YARMOUTH — Town councilors have tentatively scheduled a July 27 public hearing and vote on a revised ordinance that would prevent historical buildings from being torn down for up to nine months, and in some cases indefinitely.

The revision calls for changes to a demolition ordinance adopted April 12 by the council. That ordinance postpones, after a demolition application is received, the razing of buildings or structures that are at least 75 years old and are partially or wholly in the town’s demolition delay overlay zone. It gives the Planning Board 60 days to determine if the demolition can proceed or if the structure to be razed is a “building of value.”

If a structure is deemed valuable, there is an additional 60-day delay before a demolition permit may be issued. The delay gives the town and historic preservation organizations time to encourage alternatives, such as restoration, relocation or rehabilitation.

After the second delay, the property owner has the right to go forward with demolition if no better solution has been found.

After approving the ordinance in April, the council asked the Planning Board to draft additional provisions and stronger protections of historic properties.

As proposed by the board, the expanded demolition delay and restriction would prohibit the demolition of any building or structure within the demolition delay overlay zone if the structure is listed on the National Register of Historic Places or is determined by the Maine Historic Preservation Commission to be eligible for listing on the register.

The board is also proposing that the council lengthen the two 60-day delay periods. If the ordinance is amended as proposed, the board would have 90 days from the date a demolition application is received to hold a public hearing. If within the 90 days the building is deemed a building of value, a demolition permit would not be granted for an additional 180 days while the applicant, Planning Board and related parties brainstorm alternatives.

If the structure is found to be not of value in the first 90 days, there would be an additional 30-day period before a permit is granted to allow the Town Council or other interested parties to appeal the board’s ruling.

The July 27 public hearing and vote date is tentative because councilors may decide at this week’s Operations Committee meeting that they need more time and move the item to a meeting in September.

There are 11 buildings in Yarmouth already listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and more are eligible.

Jocelyn Van Saun can be contacted at 781-3661, ext. 183, or at:

jvansaun@theforecaster.net

Twitter: JocelynVanSaun

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