Owners who want to tear down a building in McKinney's historic overlay could soon have to bring a structural engineer's report, photos of every room and a list of materials that could be saved, under recommendations going to the city's Historic Preservation Advisory Board on Thursday.
The board asked staff for clearer direction on how to judge demolition requests. Staff looked at how other cities handle the certificates of appropriateness that owners need before demolishing, and is presenting its recommendations for discussion at the board's Nov. 5 meeting, which starts at 5:30 p.m. in the City Hall council chambers at 401 E. Virginia St.
What would change
Today the city's application asks for a letter of intent, elevations, a survey or site plan, a floor plan and photographs, according to the staff presentation.
Staff proposes splitting the process in two. Routine work such as additions and repairs would go through a standard application approved by staff, who could still send a project to the board. Demolition would get its own application, and the board would decide requests involving both main houses and accessory buildings.
Accessory buildings under 550 square feet would be handled by staff unless staff chose to send them to the board.
A demolition application would have to include:
- a structural engineering report that covers the foundation
- a list of past repairs, with dates and results
- photos of every exterior side and every interior room
- a documented history of the property
- a list of materials that could be salvaged
