WV Aldermen Move Forward with Historic Preservation Ordinance

By Talbert Toole
Lifestyles Editor
talbert.toole@hottytoddy.com

The Water Valley Board of Aldermen moved forward with their decision to create a Historic Preservation Ordinance Tuesday night during their regular meeting. Photo by Talbert Toole.

The Water Valley Board of Aldermen unanimously voted to move forward with their decision to create a Historic Preservation Ordinance Tuesday night during their regular meeting.

The decision to create such an ordinance was first approved during a special meeting on Tuesday, Jan 16.

The board also approved an immediate a moratorium that would last for 180 days while the city and board establish the Historic Preservation Commission.

The moratorium would prevent any substantial demolition or alteration to any buildings in the existing downtown commercial or historic district. During the moratorium, the planning commission and the building inspector, Trey Magee, will not accept or review any applications for such reasons.

Now the ordinance will be filed with the city clerk of Water Valley and must remain in filing for two weeks before it returns to the board of aldermen to be adopted officially.

Once adopted, the board can then begin to appoint members to the commission within 30 days.

According to the resolution, the qualifications to be a member of the commission are strict. The reading of the resolution stated it must have a minimum of five members with a maximum of nine. Those who apply for the position should have a background in either law, real estate, history, or a variation of the three.

Once the board advertises the intent to establish a commission in the town’s local newspaper, it has three weeks to allow those interested to apply for a position.