AGENDA #3a(2)

 

Memorandum

 

November 8, 2007

 

To: Kevin Foy, Mayor, and Chapel Hill Town Council

 

From: Chapel Hill Historic District Commission

 

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. 

 

Examples Around North Carolina

 

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