Applications

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS FOR A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS

The Next Application Deadline is August 11th at 4:30PM

Dr. Dan L. Morrill, Consulting Director
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission
2100 Randolph Road
Charlotte, N.C. 28207

Special Note:  Applicants who are seeking  Federal or State income tax credits for certified rehabilitations should submit with this application a copy of the ruling from the National Park Service or the North Carolina Division of Archives and History that the plans accompanying this application meet the Secretary of the Interior's Standards.

Also, it is most important that applicants become thoroughly familiar with State and Federal Investment Tax Credits that may be available for the rehabilitation of historic properties.  Click here to read the details about Federal and State Tax Credits.

Please be advised that the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission uses the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation and Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings to determine whether an intended action is appropriate or inappropriate. Click here to read a copy of the Secretary of the Interior's Standards.    It is always instructive to see local examples of how the standards have been applied.  Click here to see.   Contractors and architects who want to find answers to such hands-on questions as how to you clean historic buildings, re-point brick, etc. should consult the Preservation Briefs published by the National Park Service.  Click here to see on-line Preservation Briefs.

Please type or print using black ink to fill out this application. Please make sure your application is complete. Committee members need to understand exactly how the proposed changes to the Historic Landmark will look or affect the property. Use the checklist in the application to assure that you have included sufficiently detailed information. We anticipate that you or your representative will present your application to the Design Review Committee.

If you have any questions or require special assistance, please contact Dr. Dan L. Morrill at 376-9115 or Fax 372-4584.

Please type or use black ink.

Return to: Dr. Dan L. Morrill
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission
2100 Randolph Road
Charlotte, N.C. 28207

APPLICATION

I, the undersigned, do hereby apply for a Certificate of Appropriateness for the following project that will materially alter an architecturally, historically, or culturally significant feature of a designated Historic Landmark within the jurisdiction of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission.

Name of Landmark:

__________________________________________________________________

Address of Landmark:

________________________________________________________________

Owned by:

_________________________________________________________________________

Tax Parcel Number (s) of the Historic Landmark: __________________________________________

Dimensions of the property or acreage is: _________________________________________________

The following are the names and addresses of all property owners and residents within 100 feet, on all sides, of the subject Historic Landmark:

Name: _______________________________________

Address: ______________________________

City ________________ State________________ Zip________________

Name: _______________________________________

Address: ______________________________

City ________________ State________________ Zip________________

Name: _______________________________________

Address: ______________________________

City ________________ State________________ Zip________________

Name: _______________________________________

Address: ______________________________

City ________________ State________________ Zip________________

Name: _______________________________________

Address: ______________________________

City ________________ State________________ Zip________________

Write "Yes" on the line or lines that best describe your intended actions.

Exterior Alteration: _____ Addition or New Construction: _____

Interior Alteration: _____ Demolition: _____

Other: _____ Please Explain: _______________________________________________________

Describe clearly and in detail the nature of your project. Attach additional sheets of descriptions, drawings, photographs, slides, maps, or any other graphic material information which you deem necessary to describe the project. (No submissions should be larger than on paper 8 1/2 X 14 inches) Use the checklist attached to make sure your application is complete. Please be advised that the Design Review Committee of the Historic Landmarks Commission or the Historic Landmarks Commission itself may require you to submit additional illustrative materials.

I understand that this application must be returned to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission, Attn., Dr. Dan L. Morrill, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission, 2100 Randolph Road, Charlotte, N.C. 28207 no later than 4:30 P.M. on the date established as the deadline for the meeting of the Design Review Committee at which the application shall be considered (see attached schedule of meetings of the Design Review Committee with appropriate deadlines). If nobody is at the office when you come, please put your application in the metal cabinet on the back porch.

Name of Applicant: _____________________________________ Telephone No. _____________

Applicant's Mailing Address:

Address: ______________________________

City ________________ State________________ Zip________________

Applicant's Signature: _______________________________________ Date: _______________

Checklist

1. A Plot Plan showing the relationship of the buildings, additions, sidewalks, drives, trees, etc., to the property lines. This plan does not have to be drawn to scale but the measurements shown should be accurate. A copy of the survey required when you acquired the property is also acceptable. Revise the survey as needed to show existing conditions, and your proposed work. If available, electronic JPEG or PDF files are welcomed.   Plans should be submitted in a reduced format of  8 1/2 x 14 or 8 1/2 x 11 inches.

2. A Written Description of the project. Describe clearly and in detail the nature of your project. Attach additional sheets of description as necessary to describe the project completely. Include exact details for materials to be used (such as the width of siding), and length of time estimated to complete the project.

3. Photographs of existing conditions, the area (s) in question for change, etc.  Photographs should be labeled, giving date the photograph was taken, the name and address of the Historic Landmark, the name of the photographer, and a description of the area of the property included in each photograph.

4. JPEG files or slides of existing conditions, the area (s) in question for change, etc.  Slides should be labeled, giving date the photograph was taken, the name and address of the Historic Landmark, the name of the photographer, and a description of the area of the property included in the each slide. JPEG files should be given a descriptive name.

4. Three Copies of Drawings showing proposed work, giving accurate dimensions. These drawings might include plan drawings, elevation drawings showing a new facade or site plan. If available, electronic JPEG or PDF files are welcomed.   Drawings should be submitted in a reduced format of  8 1/2 x 14 or 8 1/2 x 11 inches.

5. A check made out to Mecklenburg County.  See fee schedule below.

6. If you live in a local historic district, you must also obtain a Certificate of Appropriateness from the local historic district commission as well. For further information on this subject, if you live in Charlotte, contact Wanda Birmingham at 336-2302. If you live in Davidson, call the Davidson Town Hall.

To expedite matters and to determine what you need to include, you should contact the Historic Landmarks Commission, at 376-9115 or Fax at 372-4584. 

E-mail    Dan.Morrill@Mecklenburgcountync.gov

Schedule of Meetings and Applicable Deadlines for the Design Review Committee Of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission from April 2007 until January 2009.  Special Note:  The Committee does not meet in July. All meetings begin at 8 A.M.  Please note that the Commission has no meetings in July.

For the regular processing of COA's, no exceptions will be made to the above deadlines. Applications must arrive at the HLC office no later than 4:30PM on the date of the applicable deadline. The preferable means is to mail the application. The mailing address is: Dr. Dan L. Morrill, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission, 2100 Randolph Road, Charlotte, N.C. 28207. If the application is hand delivered, use the mail slot on the front door of the HLC Office. If the application is too large, place the application in the black metal cabinet on the back porch.

An Express Review option is available for applicants who can not meet the regular application deadlines.  Under Express Review, proposed projects are taken directly to the full Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission for consideration.  Because the review of projects by the Design Review Committee is extremely helpful in the Commission's decision making process, it is strongly urged that all projects go through the normal design review process if  possible.  If applicants wish to have their projects considered under Express Review, they are encouraged to submit the application as soon as possible so that HLC Staff can properly prepare materials for the Commission's consideration.  Choosing the Express Review option will in no way affect the eligibility of a proposed project for approval.

All meetings of the Design Review Committee occur at 8:00 AM at the Commission's office at 2100 Randolph Road, Charlotte, N.C. The parking lot is at the rear of the building. You or your representative should attend the meeting. The office is at the corner of Chase St. and Randolph Rd. Anyone requiring special assistance should contact the Commission office at least one day before the meeting.  Telephone:  704-376-9115.

Fee Schedule

Procedure For Presenting Certificate Of Appropriateness Applications At Meetings Of The Design Review Committee:

At each monthly meeting, the Design Review Committee schedules all Certificate of Appropriateness applications that have been requested in that time period. It is extremely important to proceed efficiently with the hearing of each application. Individuals speaking before the Committee should keep the following suggestions in mind:

1. Please be brief. Unless the Committee votes otherwise, you will have a maximum of five minutes to explain your application.  The Committee will have received the application about a case and will hear a background presentation with project slides by the Director of the Historic Landmarks Commission (HLC). The Committee will already be familiar with the site and application request, and they will supply input during the review. The Committee will ask questions to understand the issues and arrive at a decision.

2. Avoid repetitious comments. This is the most time-consuming problem for the Committee.

3. The Committee Chairperson will attempt to move the hearing along efficiently.

The order of each case will be as follows:

A. All parties who plan to give testimony, pro or con, are to notify the HLC office three working days prior to the hearing by telephone or in writing. Sign the check-in page when you arrive.

B. The Director will open with a background presentation for the project.

C. The appellant and Committee may question the Director at this time.

D. The appellant will be given up to five minutes present his/her case.

E. The Committee may question the appellant.

F. When necessary, the Committee will have a consultant visit the site and present his/her views to the Committee.

G. All parties may question the consultant at this time.

H. The appellant may present witnesses which will be subject to questioning.

I. Other parties wishing to speak, pro or con, will be given up to three minutes to speak subject to the Chairperson's discretion.

J. The Committee and the appellant will be given an opportunity for rebuttal.

The Secretary Of The Interior's Standards For Rehabilitation

2. The historic character of a property shall be retained and preserved. The removal of historic materials or alteration of features and spaces that characterize a property shall be avoided.

3. Each property shall be recognized as a physical record of its time, place, and use. Changes that create a false sense of historical development, such as adding conjectural features or architectural elements from other buildings, shall not be undertaken.

4. Most properties change over time; those changes that have acquired historic significance in their own right shall be retained and preserved.

5. Distinctive features, finishes, and construction techniques or examples of craftsmanship that characterize a historic property shall be reserved.

6. Deteriorated historic features shall be repaired rather than replaced. Where the severity of deterioration requires replacement of a distinctive feature, the new feature shall match the old in design, color, texture, and other visual qualities and, where possible, materials. Replacement of missing features shall be substantiated by documentary, physical, or pictorial evidence.

7. Chemical or physical treatments, such as sandblasting, that cause damage to historic materials shall not be used. The surface cleaning of structures, if appropriate, shall be undertaken using the gentlest means possible.

8. Significant archeological resources affected by a project shall be protected and preserved. If such resources must be disturbed, mitigation measures shall be undertaken.

9. New additions, exterior alterations, or related new construction shall not destroy historic materials that characterize the property. The new work shall be differentiated from the old and shall be compatible with the massing, size, scale, and architectural features to protect the historic integrity of the property and its environment.

10. New additions and adjacent or related new construction shall be undertaken in such a manner that if removed in the future, the essential form and integrity of the historic property and its environment would be unimpaired.

Please follow as closely as possible the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation and Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings standards and issues.

rev. 6/05