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• Q &A CONTINUED Although tax benefits are available for National Regis- ter listed properties and the buildings are protected from adverse effects of federally funded projects, in- clusion in the National Register provides no controls against private demolition or inappropriate alterations. A local historic district is established by a local ordi- nance by either the Common Council or County Coun- cil. The Historic Preservation Commission and their staff work with the neighborhood residents to estab- lish standards which specify types of appropriate exte- rior changes or other alterations to the district's visual character. The Historic Preservation Commission then reviews applications for exterior alterations, public improvements, new buildings, signage, demolitions, and other related changes in the district. MW IS A LOCAL DISTRICT FORMED? There are two ways to form a local historic district, one, the interested neighborhood must submit an ap- plication to the Historic Preservation Commission of- fice, two, the Historic District Committee, a subcom- mittee of the Historic Preservation Commission nomi- NEIGHBORHOOD INITIATED METHOD After the application has been accepted by the Com- mission, the Commission and the staff will work with the neighborhood group to explain historic district des- ignation to area residents and prepare district stan- dards. Once the standards are approved by the resi- dents they must then choose be- tween which of two designation �\ ,procedures they wish to follow. The first requires a vote and the HPC works with property owners. second, a public hearing. If method one is chosen, a vote of all property owners is taken. If 51% of the property owners vote favorably for the historic district designa- tion, the Historic Preservation Commission will submit an ordinance for historic district status to the proper Council. If method number two is chosen then the Commission will submit an application to the appropri- ate Council requesting historic district designation.• Council will then hold a first reading after which the proposed district is handed back to the Commission which then has 90 days to hold a public hearing. If the Commission approves the nomination the proposal will be returned to the Council for further hearings. nates an area for designation. COMMISSION INITIATED METHOD The Historic District Committee, a sub - committee of the Commission, reviews a particular areas eligibility for designation as an historic district then submits its findings to the Commission for review. If the Commis- sion approves the Committees nomination, the staff will set up neighborhood meetings to discuss the desig- nation with property owners. The Commission then holds a public hearing where all interested parties may voice their approval or opposition to the designation. The Commission takes into advisement all comments and recommendations then votes to either recommend the proposed district to the proper Council or with- draws the nomination. The Commission will then schedule neighborhood meetings to create guidelines for the proposed district. When the guidelines are complete the Historic Preservation Commission will submit an ordinance to the appropriate Council for his- toric district designation. The Council will vote on the designation after the ordinance has had first and sec- ond readings. WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF LOCAL HISTORIC O TRICT DESIGNATION? A while stabilizing the neighborhood and direct- ing growth by encouraging maintenance, and discouraging inappropriate changes. WILL I BE ABLE TO MAKE CHANGES TO MY HOUSE ONCE THE AREA BECOMES A LO- CAL HISTORIC DISTRICT? Yes, local designation does allow the property owner to make changes to his /her property. However the changes are regulated through preservation standards adopted by the neighbor- i� hood. The Historic Preser- vation Commission and the Commission's Staff will work with the property owners and /or their architect or contractor to come up with the best solu- tions for the proposed changes, alterations, and additions WHAT ARE PRESERVATION STANDARDS? Preservation standards are the guidelines that protect the integrity and cohesiveness of the neighborhood. The standards are written by the property owners in the local district with the aid of the Historic Preservation Commission. Local historic district designation c protects the architectural and visual character of an area. It controls • changes and channels progress by ! protecting the integrity of the build- ings and the cohesiveness of the Historic designa- area according to the standards tion promotes adopted by the neighborhood. Lo- stability and growth. cal designation creates a sense of neighborhood and community pride, A while stabilizing the neighborhood and direct- ing growth by encouraging maintenance, and discouraging inappropriate changes. WILL I BE ABLE TO MAKE CHANGES TO MY HOUSE ONCE THE AREA BECOMES A LO- CAL HISTORIC DISTRICT? Yes, local designation does allow the property owner to make changes to his /her property. However the changes are regulated through preservation standards adopted by the neighbor- i� hood. The Historic Preser- vation Commission and the Commission's Staff will work with the property owners and /or their architect or contractor to come up with the best solu- tions for the proposed changes, alterations, and additions WHAT ARE PRESERVATION STANDARDS? Preservation standards are the guidelines that protect the integrity and cohesiveness of the neighborhood. The standards are written by the property owners in the local district with the aid of the Historic Preservation Commission.