When property owners intend to demolish or make exterior changes in material or design to buildings in the HP Overlay, the Franklin Historic Zoning Commission (HZC) reviews the plans to see whether the requested changes would damage the historic value of the property or the district. Basing its review on adopted design guidelines, the city's zoning ordinance, and the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation, the HZC reviews and approves any exterior alterations in material or design.
The HZC must review and approve any exterior alterations in material or design before any work begins to a project. This includes any exterior work requiring a building permit, such as additions, alterations of rooflines, and demotion or some or all of a structure, including outbuildings. This also includes new construction and permanent signs within the historic district. The HZC does not review ordinary maintenance and repair or in-kind replacement. The HZC also does not review building paint color choices. If you have any questions as to whether or not HZC approval is required, please contact the HPO.
Once work is approved, a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) is issued. A COA is a document approving work on local landmarks or properties in Franklins historic districts based on consistency with applicable design guidelines or standards.
You can obtain an application from the Historic Preservation Officer (HPO) in the Franklin Planning Department at City Hall, or may download the application from the above COA Application link. Consult the Franklin Design Guideline Manual, Franklin Zoning Ordinance design standards and the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation to make sure your proposed project will comply. In addition to downloading these documents off of the website, they are available in the Franklin Planning Department.
The Franklin Design Guideline Manual - Provides the Franklin Historic Zoning Commission (HZC) and residents of locally designated districts with guidelines for building rehabilitation, new construction, and other changes which would affect the overall appearance of Franklin's historic areas. The manual provides information on rehabilitation methods and parameters for new construction and demolition to guide property owners in planning and designing their projects.
The Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation - Ten basic principles established by the Secretary of the Interior which are recommended in the planning and rehabilitation of historic buildings. The intent of the Standards is to assist the long-term preservation of a property's significance through the preservation of historic materials and features. The Standards pertain to historic buildings of all materials, construction types, sizes, and occupancy and encompass the exterior and interior of the buildings. They also encompass related landscape features and the building's site and environment, as well as attached, adjacent, or related new construction.
Franklin Zoning Ordinance - Section 6.7.1.1 of Franklin's citywide ordinance applied to historic preservation regulations that outline the duties of the Historic Zoning Commission (HZC) regulatory requirements associated with the Historic Preservation Overlay.
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