Committee working on terminology for historic zoning ordinance
The historic ordinance committee working to create terminology to insert into Fayette County’s zoning ordinance for protection and preservation of historic sites in the county has been moving along at the direction of Fayette County Commission Chairwoman Angela M. Zimmerlink. Since the appointment of committee members in September, the committee has held monthly meetings and is conducting background work in anticipation of seeking public input.
Zimmerlink said the committee is in the “initial stage” of the matter, and is gathering information to determine how other counties and municipalities across the state deal with historic treasures. The committee also is developing a resource list of every historic, cultural and natural resource in the county.
“There is a lot of research to be done in gathering information, and once this is done, we will be publicly meet with all municipalities, historical societies, tourism businesses, services organizations and the public for their input,” Zimmerlink said.
Former Brownsville Mayor Norma Ryan said Zimmerlink’s idea to have each committee member write a draft of what they believe the ordinance should say is a step toward getting people to agree on what is needed for the wording. Ryan said the idea is to pull everything together in a concise statement.
“She’s the driving force behind this,” Ryan said of Zimmerlink.
Ryan said she is hoping what the committee comes up with won’t be met with 1,000 questions.
“I’m hoping we will come up with something everyone will be comfortable and satisfied with,” Ryan said.
Zimmerlink said the committee so far has developed a mission statement, a scope of work and a timeline.
Andrew French, executive director of the Fayette County Redevelopment Authority, said the committee has been working with a representative of the Pennsylvania Historic Museum Commission throughout the process. Zimmerlink said the PHMC representative attended January’s meeting.
In September, the county commissioners authorized the Fayette County Office of Planning, Zoning and Community Development to pursue inclusion of historic protection in applicable county land regulations and then approved the creation of a steering committee. The action was taken after it was determined the county’s long-awaited zoning ordinance did not include any references to historic buildings, structures or their preservation.
The county is home to numerous historic sites, including the Searights Toll House, Springer Farm, Nemacolin Castle, the Flatiron Building in Brownsville, Fort Necessity and the Isaac Meason House.
The nine appointees of the historic ordinance committee are composed of three selections from each commissioner and represent a variety of interests, including business, historic and municipal.
“I think we’re moving along,” said committee member Donna Holdorf, executive director of the National Road Heritage Corridor, and an outspoken advocate for the need for historic language in the zoning ordinance. “We’re doing research.”
French, Holdorf and Ryan are all committee selections of Commissioner Joseph A. Hardy III. Zimmerlink selected historian Robert Adamovich and Chris Decker of Laurel Business Institute and Evelyn Hovanec of the Coal and Coke Heritage Center.
Commissioner Vincent A. Vicites selected former redevelopment authority executive director Raymond Polaski, Brownsville historian and collector Harold Richardson and Perry Township Supervisor A.J. Boni.