2019.04.29 Staff Report.pdf
Historical Commission Staff Report 1 April 29, 2019
To: Historical Commission From: Sarah LaValley RE: Staff Report, April 29, 2019 Commission Meeting
Review proposed exterior lighting pursuant to Historic Preservation
Restriction. 1924LLC, 49 Round Hill Road, Map ID 31B-004.
The City, through the Historical Commission, holds a Preservation Restriction Agreement
(enclosed for reference) on several of the buildings at the former Clarke School campus
(Premises), including the ‘Checkwriters’ building at 49 Round Hill Road. The Restriction
places some affirmative responsibilities on current and future owners of the Premises, such
as continued maintenance and insurance coverage. It also requires that the Commission
review proposed ‘major’ alterations to the Premises to determine that such work will not
affect the characteristics which contribute to the architectural, archaeological, or historical
integrity of the Premises. The Restriction specifies that the Secretary’s Standards must be
used as a guide for review. Several projects on other buildings subject to the Restriction
were approved by the Commission previously under a consolidated process covering both
Local Historic District permitting and Restriction review. Since the lighting is exempt from
Historic District permitting, this review is pursuant to the Restriction only. The
Commission must review the proposed exterior façade lights in accordance with the
Standards, and allow the work if it meets them.
Discuss Local Historic District Ordinance Project Categories
The Historic District Ordinance established three project categories – those that are Exempt
from Historic District Review, those that are Potentially Exempt with a staff-issued
Certificate of Nonapplicability, and all other projects not exempted in the first two
categories. These projects require review and issuance of a Certificate of Appropriateness or
Certificate of Hardship.
The City Solicitor has clarified that Exempt work is completely exempt from any review,
regardless of whether that work is comprised of discrete elements of a larger overall project
for which a Certificate of Compliance is required. In reviewing project categories for
potential changes, the Commission should consider that any changes will apply to all
properties within the District, both residential and commercial. Some exemptions were
established because the work would be unlikely to result in any negative effects to the
character of the historic district, others because regulation could create an undue burden to
property owners. The Commission is prohibited, by MGL C40C, by regulating interior
arrangements or architectural features not subject to public view. This law also creates a list
of project categories that the Commission may exempt, which most communities include in
their Ordinances or bylaws in its entirety. MGL 40C states that “the commission shall not
make any recommendation or requirement except for the purpose of preventing
developments incongruous to the historic aspects or the architectural characteristics of the
Historical Commission Staff Report 2
March 25, 2019
surroundings and of the historic district,” and MassHistoric reminds Commissions that “the
purpose of a local historic district is not to halt growth, but to allow for thoughtful
consideration of change.”
CT River Crib Structure
The City of Northampton and its local partners in the river channel markers program is
pursuing removal of a log and rock crib that requires marking and poses a hazard to boats.
Removal will require approval of the state Board of Underwater Archaeological Resources.
If the Commission does not have concerns with removal of the in-river structure as
described in the memo, a letter to the BUAR is requested. This could include any conditions
the Commission suggests, such as interpretive signage.