Commission orders cost estimate for historic-preservation consultant, circulates drafts

The Crescent City Commission voted Aug. 4 to get estimates for hiring an outside historic-preservation consultant and to circulate existing draft ordinances to commissioners and planning and zoning.

A staff presentation reviewed multiple comment sets received from preservation stakeholders and described two general pathways: a more detailed preservation regimen requiring extensive guidelines, or a lighter model that places more decision-making with staff and a trained historic-preservation body. The commission debated speed versus thoroughness and whether to rely on in-house drafting or an external subject-matter expert.

Commissioner DeVito moved that, no later than the September meeting, staff return with price estimates on hiring a historic-preservation consultant and circulate all draft ordinances to any commissioner that requests them. The motion passed by roll call. Commissioners emphasized the city’s long-standing policy goal to strengthen historic-preservation protections and to pursue certified-local-government status, but asked that any consultant work be scoped for clarity and public engagement.