The Tifton City Council proposed changes to the Historic District Manual and heard from the public concerning its proposal in a public hearing prior to its workshop session Monday night.

The main issue discussed was the application of synthetic materials, particularly vinyl siding, to homes in the district. The city council has overturned the Historic Preservation Commission’s recommendation to deny a few homeowners’ request to apply vinyl siding. Residents of the district have to apply to the HPC for a Certificate of Appropriateness before they conduct such work on their homes.

Council members Marianna Keesee and Dave Hetzel formed the council’s study committee and came back with the recommended changes. They also suggested that the HPC manual be made more readily available throughout the community. The manual is also expected to be on the city’s Web site soon.

Vice Mayor Joe Lewis, sitting in for Mayor Paul O. Johnson, said that the council values its city’s historic district.

“We would like to put this to rest,” Lewis said.

Lewis said he and the council were open to suggestions from the public and that no final decision concerning the proposed changes to the HPC guidelines had been made.

City attorney Greg Sowell said the council is looking for a clear set of rules on issues.

“There is no question if you look at the tax digest that you see the value added to our community by the historic district,” Sowell said. “This puts it on the table so we can have something to talk from.”

Sowell asked HPC members to study the proposed changes to the manual and come again Aug. 28 to another public hearing in council chambers.

Hayward Fowler, who said he owns three pieces of property in the district, commended the HPC members and council for their work on historical preservation and said he agreed with one of the council’s recommendations, that each application be evaluated “separately and independently from all previous applications.”

“I don’t think you can put them in a hat and dump them out and say they are the same,” Fowler said.

Marxann Myddellton, a new HPC member, suggested that council find a place where materials such as historic windows, doors and spindles could be deposited so others in the historic district could use them on their homes. She also said she believed a change was taking place and that she didn’t believe having to go through a long and lengthy process to have something approved should be a deterrent. She said she had known of people who didn’t want to invest in the district because they didn’t want to have to come before the HPC.

The proposal also suggested adding two sentences to one section dealing with retaining and preserving exterior wall materials and detail on homes. One sentence states ‘(4) If a significant number of the houses within the immediate location have synthetic siding; and (5) If requiring only the use of historic materials would result in exceptional practical difficulty or undue hardship upon the owner of any specific property, consistent with the provisions of the City of Tifton Historic Preservation Ordinance including, but not limited to…”

HPC Chairman Herb Pilcher asked that the commission not take the issue of vinyl siding lightly and said that the key word mentioned by council and the HPC was “preservation.”

“When we have voted against vinyl siding, it has been because of the interest of preservation,” Pilcher said.

Local real estate broker Troy Tapp said he and his customers did not really know who to call when they had a question about a piece of historical property. Council advised him to call Carl Fortson, inspections and code enforcement director. Pilcher said he would also be glad to answer the public’s questions.



To contact city editor Angie Thompson, call 382-4321.