The Fayette County Historical Society Inc. is preparing a document aimed at preserving "historical landmarks and buildings in the county," said Dan Visnauskas, society president. He believes the timing is right for such a proposal. Commissioners are updating the county zoning ordinance and "the agricultural committee had a lot of success. This would be a good time," he said. In 1999, commissioners did not adopt a 40-page historic preservation ordinance prepared for the society by Suter and Associates. Visnauskas believes that commissioners rejected the initial ordinance because of its complexity. He envisions a new document with "six or eight items to protect things in general -- simple solutions, like putting a buffer, such as a hedge, in place around historic sites. We want things that are easy to enforce. This will put the tools in place to protect our history." The current county land-use ordinances do not specifically address historic preservation, but Visnauskas said other counties have ordinances that protect local heritage. He hopes that Fayette's sites can be preserved. "Historical landmarks are already threatened. We want to stop the destruction," he said. Commissioners do not envision a separate section in the zoning ordinance dealing exclusively with historic preservation. "There is no suggestion that it will become part of the zoning," said County Commissioner Chairwoman Angela Zimmerlink. She wants all local historical societies to look at the proposed zoning ordinance and "raise a red flag regarding historic preservation and zoning." She then will look at the zoning ordinance to determine whether any "specific sections affect historic preservation." She wants input from the historic preservation community, like the suggestions from farmers on agricultural ordinances. "We're not trying to reinvent the wheel," she said. "I want the historical community to look at the zoning ordinance and give me suggestions for something we can incorporate for historic preservation." Visnauskas said the society likely will present its suggestions to commissioners in July.

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