Franklin Zoning Ordinance

18 278 Chapter Estate Enclosure HISTORIC RESOURCES Franklin Zoning Ordinance Effective December 8, 2020 18.5 Estate Enclosure 18.5.1 Description A. The historic resource, surrounding site features, and the setting are preserved while an estate enclosure demarcates the periphery. The estate enclosure consists of formal plantings and is more appropriate for historic buildings having classical architectural styling, such as Federal, Greek Revival, Italianate, Gothic Revival, or Classic Revival, as opposed to less formal vernacular styles, such as simple frame farm houses. B. The estate enclosure lends itself to situations in which the historic resource setting, and perhaps the overall development site, is somewhat limited in land area. C. The estate enclosure is not intended to be an opaque screen between the new development and the historic resource; therefore, new buildings within view of the historic resource are designed to be similar in scale and architectural character with the historic building. 18.5.2 Location A. In cases where the developing property is adjacent to the property containing the historic resource, the estate enclosure shall be located along the periphery of the developing property, unless an alternate location provides a superior amount of buffering. B. In cases where new development is proposed on the same property as the historic resource, the estate enclosure shall be located as far from the historic resource as is practicable given the context of the site and any topographic or environmental considerations. 18.5.3 Standards A. Site features that emphasize the prominence of a historic resource shall be preserved within the spatial setting of the historic resource. Such features include topography, mature vegetation, streams, and historic walls and fences . B. The estate enclosure shall have a minimum width of 50 feet. Development on lots containing or adjacent to a National Historic Landmark shall provide a minimum width of 75 feet. C. Estate enclosures shall: 1. Consist of trees planted formally in rows with regular spacing, such as an orchard; 2. Be dominated by deciduous trees; and 3. Have either: a. A combination of hedgerows and fencing; or b. A brick or stone wall consistent in design and stone type with historic antecedents found in the County. D. Trees shall be required at a rate of one tree per every 400 square feet of the estate enclosure area. Credit for existing vegetation may reduce the planting requirements. E. New buildings within view of the historic resource shall be designed to be similar in scale and architectural character with the historic building.