The proposed residential historic overlay district continues to be a hot topic in Sweetwater.
Historic Zoning Commission (HZC) members, who have previously discussed the issue with the Sweetwater Regional Planning Commission, attended the regular Sweetwater Mayor and Board of Commissioners workshop Monday to answer questions from city commissioners who will ultimately decided whether a new historic district is formed.

Commissioners will vote Feb. 1 on the proposed guidelines that homeowners in the historic would have to live by should the physical boundaries for a historic overlay district be approved at a later date.

As they have in previous meetings with the Sweetwater Regional Planning Commission, Historic Zoning Commissioners Harris Lovingood and Sam Moser stressed the guidelines are not stringent and that the HZC studied other communities that have historic districts.
"We didn't reinvent the wheel," Moser said.

Lovingood and Moser said the HZC members took what they learned from other cities and tailored the guidelines to meet Sweetwater's needs and character.
One of the big questions as the guidelines move toward a vote is whether citizens in the proposed district actually want to be in an historic overlay district.
Lovingood and Moser again stressed the movement to establish a residential historic overlay district came from the residents themselves.

But commissioners have gotten some feedback against having a residential historic overlay district.
"There is also some feeling that people don't like other people telling them what to do with their houses," Street Commissioner Buster West said.

That does not mean commissioners are necessarily against having an historic overlay district.
City Planning and Development (Codes Enforcement) Commissioner David Cleveland said he feels comfortable that the proposed guidelines are flexible and that the HZC would work with citizens should they renovate or their rebuild houses in the district if it is established.
"It's because of that, I will vote for them," Cleveland said.

On Tuesday, Moser said some city leaders have asked that the size of the proposed residential historic overlay district be scaled back, but the HZC has yet to decide on that request.
In an effort to get citizen feedback and to make sure residents understand the guidelines, Planning and Development  (Codes Enforcement) Officer Scott Wilson said the city will mail out copies of the guidelines to the citizens in the proposed district along with a questionnaire asking them if they actually want to live in an historic overlay district.

There will be numerous public meetings before an actual district is established and the City Commission has to pass an ordinance on two readings to establish a residential historic overlay district even if the guidelines are approved Monday.

To see the proposed guidelines or look at the current area proposed for the historic district, view a previous Advocate & Democrat story online at www.advocateanddemocrat.com/story/19377.
You can also vote in an online poll  at www. advocateanddemocrat. com. Scroll down to the bottom of the page.

Monday's (Feb. 1) City Commission meeting is at 7 p.m. at City Hall.

tommy.millsaps@advocateanddemocrat.com | 337-7101