[MassHistPres] Fee for HD Applications?

[rcsmitharch at verizon.net]

This is how we define demolition in the Swampscott demo delay bylaw:

 

DEMOLITION - Any act of pulling down, destroying, removing, dismantling or razing a building or any part thereof, including but not necessarily limited to commencing the work of total or substantial destruction with the intent of completion of the same. Demolition shall also include significantly altering the shape of the roof, or removal of significantly integral components of the building or structure such as a turret.  For purposes of this section, the term “demolition” shall not include the ordinary maintenance or repair of any building or structure, interior renovations, or removal or demolition of any ancillary portion of a structure such as porches, decks, windows, etc…provided that in the instance of demolition of said ancillary portions for the purpose of repair or replacement, said repair or replacement shall be done using like-kind or better materials  which determination shall be made by the Inspector of Buildings.

 

Richard Smith

Swampscott Historic District Commission

 

From: Michael Roughan <historychair at hopkintonma.gov> 
Sent: Tuesday, October 6, 2026 9:25 AM
To: Richard Smith <rcsmitharch at verizon.net>
Cc: Erica Swallow <president at springfieldpreservation.org>; Ellen McGrath <ellen_mcgrath at yahoo.com>; Board Member Bob McCarroll <bobmccarroll at verizon.net>; masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] Fee for HD Applications?

 

Richard,

 

We have the same policies in Hopkinton with no fee in either LHD nor for the Historical Commission.

 

I’m curious how Swampscott defines “partial demolition”? In Hopkinton’s we restrict it to any modifications to the building’s structure but exclude exterior envelope under the premise that those renovations are “restorable” at some future date.






......Mike

Michael Roughan
Chairman, Historical Commission

 

On Tue, Oct 6, 2026 at 8:18 AM Richard Smith via MassHistPres <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu <mailto:masshistpres at cs.umb.edu> > wrote:

In Swampscott we do not charge for applications.  The Swampscott Historic District Commission reviews applications for exterior work within the historic district, and the Swampscott Historical Commission reviews applications involving partial or total demolition for buildings over 75 years old outside the district.  Neither charges fees for this.

Sent from my iPad

 

Richard Smith





On Oct 1, 2026, at 2:17 PM, Erica Swallow via MassHistPres <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu <mailto:masshistpres at cs.umb.edu> > wrote:

 

Springfield, MA is trying to change its Historic District Ordinance to levy an undetermined fee against the applicant once a property is accepted for a study. The language in the draft ordinance changes is: 

 

"Report. Once the Commission has determined such building, group of buildings, or site has

historic significance, then the Commission, or a consultant selected by the Commission, shall

draft and submit all required reports for designation in accordance with the Historic Districts

Act. The cost and expense to the Commission for the preparation and submission of all such

reports shall be levied against the applicant. The Commission shall discuss the cost estimate with

the applicant seeking the creation of the district prior to drafting the report to ensure that the

applicant wishes to cover the expenditure."

 

 

The Springfield Historical Commission has approved the changes (this among others which weaken historic protections in the city), but it hasn't been seen by City Council yet.

 

The fee in this case is undetermined and could be thousands of dollars, depending on the proposed district size. Imagine if our current largest districts (my own with 800+ houses in it) were paid for by the applicant (residents). That would have been cost prohibitive. 

 

I'm disturbed by the failure of our historical commission to do its job: protecting historic resources. Instead, it's doing the bidding of the economic development office wherein the commission sits, and making it more difficult to protect historic structures.

 

Sincerely,

Erica 

 



Erica Swallow

President

Springfield Preservation Trust



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president at springfieldpreservation.org <mailto:president at springfieldpreservation.org> 


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(413) 314-3383


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 <https://springfieldpreservation.org/> springfieldpreservation.org



 <https://www.facebook.com/PreserveSpringfield> 

	 <https://www.instagram.com/springfieldpreservation/> 

	 <https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericaswallow/> 

 

  _____  

From: MassHistPres <masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu <mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu> > on behalf of Nancy Robbins via MassHistPres <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu <mailto:masshistpres at cs.umb.edu> >
Sent: Monday, September 28, 2026 4:07 PM
To: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu <mailto:masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>  <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu <mailto:masshistpres at cs.umb.edu> >
Cc: McGrath Ellen <ellen_mcgrath at yahoo.com <mailto:ellen_mcgrath at yahoo.com> >
Subject: [MassHistPres] Fee for HD Applications? 

 

How many towns out there charge an Application fee to obtain a Certificate and what is the amount?  If a project requires more than one Application do you charge multiple fees?  Each one the same?  Where does the money from the fees go?  

 

Do any towns request town funding or use Application fees to have continuing education or educational programs related to Historic Preservation?

 

 

Nancy Robbins FedericiCMP, CMM

Independent Meeting Planner

42 Mansfield Avenue <https://www.google.com/maps/search/42+Mansfield+Avenue+%0D%0A+Norton,+MA+02766?entry=gmail&source=g> 

Norton, MA <https://www.google.com/maps/search/42+Mansfield+Avenue+%0D%0A+Norton,+MA+02766?entry=gmail&source=g>   02766 <https://www.google.com/maps/search/42+Mansfield+Avenue+%0D%0A+Norton,+MA+02766?entry=gmail&source=g> 

(c) 508-958-5165

nancyrobbins2 at yahoo.com

 

Take the road less traveled,

It's often less crowded!

                 (fortune cookie)

 

 

 

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