HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-01-08 - Minutes -
Meeting of the Historic District Commission
January 8, 2026, 5:30 PM
City Hall Rock Street Annex Meeting Room & Zoom
NOTE: The January 8, 2026 Historic District Commission meeting was held in person and
online. Staff were present in person.
Members: Chair Christine Myres, Meredith Mahan, Mark Harper, Cheri Coley, Jennifer Didway,
Tommie Flowers Davis, and Karen Rorex
City Staff: Kylee Cole – Long Range & Preservation Planner; Britin Bostick - Long Range
Planning & Special Projects Manager
Call to Order: 5:41 PM ***The meeting was called to order late as the Planning Commission’s
Agenda Session was held in the same meeting room and extended past 5:30pm.
In Attendance: Chair Christine Myres, Cheri Coley, Meredith Mahan, Jennifer Didway, Mark
Harper, Tommie Flowers Davis, Karen Rorex, Britin Bostick, and Kaci Black. Commissioner
Flowers Davis joined the meeting at approximately 6:00pm.
Approval of Minutes from the December 11, 2025 Meeting: Motion to accept by
Commissioner Coley, second by Commissioner Mahan. Motion passed unanimously by voice
vote.
Unfinished Business:
1. Downtown Design Overlay District Review: Bostick presented slides prepared by
Cole which recapped prior discussions of marquees and awnings and colonnades
and arcades. This discussion focused on balconies and coordinating the
requirements with building code. Bostick explained City staff’s goals for coordinating
zoning requirements with building code requirements and how that could be
addressed in the code sections shown in the presentation, and also shared an
example of a balcony on the building at 1 W. Mountain Street. That balcony required
a variance from the Planning Commission as the balcony extended the full width of
the building instead of the prescribed 80% in the code. Commissioners discussed
and debated the merits of allowing the full 100% width and different balcony and
building types. Chair Myres stated support for the proposed changes. Bostick
showed a second slide that proposed to remove language that was prescriptive
regarding columns, arches, pedestals, railings, and balustrades and that is
duplicative. Commissioners were generally in favor of removing the text.
2. Citywide Survey Ph. 1 Update: Bostick announced Post Oak Preservation
Solutions is working ahead of schedule and the project draft has received the
required review from the state preservation office. She inquired if all commissioners
had been able to access the link provided by Cole, and Commissioners Harper and
Flowers Davis noted they were not able to access the document. Bostick offered to
follow up with them individually to make sure they could access and read the draft
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survey document. Commissioners expressed enthusiasm for the project quality and
speed.
New Business: None.
Announcements:
1. Bostick announced that the SE Fayetteville neighborhood’s petition for a local historic
district had been certified by the Clerk’s office and that staff would begin preparing it for
the commission’s review.
2. Bostick reminded commissioners that the Oak Grove Historic District will be considered
by the City Council at their January 20 meeting and encouraged commissioners to
attend.
3. Bostick asked for the commissioners to be thinking about projects for 2026.
Commissioner Mahan noted the project list from the Heritage & Historic Preservation
Plan and Chair Myres supported conferring with that document for ideas.
4. Chair Myres asked about the status of Bicentennial Planning. Bostick replied that the
Mayor has been working with staff to coordinate and organize early planning efforts.
5. Commissioner Didway asked about CAMP training. Bostick noted that funds were not
available for 2026 as hoped but Fayetteville maintains interest in hosting the next
statewide training and is awaiting news on when that may be feasible. Chair Myres
recommended membership with the National Association of Preservation Commissions,
and Bostick noted Cole is expected to represent the city at their annual conference this
year.
6. The next meeting is Thursday, February 12. Commissioners expressed their intent to
recognize Bostick’s birthday at the meeting.
Adjourned: 6:23 PM