Property owners in Batavia’s proposed historic district are losing their best chance to influence how the district is set up and administered, officials said this week.
In January, the fledgling Historic Preservation Commission sent surveys to owners of the 200 parcels in the district, which includes homes and businesses near the downtown commercial corridors of Wilson Street and Batavia Avenue as well as properties lining the riverfront. The surveys asked for old photos and historical data about the buildings, and comments on what standards the commission should adopt to preserve the area’s 19th Century character.
By Monday, fewer than 20 surveys had been returned, said Commissioner Steve Vasilion. “We’ve had an unexpectedly poor response,” he told the City Council. “We have spent a great deal of time establishing building standards. We’re trying to balance the rights of property owners and still preserve the essence of historic architecture in Batavia. But to do that, we really need those surveys.”
The five-member commission is about two-thirds through drawing up rules on what property owners can do with buildings in the historic district, said Commissioner Dan Hoefler. They expect to finish the historic building code in late May and begin enforcing it in June, he said.
Once the code is in place, the commission will have about the same amount of authority as the Plan Commission, Vasilion said. Property owners who want to build additions, install new siding or make other changes to the outside of their buildings will have to petition the commission for approval. If the commission votes against the changes, the property owner could appeal that decision to the City Council, which has the final say.
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The 14-month-old commission also designates individual landmarks, such as the 1920s Campana Building at Batavia Avenue and Fabyan Parkway, and will administer the city’s proposed facade improvement grant program. Commissioners meet from 5:30 to 7 p.m. the second and fourth Mondays of each month in City Hall.