Historic Preservation Ordinance Update
Second Reading Gets Thumbs UP from Commission
Ordinance Passes on 3-2 Vote
The Commission voted December 14 to approve the Historic Preservation ordinance as presented. To see the full text of the ordinance, click here.
Mayor Steve Leary and Commissioner Sarah Sprinkel maintained their opposition to the ordinance, while Commissioners Greg Seidel, Tom McMacken and Carolyn Cooper voted to approve. After considerable maneuvering on the part of the Commissioners, Tom McMacken summed up what the ordinance will and will not do, stressing that the ordinance does not create districts. “It [establishes] a process that allows people to apply,” said McMacken. “If they meet certain criteria, it goes to the [Historic Preservation] Board, and then it comes to us, and at the end of the day, we are the ultimate arbitrators.”
HP Board Still Working on Incentives
Following the Commission vote, City Planning Director Dori Stone explained that the Historic Preservation Board had requested more time to work on a package of incentives the City would offer to individuals and districts seeking to designate their properties. The Board is expected to report back to the Commission in February 2016.
A very sad day for Winter Park. A very sad day indeed.
Not only did residents lose their property rights, but at the same meeting another City Commission vote also took residents’ free speech rights.
Very sad.
I hear this a lot, but can you clarify…preferably without the cloak of anonymity….exactly what “rights” “the residents” are losing?
Commissioner Tom is rationalizing his illogical vote. The commission voted 3-2 to allow 51% of neighbors to beat up on 49% to form a district. If Commissioner Tom doesn’t understand that he is either playing dumb or realizes this law is a loser that allows a majority in a district to beat up on a minority in a neighborhood and he doesn’t want to go down that path. He almost seems excited to authorize a district that beats up on 49%. Beware of people that want to control you and the politicians that empower them.
Anne Mooney’s bio is longer than the report. A star is born?