HISTORIC PRESERVATION

CITY OF PORTLAND LAND USE CODE | 17-1

17 HISTORIC PRESERVATION

17.1 PURPOSE

The purpose of this article is to promote the educational, cultural, economic, and general welfare of the City of Portland by:

A. Creating a mechanism to identify, preserve and enhance distinctive areas, sites, structures, and objects that have historic, cultural, architectural, and archaeological significance.

B. Providing a resource of information and expertise to help those interested in rehabilitation or new construction in a district or restoring a landmark.

C. Applying review standards in a reasonable and flexible manner to prevent the unnecessary loss of the community's historical features and to ensure compatible new construction and rehabilitation in historic districts while not stifling change and development or forcing modern recreations of historic styles.

D. Fostering civic pride in the city's history and development patterns as represented in such distinctive areas, sites, structures, and objects.

E. Protecting and enhancing neighborhood character.

F. Stabilizing and improving the values of designated properties and areas.

G. Protecting and enhancing the attractiveness of the city to its home buyers, home owners, residents, tourists, visitors, businesses and shoppers.

H. Fostering and encouraging preservation, restoration, and rehabilitation that respects the historic, cultural, architectural, and archaeological significance of distinctive areas, sites, structures, and objects.

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17.8.3 Standards for review of new construction In considering an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness involving new construction, the Historic Preservation Board and the Planning Board shall apply the following general standards as may be applicable to the context of the proposed construction. The intent and application of the following standards are further described in the Historic Resources Design Manual and shall guide the board in its review.

A. Scale and form

1. Height. The proposed height shall be visually compatible with surrounding structures when viewed from any street or open space and in compliance with any design guidelines.

2. Width. The width of a building shall be visually compatible with surrounding structures when viewed from any street or open space and in compliance with any design guidelines.

3. Proportion of principal facades. The relationship of the width to the height of the principal elevations shall be visually compatible with structures, public ways, and open spaces to which it is visually related.

4. Roof shapes. The roof shape of a structure shall be visually compatible with the structures to which it is visually related.

5. Scale of a structure. The size and mass of structures in relation to open spaces, windows, door openings, porches, and balconies shall be visually compatible with the structures, public ways, and places to which they are visually related.

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B. Composition of principal facades

1. Proportion of openings. The relationship of the width to height of windows and doors shall be visually compatible with structures, public ways, and places to which the building is visually related.

2. Rhythm of solids to voids in facades. The relationship of solids to voids in the facade of a structure shall be visually compatible with structures, public ways, and places to which it is visually related.

3. Rhythm of entrance porch and other projections. The relationship of entrances and other projections to sidewalks shall be visually compatible with the structures, public ways, and places to which they are visually related.

4. Relationship of materials. The relationship of the color and texture of materials (other than paint color) of the facade shall be visually compatible with the predominant materials used in the structures to which they are visually related.

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C. Relationship to street

1. Walls of continuity. Facades and site structures, such as masonry walls, fences, and landscape masses, shall, when it is a characteristic of the area, form cohesive walls of enclosure along a street to ensure visual compatibility with the structures, public ways, and places to which such elements are visually related.

2. Rhythm of spacing and structures on streets. The relationship of a structure or object to the open space between it and adjoining structures or objects shall be visually compatible with the structures, objects, public ways, and places to which it is visually related.

3. Directional expression of principal elevation. A structure shall be visually compatible with the structures, public ways, and places to which it is visually related in its directional character, whether this be vertical character, horizontal character, or nondirectional character.

4. Streetscape, pedestrian improvements. Streetscape and pedestrian improvements and any change in the appearance thereof located adjacent to or on a landmark, within a historic district, or within a historic landscape district which is readily visible from any street or open space shall not be incongruous to the historic character of the landmark or district and shall comply with the criteria and guidelines specified in the Historic Resources Design Manual.