Explanation
BACKGROUND
The Department of Development, Planning Division submits this legislation for approval to incorporate the Brewery District Commission into the Historic Resources Commission. This legislation also seeks to increase the number of commissioners on the Historic Resources Commission from seven (7) commissioners to nine (9) commissioners, to account for the expanded jurisdiction of the Historic Resources Commission resulting from this legislation.
As part of this legislation, the Brewery District will remain a distinct historic district with the same architectural standards that currently apply to the District. Under the legislation, the Historic Resources Commission, rather than the Brewery District Commission, will review applications for Certificates of Appropriateness.
The reduction of the number of historic architectural review commissions will create efficiencies. The proposal to reduce the number of architectural review commissions was originally considered in the City’s 2008 Historic Preservation Working Group Final Report (2008). At that time, it was noted that 82% of cities surveyed operate with one historic preservation commission. Reducing the number of architectural review commissions will allow Planning Division staff to focus on broader, equitable development matters, including preservation education and engagement matters for historically African-American neighborhoods.
The Historic Resources Commission was designed to have a citywide focus, is experienced in reviewing proposals from a wide variety of districts and individually listed properties, and knowledgably applies both citywide and area-specific guidelines for review. Precedent exists for enabling the Historic Resources Commission to assume additional preservation and architectural review authority:
· In October 1987 the North Market District Commission (NMDC) was established, and in 1994 the NMDC was dissolved, with five of the Commission’s thirteen members ...
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