[MassHistPres] Architectural Conservation District

[jlennerton at aol.com]

Hi, thanks for the quick reply.
I do mean the design guidelines specifically.

I think because the ACD bylaw was revived from a proposal from 10 years ago, that the language of the guidelines being in the appendix needs to be removed from the bylaw portion.. Moreover, it sounds like to doesn't belong given your explanation about having to back to town meeting every time they would

it is home rule, but the language we have is otherwise good. We might need some guidance in adopting  the guidelines, assuming it will pass, which it sees as though it will.We have a dozen properties under potential threat directly on and adjacent to our town common, including a confirmed site on the Underground Railroad so there has been support from the community
ThanksJoe LennertonLHC

-----Original Message-----
From: Dennis De Witt <abtdewitt at rcn.com>
To: jlennerton at aol.com
Cc: MHC MHC listserve <MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu>
Sent: Wed, May 5, 2021 8:55 am
Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] Architectural Conservation District

You have mentioned two different things.  Are you asking about bylaw language or guidelines?  The guidelines should be in your rules & regs not your bylaw. Otherwise every time you want to change the guidelines you have to go back to Town Meeting.
I’m assuming you want to do this by home rule and not zoning.  If you are looking for bylaw language, Cambridge’s is very good, although it might need to be adjusted for a town.  Be aware that some town’s NCD (ACD) bylaws are the proverbial horse designed by a committee.
If you want guidelines then surely you will have to write them to suit the setting.  Nothing off the shelf it going to be just right.  Cambridge has them from "LHD very lite" to "LHD very strong” (Harvard Sq.).  You could also adapt guidelines from an LHD but without the limitation of being restricted to visibility from a public way.
Brookline had NCDs before its bylaw was overturned because of a conflict with zoning case law.  It’s guidelines for the Hancock Village NCD were simple — everything was reviewable with no public way restriction.

Dennis De WittBrookline


On May 5, 2021, at 7:52 AM, jlennerton at aol.com wrote:
Hello,does anyone have access to the sample municipal bylaw that creates an Architectural Conservation District?
The town of Leicester is going to town meeting with a proposed district, but we do not have the sample text of the design guidelines that go with the bylaw
Becker College closed permanently and is the single largest owner of historical properties in Leicester (and Worcester) so we're trying to act fast to put some protections in place as these properties are sold off.
Thank youJoseph LennertonL:icester Historical Commission_______________________________________________
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