Opinion: Our Historic Districts And Local Design Review Matters

The following opinion essay is by Alexis Harrison, who is a member of the Fairfield Town Plan & Zoning Commission. In this editorial, she is speaking only for herself:

I recently had the opportunity to testify in front of the Planning & Development Committee in our legislature against, HB5473, “An Act Requiring the Majority Leaders' Roundtable Group on Affordable Housing to Study the Elimination of Municipal Design Review Process.”

HB5473 is a study that shall include, but need not be limited to, (1) an analysis of current required design review processes and the impact of such processes on the cost and development time of affordable housing, as defined in section 8-39a of the general statutes, (2) the identification of barriers within such design review processes that may hinder the construction or renovation of such affordable housing, and (3) the examination of successful models from other jurisdictions that have streamlined or eliminated such design review processes for such affordable housing.

Often, it is the design that draws our attention and brings us enjoyment – whether it’s historical or modern design. Here in Fairfield, we live in a uniquely historical community, with century old buildings, homes, bridges, churches, stonewalls, and much more. I believe HB5473 is an anti-history and an anti-preservation bill. I oppose it because the bill’s clearly defined agenda is specifically to limit design standards in historic districts as a foregone conclusion. Design standards should remain local and up to local historical commissions to implement and oversee.

If the State’s Planning & Development Committee would like to conduct a study, I recommend an open-ended study of design review with the possibility of strengthening or weakening the current policy – not a study with a foregone conclusion to take away local decision-making as is currently in the language of this bill. The study should also look at how we can accommodate new development while protecting our history, and seek opportunities to integrate social, economic and environmental goals in design review while protecting our history.

Our wonderful town of Fairfield has three historic districts – Greenfield Hill, Southport and the Old Post Road by downtown Fairfield – offering residents and visitors a window back in time.

According to state statutes, municipalities can only require design review in historic and village districts, everywhere else design review is advisory.

I would like to share excerpts from the Town of Fairfield Historic District Commission Handbook:

“In 1961 the Connecticut statute enabling the creation of local historic districts was enacted. In 1966 Congress passed the National Historic Preservation Act, recognizing the importance of preservation to the spiritual and visual well-being of our nation. In the preamble of this legislation, Congress stated that “the historical and cultural foundations of the Nation should be preserved as a living part of our community life and development in order to give a sense of orientation to the American people.”

WestCOG Executive Director Francis Pickering noted that recent housing initiatives have underscored the importance of design in creating places for people to live and work. Public Act 21-29 called for the development of “design guidelines” for buildings and streets, including “architectural and site design features, and the development of design review standards.” And according to RiverCOG, historic and village districts are not responsible for the lack of affordable housing in Connecticut, and repealing their ability to protect our unique and historic places will not create affordable housing

Municipalities only have design authority in historical districts and such design review has kept town centers and historical areas from being bulldozed. Tourists come to Connecticut’s 169 unique town centers because of the beautiful historic areas, which are regulated as to style, architecture and façade materials, and that precisely why historic districts have remained intact. Do not allow HB5473 to now destroy the beauty and history that has enriched the lives of our residents and the visitors to our state.

Local design guidelines provide a method of assuring local governments that key characteristics of buildings reflect the community standards (which may vary from town to town) have been established at a policy level, and are not negotiated on a case-by-case basis with a particular developer or property owner. Our history matters in Connecticut and beauty matters.