[MassHistPres] Demo delay not tied to passage of time?

[Roughan, Michael]

James,

I know of no examples but also aspire to amend the Hopkinton 6 month Demo Delay bylaw. Savvy developers simply submit an application for a demo permit before they seek other town committee approvals and by the time they have their approvals the 6 month period has expired. Our only hook has been when developers seek a special permit or variance and the cooperating town board / committee places approval of the Historical Commission as a condition of acceptance.

I agree that “Passage of Time” should be the last stated condition for lifting a demo delay and applaud your efforts to eliminate it as the sole criteria.

HHC would appreciate hearing of any examples, if you can find any.

Best of Luck,

….Mike

Michael Roughan, AIA, EDAC, LEED AP
Chairman - Hopkinton Historic Commission

Town of Hopkinton
18 Main Street
Hopkinton, MA 01748

D 617.357.7725 M 617.784.6463


From: masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu [mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu] On Behalf Of James Kossuth
Sent: Wednesday, August 24, 2016 3:39 PM
To: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
Subject: [MassHistPres] Demo delay not tied to passage of time?

I am curious if any Commission has a demo delay ordinance that attaches specific conditions to it, instead of simply expiring with the passage of time?
E.g., in order for the commission to lift demo delay, the applicant must satisfy a series of requirements (list the house for sale for X days, provide a structural report on the building's condition, cost analysis of renovation vs. new construction, document the building with drawings, photos, etc.).
In my time on the Medford Historical Commission, we found that demo applicants would sometimes sit on their hands and wait for the delay to expire, at which point the Commission was powerless to do anything.  So instead of simply tying the demo delay to time, has any community tried to impose conditions which must be satisfied?  (If a zoning board, community development board, or HDC could force applicants to meet certain criteria before plans are approved, could not a historic commission likewise force applicants to meet certain criteria before lifting a demo delay?)
Any guidance or thoughts on this would be appreciated.
Thanks,
James Kossuth
(formerly with Medford HC)
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