[MassHistPres] Guidebook Update - Preservation through Bylaws and Ordinances

[Chris Skelly]

PRESERVATION THROUGH BYLAWS AND ORDINANCES
The Massachusetts Historical Commission is updating our guidebook
entitled "Preservation through Bylaws and Ordinances - Tools and
Techniques for Historic Preservation Used by Municipalities in
Massachusetts."  This guidebook contains descriptions on the variety of
local bylaws and ordinances currently in use in Massachusetts for
protecting historic resources and community character.  The guidebook
describes how each bylaw functions, includes a list of municipalities
that have passed each bylaw and summarizes success stories from around
the state.  Originally prepared in 1998, the guidebook has been
incrementally revised since then.  The current version of the guidebook
can be viewed online at http://commpres.env.state.ma.us/content/ptbo.asp

With assistance from a consultant team, the guidebook is undergoing
substantial revisions.  These include revising the bylaw descriptions,
researching new case study success stories and updating the list of
cities and towns with each bylaw.  

Each bylaw will have the following:
The first page will be a bylaw description summary that can fit on one
page.  The next two pages will include case study success stories with
text and photographs.  The fourth and last page will be the list of
municipalities with each bylaw.  

The draft list of bylaws to include in the guidebook is below:  
Accessory Apartment Use
Archaeological Protection
Cluster Development
Community Preservation Act
Demolition by Neglect
Demolition Delay
Design Review
Down Zoning
Downtown Revitalization
Flexible Zoning
Local Historic Districts
Neighborhood Architectural Conservation Districts
Phased Growth
Planned Unit Development
Right-to-Farm
Scenic Overlay
Scenic Roads
Site Plan Review
Transfer of Development Rights
Transportation Corridor Overlay
Upper Elevation Protection
Up Zoning
Village Center Zoning

Over the coming weeks, I will be posting bylaw definitions on
masshistpres and asking for your comments and suggestions on how we have
defined each bylaw.  Also and very importantly, I'll be looking for good
case studies that should be highlighted in the guidebook. 

Christopher C. Skelly
Director of Local Government Programs
Massachusetts Historical Commission
220 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston, MA 02125
Ph: (617) 727-8470 / Fax: (617) 727-5128
Christopher.Skelly at state.ma.us
http://www.sec.state.ma.us/mhc/mhcidx.htm
*******Stay Informed on Historic Preservation Topics by joining the
MassHistPres Email List. Visit
http://mailman.cs.umb.edu/mailman/listinfo/masshistpres for more
information. ******MHC offers regional training workshops to local
historical commissions and historic district commission members on a
variety of topics.  For additional information, please contact me about
the MHC On the Road program.*******