Timeline of Procedures

Timeline of Procedures

Based on the state enabling legislation, the simplified timeline summarizes the dates and deadlines which must be met in the process of establishing an LHD or LHP designation. This timeline officially begins when the preliminary report of Study Committee is submitted to CCTand to the local planning and zoning authority or authorities. While a great deal of work will have taken place before this point, the initial research and preparation of the Study Committee Report is not subject to any particular time constraint unless one is imposed by the local legislative body that appoints and authorizes the Study Committee.

Timeline of Actions on the Study Committee Report

Step 1. Study Committee submits draft of report to CCT and the local planning and zoning authorities (or in their absence, to the chief elected official).

Step 2. Within sixty-five days from draft submittal (Step 1), Study Committee receives comments and recommendations from initial review agencies.

Step 3. Within sixty-five to 130 days from draft submittal (Step 1), Study Committee schedules public hearing, properly noticed and posted, and holds public hearing.

Study Committee Report and notice of public hearing are mailed to property owners at least fifteen days in advance of the hearing.
Legal notice is published twice in the local newspaper (once ten to fifteen days in advance of the public hearing and once at least two days in advance of the hearing).

Step 4. Within sixty-five days from the public hearing (Step 3), Study Committee compiles comments and recommendations, makes revisions, and submits the completed report to the local legislative body and the municipal clerk.

Step 5. Within sixty-five days from submission of the final report (Step 4), the municipal clerk mails paper ballots to all owners of record in the LHD or LHP.

Ballots must be mailed at least fifteen days in advance of the required date of return.
Legal notice of balloting must be published twice in the local newspaper (once ten to fifteen days in advance of the balloting and once at least two days in advance of the balloting).

Step 6. At least fifteen days after the mailing of ballots (Step 5), the municipal clerk certifies the results of the balloting.

If two-thirds (2/3) of property owners who voted endorse the establishment of theproposed LHD or LHP, the Study Committee Report and the draft ordinance are forwarded to the local legislative body for action.

Step 7. At a duly posted meeting, the local legislative body may:

Accept the Study Committee Report and enact a local ordinance to establish the historic district or historic property
Reject the Study Committee Report for stated reasons
Return the report to the Study Committee to consider amendments and revisions

Step 8a. If the local legislative body has accepted the Study Committee Report and enacted the local ordinance (Step 7), the municipal clerk shall record and index the LHD or LHP designation in the municipal land records.

Step 8b. If the local legislative body has rejected the Study Committee Report (Step 7)the process is terminated.

Step 8c. If the local legislative body returns the Study Committee Report for amendment or revision (Step 7), the Study Committee must submit the revised report within sixty-fivedays.

If the revision or amendment entails a change in boundaries, a new public hearing is required (Step 3).
If the revision or amendment entails adding properties, the local legislative body must authorize a new round of balloting (Step 5).

Step 9. Once the LHD or LHP has been designated, the Study Committee ceases to exist, and the HDC or HPC is appointed under the new ordinance.