Some are in and some are out.
That's the status of the new Historic Preservation District in Thomson. It was adopted in a 4-1 vote during last Thursday night's Thomson City Council meeting.
Those approving the adoption of the new Historic Preservation District included Mayor Pro Tem Kenneth Usry and Councilmen Alton Belton, Rev. John Smalley and John T. Wiley. The lone opposition vote was cast by Councilman Jaye Jones.
"I just didn't feel comfortable enough about it to approve it," Councilman Jones said after the meeting.
Now that the Historic Preservation District has been approved by city council, it means that a number of residential areas will be included, while some areas will be excluded.
One such neighborhood that will not be part of the historic district will be residents living along Grier Circle. A number of them signed a petition several weeks ago, asking that they be excluded from the city's proposed historic district plans.
Cyndie Locklear, who spearheaded the petition drive, has won in her attempt to have her neighborhood excluded. Ms. Locklear was informed of that decision during last week's council meeting by Mayor Robert E. Knox, Jr.
Three others who signed Ms. Locklear's petition weren't as lucky. Those residents live on Tom Watson Way, which is considered a gateway into the district.
"They will be included in the plan," Mayor Knox said during the council meeting.
Richard Dozier, a local businessman, who had earlier addressed council members about another subject, opposed having his home included in the historic plan.
Mayor Knox attempted to persuade Mr. Dozier to keep his historic home within the plan, but Mr. Dozier insisted he be excluded.
The mayor later informed him that he could consider his home out of the plan.
Donna Branch, who lives on North Avenue, off Central Road, was told by Mayor Knox that her neighborhood would be included in the historic plan as she had previously requested.
"We're trying to accommodate as many people as possible," Mayor Knox said. "We've got some people trying to make this a bugaboo. And it's not a bugaboo."
Some people believe being included in such a plan involves too many regulations, Mayor Knox said.
"I don't think that's the intent at all," he added. "This is to make this workable - not to make it difficult."
