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Home My WebLink About2020-03-10 PACKET 08.B.Historic Preservation Planning Historic preservation planning is the process of creating and implementing a strategy to protect and enhance historic resources.These resources include sites, structures, objects, and districts that have national, state, or local historical or cultural significance. Historic preservation planning provides a forum for planners, local officials, and community stakeholders to establish preservation goals and prioritize preservation actions. Additionally, it can help communi- ties identify links among preservation goals and priorities and other planning issues, such as affordable housing, economic development, and environmental protection. BACKGROUND In the U.S., widespread interest in historic preservation started in the mid -20th century. Many cities were demolishing older structures and even clearing entire neighborhoods for redevelopment and highway - building projects. To strike a balance between progress and preservation, cities began using historic preservation programs to protect local landmarks and historic districts.These efforts gained momentum after President Lyndon Johnson signed the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, which created the National Register of Historic Places, offered tax credits to help property owners rehabilitate historic homes, authorized the creation of state historic preservation offices, and established a mechanism to certify local historic preservation programs. Traditionally, local historic preservation efforts have focused predominantly on the cultural and social benefits of preservation. These include maintaining tangible connections to the past and celebrating distinct architectural styles. In recent decades, many communities have also embraced historic preserva- tion as an economic development or environmental protection strategy. Historic resources contribute to a sense of place and are often clustered in walkable neighborhoods and districts. Consequently, they attract visitors and young professionals, and they provide space for homegrown businesses and corpo- rate expansions. Meanwhile, reusing older buildings often results in fewer environmental impacts, over the lifetime of the building, than demolition and new construction. However, local historic preservation efforts involve tradeoffs. In some communities, property owners who want to modify or replace historic resources and residents and business owners concerned about rising rents in historic districts may view historic preservation efforts with skepticism. Furthermore, many local historic preservation programs arejust beginning to recognize the importance of embracing diverse histories and ensuring equitable preservation outcomes. CREATE A STRATEGY Often, the first step in creating a local historic preservation strategy is to conduct a historic resource survey. In this context, survey means background research on potentially significant historic resources combined with a field survey to document the distribution and current conditions of resources across the study area and an evaluation process to determine the historical significance of each resource. While trained preservationists have traditionally led survey efforts, there is a growing awareness that including a wide range of community perspectives in this process is necessary to identify resources that reflect diverse cultural histories. Furthermore, some communities skip formal surveys in favor of community engagement activities designed to identify the local values that should drive preservation efforts. Next, local officials typically adopt goals and objectives that establish a rationale for future preservation activities. These goals and objectives should highlight the relationship of historic preservation to the community's vision for growth and change and acknowledge potentially competing priorities. Finally, A Publication ofthe American Planning Association I PAS QuickNotes No. 83 0 East Battery Street in Charleston, South Carolina, is part of the first locally desig- nated historic district in the United States. 0 American Planning Association Planning Advisory Service Creating Great Communities for All local officials work with planners and other community stakeholders to determine how the community Kendig, Lane. 2017."Protecting Value Through wants to accomplish its objectives.This is where local officials specify how the local agencies will sup- Historic Preservation Regulations°zoning port preservation and which partners will assist in these efforts.The most common local historic pres- Practice, April. Available at https://planning. ervation tools are historic preservation ordinances, public education, and technical or direct financial org/publications/document/9122191/. assistance for preservation actions. Watson, A. Elizabeth. 2016."Preservation Plan - Communities can include their historic preservation strategy as an element or chapter of the local ning Comes of Age°Planning, October. Avail - comprehensive plan or, if the strategy focuses on a subarea of the community, as a section of a able at https://planning.org/planning/2016/ neighborhood, corridor, or district plan. Alternatively, local officials may adopt a standalone historic oct/preservationplanning/. preservation plan. UPDATE REGULATIONS Other Resources Local historic preservation ordinances establish legal protections for historic resources. At a minimum, they enable a process for officially designating local historic resources and require property owners to Facca, Amy. 2003."An Introduction to Historic obtain a certificate of appropriateness or approval before altering or demolishing designated resources. Preservation Planning" Planning Commissioners These ordinances typically charge a historic preservation review board with developing criteria for local Journal, Fall. Available at http://plannersweb. historical significance and reviewing all designation, alteration, and demolition applications. com/wp-content/uploads/2003/10/191al. Many historic preservation ordinances apply protections to entire districts in addition to individual sites pdf. or structures (i.e., landmarks). In these cases, the ordinance typically includes—or references a separate Mason, Randall F. 2009."Preservation Planning document with—design standards or guidelines for each historic district. Many ordinances also include FURTHER READING maintenance standards for historic resources and explain how property owners can claim a limited Available at https://forum.savingplaces.org/ exception from design or maintenance requirements in cases of economic hardship. Published by the American PAS Qu ickNotes (ISSN 2169-1940) iso publication of the American Planning Association's Planning Advisory Service (PAS). Visit PAS online at Planning Association Some historic preservation ordinances include development incentives, such as relief from off-street Frey, Patrice, and Rachel Bowdon. 2012. parking requirements, or establish local financial assistance programs, such as local tax incentives. "Historic Preservation: Expanding the Plan - Furthermore, some communities with transfer of development rights regulations also allow property ner'sTool box"PAS Memo, September/Octo owners to sell unused development potential from historic properties to designated receiving sites (see ber. Available at https://planning.org/pas/ PAS QuickNotes 74:Transferof Development Rights). memo/2012/sep/. PROVIDE EDUCATION AND ASSISTANCE Kendig, Lane. 2017."Protecting Value Through Because private property owners carry out most historic preservation activities, public education is a Historic Preservation Regulations°zoning critical component of local historic preservation efforts. Consequently, many cities and counties have Practice, April. Available at https://planning. staff members that can help property owners understand not only legal requirements but also federal, org/publications/document/9122191/. state, and local sources of financial assistance. Watson, A. Elizabeth. 2016."Preservation Plan - In the U.S., property owners can claim a 20 percent income tax credit for rehabilitation work on ning Comes of Age°Planning, October. Avail - structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places or that contribute to a local historic district able at https://planning.org/planning/2016/ certified by the Department of the Interior. Beyond this, many states have tax incentives modeled on oct/preservationplanning/. the federal tax credit program, and some offer additional income or sales tax relief. Locally, some cities and counties discount or freeze property taxes for historic properties. Meanwhile, some communities Other Resources have publicly or privately funded grant or loan programs that help owners maintain or rehabilitate historic properties. Facca, Amy. 2003."An Introduction to Historic Preservation Planning" Planning Commissioners CONCLUSIONS Journal, Fall. Available at http://plannersweb. Communities use historic preservation planning processes to discover or reconnect with their heritage, com/wp-content/uploads/2003/10/191al. including previously hidden cultural narratives. While historic preservation efforts can stabilize older pdf. neighborhoods, revitalize traditional downtowns, and reduce environmental impacts associated with Mason, Randall F. 2009."Preservation Planning new development, an equitable distribution of these benefits depends on careful program design. Pro- in American Cities" Forum Journal, Winter. grams that combine historic preservation ordinances with public education and technical or financial Available at https://forum.savingplaces.org/ assistance are often the most effective at meeting preservation objectives. viewdocument/preservation-planning-in- american-c. PAS Qu ickNotes (ISSN 2169-1940) iso publication of the American Planning Association's Planning Advisory Service (PAS). Visit PAS online at planning.org/pas to find outhowPAS can work foryou. Joel Albizo, FAAE, cAE, ChiefExecutiue Officer, Petra Hurtado, PhD, Research Director; U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park DovidMorley,McP,Editor.02019AmericanPlanningAssociation,whichhas offices at205N.MichiganAue,Suitel200,Chicago,IL60601-5927, Service.2019."Historic Preservation Planning and 7030 15th St, NW, Suite 750West,, Washington, DC20005-1503; planning.org. All rights reserved. No part of this publication maybe Program." Available at https://www.nps.gov/ reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means without permission in writing from APA. preservation -planning/. A Publication of the American Planning Association I PAS QuickNotes No. 83