HOBART | City Councilman Brian Rosenbaum isn't yet sold on the idea of a historical designation for 66 acres of the city's downtown.
He asked on Wednesday to table a designation request from two representatives of the Hobart Historic Preservation Commission. He admits he was a little upset after not receiving the answers he wanted, particularly in regard to the appeal process. The only apparent recourse by building owners who don't agree with commission rulings is to go to court.
The issue, which his fellow council members agreed to table, likely will surface next at the City Council's Sept. 3 meeting after the ordinance undergoes some tweaking, he said.
Rosenbaum peppered with questions both Tiffany Tolbert, commission administrator, and Linda Buzinec, commission president.
"I don't want the city to come off as a Big Brother," Rosenbaum said.
For instance, if a building owner wants to replace a window frame with a different but less expensive material, he thinks the person shouldn't be forced to do so by the commission.
Buzinec said people who own buildings designated in the historic district would need to apply for a certificate of appropriateness before making any exterior changes.
Tolbert said the requests, which go before the commission, are considered on a case-by-case basis.
"If it's not feasible for them to replace with the same material, they might use something like vinyl but so that it mimics the same look," Tolbert said.
Buzinec said the intent of the commission is not to be intrusive but to be helpful.
"It's not like the Gestapo," Buzinec told him.
Rosenbaum and Mayor Brian Snedecor said they'd like to see the appeal process go before the City Council and not the courts as Tolbert stated.
"Why couldn't the appeal come back to the council? We're forcing someone to hire an attorney and go to court," Snedecor said.
Tolbert said she'd look into that possibility but added, "It's not usually done."
The boundaries for the historic district include everything west of Deep River, east of Lake George and north of the railroad tracks.
About 115 buildings in the downtown qualify for historic designation, Tolbert said.
