Canton Residents Weigh In on Historic District Expansion Plan

Canton officials heard from three residents Thursday about a proposed expansion of the city’s Historic District and designs for homes within the district.

The Canton City Council held a public hearing to hear from residents and further discuss the boundaries and guidelines Oct. 3, after hearing a staff informational report in August .

On July 1, the Historic Preservation Commission voted 6-1 to recommend approval of both the expansion of the Historic District and the proposed Historic District Residential Design Guidelines, commission minutes show.

The proposed changes expand the Historic District mainly east, and would include properties along East Main Street to just past Golf Course Road. The district would also expand north along Brown Street to near the L and N Railroad.

Residents with a residential property within the current boundary will not be subject to historic review, according to the city. However, if the residential guidelines are adopted by the Canton City Council, properties will need to be reviewed by the Historic Preservation Commission for any future exterior work. All properties within the proposed expanded boundary will also require HPC review, if adopted by the council.

Two members of the HPC spoke to the council, as well as the leader of the local historical society.

Danielle Kitchen, who serves on the commission, said she voted “no” on recommending the expansion and the guidelines.

“Why are we moving forward with guidelines without fully communicating the consequences of breaking those guidelines to the stakeholders? What does the fee structure look like for non-compliance? Do stakeholders realize that proposed expansion grants the commission the authority to maintain an inventory of historic properties including homes? How else would you be able to tell what my home looks like now versus what it looks like tomorrow?” Kitchen asked. “How do you plan to monitor and enforce these guidelines? Are you expecting neighbors to report each other? Is the city prepared to manage what will essentially become an HOA?”

She said the guidelines will take away her ability to make spontaneous decisions about her home, and will be stuck waiting for permission.

“For many reasons, I am against the adoption of residential guidelines in our historic neighborhood. They limit personal expression and autonomy,” she said.

History Cherokee Executive Director Stefanie Joyner said she supports the proposed expansion of the district.

“The proposed residential area is already a National Register historic district, which has no restrictions, but provides tax credit opportunities to qualified rehabilitation projects,” she said. “It makes sense to expand design guidelines to the existing district boundaries in order to provide cohesive planning tools to enhance and protect the neighborhood’s defining characteristics. These design guidelines will not prevent demolition or new construction, but will provide a framework in these instances and encourage better quality design.”

Joyner added that the design guidelines will not restrict ordinary maintenance or paint color, and will protect the historic integrity of the district.

“In the eight years since the HPC has been in existence guiding commercial development, no appeals have been made to city council, as far as I know — this tells you the process is working as it should and that residents are not unhappy with the committee’s guidance,” she said. “I have no doubt the same will hold true for the residential expansion.”

Joe Sellers, another member of the commission, said the historic district needs to be expanded and completed.

“I am told there are about 800 properties in the current historic district — it only needs to be expanded by about 25% or 30% to take in all the charming old homes that go together to complete the whole of what makes this area of Canton beautiful,” he said. “The district needs to be completed, not left in the partial condition it is in now.”

Sellers said people are drawn to Canton by its “historic architecture and charm.”

“The expansion of the historic district and adoption of design guidelines will preserve what makes our city unique in order to keep people wanting to live, work, and play here,” he said.

He also emphasized that paint colors aren’t in the guidelines, the HPC application and the process that follows is free, the HPC does not and cannot issue tickets and does not require residents to maintain their homes.

“If a resident is maintaining their home as it currently exists, they don’t need to come before the HPC,” he said. “This is not an HOA and there are no dues. The application is also easy to fill out online or in person. It will be approved by city staff within a few days. These are in the guidelines. We have had special called meetings in-between regular meetings as well to expedite things for applicants. The city council can also overrule anything the HPC does.”

Canton Mayor Bill Grant said, “the goal is to continue to adhere to our roadmap of creating and maintaining great neighborhoods in the city of Canton.”

Councilmembers Bryan Roach and Farris Yawn commended the commission’s work.

“We want to make sure our historic district shines,” Yawn said.

The city council is expected to further discuss the proposed Historic District expansion and guidelines at its retreat scheduled for Oct. 10 and 11.

For more information or to give feedback on the proposed district map changes or residential guidelines, email planning.zoning@cantonga.gov or kevin.turner@cantonga.gov.

The draft of the proposed residential design guidelines can be viewed on the Oct. 3 city council agenda, canton.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx .