How much say should the Decorah Historic Preservation Commission have when the Decorah Planning & Zoning Commission is reviewing downtown improvements?

The Decorah Historical Preservation Commission is in the middle of trying to earn "historic district" designation for downtown Decorah.

What impact would that have on the Commercial Design Review currently done by the city's Planning & Zoning Commission whenever the owner or tenant of a downtown building wants to make changes to a building?  That's the question being raised in the wake of a design review of architectural changes proposed for 521 West Water Street.  An application to the Planning & Zoning Commission asked for approval of two sconces and design features around the front door, as well as dentil work across the top of the building (a "dentil" is a small block that is repeated for ornamental impact in a cornice).

The Planning & Zoning Commission gave its unanimous approval to the application.  But some members of the Historical Preservation Commission complained they thought the changes would "disrupt the historic design" of the building.  They didn't feel the additions to the building qualified as being described as "historic."  They also complained the Planning & Zoning Commission had voted on the application before the Historical Preservation Commission could meet and take its own vote.

Decorah City Council member Steve Luse has questioned the timing of the Planning & Zoning Commission's vote.  "I want there to be communication (between the two groups)," he told fellow city council members.

The other six city council members, however, felt the application was within the bounds of the Planning & Zning Commission's powers--and approved the Commercial Design Review on a 6-1 vote.