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Conservation
zoning is a planning tool to protect the architectural character
of Nashville’s historic neighborhoods by managing growth and change.
It is a type of ‘overlay zoning’ that is applied in addition to
the ‘base’ land use zoning of an area.
The
Belmont-Hillsboro Neighborhood Conservation Zoning Overlay, covering
800 properties,, was passed
by Metro Council in April of 2005 and signed by Mayor Bill Purcell.
A 200-property expansion to the overlay was
passed by Metro Council in May of 2007 and signed by Mayor Bill
Purcell.
Overlay zoning does not impact permitted land uses. Instead, it regulates
you, the property owner, when you are planning to:
- Build a new building (primary or secondary,
like a garage),
- Relocate a building.
- Add to an existing building (enclose a porch,
add a roof dormer – anything that increases habitable space),
or
- Demolish a building (in whole or part),
Why would we want a conservation overlay
for Belmont-Hillsboro?
Conservation zoning protects a district from:
- loss of architecturally or historically important buildings,
- new construction not in character with the neighborhood, and
- additions to buildings that would lessen their architectural
compatibility.
How does conservation zoning work?
If your property is within a neighborhood conservation zoning district
and you are planning to demolish a building, construct a new building,
add to an existing building, or mover a building, one step is added
to the process of getting a building permit for the work: you must
obtain a preservation permit from the Metropolitan Historical Zoning
Commission (MHZC).
Are there details of the guidelines I would
have to follow?
Yes, design guidelines are standards which are created
jointly by the neighborhood and the MHZC. These are used in the following
ways:
- to determine the architectural compatibility of proposed projects,
- to provide direction for property owners who want to undertake
a project,
- to ensure that the decisions of the MHZC are not arbitrary,
and
- to work to assure that new construction and additions are sympathetic
to the character of a neighborhood and to restrict the loss of
architecturally contributing buildings.
By state and local law, all guidelines must be in accordance with
the United States Secretary of the Interior’s ‘Standards for the Rehabilitation
of Historic Buildings’ – design principles used by private and public
preservation agencies throughout the country.
With a conservation overlay in place, would
interior projects be reviewed?
No, only exterior work which is determined to be visible from the
public rights-of-way is reviewed.
With a conservation overlay in place, would
exterior paint color choices, fences, landscaping, and interior projects
be reviewed?
No, only new construction, additions, demolition, and relocation are
reviewed.
However, in a historic preservation
zoning district, all exterior work -- including projects like replacing
doors and windows, or installing a fence -- are reviewed by the MHZC.
Belmont-Hillsboro is NOT investigating
the possibility of a historic preservation overlay.
Where are the other conservation zoning districts
in Nashville?
You can find find a list of all current districts at the Metro
Historic Commission site.
8/12/2007, 5:45 pm
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