FAQs • Village of Clarkston, MI • CivicEngage

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Historic District Commission

1. What is the Historic District Commission and how is it formed?: A Historic District Commission (HDC) is a group of people that regulates and reviews proposed improvements on a property within a designated local historic district. Members of the commission are appointed by City Council.

2. What are the responsibilities of the Historic District Commission?: The Historic District Commission has the difficult job of preserving their community's historic integrity. The main responsibility of the commission is to review plans for construction on the property within the historic district, which must be approved before it can be carried out. The commission is also responsible for denying approval to construction projects that they believe will damage the historical resources of their district.

3. What will happen when I apply to the Historic District Commission to review proposed work on my Historic Home?: Once you have turned in your application, one of four things will happen:
1. The Commission will table the request until it knows enough about the situation to make an informed decision.
2. It can issue a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) if it agrees that the proposed work meets the Standards for Rehabilitation and any other guidelines specific to their district. You can then go ahead with your planned work. Note: (COA) is not a building permit. Contact The City of the Village of Clarkston Building Department.
3. If the work does not meet the Standards, the Commission will issue a Denial. If you receive a Denial, the Commission is also required to supply a written explanation of why they considered the project to be inappropriate.

4. What guidelines does a Historic District Commission use when making decisions?: An HDC makes its decisions based on the Secretary of Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation of historic structures. For a detailed explanation of the Standards, please visit the National Parks Service website at: https://www.nps.gov/tps/standards/four-treatments/treatment-rehabilitation.htm