The board has used its power to delay development projects for up to nine months, to secure what it views as the public good. That threatening approach is certainly not what was envisioned when the board was created and its powers expanded to include all subdivision plans.
Historic preservation is a noble and valuable endeavor.
Every old building, wall or barn is not valuable just because it is old. An appreciation of the past can nourish and grace the future. But misguided devotion to things just because they are aged is stifling. The example of Commerce Bank makes it clear why New Castle County Executive Thomas P. Gordon wants to reduce the historic board's reach. The Historic Review Board insisted that an old schoolhouse at Marsh and Naamans roads be thoroughly researched before the bank could proceed with construction there.