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Consultants start surveys for Highlands local historic district expansion; commission plans outreach and mapping
Summary
Public Archaeology Laboratory described a survey and inventory program to support a proposed expansion of the Highlands Local Historic District; staff and the preservation society will mail homeowner surveys and create a support map for outreach.
The Fall River Historical Commission heard a presentation on April 15 from the Public Archaeology Laboratory (PAL) about an updated cultural-resources survey and inventory to support an expansion of the Highlands Local Historic District.
Liz Warburton, a senior architectural historian with PAL, said the firm will research neighborhood development, prepare updated Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC) inventory forms for individual properties, and draft the MHC preliminary study report with recommendations for the local historic-district boundary and design guidance. "We are one of the oldest and largest cultural resources management firms in the Northeast, and we have a team of archaeologists, architectural historians, and preservation planners," Warburton told commissioners.
Why it matters: An expanded local historic district would subject properties inside the boundary to local review under Chapter 40C (the city’s local historic-district enabling ordinance) and allow the commission and property owners to consider locally enforceable design guidelines. The commission noted that final action to create or expand an LHD must be presented to city council and requires a two-thirds council vote.
Survey approach and outreach Commission staff and PAL plan to send a second round of homeowner surveys beginning next week, using a Google Form and QR code to increase response rates. Commissioners said roughly 149 properties were contacted in the target area; staff reported that most returned surveys indicated support, with a few opposed and some streets yet to respond. The commission asked staff to produce a color-coded map showing survey responses and likely support to help tighten the proposed boundary before formal submission. Ashley DeCunha offered to prepare a GIS-based map for display at a Preservation Society event planned for April 24.
Process, timing and next steps Warburton and PAL will coordinate fieldwork and provide the draft MHC inventory forms. Commissioners said they will review returned surveys and a draft boundary before the next monthly meeting, scheduled for May 20. Jason Bouchard reminded the group that the commission must originate any notifications for the local historic-district process because the commission will ultimately present the proposal to the city council.
The commission and PAL emphasized that the survey and mapping work is an early, public-facing stage; any recommended expansion would still require formal review, public hearings, and a council vote before taking effect.
