Historical December 1977 historic-district proposal. This text records the contemporary discussion and does not establish current ordinance requirements.
(Proposed “A”, “B” and “C” Zoning Districts)
1. Use
A building or premises shall be utilized only for the uses permitted in the zoning district within which the building or premises is located. The Historic District Review Committee must be notified of any proposed zoning changes within the Historic District. Use of property in Parkview and the Catlin Tract, private subdivisions, shall additionally be governed by restrictions specified in their Trust Indentures and other legal agreements.
2. Structures: New Construction or alterations to existing structures
[All designs for new construction, or for major alterations to the front of the house or premises that require a building permit must be approved by the Landmarks and Urban Design Commission, as well as by the existing approving agencies as required by City Ordinance. Standards that do not require building permits serve as guidelines within the district.]
a. Height
New buildings or altered existing buildings, including all appurtenances, must be constructed to within 15% of the average height of existing residential buildings on the block.
b. Location, Spacing, and Setback
[New or moved structures shall be positioned on their lots so that any existing rhythm of recurrent building masses to spaces is continued. Existing building lines shall be strictly maintained, with no portion of any building (excepting any open porch, open veranda, open stone platform, or open balcony) to be constructed beyond the existing building line. Aforesaid open porches or platforms shall not extend beyond the existing front porch line onthe block. Existing front porches must remain porches; however, they may be screened.]
c. Exterior materials (for permit required work)
[Exterior materials when visible from the street should be of the type originally used when the proposed Historic District area was developed: brick, stone, stucco, wood, and wrought and cast iron. Although artificial siding or facing materials are not, in general, compatible, the Historic District Review Committee may be consulted for a list of current, compatible materials and their costs, for use by property owners wishing to improve their buildings.]
d. Details (for permit required work)
[Architectural details on existing structures, such as columns, pediments, dormers, porches, and bay windows should be maintained in their original form if at all possible. Renovations involving structural changes to window or door openings are permit required work and thus must be reviewed by the Landmarks and Urban Design Commission. Design of these renovations should be compatible in scale, materials, and color with existing features of the building and with adjacent historical structures. When on the front of a building, wood or factory-finished colored metal is the preferred material for frames of new and replacement storm windows and screens and storm and screen doors. Awnings on the front of a house should be canvas or canvas-type materials.]
New buildings should be detailed so as to be compatible with existing buildings, respecting scale, rhythm, window proportions, important cornice lines, use of materials, etc.
[Complete plans for all proposed new construction or major alterations which require permits must be submitted to the Landmarks and Urban Design Commission for approval.
e. Roof Shapes
When there is a strong, dominant roof shape in a block, proposed new construction or alteration should be viewed with respect to its compatibility with existing buildings.
f. Roof Materials
Roof materials should be slate, tile, copper or asphalt shingles where the roof is visible from the street. Incompatible materials are not encouraged. Design of skylights or solar panels, where prominently visible from the street and when requiring a permit, will be reviewed by the Landmarks and Urban Design Commission for their visual compatibility.
g. Walls, Fences, and Enclosures
Front—
In Parkview, no fence, wall, or hedge may be erected in front of the building line.
In the Catlin Tract, no wall or fence may be erected in front of the building line; no hedge in front of the building line may exceed four feet in height.
Elsewhere in the district, front yard dividers or enclosures are permitted, but they shall be of brick, stone, brick-faced concrete, ornamental iron, or hedge and should not exceed four feet in height. Earth-retaining walls are permitted, to be constructed of compatible materials, not to exceed maximum grade of the lot.
In Parkview, earth-retaining walls must not exceed a height of two feet above the highest point of the sidewalk in front of the property.
Side—
Fences or walls on or behind the building line, when prominently visible from the street, should be of wood, stone, brick, brick-faced concrete, ornamental iron, or dark-painted chain link. All side fences shall be limited to six feet in height.]
In the Catlin Tract, all fences behind the front building line must be limited to five ft.
h. Landscaping
The installation of street trees is encouraged. In front of new buildings, street trees may be required. Front lawn hedges shall not exceed four feet in height along the public sidewalk. No live trees shall be removed for new construction without the approval of the Landmarks and Urban Design Commission. The Historic District Review Committee will keep a directory of recommended landscape materials.
i. Paving and Ground Cover Material
[Where there is a predominant use of a particular ground cover (such as, grass) or paving material, any new or added material should be compatible with the streetscape, and must not cause maintenance problems or hazards for public walkways (sidewalks). Loose rock and asphalt are not acceptable for public walkways (sidewalks) nor for ground cover in areas bordering public walkways (sidewalks).
j. Street Furniture and Utilities
All free-standing light standards placed in the front yard of any structure or premises should be compatible with construction in the neighborhood. The design and location of all items of street furniture located on the tree lawn between the sidewalk and the street must be approved by the Landmarks and Urban Design Commission. Where possible, all new utility lines shall be underground. No commercial or political advertising may occur on the public right-of-way.
Historic District Review Committee
The Historic District Review Committee will serve as a standing committee of the Skinker-DeBaliviere Community Council and its functions will include the following:
1) Maintain a listing of materials and their costs for residents and owners wishing to improve their building(s).
2) Serve, if requested, as advocate for residents who may need aid or assistance in permit approval or appeal.
3) Carry on a continuing review of the impact of the Historic District Ordinance in the Skinker-DeBaliviere area. The Committee will be alert to possible hardship and abuse and will recommend new procedures to better make the purpose of the Historic District a reality without being a detriment or bringing undue hardship to residents and owners of the area. There will be continual review of the Historic District ordinance, and amendments will be made as necessary.]
Originally published in The Paper, December 1977.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Archival transcription note: The printed “onthe” is retained. Marginal revision-bracket extents should receive editorial review against the source scan.
Original source: SD_Times1977_12.pdf, printed page(s) 6; PDF page(s) 6.
