as soon as December.
In a related matter, the commission voted unanimously to approve renovation plans for The Crystal Grill.
• Contact Bob Darden at 581-7239 or bdarden@gwcommonwealth.com.
