City of Glasgow
 

Historic Commission

GLASGOW HISTORIC COMMISSION FAQ’s


Role of Historic Commission

The Historic Commission consists of nine (9) members who reside in the City of Glasgow and are appointed by the city council.  The Historic Commission was created by the Glasgow City Council by Local Ordinance #2400 and #2414 on 1/28/02 and 4/22/02 respectively.  The Historic Commission has been established, in part, to protect the existence and appearance of structures within locally designated historic districts.  Through an established regulatory process, the Commission reviews proposed exterior alterations of designated buildings, including new construction, demolition, and additions and/or repairs.

Current Members:

  • D. T. Froedge (Chair)
  • Sarah Smila (Secretary)
  • Betty Herbert
  • Becky Barrick
  • Jane Baker
  • Brenda Pook
  • Alma Glover
  • Brad Groce (City Council Rep)
  • Rhonda Trautman (City Council Rep)

In 2004 the Glasgow City County created the Public Square Historic Overlay District to preserve the historical, architectural, and visual integrity of the buildings making up the Downtown Square.  The Overlay District was established by amendments to the Glasgow Zoning Ordinance and approved by City Council on July 12, 2004 (Ordinance #2496) and is fully described in Section 158.270-272 in the Joint City County Planning and Zoning Regulations  (Page 134A-B).
PLANNING AND ZONING “ZONING REGULATIONS” PAGE 134A-B (CHAPTER 158.270-272)

The HISTORIC COMMISSION reviews all proposals on their own merits, but their decisions are based on guidelines for historic preservation established by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior Standards as defined in Section 99.32 of the City Ordinance Book. The Design Guidelines were approved by the Commission and passed by the City Council on July 26, 2004.
For complete description of recommended guidelines of Public Square Historic District Guidelines, go to the Planning & Zoning Commission Development Ordinances: http://www.glasgow-ky.com/planning/Regulations/Devlopment%20Ordinances.htm

What falls under the jurisdiction of the HISTORIC COMMISSION?
 The HISTORIC COMMISSION must review all exterior changes to any parts of a building contained within the Public Square Local Historic Overlay District that are visible from a public street or way.  Its jurisdiction does not include the interiors of buildings or their use.  Alterations that exist at the time of creation of the Historic District may be maintained in perpetuity.  For a detailed map of the Public Square Local Historic Overlay click the link below: ADD LINK TO MAP HERE

What is required of property owners once their buildings have been designated?

Designation does NOT require a property to make any changes to his or her building.  However, once a building or district has been designated as historic by City Council, property owners who wish to perform exterior repairs, alterations, new construction, or demolition must submit an application to receive a Certificate of Appropriateness before work can begin.  Plans, photos and other documentation must also be submitted to the Historic Commission for review and approval.  The application forms and instructions are available from the Building Inspector’s Office, 2nd Floor, Glasgow City Hall. CLICK HERE FOR A Printable version of the CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS

What is the process for gaining HISTORIC COMMISSION approval?

The City’s Building Inspector shall forward to the Commission every application that involves an exterior alteration visible to the public, new construction demolition or relocation affecting property in the local historic district.  Once it has been submitted, the HISTORIC COMMISSION conducts an initial review to determine how the designated property will be affected by the work proposed.  Applications for routine maintenance, repairs, or replacements in kind may be approved at once by Commission staff or an appointee (an "administrative approval").  If the application is for new construction, demolition, an addition, or alterations involving a change of building materials or appearance, the application will be placed on the agenda of the next upcoming HISTORIC COMMISSION meeting.  The HISTORIC COMMISSION generally meets on the first Wednesday of every month in the 2nd Floor Small Council Chambers, City Hall, to review applications for work on designated historic structures.  The Commission considers each application at an informal public hearing and usually conducts its vote the same day.  If the application is denied, the Commission will indicate the changes required for future approval. Once the application has been reviewed and approved, the Commission or its representative issues a Certificate of Appropriateness for the work.  The Certificate of Appropriateness is essentially a permit to change the exterior of a historically-designated structure, and is required to obtain a building permit and zoning approval.  The Commission is available to meet with property owners to help define a proposal that meets the applicant's goals while best preserving the historic character of the designated building and/or district. Full details about process are outlined in Section 158.052 of the Local Ordinance Book.

How are decisions made by the HISTORIC COMMISSION?

Before issuing a decision, the HISTORIC COMMISSION considers the appropriateness of a proposed change, its adherence to the building's original design and use of original materials, effect on the downtown “historic tradition” as well as its compatibility with neighboring buildings.  The Commission takes into account the cost of repairs and replacements, and weighs them against its charge to preserve the historic character of the building and neighborhood.

What happens if the property owner fails to comply with the review process?

If an exterior alteration is made without proper HISTORIC COMMISSION review and approval, the HISTORIC COMMISSION holds a hearing after the fact to determine the appropriateness of the change.  Failure to comply with HISTORIC COMMISSION requirements is a violation of the building code and is enforced by City's Code Enforcement Office.  While the HISTORIC COMMISSION makes every attempt to arrive at a mutually acceptable decision with property owners, violations may be resolved in court in extreme cases.