Opponents of a proposal to change Louisville’s landmarks ordinance are urging members of a Metro Council committee to reject the measure tomorrow. Introduced by Councilman David Yates, the proposal would require that a majority of the signatures needed to nominate a property for landmark status come from people who live within a one-mile radius of the site.It would also give the full council final say over landmarks decisions. Yates says the process needs more council oversight. He points to properties like the Colonial Gardens building in south Louisville, a local landmark that has sat vacant for years.But opponents of the Yates proposal. like Cherise Williams, say it would deprive many citizens of a voice in the process.“I do not just only care about where I live. I care about the community as a whole and I’d like to have input on what goes on in my whole city,” she said.Williams was among about 20 opponents of the proposal who took part in a downtown press conference today.Martina Kunnecke, president of the group Neighborhood Planning and Preservation, is also opposed to an alternative proposed by Councilman Tom Owen that would expand the petition radius.“We see no need to entertain compromises to change something that essentially is not broken, so, no, there’s not support here for that,” Kunnecke said.The measure will be considered by the Metro Council’s Planning and Zoning Committee at 1:30pm Tuesday.
