TINA L. SCOTT
EDITOR
The City of Merrill Historic Preservation Committee has been meeting monthly since February and spent several months reassessing their role. Previously, according to City Ordinance, they were tasked with nominating and/or approving nominations for historic districts, homes, and/or sites within the City, as well as holding hearings prior to and then designating them as such. They also had broad powers related to setting standards for properties designated as historic and regulating the construction, reconstruction, alteration, and/or demolition of those properties, all in some detail.
The demise of the T.B. Scott Mansion earlier this year prompted the Committee to begin meeting regularly to hopefully prevent historic properties from being demolished without specific review and approval by the Committee and more public awareness, and to also begin taking a more active role in promoting the preservation of historic properties in the community.
Initially, members of the Committee discovered they might have different visions for the Committee’s purpose, and it took them some time to arrive at a common vision for going forward, but at the July 7 Historic Preservation Committee meeting, the group considered a huge change to their previous role(s) and recommended a change to the Ordinance accordingly.
Now, the public will have the opportunity to give their input at a public hearing by and before the Merrill City Plan Commission on Tuesday, August 3, at 6:00 p.m. in Council Chambers at Merrill City Hall. [To attend remotely, call 225.800.2151 and enter PIN # 456 483 877#.]
A new outlook on historic preservation
“In light of the recent demolition of many Merrill historical structures, the Merrill Historic Preservation Committee has been activated to be a watch dog for Merrill’s iconic structures,” said Steve Sabatke, Alderperson and member of the Historic Preservation Committee.
“The intent of this Committee is not to interfere with building owners but to highlight Merrill’s heritage, instill pride of ownership, and promote the beauty of our city. Therefore, the Merrill Historic Preservation Ordinance has been modified to assist, advise, and motivate building owners rather than restrict them,” he said of the amendment that is the subject of the public hearing.
Proposed changes to the Ordinance
The public hearing will focus on the proposed amendment to the City of Merrill’s Historic Preservation Ordinance Sec. 105-314 to 105-322, which will change the scope of the Historic Preservation Committee’s focus and powers.
If this amendment is passed, the Historic Preservation Committee’s primary role will be to:
• Award historic structure designations to properties, IF the owner consents to the designation.
• Recognize historic structures, sites, and districts with a suitable plaque.
• Rescind historic structure designations to properties at the request of the property owner.
• Review requests for demolition of historic structures and either deny them or approve them and issue an “historic permit” allowing for demolition if the demolition is approved.
• Create non-binding advisory historic preservation standards for structures given an historic structure designation.
One of the other big differences between the former Ordinance and the proposed revised Ordinance will be a new focus on historic properties maintaining a “Streetview Perspective” which is defined as having a “general overall resemblance to the original exterior appearance of the building or structure from the street or sidewalk” which is dramatically different from the detailed list of requirements for buildings designated as historic previously.
Other significant changes:
• The revised Ordinance specifies: “No property shall be designated without the expressed written consent of the owner.”
• The structure of the Historic Preservation Committee members would no longer require the makeup of the Committee to include a registered architect, an historian, and a licensed real estate broker, but simply two Alderpersons and three resident citizen members.
The intent of the changes
City Administrator Dave Johnson summarized. “Basically the Committee expressed that they were interested in performing an advisory function rather than an enforcement function,” he said.
“The purpose is to preserve historic structures while not making their preservation too onerous to the owner,” Johnson said. “Some cities have historic preservation ordinances that specify the type of materials that must be used when working on a historic home which can add significantly to restoration or preservation costs.”
“We are more interested in preserving the ‘street view’ of historic homes, that is, we want them to look old and period authentic while being viewed from the street.”
“This means that owners could install new energy efficient and maintenance free windows that are made of materials other than wood but look like wood. They could replace old wood siding that will no longer hold paint with maintenance free siding that looks like wood,” he explained.
“Anyone with a listed historic home wanting to demolish the structure would have to bring a request to the Historic Preservation Committee,” he added.
The Ordinance doesn’t address “historic commercial structures” at this time but could in the future, Johnson said.
The Historic Preservation Committee has also taken a renewed interest in recognizing designated historic buildings with a plaque, prepared and erected at the City’s direction and expense, where it is easily visible to passing pedestrians.
Providing input
Anyone with thoughts or comments on the proposed revisions to the Ordinance should plan to attend the public hearing, either in person or remotely.