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Planning board reviews proposed historic‑district additions, asks staff to notify owners and solicit feedback
Summary
The board reviewed maps proposing three historic‑district expansion areas (Indian Neck/Beach Avenue, parts of Old Town Road/Connecticut Avenue and a West Side cluster), agreed to notify property owners and asked the Historic District Commission to provide written rationale for each parcel.
The New Shoreham Planning Board on Jan. 8 reviewed maps proposing expansions to the town’s local historic district and asked staff to prepare a courtesy notice to affected property owners explaining the board’s rationale and inviting feedback ahead of any formal action.
Why it matters: Members of the Historic District Commission and the planning board said including contiguous parcels—especially in Indian Neck, the Old Harbor/New Harbor walking corridor and portions of Old Town Road—would preserve the character of important pedestrian corridors and protect future development from incompatible design. Several commissioners said the intent is to preserve the visual continuity of streets where buildings and landscape form a historic streetscape.
What the board asked - Notice and outreach: Because property owners had not yet been noticed, the board asked staff to circulate a courtesy letter explaining the mapping, the reasons for the proposal and the process for comment. The planning director volunteered to draft a letter the board can review.
- Mapping adjustments: Commissioners and staff flagged a few parcels that appear to create isolated gaps in the proposed overlays and asked staff to double‑check boundaries and consider small expansions where warranted (for example, the parcel across from the Ogden/Old Harbor area and a cluster off Connecticut Avenue).
- Next steps: The board will include the historic‑district expansion on the February agenda after staff completes owner notices and compiles the Historic District Commission’s written rationale for each suggested parcel.
Ending The planning board and HDC members emphasized the board’s intent to solicit owner feedback before any formal zoning overlay amendment is recommended to the town council.
