Preservation Commission OKs historic district sign

NATCHEZ—The city’s preservation commission has approved the design of signs proposed by the city’s administration for installation in the Historic District.

However, it wants more information on exactly where the signs will be located.

Natchez Mayor Dan Gibson, his executive assistant Richard Burke, and city planner Frankie Legaux have worked on a plan to inform residents and tourists that they are within the city’s historic district.

Legaux told the planning commission that the city was proposing to install 15 signs in the district. Some would be located along entrances, and some would be within the district itself.

As it stands, many who purchase property and seek to improve it do not realize they are in the city’s historic district and that any changes to the district that are visible to the public, such as installing a fence, changing paint color, or changing roofing materials or windows, must, by law, receive approval by the preservation commission before they are made.

As a result, some district homeowners have made changes without first getting approval from the Preservation Commission.

Allen Wallace attended the planning commission meeting Wednesday to get approval for the installation of a wrought iron fence and a generator at his property at 507 N. Pearl. He told the commission he didn’t realize when he bought his property that renovations and changes had to be approved by the preservation commission.

Preservation Commission Chair Andy Sartin told Wallace they have tried to get realtors to provide information to new property owners in the district about the rules of being in a historic district, but that effort has not been successful.

“These signs would really help you out,” Legaux told commissioners.

Commissioner Liz Dantone said she had some concerns about the signs.

“While I really appreciate designating the district, these items are simply more roadside clutter. We need to know the exact location of these signs. The locations need to be carefully researched. It should not be turned over to a public works employee or to whoever the guy is driving the truck to put them out. It needs to be thoroughly researched according to the area,” Dantone said. “Maybe they need to be placed in front of a power pole so it reduces single item clutter in the right of way.”

“You can designate what you want,” Legaux said. “We don’t even have a company to make the signs yet.”

“The devil is in the details. I like the aesthetics of the sign, but I’m not approving the locations based on this actual application,” Dantone said.

Commissioner Steve Campo also wants to know the exact locations where the signs would be located.

“It would help if we could get a map of the historic district and have those spots X-ed out as to where they would be,” he said.

“We need to have them staked out as to exactly where they are planned to be installed,” Dantone said. “There still needs to be fieldwork done.”

As a result, the commission unanimously approved the sign design, designating that the signs be no taller than five feet to the top of the post. However, before they are installed, the commission wants to see where “each sign would actually sit and work to make certain they are placed in the best locations possible.” Dantone moved.

Also, on Wednesday night, the commission:

• approved the installation of a wrought iron fence and front and back gates on the fence and a generator at 507 N. Pearl St., the home of Terry and Allen Wallace.

• approved a request by Watkins Construction to install a TPO flat roof to the left and right of the entry of Rose Hill Missionary Baptist Church, 607 Madison St. The approval was contingent on the roof not being visible to the public and that it receives approval from the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, as well.

• Commissioner Shirley Petkovsek called the group’s attention to a gate that owners of the Coyle House property on Orleans Street between Wall and Pearl streets have installed. She said the gate is unsightly and does not conform to the standards of the historic district. Petkovsek also called attention to an area near the corner of Orleans and Pearl where vegetation needs to be cut back. “It is really out of hand,” she said. Legaux said she would check to see who is responsible for maintaining that property.

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