BY PHIL CUSTODIO
Clarkston News Editor
City Council voted 5-1 to appoint Jennifer Radcliff of Clarkston to the Historic District Commission.
Mayor Eric Haven and council members Al Avery, Jason Kneisc, David Marsh, and Scott Reynolds voted “yes.”
Haven made the nomination, citing Radcliff’s experience with Clarkston history as a historian and history advocate.
“Her credentials are pretty astounding,” he said.
Sue Wylie voted “no,” saying she wants to see nominees’ resumes before consideration prior to meetings, as they have done in the past. Haven presented information on Radcliff at the meeting but it was not provided in the meeting’s information packet.
“Let’s stay with what we’ve been doing – this is nothing against her,” Wylie said.
Radcliff coordinated with the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) in 1980 to list Clarkston on the National Register of Historic Places, oversaw the relocation and restoration of an 1857 home, was president of the Michigan Historic Preservation Network from 1988-2002, and served as a member of the State Historic Preservation Review Board for more than 25 years, until 2017.
She is also a member of Main Street Oakland County and the Oakland County Historical Committee.
Radcliff replaces Kim Berry on the Historic District Commission, with the term ending July 2020.
The commission regulates and reviews proposed improvements to property within the Clarkston Historic District. They review construction plans, and can issue Certificates of Appropriateness or deny projects they believe will damage the historical resources of the district.
The historic district includes downtown Main Street from a bit north of Miller to Waldon, east and west Washington, E. Church Street, Buffalo Street, and S. Holcomb Road up to Surrey Lane.
Reynolds said for new residents moving into the district, their first contact is often with the HDC, so it needs people who work well with the public.
“Make sure there are people on the committee who are people people, not just by the book,” he said.
Radcliff will work well with residents, Haven said.
“I encourage residents to not see it as adversarial – it’s not a matter of trying to be restrictive,” he said. “They’re here to help them, guide them, show options they’re not otherwise aware of.”