The Wimberley City Council has approved the creation of a local historic district around the Wimberley Square.
The council unanimously approved the district at its meeting on Thursday, Sept. 21. Mayor Pro Tem. Rebecca Minnick and Councilmember Teresa Shell recused themselves from the proceedings due to conflicts with personal property nearby. For the most part, the district was passed as recommended by Post Oak Preservation Solutions — the firm hired by the city to define the requirements and boundaries of a future historic district.
The city council made two changes to the proposed map: omitting a property on the edge of the district (where the only historic structure had been torn down) and changing one of the buildings in the district from “contributing” to “non-contributing” (due to a question of the building’s age).
The newly-defined boundaries of the historic district include dozens of contributing and non-contributing buildings across 22.6 acres. Contributing buildings, according to Post Oak, are any buildings that were built at least 50 years ago and have experienced minimal changes to their structure. Buildings that were determined to fit these criteria will require property owners to follow certain architectural guidelines and submit to the city for approval on routine repairs and maintenance, as well as minor alterations to the exterior, according to city documents.
Non-contributing buildings are subject to less oversight by the city, although they “would still be subject to review in situations of major construction,” according to Nathan Glasier, the city of Wimberley’s planning and development coordinator.
According to the city, the district seeks to “protect and enhance the landmarks and districts which represent distinctive elements of Wimberley’s historic, architectural and cultural heritage.” It is also meant to ensure “the harmonious, orderly and efficient growth and development of the city that is sensitive to its historic resources.”
The final district map is available at cityofwimberley. com/319/Historical-Preservation.
