THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 17, 1995 TAG: 9502160105
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TONI WHITT, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 46 lines
The city may be looking to redesign its historic homes preservation plans.
In a meeting between the City Council and the Commission of Architectural Review for Port Norfolk and Park View on Monday, board members discussed implementing incentives and crafting new guidelines for the city's historic district.
The city now isn't consistent in the way it enforces the guidelines, in part because staff members haven't always communicated the rules to homeowners in the historic districts, said William Jones, the city's planning director.
While Jones said communications have improved over the last three years, the commissioners and council members said the preservation plan still needs to be revamped.
City Manager V. Wayne Orton suggested that the commissioners work with council, city staff and community members to design a new historic preservation plan for the city.
``We've talked about having a comprehensive plan that offers further support,'' said Katherine Williams, vice chairwoman of the Commission of Architectural Review for Port Norfolk and Park View. ``I don't think most things we require are an economic hardship. A lot of the costs are minimal and it's a matter of educating (homeowners in historic areas.)''
Gary McCants, a commissioner who lives in Park View, said in designing a comprehensive plan, the city also should make sure the codes are enforceable and that there are ``heavy'' penalities for code violations.
``We hope to have a comprehensive plan that will balance out having government involved,'' said Betsy Randolph, of the Commission of Architectural Review for Port Norfolk and Park View. ``There could be areas where we offer specific incentives or give a little bit of a tax break for being in a historic district,'' she added. ``There has been a benefit to having these districts.''
Incentives are a good idea, if the city can afford them, Councilman P. Ward Robinett said.
``If we had a real desire to have preservation of historic districts we would have funds to assist with that,'' Williams said. by CNB