The Pine Bluff Historic District Commission discussed the creation of a master plan for the downtown area Friday at its regular meeting.
The commission also discussed an apparent water leak at the Saenger Theatre.
The historic district starts at the Jefferson County Courthouse on Barraque Street, stretching from State Street west to Walnut Street. It runs south along Main Street past Ninth Avenue.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008 as the Pine Bluff Commercial Historic District, according to a 2012 draft of its guidelines. In 2011 it was renamed the Downtown Historic District, and the Pine Bluff City Council designated it a local historic district. That designation required that any changes to building facades or new construction within the district receive approval by a historic district commission. The district was also created with the goal of increasing property values in the area.
While the historic district commission oversees the district, commissioners spoke of wanting a more coherent plan for the future. In urban planning, a master plan is a document that takes stock of what a community currently looks like, goals for what it should have or look like in the future and guidelines to get there.
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A draft outline for the plan submitted by Commissioner Mary Ann Lee included suggestions such as compiling information on the district’s registered historic buildings, housing stock and surrounding demographics.
It also would include guidance on processes for demolishing or repairing a historic building, attracting economic development funding and land use recommendations on sidewalks, parking and housing.
“I want to make sure we have a clear agenda about what our role and responsibilities will be,” Lee said.
The commission is primarily responsible for hearing applications for certificates of appropriateness (COA). Owners of property within the historic district must apply for a COA before doing work that would alter the exterior of a historic building. The commission may also survey and study areas of historic significance, nominate buildings or places for listing on the National Register of Historic Places and help property owners on the “financial and physical procedures” of altering or demolishing buildings.
There was some confusion among commissioners about how expansive the master plan would be, particularly in matters of enforcement. Commission chair Dee Herring Gatlin asked what the protocol for the commission would be for a property that has run afoul of historic district specifications.
“If we want to have something done with that building, how would we start that conversation [with the property owner]?” Herring Gatlin said.
Lori Walker, assistant director of the city’s department of economic and community development, suggested the commissioners could be the “eyes and ears” for what is going on downtown and relay new developments to appropriate city agencies.
Commissioner David Sadler said the discussion sounded like it was straying into responsibilities held by code enforcement officers.
“I think it’s important not to send same or different messages to property owners as code enforcement or fire department,” Sadler said.
Downtown property owners are scheduled to meet Wednesday with Pine Bluff Mayor Shirley Washington to discuss issues of interest.
In other news, Herring Gatlin said she recently walked into the Saenger Theatre and saw water leaking into a corner of the building. A multiyear project to replace the theater’s roof concluded in 2014 to stop weather damage. Sadler, who is an architect, was selected to investigate the problem and write a report.