Summary of Proposed Ordinance (Updated)
April 20, 2008
This proposed ordinance is designed to place a level of review over the properties in designated Historic Districts of Roxbury in order to preserve the historic look and feel of Roxbury. We hope this will encourage businesses wishing to take part in our town to feel secure that our town wishes to keep its current historic attributes. It is also hoped that we will continue to foster pride in our historic roots for future generations living here. After taking into consideration comments from the community, the proposed ordinance has been revised.
In general, the proposed ordinance intends to include these minor but specific restrictions and rules:For the purposes of this ordinance the proposed historic district is those properties included in hamlet of Roxbury listing on the State and National Registers.
- A commission of local residents/and or property owners will be appointed by the town board. This commission will be comprised of residents and property owners of the Town of Roxbury (specific descriptions and term limits are included in the ordinance)
- The commission will approve/disapprove all new exterior construction projects, demolition projects, house moving projects associated with all properties within the district. Minor renovations, repair and maintenance to residential properties will not be reviewed—such as window replacement, siding, lighting, satellite dishes, paint color etc.
- Projects that will fall under review shall include the construction of any new structure requiring a building permit. This will include the construction of additions to existing structures for all properties in the district. Modern design will certainly be considered. We are not trying to create a static museum. Additional types of projects that will fall under review include out buildings, fencing or railings, or other structures that have a visual impact on the view plane. Commercial signage and signage illumination will also fall under review.
- In addition, any property within the district shall not be permitted to intentionally fall into a serious state of disrepair. Examples of serious disrepair may be defined by collapsing vertical support posts and beams which cause porches and/or walls to fall or cave in, and/or roof or foundation deterioration or any deterioration which threatens the life of the structure.
- Project
review will be based on the Department of Interior’s Standards
for Rehabilitation to Historic structures.
Should the ordinance be enacted, the Commission will develop clear and
concise guidelines for review.
These guidelines need to be approved by the Town Board. Some examples
of how the guidelines will
be developed are based on the following: New Additions to Historic
Buildings.
- Adverse impact would be defined as removing or radically changing buildings and their features or site features which are important in defining the overall historic character of the property so that, as a result, the character is diminished.
- New additions should be designed and constructed so that the character- defining features of the historic building are not radically changed, obscured, damaged, or destroyed in the process of rehabilitation.
- New design can be clearly differentiated so that the addition does not appear to be part of the historic resource.
- Additional adverse actions include removing or relocating buildings thus destroying the historic relationship between buildings and the landscape and moving buildings onto the site, thus creating a false historical appearance.
- Should
a property owner disagree with the commission’s decision and/or
the property owner cannot comply due to economic hardship, there
is an appeal process in which the property owner can make
an argument to the Town Board.
By this, we hope preserve of our beautiful historic properties and sense of community. We also hope to prevent the replacement of homes in Roxbury with structures that would not blend in with existing neighborhoods. Again, this only applies to new construction (including add-on projects), demolition and moving of structures.
We hope the citizens of Roxbury will support this effort to preserve and continue to enjoy our historic resources.
A copy of the entire ordinance is available on this website (see link below) or at the Town Clerk’s Office
PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD ON MONDAY, MAY 12 AT 7PM AT THE TOWN HALL
Read the Proposed Ordinance (pdf) - updated 4/21/08.