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Poland Village officials make changes to proposed historic ordinance
SEE ALSO: Poland officials continue efforts to get property owner to make repairs
POLAND
Poland Village Planning Commission made changes to a proposed historic-preservation ordinance at a meeting Wednesday, after two previous meetings at which residents voiced concerns about the proposal.
The proposed ordinance, if adopted by village council, would prevent residents whose homes were built before 1900 from demolishing or significantly altering the exterior of their houses. Major projects that affect the exterior would have to be approved by a board.
One of the most significant changes to the draft was to state that an “alteration” is any material change in the external architectural features of a building or structure, and does not include ordinary repairs or maintenance. Previously, the proposal defined an alteration as any change in the external architecture of a building, and did not specify that repairs and maintenance did not have to be approved.
Melissa Macejko, a North Lima Road resident, said this issue concerned her because historic homes require a lot of maintenance.
“As the owner of a historic home, we have a different project every weekend,” she said.
Commission members agreed that the draft should state that historic structures that have had changes made to them should be grandfathered in under the ordinance, as long as they are compliant with the zoning code.
Another change was to specify that the village will have a time limit for considering applications.
The commission also agreed that individual property owners cannot opt out of the ordinance, and that some form of historic design review would be part of the proposal.
Commission members said it will be up to village council to determine penalties for anyone who violates the ordinance, if it passes.
“This is still just a working draft. Nothing becomes law in Poland Village until and unless village council chooses to pass it,” said Atty. J. Michael Thompson, planning commission chairman. “We will hold at least one more planning commission meeting on the topic.”
The next meeting will take place at 7 p.m. Oct. 15 at village hall.