Millwood to take steps to preserve historic character

Public opinion in Millwood holds preserving the town’s historical character as a priority.

Since 2001 downtown Millwood has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places, but the town has no authority to provide protection of its historic architecture and personality. The national register is strictly an honorary designation.

The Millwood City Council and Planning Commission held a joint planning session Monday to discuss how to protect the town’s historical heritage on the local level.

“There is a lot of pride in our community,” said planning commissioner Pamela Kester. “The historical façade is what you see when you drive through Millwood. It’s what makes us unique.”

Megan Duvall, representative of the state Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, gave a presentation on the Certified Local Government program, one option the Planning Commission is considering.

Participation in the program requires local government to establish and maintain a historic preservation commission, survey local historic buildings, enforce preservation laws and provide a means for public participation. Along with the requirements, a historic preservation ordinance added to Millwood town ordinances offers the local-level protection the town requires to maintain its historical integrity.

“The local register of historic places is really the only place where you can truly protect historic properties,” said Duvall. “The Millwood register of historic places would be set up in your historic preservation ordinance.”

The commission plans to review all options at its meeting in June and present its recommendation to the City Council in late summer.

A survey conducted by Millwood Mayor Dan Mork showed that residents want to retain the character of their town and neighborhoods. Those findings propelled the Planning Commission into finding ways in which the integrity of the town can be maintained.

“Over and over, people say they want to maintain the character of their neighborhood,” said planning commissioner and town historian Bobbie Beese. “We came to the realization as a Planning Commission that we have no tools to do that. An ordinance would give us the structure we need.”

Another way to help preserve Millwood’s historical integrity is the newly formed Millwood Historical Society. Commissioners Kester and Beese co-founded the organization and conducted its first meeting in April.

“We have something special here,” said Beese. “It’s different from anywhere else in the Valley.”