Downtown Development Authority holds open house

Thursday, two separate open house sessions were held by the Perry Downtown Development Authority to discuss proposed amendments to the perimeters of the Historic Downtown District.

Director of Community Development Bryan Wood shared that the authority was in the process of developing a new master plan for downtown, and that this open house will help to set up the boundaries for that plan. Wood explained the purpose of the function was to answer the questions of property owners as well as receive feedback, which will aid in modifications to the proposal before being presented in a more formal setting and a subsequent finalized recommendation to go before the planning and zoning commission and mayor and council.

The function offered citizens the opportunity to give feedback on the district boundaries, as well as input into aspects that they would like to see included in downtown.

The proposed boundaries would include changes such as extending to include some properties in the area of Jernigan and Ball Street, incorporating the Andrew Heights neighborhood, and tapering the current boundary line at Perimeter Road to Georgia Avenue.

According to Wood, the reasoning for the proposed boundaries lies in the thought that some of the properties currently contained in the boundaries may not have the same type of development pattern as the core of the downtown district.

“The reason for doing this is, looking at the future, where do we think the downtown core is going to reasonably expand?” Wood offered.

Main Street Coordinator Haley Bryant later added that another thought behind the proposition was to “really get back to the core of downtown and what truly represents Downtown Perry,” adding that it was important to keep in mind that the district was also historic.

One of the biggest changes, Wood noted, was the addition of the Andrew Heights neighborhood into the perimeter, which would be the first residential neighborhood included into the district and would remain residential. Wood explained that the only way to access the neighborhood was through the downtown district.

“We are looking at the possibility, if [the neighborhood] in the future starts developing or redeveloping at a higher density residential form, then there may be some opportunities that the Downtown Development Authority could provide incentives or assist with that,” Wood explained.

Bryant later cited that the neighborhood, while not currently in downtown, is still zoned as historic and included in the form-based code. Because the area is zoned historic, Bryant continued, it is already required to have a certificate of appropriateness for improvements such as add-ons, new construction, and “huge” demolition projects. The only real difference in the area being included in the downtown district, Bryant explained, is that the improvement process would have the extra step of coming before the Main Street Advisory Board for review. Minor improvements, such as façade color or shutter changes, Bryant said, could usually be settled on a “staff level.”

Bryant shared some possible perks in having the neighborhood included in the historic downtown district as being that the Main Street Advisory Board and the Downtown Development Authority would be able to come in and assist with sidewalk work, connectivity and bike lanes, as well as walkability.

Bryant relayed that many people may think that if the neighborhood is included, there will be “so many rules and regulations,” but Bryant explained that many of these things are already in place under the neighborhood’s historic zoning. Bryant stressed that this could serve as an opportunity to partner alongside each other.

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