Historic district overlay?

Monday night, Gordonsville Planning Commission members will hear the first wave of public comments about a proposed historic district overlay in town.
To ride down Main Street Gordonsville is to ride through the past. Dozens of antebellum homes line the streets and comprise much of the town's core. Nearly 25 years ago, Gordonsville officials secured a historic district for these properties, recognizing their cultural significance.
While there are more than 100 properties within the district-which roughly runs from the traffic circle to the Exchange Hotel-there are no provisions to protect those properties from demolition, nor to prevent new construction not complementary to existing architecture.
Last fall, a handful of Gordonsville citizens approached the town council about establishing a historic overlay that would protect these properties.
"These are wonderful old properties and we think it's important to preserve them," local architect Will Stewart told the council. "Currently, there is no provision for the preservation of these properties or controls for development within the historic district."
The code of Virginia allows for local protection of structures, streetscapes and neighborhoods in areas designated as historic districts. A local historic district may be established with the purpose of preserving the unique character of historic buildings and their surroundings, while encouraging new construction to include architectural designs that complement historic buildings.
"The main emphasis is to try to protect homes within the district, not to try to control development," Stewart told the council.
According to Stewart, a historic district overlay does not regulate paint colors, require renovations, increase taxes, prevent additions, require the use of historic materials or historic building methods, prevent non-contributing structures from being demolished or restrict routine maintenance of properties.
Instead, what the proposed local historic district would do, he said, is recognize the historic character of the neighborhood and its importance to the overall character of the town of Gordonsville. The proposed ordinance would apply only to major renovations to the exteriors of properties within the district and would require a certificate of appropriateness for exterior changes, demolition of buildings and new construction within the district. A board of architectural review-comprised of property owners from within the district-would issue that certificate, he said.
For the ordinance to be effective, the town council would need to appoint a board of architectural review to provide a bridge between the town ordinances which govern the district and the property owners, Stewart explained. The board would meet as need to review projects proposed by property owners. If approved, each project would be issued a certificate of appropriateness required to obtain a building permit for work within the historic district.
Any exterior alteration to a property within the historic district that is visible from a public way must be approved, he said. This includes painting, repairs, additions, outbuildings, lightings and signs. The standards for rehabilitation issued by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior are the foundation for the actions of the board of architectural review.
Stewart offered a number of scenarios that may arise if the ordinance is passed.
Is a certificate of appropriateness needed if a homeowner wants to paint their house or the trim on it?
The choice of an exterior paint color remains the property owner's responsibility and choice, Stewart said. The board of architectural review could assist the property owner in the selection with a suggested palette of colors.
What about changing the siding on a building within the district?
While synthetic siding materials are discouraged because covering original siding with synthetic materials hastens deterioration and makes eventual restoration nearly impossible, there are some materials available that, when used properly, maintain character and appearance and successfully protect the structure, he said. In that case, he added, the board of architectural review would work with the property owner to find a solution.
Can property owners replace old, leaking wooden windows?
The board of architectural review would be committed to saving and restoring original parts of historic structures whenever possible, Stewart explained. In some cases, he explained, insulated wood sash replacements, or wood, or aluminum storm windows can be used.
How long will it take to get approval for a project?
The board of architectural review can only act on petitions at public meetings that have a public agenda, he said. Interested property owners would contact town hall to have their project placed on the council agenda as soon as possible.
Since then, planning commission members have worked to draft an ordinance for Monday's public hearing. After soliciting citizen input, the commission will make a recommendation to the town council which will ultimately decide whether or not they enact such an ordinance.
In conjunction with the historic overlay district hearing, the commission will also conduct hearings on establishing signage for the historic district overlay and reducing the size requirement for off-street parking.
Copies of the proposed ordinances and changes are available at town hall, 112 South Main Street and on the town's website: www.townofgordonsville.org.
Monday's public hearing will be held in the council chambers of town hall at 7 p.m.