According to Historic Preservation Commission member David McDaniel, Fulton's current preservation ordinance lacks teeth.
At the commission's monthly meeting Tuesday, the commission began routine review of the city's ordinance, which among other topics governs the designation of various districts and properties as historic. Though the ordinance describes architectural and historical conditions a property must meet to be placed on the city's register of historic places.
However, McDaniel said one passage in Section 62-31 of the Historical Preservation chapter of the city's ordinance code, renders that unenforceable.
"No restrictions, either stated or implied, are attached to properties because of their identification as a historic property or because they lie within a historic district," the paragraph reads.
It goes on to state that following passages in the ordinance, which include design guidelines, construction permits, fees and penalties," do not apply to properties because of their identification as a historic property or because they lie within a historic district."
"I'm a big advocate of trying to protect historic property," said McDaniel. "I'm not asking for a decision today (on changing the ordinance), but maybe we could consider a secondary designation where owners can voluntarily apply and would be (more restrictive)."