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The Smithville Historic Preservation and Design Standards Advisory Committee

The Smithville Historic Preservation and Design Standards Advisory Committee was created during the 2011-2012 Smithville Comprehensive Plan process. This Advisory Committee was established because many of the individuals who attended those Comprehensive Plan meetings supported the concept of “smart for us” growth and development. Economic Development surveys have also shown that it is important to our community that Smithville maintains its historic, small town character, especially as Smithville becomes more successful in attracting new residents and businesses.

The main objective in forming this Committee was to encourage property owners to consider historic preservation and designs as they make decisions to purchase and/or renovate historic structures, and to encourage compatible design in new structures.

The Advisory Committee reports to the Smithville City Council and is comprised of representatives from the Smithville Heritage Society, the Richard D. Latham Cultural District, and the Chamber of Commerce, as well as six at-large community members. The first two organizations represent the community in the fields of preservation, history, and design, to ensure that the Smithville’s character is not compromised. The Chamber of Commerce represents business interests, to ensure that no standards or guidelines are too onerous for current business owners or too restrictive for prospective business owners. The six at-large members provide additional expertise to the Advisory Committee. These members are knowledgeable about the community and its history, as well as offer some general knowledge about relevant Smithville ordinances and the construction process, and understand what it takes to maintain historic buildings.

Advisory Committee Tasks

Provide recommendations to the City Council when developers or property owners submit requests for a Smithville Certificate of Appropriateness (COA);
Review existing design guidelines and examples of design features that should be protected, encouraged, and discouraged with CA applicants;
Assist the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) through the EPIC program, ensuring that any contractors working in the historic districts are taking adequate precautions to protect our historic resources (similar requests to assist in similar functions with other projects/from other agencies will be considered in the future at the request of the Mayor and/or City Manager); and
Review applications to the “City Historical Marker” program.