Historic Preservation – Local Design Review

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Historic Resources

Certificate of Appropriateness

A “Certificate of Appropriateness” is a design permit issued by the Lawrence Historic Resources Commission based on approval of any construction, alteration, demolition, or removal of a structure within an historic district, local historic landmark or property located within the environs of a listed property.

A Certificate of Appropriateness application, and instructions for completing the materials, may be obtained by contacting the Lawrence/Douglas County Planning Office on the 1st floor of City Hall, 6 E. 6th Street or by calling 832-3159.

The Historic Resources Administrator will determine whether the project is “major” or “minor.” Generally, a minor project is any maintenance, repair, replacement that uses materials which are identical to the original or existing materials. A major project is one that uses materials that are different than those that are currently there or changes in appearance to the structure such as additions or modifications.

Minor projects may be approved by the Historic Resources Administrator and a building permit may be obtained from the Building Inspections Division. Major projects must be approved by the Lawrence Historic Resources Commission (HRC) at its regular monthly meeting. Meetings are generally held on the third Thursday of the month in the City Commission Room of City Hall (1st floor, 6 E. 6th Street). The HRC may approve, approve with conditions or deny an application. Appeals of the HRC’s determinations may be made to the City Commission.

The Historic Resources Commission uses the Standards for Review and the Design Criteria contained in Chapter 22 of the City of Lawrence Code to make its determination on the proposed project.

Certificate of Economic Hardship

A certificate of economic hardship serves as an alternative to a certificate of appropriateness wherever a certificate of appropriateness would otherwise be required. The purpose of the certificate of economic hardship is to provide relief where the application of this Chapter would otherwise impose undue hardship.

A Certificate of Economic Hardship application and instructions for completing the materials, may be obtained by contacting the Lawrence/Douglas County Planning Office on the 1st floor of City Hall, 6 E. 6th Street or by calling 832-3159. Applications typically include significant financial information for the determination of the hardship.

The HRC shall review all the evidence and information required of an applicant for a certificate of economic hardship and make a determination within forty-five (45) days of receipt of the application whether the denial of the application will deprive the owner of the property of reasonable use of, or reasonable economic return on, the property. Any person dissatisfied with a determination by the Commission concerning a certificate of economic hardship may file an appeal to the City Commission within fifteen (15) days of the date of notification of that determination.