As Council is aware, the Historic Preservation Board was created in 2002 with the purpose of regulating and administering historical, archaeological and architectural resources in the City and recommending resources for historic designation to the City Council. The powers, duties and responsibilities that are outlined in the governing ordinance for the Board are as follows:
1. Initiate, authorize, and oversee an ongoing historic survey and inventory of historically, culturally, aesthetically, archaeologically or architecturally significant resources within the City and to plan for the preservation of significant resources identified in the survey(s). All survey materials shall be kept available to the public, and duplicates of all inventory forms shall be supplied to the State Historic Preservation Office.
2. Recommend to the City Council specific buildings, structures, sites, signs, objects or districts approved for designation by the Board according to the procedures and based upon the criteria contained in this Historic Preservation Code as historic properties or historic districts to be listed on the Local Register of Historic Places.
3. Develop, publish, review and periodically update design guidelines. Such guidelines shall incorporate and be based upon the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation and Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings. In adopting these guidelines, it shall be the intent of the Board to promote maintenance, restoration and adaptive reuses appropriate to the property and compatible contemporary designs which are harmonious with the exterior architectural and landscape features of neighboring buildings, sites and streetscapes.
4. Recommend concepts or policies to the City Council and Community Redevelopment Agency that will assist in making historic preservation an integral and on-going part of the City's Land Development Code, and the City Comprehensive Plan, as required by the state of Florida.
5. Review applications for Certificates of Appropriateness and grant, deny, or suspend same based upon the application and the project's consistency with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation and Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings and in accordance with the provisions of this Historic Preservation Code.
6. Review and act upon applications for moving permits for all buildings, structures, signs, or objects that have been designated as historically significant pursuant to this Historic Preservation Code.
7. Review and act upon applications for moving permits for all structures that are:
a. Located outside the boundaries of a designated historic district when the proposed move would relocate the structure within the boundaries of a designated historic district.
b. Located within the boundaries of a designated historic district whether the proposed move would relocate the structure within the district or outside the district.
8. Conduct and attend educational programs on historic properties located inside and outside of the boundaries of the City, and on historic preservation in general.
9. Make recommendations to the City Council concerning the availability and utilization of grants from federal and state agencies, private groups and individuals, as well as the utilization of City funds to promote, undertake and enhance the preservation of archaeologically, historically, culturally, architecturally and aesthetically significant historic sites and districts.
10. Advise and assist property owners and other persons, groups or organizations on the physical and financial aspects of historic preservation and the renovation, rehabilitation, and restoration of historic and cultural resources, and to advise and assist property owners in identifying available funding sources while providing support to them in their efforts to secure available grant funding as well as state and local tax incentives.
11. Cooperate and advise local, state and federal governmental entities concerning the effects of local government actions on historic and cultural resources.
12. Assist, review and make recommendations to the State Historic Preservation Office on local nominations to the National Register of Historic Places.
13. Enforce this Historic Preservation Code and take appropriate action for noncompliance herewith.
14. Make a reasonable effort to attend a State Historic Preservation Office Orientation Program and any informational or educational meetings, conferences or workshops pertaining to work and functions of the Board scheduled by the State Historic Preservation Officer or the Florida Conference of Preservation Boards and Commissions or any other relevant educational workshops, conferences, or seminars relevant to historic preservation.
15. Approve, seek funding for the production of, and issue standard historic plaques or markers for designated historic properties, sites, and districts within the City.
16. Advise and assist the City Council on all matters related to the use, administration and maintenance of City owned historic properties.
17. Promote public awareness of historical, cultural, aesthetic, architectural and archaeological preservation and its community benefits.
18. Propose and recommend to the City Council any amendments to this Historic Preservation Code that, in the opinion of the Board, would further the objectives of this Historic Preservation Code.
19. Maintain responsibilities complementary to those of the State Historic Preservation Office through participation in municipal survey and planning activities, and provide any other services and/or functions that may be designated by the City Council.
Since its inception, the Board has met from time to time with the most recent meeting taking place in early 2020. Subsequent meetings were placed on hold while the City completed its application for Certified Local Government designation.
At the interest of several community residents and some City Council members, direction was given at your regular meeting on June 18, 2024 to re-activate this important advisory board. To qualify to serve on this board, a candidate must be a current city resident and preferably have knowledge of architecture, history, and/or the historical or architectural development of the City, or at minimum, have a deep concern for historic preservation, development and enhancement of the City's historical resources. Having experience in the following disciplines is preferred: architecture, history, architectural history, planning, art history, archaeology, American studies, American civilization, cultural geography, cultural anthropology, real estate, building construction, or other historic preservation related disciplines.
The first three members for this re-activated board were approved at your special meeting on August 1, 2024 and there are three more proposed members presented for your consideration. The candidates are Bonnie Martin, Beva Stevenson Karay and John Kane.
Bonnie Martin has been a member of the Library Advisory Board since 2018 and served as a past president. She is also the West Pasco Historical Society's Library Director. Living in our community for over fifty years, Ms. Martin brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to this board.
Beva Stevenson Karay is the great-great granddaughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Osteen Stevenson who were one of the first settlers in the mid-1830's. She is a community oriented resident and would bring her unending passion for preservation to this board.
John Kane has lived in the city for over forty-two years and has been a previous member of the Historic Preservation Board and Environmental Committee as well as a volunteer for the Chasco Fiesta and Cotee River Clean-Up. Prior to moving to New Port Richey, Mr. Kane assisted with the rehabilitation of pre-Civil War era homes in Hudson, New York. He will bring a unique perspective on historic preservation to this board.
If approved, their terms would be for three years and would be up for renewal on August 6, 2027. With these appointments, that leaves three member and two alternate member positions open on this board.