[MassHistPres] HDC fees

Fri Dec 7 14:11:00 EST 2007

We agree with the Arlington policy - no fees are charged, on the theory that they would breed resistence and evasion, especially for small projects that are hard enough to keep track of in our far-flung conservation districts.

In the distant past, part of the Commission's budget came from the fees that Inspectional Services charges for building permits, but this arrangement is no longer explicit and now we're funded from general revenues.

________________________________
Charles M. Sullivan, Executive Director
Cambridge Historical Commission
831 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, Mass.  02139
617 349-4684 voice, 349-3116 fax

-----Original Message-----
From: masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu [mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu] On Behalf Of John Worden
Sent: Wednesday, December 05, 2007 12:30 PM
To: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
Subject: [MassHistPres] HDC fees

The subject of application fees comes up periodically, typically at the instance of the FinCom.  Our position is that people would be even less inclined than they are now do go thru appropriate channels if there were a fee attached to the application - and what about the cases where unauthorized work is discovered either in the process or after it's done?
So we have, thus far at least, held firm on no fees, and rely on our small annual appropriation from Town Meeting to cover notices.

J. Worden
Arlington HDC

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----- Original Message -----
From: <masshistpres-request at cs.umb.edu>
To: <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, December 05, 2007 12:00 PM
Subject: MassHistPres Digest, Vol 22, Issue 3

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> Today's Topics:
>
>   1. non-transferable LHD permits? (Dennis De Witt)
>   2. Re: non-transferable LHD permits? (Ralph Slate)
>   3. Re: non-transferable LHD permits? (Dennis De Witt)
>   4. Historic District Fees (Jop, Meghan)
>   5. Announcing MPPF Round 14 (Holtz, Paul @ SEC)
>   6. Re: Historic District Fees (Dcolebslade at aol.com)
>   7. Re: Historic District Fees (Stowell, Stephen)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Tue, 4 Dec 2007 23:09:02 -0500
> From: Dennis De Witt <djdewitt at rcn.com>
> Subject: [MassHistPres] non-transferable LHD permits?
> To: MHC listserve <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
> Message-ID: <220E8B6C-2F51-4C83-AD22-487FBC6DE1D7 at rcn.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed
>
> Some towns in their LHD rules and regulations have a stipulation that
> a Certificate is granted to an owner and not to building and that it
> is non-transferable.  My notes suggest that towns that seem to have
> such a provision include Andover, Acton, & Westport.
>
> Our Town Counsel wonders if such a limitation is allowable.  Are there
> other towns with similar provisions?  Does anyone know how they came
> about?  Does anyone have an example of an actual benefit derived from
> enforcing such a rule.
>
> Dennis De Witt
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Tue, 04 Dec 2007 23:34:00 -0500
> From: Ralph Slate <slater at alum.rpi.edu>
> Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] non-transferable LHD permits?
> To: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
> Message-ID: <47562A38.8030307 at alum.rpi.edu>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> I can think of one right off the top of my head.
>
> Certificates of hardship are granted based on both a condition of the
> property AND the hardship that failure to approve a petition would
> cause on a homeowner.
>
> Let's say that a hardship approval is granted under hardship to a
> "little old lady", based on the fact that she is unable to perform
> appropriate work due to her limited income. If she sells her property
> without performing the work, why should someone with different
> financial conditions be allowed to perform inappropriate work?
>
> Ralph Slate
> Springfield, MA
>
> Dennis De Witt wrote:
>> Some towns in their LHD rules and regulations have a stipulation that
>> a Certificate is granted to an owner and not to building and that it
>> is non-transferable.  My notes suggest that towns that seem to have
>> such a provision include Andover, Acton, & Westport.
>>
>> Our Town Counsel wonders if such a limitation is allowable.  Are
>> there other towns with similar provisions?  Does anyone know how they
>> came about?  Does anyone have an example of an actual benefit derived
>> from enforcing such a rule.
>>
>> Dennis De Witt
>> ******************************
>> For administrative questions regarding this list, please contact
>> Christopher.Skelly at state.ma.us directly.  PLEASE DO NOT "REPLY" TO
>> THE WHOLE LIST.
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>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Wed, 5 Dec 2007 08:33:53 -0500
> From: Dennis De Witt <djdewitt at rcn.com>
> Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] non-transferable LHD permits?
> To: MHC listserve <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
> Message-ID: <7372E038-FBE1-4458-A201-829F2FB19C5C at rcn.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed
>
> Ralph
>
> I'm talking about all what is stated in published Rules and
> Regulations re Certificates of Applicability in relation to work that
> has not been accomplished prior to sale.
>
> Here is Andover:
> New owners must come before Commission with application to request re-
> issuance of Certificate of Applicability to continue with previously
> approved changes.
>
> Here is Acton
> If a property changes ownership during the time the Certificate of
> Appropriateness  is in force, a new owner who wishes to continue the
> authorized work must apply to the Commission for a transfer of the
> Certificate to his or her own name.
>
> Here is Westport:
> Certificates are not transferable to new owners. New owners must make
> a new application to the Commission for any uncompleted work.
>
> We are trying to understand what potential problems these provisions
> are intended to address.  (Often you see language in Rules &
> Regulations that has been borrowed from town to town but these clauses
> are sufficiently different that they may have arisen
> separately.)
>
> Also, our town counsel is inclined to believe that, once issued, a
> CofA must go with the property, like zoning permission.  Any counter-
> arguments to that?
>
> Ralph, in financial hardship cases such as you describe we have on a
> couple of occasions allowed changes for the duration of the occupancy
> of the owner only and have recorded the decision so that it appears in
> the chain of title.  But that is a different issue.
>
> Dennis De Witt
>
> PS Chris do you have a list of all towns with published Rules &
> Regulations?
>
>
>
>
> On Dec 4, 2007, at 11:34 PM, Ralph Slate wrote:
>
>> I can think of one right off the top of my head.
>>
>> Certificates of hardship are granted based on both a condition of the
>> property AND the hardship that failure to approve a petition would
>> cause on a homeowner.
>>
>> Let's say that a hardship approval is granted under hardship to a
>> "little old lady", based on the fact that she is unable to perform
>> appropriate work due to her limited income. If she sells her property
>> without performing the work, why should someone with different
>> financial conditions be allowed to perform inappropriate work?
>>
>> Ralph Slate
>> Springfield, MA
>>
>> Dennis De Witt wrote:
>>> Some towns in their LHD rules and regulations have a stipulation
>>> that a Certificate is granted to an owner and not to building and
>>> that it is non-transferable.  My notes suggest that towns that seem
>>> to have such a provision include Andover, Acton, & Westport.
>>>
>>> Our Town Counsel wonders if such a limitation is allowable.  Are
>>> there other towns with similar provisions?  Does anyone know how
>>> they came about?  Does anyone have an example of an actual benefit
>>> derived from enforcing such a rule.
>>>
>>> Dennis De Witt
>>> ******************************
>>> For administrative questions regarding this list, please contact
>>> Christopher.Skelly at state.ma.us directly.  PLEASE DO NOT "REPLY" TO
>>> THE WHOLE LIST.
>>> MassHistPres mailing list
>>> MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu
>>> http://mailman.cs.umb.edu/mailman/listinfo/masshistpres
>>> ********************************
>>>
>> ******************************
>> For administrative questions regarding this list, please contact
>> Christopher.Skelly at state.ma.us directly.  PLEASE DO NOT "REPLY" TO
>> THE WHOLE LIST.
>> MassHistPres mailing list
>> MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu
>> http://mailman.cs.umb.edu/mailman/listinfo/masshistpres
>> ********************************
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Wed, 5 Dec 2007 10:49:40 -0500
> From: "Jop, Meghan" <mjop at wellesleyma.gov>
> Subject: [MassHistPres] Historic District Fees
> To: <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
> Message-ID:
> <AEBAAFB745D2E940BAE24B78A3EF0ED7CDD2D9 at mailserver.wellesleyma.local>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
>
> Good Afternoon,
> The Town of Wellesley is considering raising the review fee for
> Certificates of Appropriateness for the Local Historic Districts. The
> current fee is $25 and barely covers the cost of advertising, let
> alone notice to abutters. Could other towns let us know what their fees are?
> Any information would be great. Thanks.
>
> Meghan C. Jop, AICP
> Town Planner
> Wellesley Planning Department
> mjop at wellesleyma.gov
> (P) 781-431-1019 ext. 2234
>
> Please note my email has changed.
>
> When responding, please be advised, the Town of Wellesley and the
> Secretary of State have determined that email could be considered a
> public record.
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Wed, 5 Dec 2007 10:53:06 -0500
> From: "Holtz, Paul @ SEC" <Paul.Holtz at state.ma.us>
> Subject: [MassHistPres] Announcing MPPF Round 14
> To: <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
> Message-ID:
> <4B9743DC9631164FA8ED1AAC579277AF02971ACE at PROD-MSG01.prod.sec.local>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> Secretary William F. Galvin, Chair of the Massachusetts Historical
> Commission, is pleased to announce Round 14 of the Massachusetts
> Preservation Projects Fund (MPPF) grant program. It is anticipated
> that funding will be in the range of the previous two grant rounds
> (Rounds 12 and 13), $1,000,000 and $750,000, respectively.
>
> Administered by the Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC), the
> Massachusetts Preservation Projects Fund (MPPF) is a state-funded 50%
> reimbursable matching grant program established in 1984 to support the
> preservation of properties, landscapes, and sites listed in the State
> Register of Historic Places. Applicants must be a municipality or
> nonprofit organization. The program is administered in accordance with
> 950 CMR 73.00. Please note that grant disbursement is subject to
> appropriation and the availability of sufficient allocated funds
> pending extension of the state bond cap.
>
> For more information, please attend an MPPF workshop. A member of the
> MHC's Grants Division will explain program requirements, review
> program materials, and answer your questions. Workshops are free of
> charge and no registration is required.
>
> Workshops will be held at the following locations, directions are
> available on MHC's website:
>
> Thursday, December 13, 2007, 1-3pm, MHC, 220 Morrissey Blvd. Boston
>
> Thursday, December 20, 2007 1-3pm Wistariahurst Museum, 238 Cabot
> Street, Holyoke
>
> Wednesday, January 9, 2008, 2-4pm, Millbury Public Library, Millbury
>
> Tuesday, January 15, 2008, 10am-noon, MHC, 220 Morrissey Blvd., Boston
>
> The application deadline for Round 14 is February 22, 2008.
>
> MPPF program information, a downloadable application and instructions,
> and grant workshop info are available on MHC's website
> http://www.sec.state.ma.us/mhc/ <http://www.sec.state.ma.us/mhc/> .
> Inquiries and application requests may also be e-mailed to Paul Holtz
> (Paul.Holtz at sec.state.ma.us) or call the MHC at 617-727-8470.
> Application forms and Instructions will also be available at workshops.
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 6
> Date: Wed, 5 Dec 2007 11:25:43 EST
> From: Dcolebslade at aol.com
> Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] Historic District Fees
> To: mjop at wellesleyma.gov, masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
> Message-ID: <d41.1b3d3cd3.34882b07 at aol.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
>
> Westport charges $50 for Certificates except for Non-Applicability
> which is free.
>
> Betty Slade
>
>
>
> **************************************Check out AOL's list of 2007's
> hottest products.
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>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 7
> Date: Wed, 5 Dec 2007 11:45:41 -0500
> From: "Stowell, Stephen" <Sstowell at lowellma.gov>
> Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] Historic District Fees
> To: "Jop, Meghan" <mjop at wellesleyma.gov>, <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
> Message-ID:
> <5D2DA0BFE7B94D4C97EE45A73FD9DCDF086F37 at c4mail01.ch.ad.lowellma.gov>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> Lowell Historic Board (MA) is allowed to set and collect application
> fees and to disburse all monies collected to further the purposes of
> its state legislation (Chapter 566, Acts of 1983; Lowell Historic
> District Act). As set by the Board in 1984, the fees were:
>
> 1.Signage - $25
>
> 2. Minor Development (painting, in-kind repairs, masonry cleaning,
> lighting, and other items of a minor nature delegated to staff for
> approval by the Legislature and Board) - $25
>
> 3. Major Development (everything else like demolition, complete
> rehabilitation, new construction, etc. requiring a Public Hearing) was
> based on a graduated scale depending upon project cost - under $2,500
> - $25; $2,500-$4,999 - $50; $5,000-$9,999 - $75; $10,000-$99,999 -
> $100; $100,000-$249,00 - $125; over $250,000 - $150
>
> 4.  Non profits received a 50% reduction in fee.
>
> In 2002, the Board undertook the first review of its fee structure
> since it was created in 1984.  What was found were inequities between
> those with higher cost projects paying a lower percentage of fee with
> less expensive projects paying a higher percentage of fee.  After this
> analysis and comparison with other similar agencies, in early 2003 the
> Board voted to adopt the current fee schedule that addressed the
> inequities and established fees that were based upon a percentage of a project's cost.
> The current fee schedule is -
>
> 1.  Signage - $25
>
> 2.  Minor Development - 1/4 of 1% of total project cost (never less
> than
> $25 with a cap of $1,000)
>
> 3.  Major Development - 1/2 of 1% of total project cost (never less
> than $50 with a cap of $2,000)
>
> 4.  Non-profits receive a 50% discount on the fee but the total fee is
> never less than the minimums noted.
>
> Hope this helps!
> ----------
> Preserve America Community
>
> National Trust for Historic Preservation, National Preservation Honor
> Award
>
> National Trust for Historic Preservation Distinctive Destination
> Community
>
> Stephen Stowell
> Administrator
> Lowell Historic Board
> JFK Civic Center
> 50 Arcand Drive
> Lowell, MA  01852
> (978) 446-7200 x1443
> (978) 970-4262 fax
> Sstowell at lowellma.gov
> www.historiclowell.net
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu
> [mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu]On Behalf Of Jop, Meghan
> Sent: Wednesday, December 05, 2007 10:50 AM
> To: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
> Subject: [MassHistPres] Historic District Fees
>
>
>
> Good Afternoon,
> The Town of Wellesley is considering raising the review fee for
> Certificates of Appropriateness for the Local Historic Districts. The
> current fee is $25 and barely covers the cost of advertising, let
> alone notice to abutters. Could other towns let us know what their fees are?
> Any information would be great. Thanks.
>
> Meghan C. Jop, AICP
> Town Planner
> Wellesley Planning Department
> mjop at wellesleyma.gov
> (P) 781-431-1019 ext. 2234
>
> Please note my email has changed.
>
> When responding, please be advised, the Town of Wellesley and the
> Secretary of State have determined that email could be considered a
> public record.
>
> ******************************
> For administrative questions regarding this list, please contact
> Christopher.Skelly at state.ma.us directly.  PLEASE DO NOT "REPLY" TO THE
> WHOLE LIST.
> MassHistPres mailing list
> MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu
> http://mailman.cs.umb.edu/mailman/listinfo/masshistpres
> ********************************
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
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>
> End of MassHistPres Digest, Vol 22, Issue 3
> *******************************************
>

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For administrative questions regarding this list, please contact Christopher.Skelly at state.ma.us directly.  PLEASE DO NOT "REPLY" TO THE WHOLE LIST.
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