MONROE - An 18-month process to develop guidelines for buildings within a proposed downtown historic district took a significant step forward Tuesday night.
With no objections to the proposal at a public hearing, members of the Historic Preservation Commission voted unanimously to recommend to the Monroe City Council its plan to create the Downtown Historic District with guidelines.
State codes require residents within 200 feet of the proposed boundaries to be notified of the public hearing. About 20 people attended.
Most of the questions asked sought clarification of the guidelines.
Commission chairman Dr. David Riese explained that guidelines would not apply to buildings not having any historic or culturally significant features. The commission, however, would need to sign off on building permits issued by the city.
The proposed district affects about 18 city blocks near the Square. Some blocks are only partially included in the district.
The district map follows that of a National Historic District set up in 1982 or 1983 by the Monroe Women's Club guided by the Wisconsin State Historical Society.
Riese said replacements, such as for broken windows, would not need approval, but painting a building would need commission approval, because color is a feature of historical significance.
The commission does not have authority to specify color, but would approve only colors that are compatible with the building's color scheme when constructed.
"We don't plan on going around and telling people what color they should paint," Riese said.
The commission has spent about 18 months developing guidelines for buildings and businesses within the proposed boundaries of a downtown historic district. The guidelines address issues including what a business may display outside its doors, what size sign it may have and what alterations may be made to the building.
The guidelines are meant to protect buildings and prevent damage to their architectural embellishments, Riese said. The guidelines are for exterior walls only.
"About 25 or 30 years ago, lots of people were told, 'let's sandblast your brick.' Indeed, sandblasting hurts your facade. Now people are seeing extra crumbling of their brick," Riese said.
But even some things added to a building, "even if it's not original, are protected," he said.
With no objections to the proposal at a public hearing, members of the Historic Preservation Commission voted unanimously to recommend to the Monroe City Council its plan to create the Downtown Historic District with guidelines.
State codes require residents within 200 feet of the proposed boundaries to be notified of the public hearing. About 20 people attended.
Most of the questions asked sought clarification of the guidelines.
Commission chairman Dr. David Riese explained that guidelines would not apply to buildings not having any historic or culturally significant features. The commission, however, would need to sign off on building permits issued by the city.
The proposed district affects about 18 city blocks near the Square. Some blocks are only partially included in the district.
The district map follows that of a National Historic District set up in 1982 or 1983 by the Monroe Women's Club guided by the Wisconsin State Historical Society.
Riese said replacements, such as for broken windows, would not need approval, but painting a building would need commission approval, because color is a feature of historical significance.
The commission does not have authority to specify color, but would approve only colors that are compatible with the building's color scheme when constructed.
"We don't plan on going around and telling people what color they should paint," Riese said.
The commission has spent about 18 months developing guidelines for buildings and businesses within the proposed boundaries of a downtown historic district. The guidelines address issues including what a business may display outside its doors, what size sign it may have and what alterations may be made to the building.
The guidelines are meant to protect buildings and prevent damage to their architectural embellishments, Riese said. The guidelines are for exterior walls only.
"About 25 or 30 years ago, lots of people were told, 'let's sandblast your brick.' Indeed, sandblasting hurts your facade. Now people are seeing extra crumbling of their brick," Riese said.
But even some things added to a building, "even if it's not original, are protected," he said.