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    New Historic Preservation Commission member settles in

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January 8, 2009

New Historic Preservation Commission member settles in

Alexander Cain

For the past six years, Garnet Rochon has been a resident in Milledgeville’s widely-discussed Historic District.

Thursday, Rochon attended his second meeting as a member of Milledgeville’s Historical Preservation Commission.

“Living in the historic district and seeing how it’s changed in the past six years with the growth of the college and increased number of students helps me out,” Rochon said Thursday afternoon. “I live next to the students. Because I have a larger house, I understand what it takes for upkeep.”

Rochon is the newest member of the Milledgeville HPC, having been appointed to the position by Milledgeville Mayor Richard Bentley in December.

January marked his second meeting, which was mostly uneventful and included only one major decision — discussion of allowing repair and change to a barber business on Wilkinson Street — on the agenda, according to John Alton, HPC chairman.

When asked how his role as an HPC member had gone so far, Rochon chose to take a modest response to the question.

“They’re a lot more willing to work with the homeowners than I’d been led to believe. They’re a lot more open minded and easy going,” Rochon said.

Rochon has always had an interest in his historic preservation, by his own admittance.

He came about as a candidate for the HPC after meeting HPC member Hunter McComb, who, after realizing Rochon had an interest in historic preservation, asked if Rochon would be willing to be a potential HPC member.

HPC members are appointed by the mayor, who receives candidate recommendations from existing HPC members and feedback from the public regarding potential appointments.

Thus far, Rochon said, it’s been a quiet year for the HPC.

“We haven’t had many applications and those we have had have been cut and dry,” Rochon said.

In addition to his interest in historical preservation, Rochon also has had experience in HPC-related matters as a private citizen.

“Since I’ve lived in the historic district, I’ve had a tree fall on my property and had wood which had rotted away. I’ve made changes to my own property,” Rochon said. “The historic district has all the homes which have extra characteristics that you cannot get in newer construction. With the regulations in place from the HPC, I know someone won’t make major alterations to their house that will affect my house or my neighbor’s house.”

As for the good, the bad and the ugly? Thus far, Rochon hasn’t had much of an opportunity to discover any of the three — though he admits there are more positive perspectives than negative.

“The best part is meeting new people. Most who have heard of my appointment are congratulatory. I haven’t had anybody asking any questions yet. All my neighbors have been in the historic district longer than I have.”

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