Apr 16, 2006 By Amy Zalar 2 min read

As Fayette County moves closer to adoption of a new countywide zoning ordinance, Fayette County Commission Chairwoman Angela M. Zimmerlink is seeking input from local historical societies regarding the effect of the proposed ordinance on historic districts. Zimmerlink said the issue of the proposed ordinance’s impact on historic districts initially arose during a meeting with Dan Visnauskas of the Fayette County Historical Society on an unrelated matter. Zimmerlink said that she believes because the ordinance is inching closer to adoption, and the recent interest shown by the agricultural committee, it “put up a red flag” for other concerned organizations to give input.

“I would like to get their input (before adoption),” Zimmerlink said of the historical societies. Although work on the proposed ordinance began more than three years ago, public hearings and meetings in the beginning were not well attended. The closer the ordinance has come to completion, the more comments have been received. The ordinance outlines different zones, such as residential, historic and agricultural, and what is permitted in each zone.

A meeting in January was attended by more than 200 farmers, many of who wanted to protest some of the proposed changes to the farming part of the ordinance. Since that time, a number of changes have been made regarding the agricultural section reflecting the farmers’ concerns.

Zimmerlink said she wants recommendations from those most knowledgeable about historic districts. In a letter written earlier this month to the presidents of seven county historical societies, Zimmerlink is asking for input from members of the Brownsville, Connellsville, Dunbar, Fayette County, Fort Mason, Masontown and Smock historical societies.

Tammy Stenson, director of the Fayette County Office of Planning, Zoning and Community Development, has been seeking approval of the ordinance for months, but Zimmerlink said she doesn’t believe the ordinance will be adopted before the May 16 primary election.

The current ordinance has been in effect since 1968. The proposed ordinance will cover 32 of the county’s 42 municipalities. Zimmerlink said there is a draft Historic Preservation Ordinance completed in October 1999 that can be referenced in finalizing the historic district section of the zoning ordinance. Zimmerlink said anyone wishing to view the current draft of the proposed ordinance can go online to the county Web site at www.co.fayette.pa.us/

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