The Marion Historic Study Committee is awaiting a response from the state on its bylaw draft proposal for a historic district within the town village.
Meg Steinberg, the town’s Historic Commission chairwoman and an advisor to the study committee, told Planning Board members recently that homeowners within the district can renovate homes and can even demolish some properties, as long as the rebuild matches the neighborhood within the village.
Repeating her report to the Planning Board, Steinberg and study committee members via a zoom meeting last week were brainstorming the next steps in hopes of getting a bylaw proposal before voters at the annual Town Meeting in the spring.
Steinberg said most renovation and remodeling projects would not need any local approval as long as the visible, front exterior still maintains the same historical facade. For instance, new windows or a new roof would not need local review, Steinberg noted.
Steinberg said homeowners can even make significant alterations to the backside of a home as long as it is not visible from a public way.
Steinberg and study committee chairman Will Tifft said that the committee awaits feedback from the Planning Board. After that, the committee will await suggestions from the state Historical Commission to “see that we are conforming to state guidelines and views.”
“We have supplemented this by informing the town administration and select board of conversations and building inspector about what we were thinking,” Tifft said.
Tifft said the committee is under deadline to submit a final recommendation by March 1. After receiving suggestions for revisions from the state, the committee plans on hosting a public meeting about the proposal in February.
Tifft, citing a survey conducted last year, noted that 75 percent of respondents were supportive of a historic district within the village area.
Committee members noted that some were hesitant about losing control over future decisions involving their homes or businesses.
Steinberg has called the proposal a “light” district, meaning there would be fewer restrictions upon homeowners in terms of possible renovations, rebuilding or remodeling. In fact, committee members noted that most projects within the district would not need town approval other than demolition or major renovations to the exterior facade.
The committee also plans on sending out mailers with frequently asked questions and answers about the bylaw proposal.
The committee will meet again via Zoom on December 7 at 5:00 pm.
Marion Historic Study Committee
By Jeff Wagner