Save Our Historic District
At the next Village Council meeting (7:30 PM, Wednesday, June 6, 2007 in Village Hall), the council will hear the appeals of five citizens who object to the Planning Commission’s decision to allow Denison to construct starkly modern additions onto Cleveland Hall. The five citizens are supported in their effort by a very large number of other Granville residents. The issues are clear. Denison believes it should protect the historic integrity of Cleveland Hall by designing the additions as modern, intensely different buildings. The appellants agree this will protect Cleveland Hall, but that it will damage the historic integrity of the Village’s historic district in which Cleveland Hall is located. It seems to me that our law is clear on this matter. Our Planning and Zoning Code states that the historic district should be preserved with a nineteenth century look. That is, no modern glass and steel buildings are permitted. It’s important. The historic district attracts tourists to come here and spend money. It encourages people to purchase houses and restore them. It gives our village a “look and feel” that is unique. Granville has defended its historic district for many years and the upcoming appeal hearing is yet another defense. I urge you to come to the hearing and make your thoughts known either by speaking during “citizens’ comments” or just by your presence.
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Save Our Historic District
or What’s Good for the Goose is Good for the Gander
As I was ‘leafing’ through the popular content section, I found an interesting post by “jack” re: Cleveland Hall.
So, I got to wondering…
(and I quote “jack”) “It seems to me that our law is clear on this matter. Our Planning and Zoning Code states that the historic district should be preserved with a nineteenth century look,”
If this is true, then explain to me where in the same code it would allow solar panels in the historic district. What part of “nineteenth century” applies to solar panels.
and please don’t think I have an agenda on this issue. Though I don’t subscribe to the man-made global warming fear mongering, I do have a strong affinity for property owner rights: I hope both Dr. Karaffa gets her solar panels (even though no permit was applied for), and I hope Cleveland Hall gets completed as submitted and approved
Maybe Cleveland Hall should build their building with solar panels.
Hoping and the Law
After reading up on the code and the Cleveland Hall materials on this site, I think Buckeye’s hoping is fine, but for the outcomes he desires he requires council to change the code in 2 different ways.
singlepie
Jack's view
I look forward to hearing Jack’s view on the solar panels, too. Assuming he would say that both Cleveland Hall and solar panels don’t comply with existing law, the questions becomes:
* Should the Village Council change the law to permit solar panels in the historic district? If not, why not?
* Should the Village Council change the law to permit a modernist glass cube addition to Cleveland Hall? If not, why not?
How do you answer, Mr. Thornborough?
It is an interesting set of issues
It is an interesting set of issues. While I also do not buy into the Al Gore hysteria, I find the general idea of solar panels potentially attractive.
My sense is the Village Council could reasonably decide the zoning ordinance should treat the solar panels not unlike air conditioner compressors. I.e., somewhat clunky things that would never have been found in nineteenth century Granville, but which are considered near necessities today. With the increase in energy costs perhaps the time is coming where solar panels should be regarded similarly.
The Cleveland Hall starkly modern additions seem to be of entirely different cloth. There is nothing about the modern design which is required in order to meet some new need that could not be met with a somewhat more traditional design. The university should just build something that complies with the law.
Agreed
I agree with ot. A key difference between the two is the planning code never considered solar panels. It’s a new issue. But the planning code did consider modernism in the historic district and it said no.