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New draft design standards for New Bern historic district to go online; public hearing set for July 7
Summary
The New Bern Historic Preservation Commission released a text draft of updated design principles and standards, including provisions to allow contemporary materials on new additions that visually emulate historic fabric; the commission will take public comment at a July 7 hearing and seek attorney and state review before finalizing.
The New Bern Historic Preservation Commission on Tuesday presented a text draft of updated historic district design principles and standards and said it will publish the draft on the city’s Development Services website in the coming days and hold a public hearing on July 7 at 5:30 p.m. in the same meeting room.
Commissioners and staff said the draft draws on other municipal standards, National Park Service guidance and a public survey conducted in November. The update would reorganize the document for an online, clickable format and add material- and maintenance‑focused guidance to help applicants and future commissioners reach consistent decisions.
Staff described several substantive changes under consideration: contemporary materials would be permitted on new additions provided they "visually emulate" the characteristics of existing historic fabric and are appropriately proportioned and installed in traditional ways; composite materials would be allowed for new deck flooring and certain railings (but not vinyl); asphalt shingles would remain an option for contributing structures, with steel roofs treated differently for color allowances; and a new chapter would give guidance on preservation and maintenance.
The draft explicitly references National Park Service Preservation Brief 16 as a source to frame six conditions under which substitute materials may be considered; staff said applicants who seek replacement rather than repair would need to present evidence of technical infeasibility at a hearing.
Commissioners emphasized the goal of providing clearer guidance so that decisions made now remain intelligible to future boards. Staff asked commissioners to submit emailed comments by the coming Monday so suggested edits can be gathered before the draft is posted and formatted by a consultant.
The update will follow a multi-step approval path: public hearing, attorney review, referral to the State Historic Preservation Office, Planning & Zoning, and finally the aldermen, staff said. Several minor changes discussed (for instance, how decks and porches are treated) could be implemented administratively once the standards are clarified; the full standards will require the multi-agency review.
