To Preserve and Protect

The City Council directed the city attorney’s office Monday to draft guidelines that would allow the city to designate and protect the city’s historic homes. Addressing concerns about its ability to preserve some of the city’s quaint, older homes, the city has been looking at possible solutions to impending property development.

At Monday’s council meeting, Councilman Shawn Boyd suggested the city define restoration and preservation and offer a 50% property tax reduction to home owners of qualifying restoration projects.

While the requested guidelines are for single-family homes only, the city also is exploring the idea of preserving historic homes by allowing them to be converted into bed and breakfasts.

A current proposed zoning ordinance sets standards for “locally significant historic structures” to qualify as future bed and breakfasts. The proposed ordinance states the conversion could take place in dwellings built 75 years ago and provide no more than six guest rooms or suites per structure.

*

Alex Murashko can be reached at (714) 966-5974.