Franklin Historic District Design Guidelines

DRAFT FRANKLIN HISTORIC DISTRICT DESIGN GUIDELINES 15 chapter 1 Certificates of Appropriateness A Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) is required for all exterior alterations covered by the Guidelines. In many instances, the project may then require a building permit. Other projects may require a site plan review. Please contact the Preservation Planner at the Department of Planning & Sustainability before making repairs or conducting work to determine the appropriate process. COAs are valid for two years from the dates of their issuance. A single six- month extension may be granted by the Preservation Planner for work that has not yet commenced so long as the request is made in writing prior to the COA expiration date and the approved scope of work has not changed. For projects considered “vested” by the Zoning Ordinance, COAs are valid for the duration of the vesting period. Review and Approval Process There are several review processses related to COA applications in the HPO. The Historic Zoning Commission (HZC) reviews most projects, but authorizes the Preservation Planner to administratively review and approve certain minor alterations with an Administrative COA. The HZC provides a preliminary recommendation at an early stage in the review process for certain development applications where certain contextually sensitive design features become entitled by other review bodies prior to formal COA review. Applicants are encouraged to participate in a Design Review Committee (DRC) review prior to submitting a formal application for a COA or Preliminary HZC Recommendation. The following subsections further describe the various reviews. Please consult the City’s Application User Guide for more information on submitting an application. Historic Zoning Commission Review The HZC reviews COA applications for consistency with the Guidelines. The HZC is composed of nine citizen appointees who represent the disciplines of architecture, history or historic preservation, the local planning commission, and the community in general. The mission of the HZC is to preserve and protect Franklin’s historic resources through identification, designation, and design review. The HZC meets monthly to consider COA applications and issues COAs to proposals that it finds to meet the intent of the Guidelines. When there is a