4 Montgomery County, Maryland
Purpose of Design Guidelines
The Montgomery County Historic PreservationOrdinance and its related executive regulations stipulatethe criteria the HPC is to use in the review of projects.Chapter 24A-8 directs the HPC to review applicationsto ensure that a project:• will not substantially alter the exterior features ofa historic site or historic resource within a historicdistrict;• is compatible in character and nature with thehistorical, archeological, architectural or culturalfeatures of the historic site or the historic districtin which a historic resource is located and wouldnot be detrimental thereto or to the achievementof the purpose of this chapter;• would enhance or aid in the protection, preservationand public or private utilization of the historicsite or historic resource located within a historicdistrict in a manner compatible with the historical,archeological, architectural or cultural value of thehistoric site or historic district in which a historicresource is located;• is necessary in order that unsafe conditions orhealth hazards be remedied; or• is necessary in order that the owner of the subjectproperty not be deprived of reasonable use of theproperty or suffer undue hardship.
In addition to the criteria outlined above, the HPC alsouses the
Secretary of the Interior’s Standards
(see below) andany district-specific guidelines included in the MasterPlan. Historic districts with specific design guidelines arenoted in Chapter 5;
The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation
appears in Appendix A. As of 2008, Montgomery County has designatedtwenty historic districts, totaling nearly 2,400 properties,and approximately 400 individual historic sites in theMontgomery County
Master Plan for Historic Preservation
.Individually designated sites and properties located withinthese districts are subject to the Historic PreservationOrdinance, Chapter 24A of the County Code. Ownersof these properties are required to submit a Historic Area Work Permit (HAWP) for exterior modifications to theirproperty. The HPC and their professional staff withinthe Montgomery County Planning Department will usethese guidelines in the evaluation of projects subject totheir review.For most exterior alterations to designated properties,the County Code requires that a property owner obtaina HAWP before the applicant files for a building permit. A HAWP is not required for interior changes, ordinary maintenance, in-kind repair of exterior features,or selection of paint colors. The County HistoricPreservation Ordinance requires a HAWP for projectsinvolving “construction, reconstruction, moving,relocating, demolishing, or in any manner modifying,changing, or altering the exterior features” of designatedproperties. HAWPs are also required for projects that would change features within the environmental setting of a historic site, erecting fences, or installing signs. The design review process applies only to proposedactions initiated by a property owner. While the designreview process may guide an approach to certain designproblems by offering alternative solutions, the processdoes not dictate a specific outcome nor does it requirea property owner to instigate improvements that aproperty owner has not contemplated. For questionsregarding HAWP applications and the applicability of these guidelines, please contact the Montgomery County Planning Department Historic Preservation Section.
Definitions: Ordinary Maintenance and In-KindReplacementOrdinary Maintenance
is defined as “work on a historicsite or a historic resource within a historic district whichdoes not alter
in any way
the exterior features of thesubject property, including architectural style, design,and general arrangement of the exterior,
as well as
the nature, texture, details, and dimensions of buildingmaterials, windows, doors, siding, etc. This definitionapplies, whenever appropriate, to the appurtenancesand environmental setting of a historic site or resource,as well as to the building, structure, or object itself.”(Rules, Guidelines, and Procedures,§1.1 (f))
In-Kind Replacement
requires that the new featureexactly match the old in design, color, texture, andmaterials (
Secretary of the Interior’s Standards #6
, seeAppendix page APP-1).
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