VALDOSTA — The City of Valdosta recently announced the addition of Robert Moyer as Senior Planner for Historic Preservation within its Planning Department. Moyer joins the City with more than 12 years of professional experience in architectural history, historic preservation, cultural resource management, and regulatory consultation, according to the City of Valdosta.
In his new role, Moyer will support the City's ongoing efforts to preserve Valdosta's historic and cultural resources while helping to guide thoughtful planning and development. The City stated that his extensive background in historic preservation and regulatory compliance will provide valuable expertise as Valdosta works to balance continued growth with the protection of the community’s historic character.
Matt Martin, Planning Director for the City of Valdosta, commented that Robert Moyer brings an "impressive depth of knowledge and experience in historic preservation" that will benefit the Planning team and the Valdosta community. Martin emphasized the importance of intentionally preserving historic places and character as the community grows, noting that Moyer’s experience in navigating complex preservation projects, collaborating with multiple agencies, and finding solutions that balance preservation with development will strengthen the City's capabilities in this area.
Moyer is an experienced senior architectural historian who meets the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualification Standards for History and Architectural History. Throughout his career, he has worked on complex cultural resource projects across multiple states and regions. These projects have involved Section 106 and Section 110 of the National Historic Preservation Act, as well as the National Environmental Policy Act.
His professional experience includes leading multidisciplinary Cultural Resource Management teams on complex, multimillion-dollar projects. He has also coordinated with federal, state, tribal, and local stakeholders. Moyer possesses extensive experience working with State Historic Preservation Offices, tribal governments and representatives, and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. The City noted that he has successfully negotiated and authored memoranda of agreement, programmatic agreements, and other agreements addressing adverse effects to historic properties.
Prior to joining Valdosta, Moyer’s background involved conducting cultural resource surveys, evaluating properties for eligibility for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places, and preparing technical documentation to support historic preservation and environmental review processes. His professional scholarship includes published National Register eligibility evaluations for cultural resources at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. Additionally, from 2018 to 2019, he authored or co-authored more than 100 cultural resources survey reports and project reviews for the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.
Academically, Moyer earned a Master of Arts in History from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, graduating with a 3.94 GPA. He also earned an Advanced Graduate Certificate in Maritime History from Old Dominion University, where he was the first person in the university’s history to be awarded the certificate. His undergraduate studies concluded with a Bachelor of Arts in History, magna cum laude, from the University of Maryland Global Campus in Adelphi, Maryland.
Moyer stated that he is excited to join the City of Valdosta and contribute to a community with such a rich history and distinctive character. He noted that historic preservation is not only about protecting buildings but also about preserving the stories, places, and identity that connect a community to its past while guiding its thoughtful movement into the future. Moyer expressed his anticipation of working with City staff, residents, property owners, and community partners to support Valdosta’s preservation efforts and become an active part of the community.
As Senior Planner for Historic Preservation, Moyer's responsibilities will include contributing to preservation planning, historic resource review, community education, and coordination with property owners, developers, preservation partners, and governmental agencies. The City emphasized that Moyer’s expertise will further strengthen its commitment to responsible development and the stewardship of the historic places that contribute to Valdosta’s unique identity.
