AGENDA #3a(2)
November 8, 2007
In response to the Gimghoul Neighborhood Association’s petition concerning the membership of the Chapel Hill Historic District Commission, the Council asked the Commission to collect information about the make-up of other commissions. Attached is a list of historic district residency requirements posted on municipal websites across the state.
All municipalities, including Chapel Hill, require all or most commission members to have a demonstrated interest in historic preservation, and all municipalities require members to live within the town or county. Beyond that, however, conditions differ. Larger cities reserve more commission seats for specialized members such as architects, planners, attorneys, real estate agents, or preservation professionals. Smaller towns impose fewer constraints to make sure candidates for the commission can be found.
With regards to residency within locally designated historic districts, prerequisites vary widely. Most towns do not require any members to live in historic districts. High Point allows no more than a certain number of district residents on its commission, while Winston-Salem and Wilmington specify seats for several district residents on their commissions.
Please let the Commission know if it can be of further service or answer additional questions.
Asheville: 14 members
Requirements for residency in a historic district:
none
Burlington: 9 members
Requirements for residency in a historic district:
none
Charlotte: 11 members
Requirements for residency in a historic district:
Their design guidelines state that the commission has representatives who own property, live or own businesses within the local historic districts, but it does not give the specific number.
Durham: 9 members
Requirements for residency in a historic district:
none
Gaston County: 9 members
Requirements for residency in a local historic landmark (this commission designates only landmarks and not historic districts):
none
Goldsboro: 9 members
Requirements for residency in a historic district:
none
Greensboro: 10 members
Requirements for residency in a historic district:
1 member from each of the city’s 3 local historic districts
Hickory: 8 members
Requirements for residency in a historic district:
none
High Point: 9 members
Requirements for residency in a historic district:
no more than one member from each of the city’s two local historic districts
Lexington: 5 members
Requirements for residency in a historic district:
none
Raleigh:12 members
Requirements for residency in a historic district:
one-third (4) must live in or own property in local historic overlay* districts
Salisbury: 9 members
Requirements for residency in a historic district:
none
Statesville: 9 members
Requirements for residency in a historic district:
none
Thomasville: 9 members
Requirements for residency in a historic district:
none
Washington: 7 members
Requirements for residency in a historic district:
none
Wilmington: 9 members
Requirements for residency in a historic district:
4 must live in an historic district
3 must live in an historic district overlay
1 must live in a national register historic district
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County: 12 members
Requirements for residency in a historic district:
1 owner of a locally designated landmark property
1 local historic district property owner
1 local historic overlay district property owner
Out of State Examples
Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard, MA: 7 members
Requirements for residency in a historic district:
1 must be a member of the island HDC, which may have residency requirements
2 must be property owners in Cottage City, better known as Oak Bluffs
Aiken, SC: 7 members
Requirements for residency in a historic district:
none
Groton, CT: 5 members
Requirements for residency in a historic district:
none