State review delays National Register nomination as committee weighs adding Grove and High streets

Land Use Official Carey Duques told the Ad-Hoc Historic Preservation Study Committee on July 20 that the State Review Board voted to continue the Essex Village National Register nomination until the September hearing so a consultant could make specific revisions to the submission. The changes requested include "editing the significance statement so that it’s more specific," making property descriptions more concise, extending the boundary to include Grove Street, and adding back some properties previously considered non-contributing.

Committee members discussed the practical consequences of expanding the nomination boundary. Some members said including Grove and High streets now would better protect historically significant properties; others raised procedural concerns, noting that adding streets would require additional notice to property owners and more work by the consultant. Members warned that the added work could push State approval to December and might delay the committee’s planned Village District submission to the Planning & Zoning Commission.

Duques said she will consult with state contacts and local stakeholders to determine whether the inclusion of Grove and High Streets is essential to the nomination. "I am meeting with J Schofield, K Keegan, and J Guszkowski in the next few weeks and will find out if the state review board believes that it is critical to the application to include Grove and High Streets," she said. The committee did not take a final vote on expanding the boundary at the special meeting.

Next steps identified by the committee include awaiting the consultant’s revisions, clarifying whether the State Review Board requires the boundary change, and coordinating owner notice and timing so the Village District proposal is not unduly delayed.