HPAB agrees to move proposed historic-preservation LDR sections to council for review

The Punta Gorda City Historic Preservation Advisory Board agreed May 28 to move forward with proposed changes to the city’s Land Development Regulations related to historic preservation, recommending sections 8.1, 15.4, 16.3 and 16.5 as the starting point for a local ordinance and requesting several targeted edits.

Board members said the packet supplied by staff provides a workable foundation but recommended specific changes before formal forwarding: change the board’s name to remove “Advisory” (to reflect a regulatory role), add the Babcock House on Shore Drive to the local list of historic properties, and update quorum language to match the board’s current size.

Zoning official Rachel Barry told the board that the cited chapters tie together in chapter 26 and that architectural-style sections referenced in article 16 are listed in article 7; staff recommended readopting overlay districts to maintain consistency with prior work. Charlie Noble and other members said they had reviewed the sections and supported moving them forward.

Board members asked for the revisions to be prepared for consideration at a special meeting so the body can make formal motions in a properly noticed meeting; city staff and the city attorney agreed to provide legal review and to return substantive changes to the board prior to transmittal to city council.

Next steps: staff will compile the board’s edits and the city attorney will complete legal review; the board expects to take formal action at its upcoming special meeting and then forward a recommendation to council for two readings.