Manchester Mills #7 |
Heritage Commission
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The Heritage Commission was created in 1996 by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen in order to insure the proper recognition, use and protection of legacy resources within the City. This inheritance from the past generally consists of human made things which may range widely in kind and type and which may be both tangibly or intangibly expressed. These heritage resources are typically valued for their historic, cultural, aesthetic, or community significance and are appreciated for what they contribute to the built, intellectual or spiritual environment of the City.
In order to carry out its mission to act as a stewardship organization, the Heritage Commission has, among its specific powers and duties, been granted advisory authority to:
- Conduct surveys and inventories of cultural and historic resources;
- Conduct research and publish findings – including reports and other preparatory documents related to establishing new historic districts;
- Assist the Planning Board, as requested, in preparing those sections of the Master Plan which address cultural and historic resources; and
- Advise, upon request, local agencies and other local boards in their review of requests on matters affecting cultural and historic resources.
Also, one of the key tasks assigned to the Heritage Commission when it was created was to assume the duties and powers previously granted to the now defunct Historic District Commission (1981-1996). Chief among these duties is:
- The power to review and approve all building permit applications involving outdoor work within the Amoskeag Corporation Housing Historic District, and the power to review and approve all proposals to demolish buildings and other structures in either the Amoskeag Corporation Housing or the Amoskeag Millyard Historic Districts.
Heritage Commission Membership
The Heritage Commission is composed of seven members and five alternates all of whom serve three year terms after being nominated by the Mayor and confirmed by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen.
Heritage Commission Hearings and Actions
Concerning Historic District Building Permit Applications
The Heritage Commission is required by the Zoning Ordinance to review and approve all building permit applications falling within their jurisdiction [see City of Manchester Zoning Ordinance, Article 7.05(C)]. In such cases, in addition to the typical application for building permit which is filed with the Building Department, the applicant must also complete and file with the Planning and Community Development Department an “Application For Historic District Building Permit”.
As an aid to the general public, the Planning and Community Development Department provides general application assistance to anyone seeking to apply for a Historic District building permit.
Once a completed “Application For Historic District Building Permit” is received by the Heritage Commission, it will placed on the agenda for the Commission’s next regularly scheduled monthly meeting. At that time, the Commission will review and conduct a public hearing on all such applications listed on their agenda and they will also decide whether to approve or disapprove of the requested building actions.
The Heritage Commission will then file a certificate of approval or a notice of disappro-val with the Building Department within 45 days of the original filing of the building permit application, unless the applicant agrees to a longer period of time. In any case, no building permit shall be issued by the Building Department until after they have received the Commission’s certificate of approval.
Heritage Commission Meetings
Except for the month of December, the Heritage Commission’s regularly scheduled meeting is held at City Hall on the third Thursday of each month (6 PM). However, the Commission occasionally holds its meetings at various locations around the City. Anyone seeking to attend a Commission meeting is advised to verify in advance the date, time and location of a particular Commission meeting. This can be best be done by checking with the Office of the City Clerk (624-6455) or the Planning and Community Development Department (624-6450). Also, though it may not contain late changes to the Commission’s meeting schedule, a more general calendar of Heritage Commission meeting information can be found on this web site.
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