National Historical Register

Washington Township follows the National Historic Preservation Act and guidelines to assess worthiness for historic site or district identification. Following is a description of the Act: 

The National Historic Preservation Act 
The National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 is the nation's central historic preservation law. It establishes the legal and administrative context within which local historic preservation commissions relate to, and participate in, the national historic preservation program. 

The Act does several things: 
National Policy: The Act sets forth the policy of the U. S. Government regarding historic preservation. it promotes conditions in which historic properties can be preserved in harmony with modern society. 

The National Register:
The Act authorizes the Department of the Interior to establish, maintain, and expand a National Register of Historic Places. The Register is a listing of properties that have been accepted as having historic, architectural, engineering, or cultural significance, at the national, state, or local level. 

The SHPO: The Act establishes the responsibilities of State Historic Preservation officers officials who administer the national historic preservation program at the state level. Each SHPO is responsible for developing a statewide plan for preservation, surveying to identify historic properties, nominating properties to the National Register, providing assistance to federal, state, and local agencies and the public, and helping local governments become certified to participate in the program. 

Certified Local Governments: The Act provides for certification of local governments whose historic preservation programs meet prescribed standards, making them eligible for special grants-in-aid and technical assistance from the SHPO. At least 10% of the annual Historic Preservation Fund grant made to states must be distributed among Certified Local Governments. 

Two terms requiring definition:
The Act defines historic property to mean "any prehistoric or historic district, site, building, structure, or object included in, or eligible for inclusion in the National Register." When referring to "historic properties," included are archeological sites and culturally important places of significance in prehistory; that is, sites and places used during the thousands of years that Native Americans occupied the continent before the coming of Europeans, as well as properties used during the "historic" period since the arrival of Europeans. 

National Register criteria:
The National Register of Historic Places is the nation's roster of properties important in the history, architectural history, archeology, engineering, and culture of the U.S., its states and regions, and its communities. It is maintained by the National Park Service and is expanded through nominations by individuals, organizations, state and local governments, and federal agencies. 

The National Register criteria identify a range of resources and kinds of significance that will qualify properties for listing in the National Register. They are applied to each nomination to determine whether the nominated property qualifies. The criteria are also applied by federal agencies, SHPOs and the National Register staff to unevaluated properties that may be affected by federal agency actions, to determine whether they are eligible for consideration during agency planning. Local historic preservation commissions use them as a basis for their own evaluation systems. 

The Register includes buildings and structures such as houses, commercial buildings, and bridges. It also includes sites such as battlefields, parks, and archeological sites. It includes districts -- groups of buildings, structures, or sites that make up a coherent whole, such as a neighborhood. It includes Objects - large movable properties such as fountains and monuments. 

Properties important in history, prehistory, architectural history, engineering history, archeology, or culture may be entered in the Register. Examples: A property associated with the history of a community, a prehistoric archeological site, an example of a type of architecture, landscape architecture, or engineering process, a well preserved rural landscape. 

The Register includes properties determined to have significance at the national, state and local levels. Although the Register is "National,” it is designed to include properties of importance to the people where they live and in their communities, not just national landmarks. A general store or a community's main street, may be just as eligible as Independence Hall. 

The criteria 
Criterion A: A property is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history. 

Example: Associations with an event -- founding of a community, a battle, an invention -- significant at a national, state, or local level. 

Criterion B: A property is associated with the lives of persons significant in our past. 

Example: Associations with a founder of a community, an important writer or inventor. 

Criterion C: A property embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction, or if it represents the work of a master, or if it possesses high artistic values, or if it represents a significant entity whose components may lack individual distinction. 

Example: A good example of a particular kind of architecture, or informal "vernacular" forms of construction used in a region during a particular period. Another example is the work of a master building or artisan, even if the name has been lost. An extremely impressive mural or stonework may possess high artistic value. A district that is significant as a whole may qualify, even though it may comprise components that would not qualify individually, such as a collection of buildings that represent an architectural style. 

Criterion D: A property has yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history. 

Example: Archeological sites and districts, or a building that could yield important information in architectural or engineering history. 

Exceptions: 
1. A religious property, unless its significance is architectural or artistic.
2. A structure that has been removed from its original location.
3. A birthplace or grave, unless it is that of a historical figure of outstanding importance and there is no other appropriate site associated with his/her life.
4. Cemeteries, unless they derive their significance from person of  transcendent importance.
5. Reconstructed buildings.
6. Primarily commemorative properties.
7. Properties achieving significance within the last 50 years, unless such properties are of exceptional importance. 

Implications for Register-Listed Properties 
Properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places are not restricted in any way as to what the property owner may do to the property. Structures can be painted any color, remodeled in any way, or even demol­ished. Some municipalities have specific ordinances in effect for specifically‑designated areas that require that any changes made to a property be brought before a historic preservation commission for review. Freedom in renovating a property can become highly restrictive, and perhaps become a motivation for not improving a property. What is suggested is some protection of historic properties while allowing freedom to the historic property owner. This can be initiated through listing on the Register. 

Status on the National Register simply does two things: 
1. It affords some protection should public funds be used for a project that would adversely affect the property. 
2. There is a tax credit on the cost of rehabilitating historic buildings, as well as a charitable contribution deduction should a taxpayer donate a structure to a government body for historic preservation purposes. 

Impact of Master Plan Elements on the Preservation of Historic Sites and Districts 
Zoning and buffering should be considered a primary method of protection of historic properties. 

A. Compile a single map showing both the boundaries of historic districts (or potential historic districts) and individual landmarks and the boundaries of the various zoning districts that affect the same area. 

B. Examine the text of the zoning ordinance to determine whether the requirements for each zoning district supports or conflicts with the preservation and revitalization of the historic properties or areas. 

Does the zoning for areas immediately surrounding a historic district provide an adequate buffer against development that would have a negative import on the historic area? 

Do commercial zones allow much taller and larger buildings than currently exist in the historic district? 

Does the zoning permit automobile-oriented uses that conflict with the traditional street-front and pedestrian orientation of historic commercial buildings? 

C. Enact the kinds of amendments to make zoning in historic districts more responsive to preservation concerns. 
     1. Shift the boundaries between adjacent zones. 
     2. Substitute one classification for another (density). 

D. Examine drafting a new zoning classification with requirements tailored to the specific needs of a historic district. Examine special purpose districts or special use districts. 

E. Study downzoning -- reducing the permitted height and bulk of buildings. 

F. Amend ordinances to allow historic properties alternative uses. 

G. Transfer development rights, such as the air space above a historic building, for use at another location. 

H. Incentive zoning. Grant additional density in exchange for buffers next to historic districts.