Ask any true lover of Happy Valley and they'll probably highlight dozens of places, on-campus and off, that deserve to be protected and marked as being historically significant. But some measures seem to take that sentiment a bit too far. Such was the case with the matter before the State College Borough Council last week.

In a rare exercise of his power to veto, State College Mayor Bill Welch knocked down a long-debated proposal to create a historic district in some of the borough's neighborhoods.

It's unlikely that the council will reverse this decision when it takes up the proposal again.

The mayor acted appropriately in speaking for the complaints and opposition voiced by many of those living in the neighborhoods affected.

"When everything is historic, nothing is historic," Welch said.

The proposal, which was designed to include properties in the Holmes-Foster, Highlands and College Heights neighborhoods, was too broad.

The district and its architecture review board would have put too much pressure on the average property owner and added an unnecessary slice of bureaucracy to a borough already brimming with boards.

The demise of this plan shouldn't -- however -- stop interested residents from continuing any historic-preservation efforts.

The idea of this district would not have gotten this far in the process if there weren't properties worth recognizing for their historic value.

But that consideration should be made on a case-by-case basis, not lumping row after row of homes together in the same special zone.

This is still an important issue in a populated region that continues to spread far beyond the borough's set borders.

Some of those older homes will become local treasures the more time goes on, but we have faith that property owners will recognize their importance before any major changes.