The Town of Foxborough hereby establishes a Local Historic District,
to be administered by an Historic District Commission as provided
for under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 40C, as amended.
The purpose of this bylaw is to aid in the preservation and
protection of the distinctive characteristics and architecture of
buildings and places significant in the history of the Town of Foxborough,
the maintenance and improvement of their settings and the encouragement
of new building designs and modifications compatible with the existing
architecture.
As used in this bylaw, the following terms shall have the following
meanings:
ALTERATION; TO ALTER
The act or the fact of rebuilding, reconstruction, restoration,
renovating, remodeling, replication, removal, demolition, and other
similar activities.
BUILDING
A combination of materials forming a shelter for persons,
animals or property.
CERTIFICATE
A certificate of appropriateness, a certificate of nonapplicability,
or a certificate of hardship as set forth in this bylaw.
COMMISSION
The Historic District Commission as established in this bylaw.
DISPLAY AREA
The total surface area of a sign, including all lettering,
wording, designs, symbols, background and frame, but not including
any support structure or bracing incidental to the sign. The display
area of an individual letter sign or irregular shaped sign shall be
the area of the smallest rectangle into which the letters or shape
will fit. Where sign faces are placed back to back and face in opposite
directions, the display area shall be defined as the area of one face
of the sign.
DISTRICT
The Local Historic District as established in this bylaw,
consisting of one or more district areas.
EXTERIOR ARCHITECTURAL FEATURE
Such portion of the exterior of a building or structure as
is open to view from a public way, public street, public park or public
body of water, including but not limited to architectural style and
general arrangement and setting thereof, the kind and texture of exterior
building materials, and the type and style of windows, doors, lights,
signs and other appurtenant exterior fixtures.
PERSON AGGRIEVED
The applicant; an owner of adjoining property; an owner of
property within the same district area; an owner of property within
100 feet of said district area; and any charitable corporation in
which one of its purposes is the preservation of historic places,
structures, buildings or districts.
SIGN
Any symbol, design or device used to identify or advertise
any place of business, product, location, activity or person.
STRUCTURE
A combination of materials other than a building, including
but not limited to a sign, fence, wall, terrace, walk or driveway.
TEMPORARY STRUCTURE OR BUILDING
A building not to be in existence for a period of more than
two years. A structure not to be in existence for a period of more
than one year. The Commission may further limit the time periods set
forth herein as it deems appropriate.
The district shall consist of one or more district areas as listed in §
145-14, Appendices, of this bylaw.
The Commission may determine from time to time after a public
hearing, duly advertised and posted at least 14 days in advance in
a conspicuous place in Town Hall and in a newspaper of general circulation
in Foxborough, that certain categories of exterior architectural features,
structures or buildings under certain conditions may be constructed
or altered without review by the Commission without causing substantial
derogation from the intent and purpose of this bylaw.
The provisions of this bylaw shall be deemed to be separable.
If any of its provisions, sections, subsections, sentences or clauses
shall be held to be invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent
jurisdiction, the remainder of this bylaw shall continue to be in
full force and effect.
[Amended 5-8-2023 ATM by Art.
20]
Appendix 1: Baker Street District. The Baker Street District
shall be a district area under this bylaw. The location and boundaries
of the Baker Street District are defined and shown on a map entitled
"Baker Street Local Historic District Map dated May 2021."