Council moves to create historic overlay district boundary so preservation commission can operate under code

Taylor City Council on Nov. 8, 2025, directed staff to begin the statutory notice process to formally create a historic overlay district that will enable the Historic Preservation Commission to operate under the recently codified Chapter 6 of the city’s land-development code.

Staff said the land-development code adopted in 2023 included a historic-preservation chapter, but procedural notice language required by the Texas Local Government Code (section 211.0165) had not been implemented when previous rezoning was done. The statutory notice is necessary to give property owners the specific rights and opt-out provisions required for historic-district designations.

Assistant staff said the proposed overlay would initially follow the existing downtown/historic boundaries used for other programs, allowing the commission to review applications, support preservation and coordinate grants and economic incentives. Staff proposed sending the required notices on Nov. 17 so the Historic Preservation Commission could consider the designation on Dec. 3 and council could act on Dec. 11, 2025. Council voted to direct staff to proceed with the notice and ordinance process.

Staff said the change is an administrative cleanup to allow the city’s Historic Preservation Commission to take action under Chapter 6 and to support downtown revitalization and preservation goals.