By KIMBERLY PIÑA CHRONICLE CORRESPONDENT
Nov. 30, 2008, 3:59PM
As Katy grows with more commercial and residential development, two City Council members are working to preserve the small town’s heritage and protect historic landmarks through a new ordinance.
City Council members Carol Adams and Fabol Hughes are proposing a new historic landmark and historic district ordinance that would help protect historic buildings, promote economic development and preserve Katy’s history.
“The ordinance is very important ¾ it expands the current square of designated historical significance in downtown Katy to include many more and most of our oldest buildings,” said Adams, who is also executive director of the Katy Heritage Society. “We are establishing that preservation of the few historic properties we have left is important to us, that we want to maintain our heritage.”
“We don’t know exactly what the parameters of the new district would be,” Adams said, adding that most likely the area would include Avenue D to East Avenue, First Street to 10th Street and some smaller areas.
The area would need to be surveyed, Adams said, and the city may be able to apply for funding to assist with the surveying once the ordinance passes.
By expanding the number of buildings and homes that are considered historic, Adams said the city could attempt to preserve or relocate a historic building proposed for redevelopment or destruction.
“It does not hinder new development,” Adams said of the ordinance. “It just gives the city an opportunity to work with property owners to protect what is left of our historic buildings.”
The ordinance was considered at the Nov. 12 Katy City Council meeting. Council voted to allow a contracted Houston law firm, Olson & Olson, to review the accuracy of the ordinance before action is taken.
Olson & Olson is reviewing the city’s entire zoning ordinance and will make recommendations for changes or improvements.
A proponent of preserving Katy’s small-town atmosphere, Hughes said the new ordinance is long overdue.
“We felt like we needed to go ahead and set up this district because we’ve been talking about it for some time,” Hughes said. “We’re trying to preserve as best as we can the old-town feeling.”
With more historic landmarks and a designated area established, Hughes said more visitors and tourists would be attracted to Katy for tours of historic sites and shopping at unique boutiques.
Most out-of-town visitors tour Katy Heritage Park, which includes historic homes, and the Katy Heritage Museum, Hughes said, but more is needed.
“We have all this building going around the city of Katy and all these new businesses and hotels, but at this time we don’t have anything to draw people into downtown Katy,” Hughes said. “We’ve been talking about revitalization for a long time and creating this historic district is the first step.”
If approved, the proposed ordinance would establish a preservation board consisting of city residents, architects, historians, a licensed real estate broker, an owner of a landmark or property within the historic district and other professionals.
The city-appointed board would be responsible for maintaining all aspects of the historic district and making recommendations to City Council for historic projects.
“The board will consider the changes to all buildings within the boundaries of the district,” Adams said. “It will protect our historic properties and allow folks who purchase them to do more with them.”
The new board would not be associated with the Katy Heritage Society board, Adams said, adding that both entities would be separate.
A historic ordinance could also make the city eligible to apply for federal funding for preservation projects and encourage targeted commercial growth, Adams said.
“This will make the oldest area attractive to new businesses that want to use a wonderful old house for their commercial venture,” she said.
City Council is expected to review the proposed ordinance early next year.
