HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-11-13 - Minutes -
Meeting of the Historic District Commission
November 13, 2025, 5:30 PM
City Hall Room 101 & Zoom
NOTE: The November 13, 2025 Historic District Commission meeting was held in person
and online, with commissioners attending 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: 5:30 PM
In Attendance: Chair Christine Myres, Cheri Coley, Merideth Mahan, Jennifer Didway, Mark
Harper, Tommie Flowers Davis, Karen Rorex, Kylee Cole, and Britin Bostick.
Approval of Minutes from the October 9, 2025 Meeting: Motion to accept by Commissioner
Coley, second by Commissioner Rorex. Motion passed unanimously by voice vote.
Unfinished Business:
1. Downtown Design Overlay District Review: Cole provided a brief overview of
work so far and the current DDOD boundary. Chair Myres reminded
Commissioners that this map is available on the City’s GIS website.
Commissioners reviewed standards and staff recommendations for marquees and
awnings on new commercial buildings and renovations to non historic age
commercial buildings. Cole introduced current standards for colonnades and
arcades, which Commissioners noted aren’t often seen in downtown Fayetteville.
Discussion followed on whether the standards would be illustrated in a final
document. Staff noted that we don’t have a set vision for what this would look like,
but that Municode is difficult to embed illustrations into. The alternative would be a
separate illustrated manual, but the manuals aren’t easy to find or prominently
provided because its not considered an official document in the way that adopted
code is. Bostick noted that the Planning Commission is also favorable to an
illustrated code.
2. Citywide Survey Ph. 1 Update: Cole updated Commissioners about survey the
week of October 20th and the week of November 10th. Field work is complete and
now the consultants will be formulating the final document and recommendations
for review in January. Bostick added a recap of the Cocreate housing event, and
the project addition which would note if a property is vacant. This will help the Chief
Housing Officer with an implementation project for housing rehabilitation in
Fayetteville. It was emphasized that the work the HDC is doing is supporting
2
project work and a financial match for the implementation grant for housing.
Discussion followed about opportunities for a rehabilitation pilot program.
3. Oak Grove Local Historic District Update: Cole updated the Commission on the
Planning Commission’s discussion on November 10th. The Planning Commission
was unanimously supportive of the district and expressed an interest in supporting
variances to support historic character and to support a fee waiver for variance
applications. The Commission will be provided with a letter from Chair Andrew
Brink at the next meeting. Cole reminded the Commission about the public hearing
scheduled for the next meeting, to be held in City Council chambers. Discussion
followed about the creation of districts, specifically the different trajectory of the
Oak Grove effort and the Historic Black Community of SE Fayetteville.
Commissioner Flowers Davis noted that the leaders of the effort in SE Fayetteville
are continuing, but that the makeup of the community has changed and there are
fewer lifelong residents. Staff noted that the Oak Grove district is much smaller and
that is also an important difference. Chair Myres noted that there are also
misconceptions about what a historic district does and that contractors and
developers remain suspicious of any efforts to regulate design. Staff noted that
perceptions are beginning to change and even people without historic homes see
the value of a local historic district. Bostick remarked that the effort has early
support from some Council members who are thrilled about the creation of the
district. Discussion followed about amending districts in the future to add
neighboring properties.
New Business:
1. 2025 Q3 Demolition Report: Cole presented the demolition report from July 1 to
September 30, which included three historic properties that retain their integrity.
Commissioner Mahan inquired about the reasons for demolition, and staff noted
anecdotal reasons, but emphasized that the demolition application does not require
justification. Commissioner Coley asked if demolitions were up, Bostick said
generally demolition permits were up and Cole added that demos for historic-age
properties were down from Q2. Commissioners were interested in year-over-year
comparison. Discussion followed about demolition review procedure for staff.
Other Business: None.
Announcements:
1. 2026 CLG Grant Application: Cole announced that the grant application was submitted
for phase 2 survey funding and additional funding to host CAMP in Fayetteville.
Adjourned: 6:16 PM