Historic district boundary changes will wait

DAYTON - Altering the boundaries of the Comstock Historic District will have to wait for information from property owners.

Hearing a number of concerns from residents, Comstock Historic District commissioners on have postponed indefinitely any decision regarding boundary alterations.

Several months ago State Historic Preservation Officer Ron James asked District Administrator Bert Bedeau to review the community's historic district boundaries.

"When the idea of adding the Dayton cemetery was raised, I asked Bert to look at Dayton's boundaries as an objective architect/historian and draw up a map adjusting them as they would best fit today," James said on Monday.

The resulting map, showing suggested property additions to and deletions from current district boundaries, was presented at the January historic district commission meeting.

Combined with local concern regarding district regulations and enforcement policies, the map has resulted in community debate and is causing some historic district residents to consider steps that would eliminate the district altogether.

According to district resident Lido Quilici, a petition to opt out of the district has been signed by 28 historic district residents. Others do not want to be included under the proposed changes.

"I have nothing against the district. I just don't want to be put back in," property owner Lee Vecherialli said.

The Comstock Historic District was created by the legislature in 1969. Dayton's historic boundaries were established in 1972 and, according to Bedeau, were last adjusted in 1990.

Bedeau said he has found flaws in the 1990 boundary change notification process.

"My research has shown there is disagreement between the verbal description and the map that may or may not have a bearing on where we will go from here," he said. "But the Commission's mandate gives it the power to eliminate properties and alter boundaries through a formal process."

County commissioner and historic district board member Bob Milz said Lyon County has its own historic district ordinance requiring all proposed changes to go through the county commission prior to coming to the historic district.

Barbara Peck lives in the center of the historic district and wants to see it preserved. She reminded the board of the community support shown at an August 1998 commission meeting held specifically to discuss Dayton's withdrawal from the district.

"The general feeling at that meeting was the people did not want Dayton removed from the district and that the conflict has been caused by the commission's lack of consistency in enforcement," Peck said. "I hope you give this issue non-emotional consideration. We are not talking dollars and cents here. You can't put a price tag on history. We should be proud of our history."

James said, "The board is soliciting everyone's viewpoint. We are not looking for a popular vote on this, we are looking for input."

Bedeau added, "This commission is mandated by the state to protect the resources of the Comstock."

Dayton is also under two non-regulatory Federal historic designations that are monitored through the National Park Service: National Landmark status since1961 and on the National Register of Historic Places since1966.