[MassHistPres] Local Preservation Update E-Newsletter - June 7, 2010

Mon Jun 7 16:24:53 EDT 2010

LOCAL PRESERVATION UPDATE E-NEWSLETTER

Published by the Massachusetts Historical Commission

June 7, 2010

This e-newsletter from the Massachusetts Historical Commission
Preservation Planning Division has been prepared for local historical
commissions, historic district commissions and others interested in
historic preservation activities around the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts.  It is published roughly every other week.  If you have
suggestions or items of interest for this newsletter, please contact
Chris Skelly at the Massachusetts Historical Commission.
Christopher.Skelly at state.ma.us <mailto:Christopher.Skelly at state.ma.us> 

STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION PLAN 2011-2015 PUBLIC MEETING

The next public meeting on the State Historic Preservation Plan for
2011-2015 is scheduled for Wednesday, June 30, 2010 in Duxbury, MA.  If
you cannot attend a public meeting, comments to the Massachusetts
Historical Commission can be delivered by mail, email or by phone.  For
more information on the public meeting or the state plan, please contact
Christopher.Skelly at state.ma.us <mailto:Christopher.Skelly at state.ma.us> .

LOCAL COMMISSION'S ROLE IN FEDERAL AND STATE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
REVIEWS

As a local historical or historic district commission, you will
occasionally get letters or inquiries from federal or state agencies,
professional consultants, or the Massachusetts Historical Commission
(MHC) asking for your comments on a state or federally assisted project
in your municipality.  Your comments are sought because of your
knowledge and legal role in representing the interests of your city or
town government and its citizens in historic resources. 

When you receive such a letter, if you have any concerns regarding the
project's impacts on historic resources and wish to participate in the
impact review and consultation process, respond in writing and be sure
that the MHC gets a copy of your comments. Timeliness is important:
typically, comments are required within 30 days.

The MHC reviews and comments on the potential impacts to historic
properties from projects that require funding, licenses or permits from
state and federal government agencies.  However, it is important to
remember that MHC's review is not triggered by a listing in the National
or State Register of Historic Places or MHC's Inventory of Historic and
Archaeological Assets.  A listing does not necessarily require MHC
review, and a lack of any previously identified historic property does
not eliminate the need for MHC review.  It is the federal or state
agency involvement with a project that triggers the MHC review. 

If a historic property is not included in MHC's statewide Inventory,
then it may be difficult or impossible for project planners to consider
impacts. For that reason, completing a comprehensive town-wide historic
properties survey in coordination with the MHC is critical to proactive
preservation efforts.     

If a project will have an adverse effect, then consultation begins among
the participating parties to discuss alternatives. As a result of being
a party in the process, the participants endeavor to help agencies find
a solution that will be implemented to avoid, minimize or mitigate
impacts to the resource. However, it is important to note that the MHC
does not have a veto or approval authority on projects.  It is a
consultative process to consider feasible alternatives and to attempt to
resolve the adverse effect. The results of the consultation may be
outlined in a formal Memorandum of Agreement that your local commission
may be asked to sign to represent your commission's agreement with the
proposed resolution of the adverse effect.

When a project involves only local permits, MHC does not have any formal
review role, although MHC may be able to provide some technical
assistance to your commission that your commission may implement.
Because the majority of the projects proposed in your town or city do
not require state or federal agency involvement, local bylaws and
ordinances are the most essential tools for the protection of
significant historic resources in your community.

A few useful websites regarding the state and federal review process can
be found at:

MHC Website - Frequently Asked Questions about MHC's State & Federal
Environmental Impact Review

http://www.sec.state.ma.us/mhc/mhcrevcom/revcomidx.htm
<http://www.sec.state.ma.us/mhc/mhcrevcom/revcomidx.htm> 

Advisory Council for Historic Preservation - Overview Brochure &
Citizen's Guide

http://www.achp.gov/using106.pdf <http://www.achp.gov/using106.pdf> 

http://www.achp.gov/pubs-citizensguide.html
<http://www.achp.gov/pubs-citizensguide.html> 

Advisory Council for Historic Preservation - Summary with link to
regulations 36 CFR 800 for Federal Review Projects 

http://www.achp.gov/106summary.html
<http://www.achp.gov/106summary.html>  

LOCAL PRESERVATIONIST AWARD - MARGARET CARROLL

The Massachusetts Historical Commission was pleased to honor Margaret
Carroll this past month with an MHC Preservation Award for her
outstanding preservation efforts within her hometown of Millville and
throughout the Blackstone River Valley.  As chairperson of the Millville
Historical Commission, Ms. Carroll was instrumental in the completion of
a survey of Millville's historic buildings, structures, sites and
objects as well as the listing of Central Street and Main Streets on the
National Register of Historic Places.  Through advocacy and public
education, her efforts have made a substantial difference to preserving
her unique and significant community.  Congratulations!   

PRESERVATION MASSACHUSETTS' MOST ENDANGERED HISTORIC RESOURCES ACCEPTING
NOMINATIONS FOR 2010

Preservation Massachusetts, the statewide non-profit advocacy
organization for historic preservation is accepting nominations to their
Most Endangered Historic Resources list.  Since 1993, this advocacy and
education program has brought statewide spotlight and support to
resources facing threats from demolition, policy issues, development and
neglect.  In the 17 years of the program, more than 160 resources have
been listed and less than 20 have been lost and many are working toward
their own preservation goals.  If you would like to nominate a resource
for the 2010 Most Endangered Historic Resources Program, visit
http://preservationmass.org/programs/most-endangered
<http://preservationmass.org/programs/most-endangered> . 

The application deadline is July 30, 2010.  

CALENDAR OF EVENTS AND DATES TO REMEMBER

June 30, 2010

State Historic Preservation Plan 2011-2015 Public Meeting, Duxbury, MA.
For more information and/or to RSVP, please contact
Christopher.Skelly at state.ma.us <mailto:Christopher.Skelly at state.ma.us> 

July 28, 2010

The National Conference for Local Commissions will take place this year
in Grand Rapids, Michigan July 28-August 1.   For more imformation,
visit http://uga.edu/napc <http://uga.edu/napc> .  

July 30, 2010

Deadline for submitting nominations to Preservation Massachusetts Most
Endangered Historic Resources for 2010.  For more information, visit
http://preservationmass.org/programs/most-endangered
<http://preservationmass.org/programs/most-endangered> 

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Please forward this newsletter on to others that may be interested.  If
you are receiving this as a forwarded message and would like to receive
it directly, please contact the Massachusetts Historical Commission.
The Massachusetts Historical Commission also has a listserve, known as
masshistpres, specifically for historic preservation.  You can join this
listserve by visiting
http://mailman.cs.umb.edu/mailman/listinfo/masshistpres
<http://mailman.cs.umb.edu/mailman/listinfo/masshistpres> .  This
newsletter is posted on masshistpres directly and sent to local
commission members.  We welcome your thoughts on what you would like to
see in this newsletter.  The website for the Massachusetts Historical
Commission is http://www.sec.state.ma.us/mhc/mhcidx.htm
<http://www.sec.state.ma.us/mhc/mhcidx.htm> 

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