No. The Historic Preservation Commission does not make any final decisions. The Commission is strictly advisory to the Plan Commission.

Although the Plan Commission generally makes recommendations, there are some instances where the Commission makes the final decision. Those decisions can be appealed to circuit court. An appeal must be filed with the court soon after the decision has been made.

Architectural review is a process that applies to all properties inside the boundaries of the historic district. Non-contributing buildings are regulated to avoid adverse alterations that could negatively affect the neighborhood in general and more particularly nearby properties. The standards of architectural review for non-historic properties are based on avoiding those kinds of adverse impacts.

A historic district encourages neighborhood pride by confirming that the vintage homes in the district are valuable assets within the district and beyond. The regulations help to protect the value of each owner’s investment by ensuring that all development will meet certain architectural quality standards.

The preservation and restoration of historic homes tend to attract homeowners who appreciate the craftsmanship and design in older homes. Because historic restoration is encouraged, the physical attractiveness and desirability of the neighborhood can be enhanced. Finally, real estate studies in various cities across the country have shown that property values in protected historic districts tend to be higher than comparable neighborhoods that have no architectural controls.

Interior remodeling is excluded from review. Normal maintenance and repair, which does not involve a change in materials or design, is excluded as well.

Review is needed for new buildings/additions, work that modifies or alters the outward appearance of existing buildings, or when fences, pergolas, and other similar structures are added to a property.

When a historic district is first proposed, an architectural survey is completed by qualified individuals who assess the architectural significance of the buildings in the proposed district. Buildings are evaluated and are categorized as "contributing" and "noncontributing." Contributing buildings are architecturally significant to the historic value of the neighborhood. In contrast, a non-contributing building has little or no architectural value to the district.

When we receive a development application, staff will review the materials to make sure the application submittal is complete and ready for formal review. If an application submittal is not complete, staff will notify the applicant and describe the parts that are not complete. 

A determination that an application is complete means the application is ready for formal review and does not suggest the applicant has provided sufficient information in all regards or preclude the reviewing authority from requesting additional information it deems appropriate.