Historic Preservation Commission

Meetings

  • 4 p.m.
  • 4th Thursday of each month
  • City Hall
    2200 Second St.
    Fort Myers, FL 33901

Agendas & Minutes

Agendas are available prior to the meetings. Minutes are available following approval.

All agenda, minutes, and other related materials will be accessible when available.

Members

Members shall be professionals and selected from the disciplines of architecture, history, architectural history, planning, construction, land use law, archaeology, or other historic preservation related disciplines and be residents of the city when possible.

Each historic district shall be represented by 1 member who either resides, owns property, operates a business or maintains an office within the historic district they represent.

In the event there are not enough professionals who are residents of the city to fill all positions, membership may include laypersons who have demonstrated special interest, experience, or knowledge in history, architecture, or related disciplines.

The commission shall consist of 7 members and 2 alternate members.  The members shall serve for 3-year terms at the pleasure of City Council and without compensation. Any member failing to attend 3 meetings in any 12-month period shall be considered to have resigned the position.

Duties

The members of the commission shall be sworn by the city clerk to perform the duties of the office. A Statement of Financial Interest, Form 1 is required to be filed annually. The duties of the commission are as follows:

  1. Identify and recommend designation of local historic districts, local historic landmarks, and local historic objects.
  2. Recommend to rescind the designation of local historic districts, local historic landmarks, and local historic objects.
  3. Review new construction, alterations, relocations, and demolitions within each historic district and of local historic landmarks.
  4. Identify and nominate eligible properties to the National Register of Historic Places and administer applications for the National Register.
  5. Notify appropriate local officials, owners of record, and applicants of proposed commission actions concerning a proposed nomination to the National Register.
  6. Develop and maintain a database and a system for survey and inventory of historic properties.  The inventory shall be:
    1.  Compatible with the state master site file.
    2.  Kept current and regularly provided to the state historic preservation officer for incorporation in the state master site file.
  7. Identify and make recommendations regarding city policies which have an effect upon historic resources.
  8. Coordinate local activities with state and national preservation efforts, and review relevant legislation.
  9. Further public awareness of the city's past and of preservation in general, especially during Preservation Week. The commission should schedule at least 1 workshop every year promoting preservation and city preservation programs.
  10. Allow for public participation in the designation of historic districts and historic landmarks, including the process of recommending properties for nomination to the National Register.
  11. Inform the public of the commission's activities and of preservation needs in the community.
  12. Adopt rules of procedures and assure their availability to the general public.
  13. Make recommendations to the City Council concerning the acquisition of development rights, facade easements, and the imposition of other restrictions and the negotiation of contracts for the purpose of historic preservation.
  14. Evaluate and make recommendations to City Council regarding decisions by other public agencies affecting the physical development and land use patterns affecting districts or landmarks.
  15. Recommend to the City Council to adopt supplemental design guidelines and amendments thereto, which will apply to proposed changes in the exterior appearance of individual landmarks or buildings, structures, or sites in historic districts. The purpose of the design guidelines is to conserve and enhance the special aesthetic, historical and cultural character of the landmark or the historic district. The design guidelines, upon adoption by City Council, will supplement this chapter, growth management code, and the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation and Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings. The design guidelines may be amended from time to time by City Council upon recommendation by the historic preservation commission and may be published in the form of a manual.  Design guidelines may govern any aspect of physical design, including but not limited to architectural and aesthetic character, site design, site layout, signage and landscape design.
  16. Approve or deny applications for certificates of review for alteration, construction, demolition or relocation of landmarks, buildings, structures, sites or building within historic districts.
  17. Recommend to the City Council properties that qualify for the historic preservation Ad Valorem Tax Incentive Program.