13 Historic Preservation Plan historic properties that are visible to the public. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the most common issues that come before the Commission involve signs, additions and accessory buildings. The Commission routinely provides free architectural advice to property owners, and Codes Department staff often will refer property owners to the Heritage Foundation, which has members who are architects and willingly provide free design assistance. Residents who fail to comply with the findings of the Historic Zoning Commission must correct their work, and may be subject to fines. The Heritage Foundation, Historic Zoning Commission, and the City of Franklin are working to develop a brochure about the historic preservation overlay district for distribution to local property owners to clarify the process and extent of regulation within the overlay district. Farmstead Preservation Ordinance The City’s zoning ordinance also provides design guidelines for shaping the character of new development located on, next to, or across the street from National Register sites (Section 4.10). The Planning Department and Planning Commission, as part of the standard site plan and subdivision review process, oversee compliance with the ordinance. Historic sites that the Tennessee Historical Commission deems eligible, but that have not been formally listed on the National Register, are also subject to the farmstead preservation ordinance. City planners rely upon the National Register site survey information that is collected and updated by the Heritage Foundation to provide relevant information. Appropriate remedies include landscape buffering, cluster development, and architecture that is compatible in style and scale. The City has contracted with the Nashville architecture and planning firm, Looney Ricks Kiss, to provide design review assistance on an as-needed basis. Archaeological Site Preservation Ordinance Archaeological sites within the City limits are protected under Section 20-301 of the Zoning Ordinance. The City adopted the archaeological statutes developed by the Tennessee Historical Commission and granted the Codes Director responsibility for maintaining records identifying the location of archaeological resources. The Codes Department is also responsible for ensuring that construction or excavation activities do not adversely impact archaeological sites, artifacts, burial objects, burial grounds or human remains. City Planning Long Range Plan The city’s Long Range Plan serves as a policy framework for land use issues in the City of Franklin. Historic preservation is among the issues addressed in the plan. The plan recognizes the region’s historic character as an important factor in the quality of life for residents, identifying historic character as “perhaps the single most important factor that distinguishes the area from other competing markets.” Many of the plan’s recommendations recognize the important role played by private organizations such as the Heritage Foundation in educating residents about preservation issues and advocating on behalf of Franklin’s preservation interests. Policies articulated in the Long Range Plan emphasize the need to avoid unduly burdensome regulation on private property owners and developers. The Long Range Plan recommends that “ the City and private organizations concerned with the economic development of the area should
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