White Plains Introduces Historic Preservation Law
The much anticipated and long-time coming White Plains Historic Preservation Law has been drafted and a copy was submitted to the Common Council at their April meeting on Monday night. The hope is to get the proposed legislation onto the public hearing schedule and onto the books later this year, perhaps as early as this summer.
When it became known late last spring that White Plains was considering an Historic Preservation Law, many updates were being made to preservation laws at the State level and the city was able to incorporate those updates into its current proposal by working with the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHIPO).
The new local law would take the form of an amendment to the White Plains Municipal Code by adding a Section 9-6 to be titled “Historic Preservation.”
According to the draft, the intent is to make it a matter of public policy that the protection, enhancement and perpetuation of landmarks and historic districts are necessary to promote the cultural, economic, safety and general welfare of the public.
The act would protect and enhance the historic and architecturally and culturally significant buildings, structures, sites, monuments, streetscapes and neighborhoods, which represent distinctive elements of the City’s historic, architectural, and cultural heritage; Foster understanding of and civic pride in the accomplishments of the past; Protect and enhance the City’s attractiveness, which supports and stimulates the local economy; and Insure the harmonious, orderly, and efficient growth and development of the City.
The proposal calls for establishment of the White Plains Historic Preservation Commission, with members appointed by the Mayor and approved by the Common Council.
To qualify a member has to be a resident of the City of White Plains and have an interest in historic preservation and/or architecture. It is preferred that members have a background in archeology, architecture, arts, education, history, law, real estate, urban planning, or a related field.
Responsibilities of the Commission would include making recommendations to the Mayor and Common Council regarding new or amended local laws or other regulations that the Commission believes would further the goals of this local law, as well as making proposals for the acquisition of interests in real property and proposed demolitions.
The Commission would prepare reports and recommendations in response to referrals or requests from the Common Council, and maintain an inventory of designated historic landmarks or districts within the City.
The Commission would conduct surveys and prepare maps, reports and recommendations regarding historic preservation policies, regulations and local law, and review applications for alterations to or demolition of local landmarks or districts.
Recommendation for the designation of local landmarks or historic districts would be an important role of the Commission.
The draft suggests that an individual property could be identified as a local landmark if it possesses special character, historic, aesthetic interest or value as part of the cultural, political, economic or social history of the city, region, state or nation; or derives its primary significance from architectural or artistic distinction or historical importance; or identifies with persons or events significant in local, state, or national history; or is a cemetery that derives its primary importance from graves of persons of transcendent importance, from age, from distinctive design features, or from association with historic events.
An historic landmark might also be the birthplace or grave of an historical figure of outstanding importance or a building that embodies the distinguishing characteristics of an architectural style or is the work of a noted designer, architect, or builder.
The Commission might designate a group of properties as an historic district if the majority of properties meet one or more of the criteria for designation of an individual landmark. The proposal also suggests that districts may be geographic or thematic in nature.
The document, which will be made available for public review, also contains an outline for several procedures regarding applications, renovations, sales, maintenance and other processes relating to activities within the proposed law.
