David,
I am a member of the Historic and Architectural Review Commission in Jacksonville, Oregon, located near Medford in sourthern Oregon. We are a small town, but the commission has roughly the same standing and power of a planning commission. Jacksonville is the only town (p. = +/-2700) which is on the National Register of Historic Places as a district encompassing all of its original historic buildings and structures. It is also a CLG (Certified Local Government), in this state granting agency to completely manage its own affairs to regulate development per adopted codes, including those regarding historic preservation. The national register requires that the town empanel a body to review issues which may affect its standing per the rules imposed by the National Park Service, the agency charged with administering the applicable Federal enabling law.
Our "Title 18" is a part of the city zoning codes, and enforced with the same authority. It includes a section on Demolition, and has stipulated "Decision Criteria" which are very restrictive, and zealously enforced by the HARC. The fabric of our town, developed primarily as a gold mining town between 1850 and 1880, is precious as a historic resource, but also for its livability and walkability.
The town's character and the HARC itself are generally well supported by the citizenry, although controversy on specifics arises from time to time. Our city is a special case, and given the clout of the development industry, the stridency of private property rights advocates, and the growth mantra of most city planning agencies, I think your work is cut out for you. The argument that quality historic city fabric needs to be preserved in order to understand the past, gauge the present and plan for the future is a strong one, but it needs to be tailored to the facts of your local situation. I wish you the best of luck.
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Gary Collins AIA
Principal
Gary R. Collins, AIA
Jacksonville OR
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