Preservation Commission Procedures and Operations | HPC Training | Wisconsin Historical Society

Guide or Instruction

Chapter 5: Preservation Commission Operations

Table of Contents

Preservation Commission Procedures and Operations | HPC Training | Wisconsin Historical Society
 
  • Page 1: Preservation Commission Meetings and Bylaws
    Commission meetings provide a venue for the commission’s decision-making process. Commission members should prepare in advance, follow procedures consistently, and project a positive public image during every meeting.
  • Page 2: Preservation Commission Work Plans
    Preservation commissions should prepare two work plans annually — one that addresses short-term goals, and another for long-term objectives. All work plans should identify a timeline and assign responsibility for each work item.
  • Page 3: Preservation Commission Record-Keeping
    Keeping accurate and complete records is essential to effective commission operations. The minutes from commission meetings serve as evidence of the commission's deliberations and decisions.
  • Page 4: Designating Landmarks and Creating Historic Districts
    Two key responsibilities of a commission are to designate (or recommend the designation of) properties as local landmarks, and to create historic districts.
  • Page 5: Designating Conservation Zones
    Conservation zones represent an alternative to historic district designation in areas that do not qualify as historic districts or that lack public support for historic districts.
  • Page 6: Protecting Archaeological Sites
    Archaeological sites are primarily protected at the federal level. However, concern about archaeological sites is growing, and many preservation commissions are now being called upon to protect them.