[MassHistPres] Preliminary Reviews for Certificates

[Jane Guy]

As Clerk of the Commission and an employee of the DPCD, I am the
first/best contact to help guide an applicant through the process.  I
have a pretty good idea what the Commission will not approve, what they
like to see in applications and what options the applicant might want to
consider (3-tab rather than architectural roofs, window solutions,
etc.).  I also will tell them if I think their application doesn't have
a snowball's chance in hell (i.e. vinyl siding), but it is still up to
the applicant if they want to submit the application anyway.  I accept
all applications and I review them to make sure the application is
complete.  If it is not, I tell them what I feel is missing and advise
them that their application could get continued or denied if they do not
have all the information the Commission needs to make a decision.  The
Salem Historical Commission does not do a preliminary review.  All
applications for Certificates of Appropriateness or Hardship are
included on the posted agenda and notices are sent out to abutters,
etal.  At the public meeting, the Commission may approve, approve with
changes/conditions, deny or continue the application after receiving
public comment.  Once it goes before the Commission, it is subject to
the open meeting law and the Commission is obligated to consider public
comment.  Then, the Commission can provide as much advice as they choose
or make recommendations for better solutions.  If a vote on an item is
to be continued to the next meeting, I would be careful about giving
verbal acceptance.... because the make-up of the Commission can change
with each meeting due to absences or conflicts, what is "advised" in one
meeting may not get enough votes for approval in the next meeting.
Also, if it is not specified in writing, what is said by the Commission
is not always what the homeowner or developer hears, and it could result
in miscommunication.



Jane A. Guy
Assistant Community Development Director
City of Salem
Department of Planning & Community Development
120 Washington St., 3rd Floor
Salem, MA  01970
978-619-5685
(F) 978-740-0404
jguy at salem.com
www.salem.com


Date: Thu, 6 Oct 2011 15:14:21 -0400 (EDT)
From: Dcolebslade at aol.com
Subject: [MassHistPres] Preliminary Reviews for Certificates
To: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu



A preliminary review is highly recommended by most historic district
commissions before a full-fledged application for a public hearing is
made. 
This is in order to prevent wasted time and money on the part of the
applicant and probably the commission.


My question concerns how far can the commission go in "advising" the
applicant on his or her proposal. 

Can the Commission make special recommendations to direct the applicant
to a better solution? 

Can the Commission state that something would not be acceptable?

Can the Commission indicate general acceptance, without a vote, of a
proposal?

Thank you.

Betty Slade


-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.cs.umb.edu/mailman/private/masshistpres/attachments/20111006/fc739f06/attachment.htm>