TOWN OF GUILFORD HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION 50 Boston Street Guilford, Connecticut 06437 Telephone: (203) 453-8039 Rules of Procedure and Regulations Contents Page Historical Overview ................................................................................................................. 4 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 4 Map of Districts ....................................................................................................................... 6 Rules of Procedure and Regulations ........................................................................................ 7 Section I. General .................................................................................................................... 7 Section II. Organization of the Commission ........................................................................... 7 Section III. Administrative Procedures .................................................................................... 9 Section IV. Meetings and Public Hearings ............................................................................ 12 Section V. Regulated Activities ............................................................................................. 14 Section VI. Non-Regulated Activities ................................................................................... 17 Section VII. Certificates of Appropriateness ......................................................................... 18 Section VIII. Pre-Application Meetings ................................................................................ 21 Section IX. Applications ........................................................................................................ 22 Section X. Standards for Determining Appropriateness ........................................................ 22 Section XI. Actions by the Commission ................................................................................ 25 Section XII. Severability ........................................................................................................ 26 Section XIII. Revision History .............................................................................................. 26 Design Guidelines .................................................................................................................. 27 Appendix ................................................................................................................................ 48 Application for Certificate of Appropriateness...................................................................... 48 Certificate of Appropriateness ............................................................................................... 51 Secretary of the Interior Standards for Rehabilitation ........................................................... 52 Guilford Historic Districts Rules of Procedure and Regulations - 10/21/2020 2 Resources and Publications ................................................................................................... 53 Guilford Historic Districts Rules of Procedure and Regulations - 10/21/2020 3 HISTORICAL OVERVIEW Guilford is considered by some to have the third largest collection of historic homes in New England, with important buildings from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Guilford has five historic house museums, including the Henry Whitfield House built in 1639. It is the oldest dwelling house in Connecticut and the oldest stone house in New England. The house, with its massive stone walls, also served as a fort. It was one of four houses that served to protect the community. The house was kept in its original form until 1868, when it underwent considerable renovation. Henry Whitfield was a Puritan minister who had come from England to flee religious persecution. The original medieval style of houses was replaced by the colonial style, with many of them surviving to this day. Guilford’s Town Green and its surrounding historic houses are part of the historic fabric of the Town of Guilford. INTRODUCTION These Rules of Procedure and Regulations contain a review of procedural requirements for application to the Guilford Historic District Commission, and guidelines for appropriate design in the historic context. Since 1961, any municipality in Connecticut has been enabled by state law to: “...establish within its confines an historical district or districts to promote the educational, cultural, economic and general welfare of the public through the preservation and protection of the distinctive characteristics of buildings and places associated with the history of or indicative of a period or style of architecture of the municipality, of the state or of the nation.” The Town of Guilford’s two regulated historic districts have been created by a public process. By state law, Guilford’s Historic Districts were approved by a minimum 2/3 majority of the property owners within the districts that returned ballots and subsequent approval of the Board of Selectmen. The Town of Guilford Historic District Commission was established to review any and all alterations, demolition, or construction of buildings and other structures within the boundaries of Guilford’s designated historic districts which is open to view from a public street, way, or place. The Commission is empowered to exercise all powers, duties, and functions enumerated under the Connecticut General Statues, Chapter 97a, Sec. 7-147a-k, inclusive and as amended. The Commission is a branch of local government and its decisions are binding under the law. The jurisdiction of the Historic District Commission is independent of and equal to that of any other local governmental authority except a court of law upon appeal. The Historic District Commission may provide information to property owners and others involving the preservation of the district, suggesting pertinent legislation, initiate planning and zoning proposals, comment on applications for zoning variances, render advice and furnish information and assistance in connection with any capital improvement program involving historic districts. Guilford Historic Districts Rules of Procedure and Regulations - 10/21/2020 4 The Town of Guilford has two separate historic districts – the Town Center Historic District and the Whitfield Street Historic District. The Historic District Commission has published this handbook of Rules of Procedure and Regulations to provide a common reference for the planning and design of regulated activities. Both public and private sectors are required to abide by the rules and procedures pertaining to historic districts. The guidelines that follow in this handbook are provided to facilitate the design and review process but cannot be expected to provide precise and fixed standards for design. In the words of the Historic Preservation and Museum Division of the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism: “...historic district designation carries with it no inherent restrictions, only a review process to prevent incongruous change.” This handbook is divided into two major parts plus a series of appendices. The first part deals with the necessary application procedures, and outlines activities which are regulated under the Guilford Historic District Ordinance. The second part presents Design Guidelines for appropriate design in the historic context. An appendices section includes copies of an Application for Certificate of Appropriateness, Certificate of Appropriate Letter, Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation, Solar Guidelines and general reference information. Guilford Historic Districts Rules of Procedure and Regulations - 10/21/2020 5 Guilford Historic Districts Rules of Procedure and Regulations - 10/21/2020 6 RULES OF PROCEDURE AND REGULATIONS SECTION I. GENERAL 1.1 Definition "Guilford Historic District Commission" means the Historic District Commission in Guilford, Connecticut, also called "The Commission", or "Commission." “LHDC” means Local Historic District Commission. 1.2. Purpose The purpose of these Rules of Procedure and Regulations is to provide procedures and guidelines for the following: Organization of the Commission Administrative Procedures Conduct of meetings Certificate of Appropriateness SECTION II. ORGANIZATION OF THE COMMISSION The Historic District Commission was organized in accordance with the enabling Statutes of the State of Connecticut, Chapter 97a, Sec. 7-147a-y, and the enabling ordinance of the Town of Guilford, Connecticut, Chapter 187, adopted by the Board of Selectmen of the Town of Guilford on 12/21/1987; amended on 6/4/2001. The Rules of Procedure and Regulations were issued on 8/8/2005, amended on 10/20/2020. 2.1 Membership The Commission shall consist of five (5) regular members and three (3) alternate members, all of whom shall be electors of the town, holding no salaried town office. All regular members and alternate members shall be appointed by the Board of Selectmen upon recommendation by the current Commission. The terms of office for regular members and alternate members shall be five years. Each regular member and alternate member shall continue within his term, regardless of status on the Commission, until his successor is duly appointed. At all times, at least three (3) regular members and two (2) alternate members shall be owners or residents within the Guilford Historic Districts. All members