preservation guide Types of preservation protection Frequently-asked questions Helpful contact information

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1 Preserving the architectural heritage and quality of life of Boston s oldest neighborhood preservation guide This guide from the is intended to help you navigate the often-confusing process of preservation and development in Charlestown. We hope it will help if you re planning to build or rehabilitate a house here, or if you re concerned about a development or rehabilitation project going on in our neighborhood. Preservation and Development in Charlestown: A Practical Guide for Charlestown Residents Who s in charge of preservation and development in Charlestown? Types of preservation protection Requirements you must meet to develop or renovate property in Charlestown The nitty-gritty: How to apply for a building permit Preservation and development advice from experts Suggestions for building and renovating in Charlestown What to do if you re concerned about a development or renovation project Frequently-asked questions Helpful contact information

2 preservation issues guide continued Who s in Charge of Preservation and Development in Charlestown? Development in our neighborhood is controlled by a complex web of regulations that include the state building codes and Boston zoning codes. Preservation in Charlestown is also complicated. Unlike Back Bay, Beacon Hill, the South End and other neighborhoods, building exteriors here are not protected from change under local historic district regulations. But there are codes and organizations that encourage preservation and influence development. Here they are in brief: The Massachusetts State Building Code sets construction and occupant safety standards that you must meet if you develop or renovate property. The City of Boston Zoning Code sets standards for use, building and property dimensions, parking and open space that you must meet if you develop or renovate property. If these regulations allow community input, local groups like the, the CPS Design Review Committee and the Charlestown Neighborhood Council can influence the outcome by expressing concerns and offering recommendations. The Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) is the city s chief planning agency. It writes the city s zoning codes, offers property for development and makes recommendations to the city s Zoning Board of Appeal. It also reviews development projects through the Article 80 Large Project or Small Project Review process. The BRA may also review projects through the Neighborhood Design Overlay District that covers much of Charlestown and encourages the maintenance of neighborhood scale and character. The (CPS) and its Design Review Committee (DRC) give advice, make recommendations and advocate for development and renovation that s appropriate for the neighborhood. These recommendations are advisory only: CPS and DRC have no control or authority over what s built, restored or developed here. But if they re informed early enough they can encourage development that s compatible with their views of the ways an historic community should look and function. The Charlestown Neighborhood Council (CNC) also considers design and construction issues in Charlestown. But like CPS and DRC, its input is advisory only. CPS and DRC focus more on design issues, and CNC focuses on traffic, parking, occupancy, density and environmental issues. As a body elected by Charlestown residents, CNC generally has more influence over the direction of development. If a building is located in a National Register District, CPS and CNC persuasion can be more effective. This is a federal designation that recognizes areas that are important in American history, architecture and culture. Designation as a National Register District doesn t by itself limit development: there are no restrictions on what private property owners can do as long as they use private funds. There are five National Register Districts and several individual listings in Charlestown, and expansion of one of these districts is under consideration.

3 Types of Preservation Protection Local Historic Districts are the strongest types of protection: Beacon Hill is an example. In local historic districts, changes to exterior architectural features that are visible from a public way must be approved by a Historic District Commission. There have been efforts to establish local historic districts in Charlestown, but they haven t succeeded. Architectural Conservation Districts and Protection Areas are determined by the Boston Landmarks Commission (BLC), the city s historic preservation agency. These districts offer much the same protection as Local Historic Districts. National Register Districts are less protective. This federal designation recognizes the historic importance of an area and offers limited federal tax incentives for some rehabilitation projects. But there are no restrictions on what private property owners can do to their buildings as long as they use private funds. There are five National Register Districts in Charlestown: Bunker Hill Monument, Monument Square, Town Hill, the Boston Naval Shipyard and Charlestown Heights.

4 You can download relevant codes and map from the BRA website: What requirements must you meet to develop or renovate property in Charlestown? Building Permits: Any project other than ordinary repairs (and many of these also) requires a building permit before you start work. To get a permit, your project must meet city zoning codes and the state building code. Zoning Code: The City of Boston Zoning Code details the requirements for land use, building types and sizes, heights and densities, parking and open space for every neighborhood in Boston. You can find most of the regulations that apply to Charlestown s central residential district in the Boston Zoning Code s Article 62, Charlestown Neighborhood District Article62.pdf Applying for a Building Permit: You can apply for a building permit online at or in person at the City of Boston Inspectional Services Division (ISD) offices at 1010 Massachusetts Avenue in Roxbury. The Inspectional Services Division (ISD) will check your compliance with zoning codes when you apply. If ISD finds a violation, you have two options. You can: Correct the violation by making design changes or Appeal for a variance to the zoning code from the Zoning Board of Appeal (ZBA). Appealing for a Variance: If you appeal, you ll need an attorney to write the appeal. Because you must satisfy the community as well as the city, the Zoning Board of Appeal will schedule a public hearing on your appeal. Depending on the size of the project, ZBA will also notify property owners within 200 to 300 feet of the project and will publish a notice in the Boston Herald. If your appeal is granted, you ll probably be referred to the Boston Redevelopment Authority for a Small Project Design Review under Article 80 of the Boston Zoning Code. You can find out more about zoning code violations, variances and the zoning appeal process in these downloadable publications: A Guide to the Zoning Board of Appeal Process: A Citizens Guide to Development Review Under Article 80: A Word to the Wise: If you re planning to build, restore or renovate property in Charlestown, it s wise to consult with your neighbors and city officials early in the process: clear and open communication is one of the most important (and often neglected) parts of a successful project.

5 The Nitty-Gritty: How to Apply for a Building Permit Building permits are required for pretty much everything beyond simple repairs. If you re a novice, here are some useful pointers for applying for a permit: Online: Go to to apply. To find out what type of permit you need, go to You can use the building permit search function to find out what permits have been awarded or rejected for your property or any other property in the city. In person: Go to the Inspectional Services Department, 1010 Massachusetts Ave, 5th floor, Counter 2, Plans and Zoning Division, and speak with the plans examiner on duty. Note that if you drive, there s a small parking lot with relatively reasonable rates opposite 1010 Mass Ave. There are two basic types of building permits: Short form permits are required for minor repairs with no structural work. Long form permits are required for new buildings, additions, changes in occupancy, certificates or occupancy and structural work. Short form permits are relatively simple to obtain. If this is your first experience, the best strategy is to apply in person at ISD: you can fill out an application on their computers, there ll be someone to walk you through the process, and you may be able to walk out with your permit. But be aware that the process will take at least an hour and probably longer. It helps to go in the afternoon, as the morning is usually busy with contractors applying for permits. The process is easier if you re prepared for your visit: write down all your questions, and bring along a plot plan of your lot if possible. There s probably a plot plan in your closing documents, or in the Master Deed if you own a condo. The long form permit is more time-consuming. The process is similar to the short-form permit, but you may need a plot plan of your lot and plans stamped by a registered architect or professional engineer, and you won t receive a permit immediately. About a week after you apply, your permit will be assigned to a plan reviewer. About three weeks after you apply, the reviewer will contact you, probably by letter and probably with a request for more information. Once you have a plan reviewer you can contact that person by phone at (617) Although you can call ISD at (617) , be aware that the department doesn t answer questions over the phone and won t schedule an appointment unless you ve already submitted a permit application.

6 Advice from the Experts If you plan to develop or renovate property in Charlestown, you can bring your plans to the CPS Design Review Committee and get expert feedback at no charge from DRC members, who include experienced architects and preservationists. The DRC reviews projects of all sizes, from residential alterations to new commercial buildings. It looks at the project as a whole and its relation to neighboring buildings, and it looks at projects in terms of both preservation and regulatory concerns, including zoning and building codes. While the DRC isn t a legal authority, it advocates and supports good contextual design and appropriate rehabilitation. It routinely sends design evaluations and issues opinions about projects to the City of Boston Zoning Board of Appeal, the Boston Redevelopment Authority and the Charlestown Neighborhood Council. The DRC meets on the third or fourth Monday of every month at 7:30 pm in the basement conference room of the Mary Colbert Apartments at 20 Devens Street in Charlestown. Meetings are open to the public, and meeting notices are published in the Charlestown Patriot Bridge.

7 Some Suggestions for Building and Renovating We re fortunate in Charlestown because our neighborhood is remarkably consistent in character and scale, thanks to a consistent set of building rules that governed residential construction from 1780 through the early 1900s when most of Charlestown was developed. To preserve this unique character, CPS and the CPS Design Review Committee believe that new buildings or changes to existing ones should respect the predominant characteristics of the town s existing buildings, including forms, proportional relationships, colors and materials. Here are some suggestions for building and renovating in ways that honor the architectural integrity of our unique neighborhood: Existing Buildings Maintain and repair historic features and materials instead of replacing them. If you replace missing architectural features, base the replacements on the original features, substantiated by physical and pictorial evidence rather than a best guess. Make sure any new work is appropriate to the original building in terms of size, shape, materials, design, color and texture. Preserve as much of the building s original greenspace as possible. New Construction Make sure the new building harmonizes with the predominant characteristics of the neighborhood in terms of height, mass, setback, rhythm, scale, proportions and materials. Make sure the new building s height reflects the dominant heights of surrounding buildings. Observe historic front and rear yard setbacks. Observe the predominant pattern of building width to property frontage in the immediate neighborhood.

8 What to do if you re concerned about a development or renovation project If you re concerned that a project is proceeding without a building permit: Call the Inspectional Services Department at (617) and ask whether a building permit has been issued for the site. If it hasn t, you can file a complaint on the spot. The complaint will be entered in HANSEN, an ISD computer database, and will be referred to the Charlestown building inspector for investigation. You can also call the Mayor s 24 Hour Constituent Service line at (617) or enter a complaint at by making a Service Request. Complaints may take a week to investigate: be sure to call or check online to find out how the complaint was resolved. If you re concerned that a project is proceeding without notification of neighbors: If the project meets the Boston Zoning Code, the owner isn t required to notify neighbors. If the project doesn t meet the Boston Zoning Code and the owner appeals to the Zoning Board of Appeal for a variance, abutter notifications are required and are sent out by ZBA. To find out whether an appeal has been scheduled, call ZBA at (617) If you re concerned that a building is about to be demolished: Complete demolition of an historic structure requires the owner to apply for Article 85 Review with the Boston Landmarks Commission, the city s historic preservation agency. If a building is determined to be significant, a public hearing will be held to allow comments on the proposal. You can find out more at If you re concerned that a project is encroaching on your property or will limit access to your property: Talk to the builder or owner, or call the ISD building inspector assigned to Charlestown at (617) Building inspectors are usually available between 8 and 9 am and 3 and 4 pm. If you re concerned that a project will affect your views: The zoning code doesn t protect views directly, focusing instead on access to light and air. However, there are dimensional regulations that control how large a building can be and where additions can be located. If the building owner appeals for a zoning variance, a public hearing will be scheduled where your views can be heard. If you re concerned that work on a project is noisy or dusty: Call the Charlestown building inspector at (617) between 8 and 9 am or 3 and 4 pm. Or contact the Boston Air Pollution Control Commission at (617) If you re concerned that a proposed project is historically or architecturally inappropriate: Contact the at 617) or info@charlestownpreservation.org or the Charlestown Neighborhood Council at

9 Frequently-Asked Questions Are there different requirements for commercial, multi-family, and single, two- and three-family houses? Yes. The Boston Zoning Code allows different uses and building dimensions in each zoning sub-district in Charlestown. For more information, check out Are there different requirements for homeowners and developers? No. A homeowner and a developer are the same to the city as far as building permits are concerned. A condominium and rental unit are also the same in the eyes of the City of Boston: both are dwelling units. What role do elected officials play in the development process? Elected officials are always interested in their constituents opinions about development proposals. They can be helpful in resolving problems and a valuable resource for both developers and concerned citizens.

10 Helpful Contact Information The disclaimer: Building regulations and procedures are many, complex, and subject to interpretation by the appropriate agencies. This document is intended as a short guide to a community process and doesn t presume to be complete. You may want to seek professional advice if you re about to begin a development or renovation project. BRA: Boston Redevelopment Authority Ask to speak with the Charlestown contact person (617) CNC: Charlestown Neighborhood Council CPS: DRC: CPS Design Review Committee (617) District 1 City Councilor Sal LaMattina (617) Salvatore.LaMattina@cityofboston.gov ISD: Inspectional Services Department (617) ISD: Inspectional Services Department Building Inspector Ask to speak with the Charlestown building inspector (617) Mayor s Neighborhood Coordinator for Charlestown Jack Kelly (617) Jack.F.Kelly@cityofboston.gov Mayor s Office of Neighborhood Services (617) ZBA: Zoning Board of Appeal (617)