Bangor officials are considering changes to the Historic Preservation Ordinance that would offer more flexibility to owners of historic homes. Anja Collette, the city’s planning director, noted that the revisions aim to address challenges homeowners face with expensive or unavailable materials. Current regulations require owners to obtain approval from the Bangor Historic Preservation Commission for exterior modifications on over 400 properties in historic districts.
A notable catalyst for these changes is a dispute involving local resident Stephen Farren, who replaced her home’s slate roof with asphalt after being denied permission due to cost and contractor availability. Though she was ultimately permitted to keep the asphalt roof, the incident underscored the burdens of current regulations.
Proposed changes include allowing residents to install modern equipment like heat pumps and solar panels, provided they are not visible from the street. This approach simplifies the approval process by allowing city staff and the commission chair to grant permission instead of requiring full committee approval.
Additionally, the requirements for repairing versus replacing materials will become less stringent, and applicants can present various types of evidence to demonstrate undue hardship. The amendments also allow for historic buildings to be demolished if damaged beyond repair by disasters. The commission is expected to discuss the alterations soon, with potential approval from city councilors later this month.
Source link
