Design Guidelines for Lewisburg, West Virginia Historic District

From introduction: "On March 15, 2005, the passage of an amendment to City Ordinance 163 empowered the Lewisburg Historic Landmarks Commission (HLC) to adopt “guidelines for changes to landmarks and all buildings in designated historic districts.” The ordinance states that the Commission is charged with protecting the Lewisburg Historic District from “any new site element or landscape feature having adverse or negative impact on the setting or streetscape of the Historic District” as well as from changes that do not reinforce or have a negative impact on the character of the Historic District. These guidelines have been written for the purpose of helping property owners and the Commission determine how buildings and properties can best be maintained and preserved to honor this ordinance. In general, the Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings from the Secretary of the Interior form the structure for these guidelines. Whenever possible, original historic elements should be preserved and repaired, rather than removed or replaced. When replacement is the the only option, materials, color, design, and visual characteristics should match the old as much as possible. Alterations to historic buildings or new construction should be undertaken in such a way as to protect the historic elements of buildings as well as their surroundings. Of particular concern are any portions of properties that are visible from a public way. Building Code requirements of the City of Lewisburg apply to alterations and new construction and may supersede the following guidelines. Please note that these guidelines apply only to the exterior of properties in the Historic District. Interior alterations as well as routine maintenance and repair to exterior elements do not require special permits. Repainting part or all of the exterior in existing colors is also exempt from special permit requirements. Emergency permits for repairs necessary to limit or repair damage from storms or accidents can be easily obtained from City Hall. For all other actions that may affect the exterior of historic properties, please consult these guidelines first and contact City Hall for applications and times of meetings at which Certificates of Appropriateness are issued. All meetings of the HLC are open to the public." Funding was provided in part by a 2005 Historic Preservation Fund grant to the Lewisburg Historic Zoning Commission (project number WV-05-035) administered by the West Virginia State Historic Preservation Office and the State, Tribal, and Local Plans and Grants Division, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Lewisburg, West Virginia is a Certified Local Government.

Design Guidelines for Lewisburg, West Virginia Historic District

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