[MassHistPres] Local Historic Districts with University Neighbors

[Dennis De Witt]

Peg

The Dover amendment is part of 40a zoning and does not trump 40c in  
terms of any of the controls which an LHD can apply, including  
dimensional ones.  As Charlie pointed out, LHDs do not control use.   
Brookline's Cottage Farm LHD came into effect in the 1970s largely  
because it immediately abuts BU which owns a lot of property in the  
area (several large houses  and one large lot) and which had  
demolished an important mid-19th C mansion over a weekend.  Since  
then BU has not been a problem.  They have built one house for a  
senior faculty member and were very response to a lengthy community  
siting process for it which was funneled through the Commission and  
even gave the house a slate roof.  They did convert one large house  
into a dormitory, but not in a way that it is evident from the outside.

Our guidelines make no concessions to the Dover amendment and that  
was probably one of several pluses for the neighborhood in the  
creation of one of our new LHDs which was feeling pressure from a  
private school.

Dennis De Witt


On Jan 18, 2007, at 9:30 AM, Peg Keller wrote:

> Hi all/  I am in the process of reviewing my LHD guidelines in an  
> area where 30% of the properties are owned by Smith College/  Can  
> anyone give me examples of other LHD's that abut colleges/ 
> universities that may have had to incorporate adjustments, i.e. new  
> construction, height limits, etc. to address Dover Amendment  
> protections? thanks. Peg Keller
>
> Housing and Community Development Planner
> Office of Planning and Development
> City of Northampton
> 210 Main Street   Northampton  MA 01060
> telephone:  413-587-1288
> fax:  413-587-1264
> pkeller at northamptonma.gov
>
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