For Immediate Release:
DATE: June 15, 2022
CONTACT: John Bouvier
PHONE: (631) 287-5745
At its June 14th meeting, the Town Board authorized the Supervisor to formally request participation in the Certified Local Government (CLG) program and to negotiate a certification agreement with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
At its May 24th meeting, the Town Board voted unanimously to amend various provisions of the Town Code designating historic districts and individual landmarks to meet certain requirements for designation as a CLG. Other requirements for CLG designation have been met by the Town including an established Landmarks and Historic District Board with qualified members, a qualified survey of historic resources, and activity in a preservation program.
According to Councilman John Bouvier, Town Board liaison to the Landmarks and Historic Districts Board and sponsor of the resolutions, the changes will enhance the Town’s efforts at historic preservation of significant historic resources.
“The preservation of the historic structures of our hamlet centers, as well as our incorporated villages, is important,” said Councilman Bouvier. “A sense of place and community identity are associated with the structures that are familiar, time honored, possessing special architectural features or associated with past individuals of great importance to the community.”
The Town has a Landmarks and Historic Districts Board that reviews, but only offers advisory opinions on proposed changes or demolitions in buildings erected before 1941, or were identified in previous survey of historic resources, the latest of which was done in 2014. Over 1,000 Town properties were identified in the 2014 survey that might qualify for historic preservation efforts either through Town Board designation as a landmark or as part of a historic district.
According to Landmarks and Historic Districts Board member Vicki Kahn, the Code changes were developed in cooperation with Linda Mackey, the Certified Local Government Representative of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation. “The changes will bring our historic preservation code up to Certified Local Government Standards of the integrated programs of New York State and the Department of Interior,” said Vicki Kahn. She went on to note that the unincorporated hamlets of the Town have had no historic districts formed and few private landmarks since the 1998 Town Code changes provided a formal designation procedure. “The Code change removes the owner nomination requirement for historic district formation or landmark designation, “she said.
For more information, contact Councilman Bouvier at 631-287-5745.