Historic Preservation
Planning and Development

Magnolia BuildingPlanning & Development provides staff assistance to the County's Historical Commission.  This committee, which consists of fifteen individuals appointed by the Commissioners Court, serves as the County's primary advisory body on historic preservation matters.  The Historical Commission is responsible for providing the first level of review for all State historical marker requests, and it conducts two-to-three special projects a year.

For the period of February 1, 2011-January 31, 2013, the Historical Commission has adopted the following goals and objectives:

CURRENT HISTORICAL COMMISSION GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
GOAL: Maintain a current inventory of historically significant properties and areas.
 
Objective:  Develop a strategy for the updating of existing County-funded surveys.
   
GOAL:
Encourage local cities to help preserve historically significant properties and areas.
 
Objective:  Assess the availability of historic preservation ordinances and programs within key cities.
 
Objective:  Where needed, provide cities with information pertaining to the benefits and importance of historic preservation and to the creation of local ordinances and programs.
   
GOAL:
Encourage the acknowledgement of history that has been previously been under-recognized.
 
Objective:  Identify local populations, communities, and/or eras that have not extensively been the subject of previous State historical markers in the County and facilitate the development of at least one State marker application.
 
GOAL:
Raise awareness of historic preservation in the County.
 
Objective:  Publish a newsletter every quarter.
 
Objective:  Provide photographs and other information for the Historical Commission's website.
 
Objective:  Help sponsor the annual Dallas history conference.
 
Objective:  Review State historical marker applications.


With the exception of a summer break in July, the County's Historical Commission meets on the second Thursday of every month at noon.

For more information about the Historical Commission, please call (214) 653-7601.