The Tennessee Historical Commission assists local communities who have established or wish to establish local historic preservation programs. The Local Government coordinator can provide assistance in writing historic zoning ordinances, conducting public meetings, establishing historic districts and design guidelines, and in becoming a Certified Local Government.
Historic Zoning in Tennessee:
The state enabling legislation for historic zoning in Tennessee is found in Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 13, Chapter 7, Part 4. In part, this legislation permits towns, cities, and counties to create an overlay zoning that regulates the "construction, repair, alteration, rehabilitation, relocation, and demolition of any building or other structure which is located or proposed to be located within the boundaries of any historic district or zone." This legislation also calls for the creation of historic zoning commissions of five to nine persons to review applications, based upon design guidelines created for the historic district.
Certified Local Government Program:
Across the nation, hundreds of communities have taken action to preserve their unique historic character through the passing of historic preservation ordinances and the creation of historic zoning commissions and design review. The Certified Local Government (CLG) Program was established through 1980 and 1992 amendments to the National Historic Preservation Act, and has become a cost-effective local, state, and federal partnership. The CLG Program has been a major source of support and guidance for local communities for over twenty years. This program provides technical assistance and grants to local governments who are committed to protecting their historic and architectural heritage for future generations.
To become a Certified Local Government, the local government must:
- have enacted a historic zoning ordinance, in compliance with the state enabling legislation, to protect historic districts and/or landmarks;
- enforce that ordinance through design review by a qualified historic zoning commission (also called a board of architectural review or historic preservation commission);
- maintain a system for the survey and inventory of historic properties;
- provide for adequate public participation in the local preservation program;
- satisfactorily perform the responsibilities delegated to it under the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended.
Local governments can benefit from becoming a CLG in many ways. Certified Local Governments receive priority in technical assistance and services from the Tennessee Historical Commission. Training sessions for historic zoning commissioners are held on-site at the request of the Certified Local Government. Special networking meetings are held for CLG staff and historic zoning commissioners to discuss issues in historic zoning and historic preservation. The THC is also required to allocate at least 10% of the Historic Preservation Fund Grants to the Certified Local Governments; thus, CLGs receive priority status in grant funding available.
By 2002, twenty-four towns, cities, and counties in Tennessee had been certified by the Tennessee Historical Commission and the National Park Service as Certified Local Governments. These communities have benefited from their participation as CLGs through the technical assistance, training, and networking opportunities provided by the THC, and through the grants they have received. CLG grants in Tennessee have funded a number of diverse projects, such as:
- Preservation Plans
- Design Guidelines
- Survey of Historic Properties
- Bricks and Mortar
- Preservation Education projects, such as brochures
- Training for historic zoning commissioners
TENNESSEE’S CERTIFIED LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CONTACTS
For more information about local government preservation programs and the Certified Local Government program, contact:
Nathan Montague
Local Government Assistance/Certified Local Government Program
[email protected]
615/532-1550 ext. 114
