HPC of South Bend and St. Joseph County - Standards Update Draft

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City of South Bend and St. Joseph County Historic Preservation Guidelines 137 District Addendums: Riverside Drive Local Historic District New Construction New construction includes any new building or structure constructed within the boundaries of the historic district, or any new addition to an existing building . New construction should be designed considering the appearance of the other buildings in the neighborhood . Massing and Scale. The majority of structures in the district are two stories in height and are square, rectangular or irregular in plan . There are a few story-and-a-half residences. The prevalent façade proportions are between a 1:1 and a 1:2 height-to-width ratio. • The height of a new structure and its height to width proportions shall be consistent with adjacent buildings in the district . • The building height shall be no greater than that of the tallest existing structure and no less than that of the lowest existing structure of the same type in the same block . • Façade proportion shall be established by permitting no structure with a façade wider or narrower than those existing in the same block . • Additions to existing buildings shall be related in height and proportion to the existing structure . • Contemporary designs should be compatible in character and mood to the building or neighborhood . Site Projects Garages, Landscaping, Parking Areas, Decks, Driveways, Sidewalks, and Paths. New site work should be based upon actual knowledge of the past appearance of the property found in photographs, drawings and newspapers . New site work should be appropriate to existing surrounding site elements in scale, type and appearance . Plant materials and trees in close proximity to the building that are causing deterioration to the building’s historic fabric should be removed . However, trees and plant materials that must be removed should be immediately replaced by suitable flora. All high-intensity security lights should be approved by the Historic Preservation Commission . Sheds and accessory structures (gazebos, decks, doghouses, playhouses, fountains and small reflecting pools, outdoor sculpture, children’s play equipment, etc.) shall be located at the rear of the property and as unobtrusively as possible while preserving historical relationships between the buildings, landscape features, and open spaces . Proportions and materials shall conform to those required for new construction . The following is prohibited and generally not approved by the Commission: • Removing old plants, trees, fencing, walkways, outbuildings and other site elements before evaluating their importance to the property’s history and development . • Front yard areas shall not be transformed into parking lots nor paved nor blacktopped . • Front yard areas shall not be fenced, and fences shall not extend forward beyond the setback line of the house . • The installation of unsightly devices such as television reception dishes and solar collectors shall not be permitted in areas where they can be viewed from the public thoroughfare . • Telephone or utility poles with high-intensity overhead lights should be installed so that they cannot be seen from the thoroughfare. • Prefabricated metal sheds shall not be used . Prefabricated wood composition sheds should not be used unless they conform to all other standards . Return to the Table of ContentsDRAFT