Many officials said the time to move a proposal for a district through the designation process was not necessarily bad.

The designation process is initiated by application for designation by a local government.

But some preservationists see the action as a signal that the Council will scrutinize the designation process more closely.

The first public hearing, which cranks up the designation process, is being planned for early July, and more may follow.

Sometimes HDC initiates the designation process itself, usually in nonresidential areas that do not have local community leaders.

Elsewhere, the designation process would run its normal course.

The trend dates to about 15 years ago, when the Council became a player in the designation process after changes to the City Charter.

If a park of garden has been registered using the designation process under the 1983 National Heritage Act it has legal protection.

The designation process was completed in February 2013.

Even as accusations fly, the Landmarks Commission is preparing to begin the designation process.