[MassHistPres] NCD Pro & Con?

[Sullivan, Charles M.]

Here's the Cambridge experience.

Does anyone have such an arrangement where the LHD commission also acts as an NCD board -- thus having to manage, and not blur together, two sets of rules and design guidelines? The Cambridge Historical Commission (which is both a Ch. 40 historical commission  and a Ch. 40C historic district commission) administers the Harvard Square Conservation District (which is an NCD with its own guidelines).

Can NCDs prevent demolition as absolutely as LHDs? Yes, we think so.

Are NCDs normally established under general Home Rule powers, not requiring recourse to the state legislature and not requiring a 2/3 vote? Yes.

Charles Sullivan

________________________________
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 Dennis De Witt
Sent: Friday, January 28, 2011 3:45 PM
To: MHC MHC listserve
Subject: [MassHistPres] NCD Pro & Con?

The idea of a Neighborhood Conservation District in a late 19th C area to be administered by the 40c Local District Commission has been proposed in Brookline.

Other than Cambridge, I'm not sure who else on this listserve has NCDs -- or both NCDs and LHDs.

Various questions come to mind.

Does anyone have such an arrangement where the LHD commission also acts as an NCD board -- thus having to manage, and not blur together, two sets of rules and design guidelines?

By definition, the 40c rules for appointments would have to trump any preference for a NCD members.  With 5 LHDs to be represented there might not be an NCD members.  Does anyone have any experience which speaks to that issue?

Can NCDs prevent demolition as absolutely as LHDs?

Are NCDs normally established under general Home Rule powers, not requiring recourse to the state legislature and not requiring a 2/3 vote?

Any other comments pro or con would be welcomed, especially from any places that have both NCDs and LHDs?

Dennis De Witt





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