The Pella City Council recently allowed Historic Overlay Zones in the community, which could provide benefits to neighborhoods that adopt the distinction.

Rhonda Kermode tells KNIA/KRLS News that the zoning aims to protect and enhance historic landmarks, buildings, or neighborhoods, enhance the city’s attractiveness to visitors, and to provide design review for new construction or alteration of existing resources to assure compatibility with the existing area.

No Historic Overlay Zones have been established with the ordinance approved, as applications require at least a majority of property owners in favor of the new zone and it must go through numerous hearings through the Historic Preservation Commission, Planning and Zoning Commission, and Pella City Council.

Hear more about the Historic Overlay Zones on today’s Let’s Talk Pella.