The purpose of the Historic District Commission Regulations is to promote within the Historic District of the Town of Bedford educational, cultural, economic and general welfare of the public by the protection, enhancement, perpetuation and preservation of the District and to guide the character of the development so as to be consistent with the desired character of that portion of the Town.
Pursuant to the authority vested in the Bedford Historic District Commission (HDC) by the voters of the Town of Bedford on March 10, 1970, in accordance with the provision of RSA Chapter 31, Section 89a and b, of the New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated, 1963, as amended,[1] the Bedford Historic District Commission adopts the following rules governing the review of sites, buildings and signs for the Historic District of the Town of Bedford as depicted on the official Zoning Map.
[1]
Editor's Note: Repealed 1983, effective 1-1-1984. See now RSA 674:45 and 674-46.
The purpose of these articles is to provide activities requiring approval by the Historic District Commission.
Amendments to these regulations may be initiated by the Commission or members of the public. In order to be adopted, the Commission may accept or reject such change after a public hearing. The Chairperson shall thereafter transmit a record of any changes so authorized to the Building Code Official, Town Council, Town Clerk, Planning Board, and Board of Adjustment, and copies of the amendments certified by a majority of the Commission shall be filed with the Building Code Official, Town Clerk, Town Council, and Planning Board.
If any section, article, provision, portion or paragraph of these regulations shall be held to be invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, such holding shall not affect, impair or invalidate any other section, article, provision, portion or paragraph.
In addition to complying with the regulations established herein, any person or persons owning, renting, or leasing real estate and/or buildings within the Historic District shall comply with all other applicable regulations, ordinances and statutes of the Town, State of New Hampshire and the United States government.
Where the Commission finds that strict conformity to these regulations would cause undue hardship or injustice to the applicant or to the Town; that the spirit of the regulations and the public's convenience, safety and welfare will not be adversely affected; and that additional expense will not be incurred by the Town as a result, the Commission may approve an application or plan which is substantially, although not exactly, in conformance with these regulations.
These regulations shall be effective upon adoption by a majority of the Historic District Commission and shall determine the status of any building or tract of land within the Historic District.
Definitions contained in the Town of Bedford Zoning Ordinance, Historic District Ordinance,[2] Land Development Control Regulations and in RSA 674:45 et seq. and 676:8 et seq., where applicable, shall apply to these Historic District Commission regulations.
ABUTTER
Any person whose property adjoins or is directly across the street or stream from the site under consideration.
APPLICANT
Any person or group of persons interested in performing any activities regulated within this document.
EXTERIOR ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES
Landscape architectural features and exterior of any structure, including kind and texture of building material, type of walls, windows, doors, lights, signs or other fixtures appurtenant to such portion.
HISTORIC DISTRICT
An area or areas within the Town of Bedford specifically so designated by a majority of the voters.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended during codification (upon enactment, adoption information will be inserted here).
[2]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 275, Zoning, and Ch. 153, Historic District, respectively.
That area enclosed by an outer boundary beginning at a point in the center line of Wallace Road, 400 feet north of the center line of Church Road; thence in an easterly direction along a line 400 feet north of the parallel to the center line of Church Road with a line 400 feet west of and parallel to Ministerial Road; thence in a northerly direction along said line to the intersection with a line 400 feet north of and parallel to Chandler Road; thence in an easterly direction along said line to the intersection with a line 400 feet northwest of and parallel to Bedford Center Road; thence in a northeasterly direction along said line to the intersection with a line 400 feet easterly of and parallel to Liberty Hill Road; thence in a southerly direction along said line to the intersection with a line 400 feet southerly of and parallel to Meetinghouse Road; thence in a westerly direction along said line to the intersection with a line 400 feet southeasterly of and parallel to Route 101; thence in a southwesterly direction along said line to the intersection with the easterly edge of the power line right-of-way to the west of Wallace Road; thence in a northerly direction along said right-of-way to the intersection with a line 400 feet north of and parallel to Church Road; thence in an easterly direction to the point of beginning.