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HPC GUIDELINES CONTENTS

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Email: heritage@heritagehillweb.org

Historic Preservation Commission GUIDELINES

FENCES

1. Topic: Fences.
2. Definitions: For purposes of these guidelines

These guidelines, fences mean any structure, not integral to any building, used as a barrier to define boundaries, screen off, or enclose a portion of a property.

3. Policy

The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation and Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings recommended against:

"Introducing any new building, streetscape or landscape feature that is out of scale or otherwise inappropriate to the setting’s historic character," or

"Introducing a new landscape feature or plant material that is visually incompatible with the site or destroys site patterns or vistas."

The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation and Guidelines for Rehabilitating historic Buildings recommend:

"Retaining the historic relationship between buildings, landscape features, and open space."

Landscape features include, inter alia, fencing, walkways, driveways and plantings.

The following guidelines concerning fences are provided to assist in interpreting and applying the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation and Guidelines for Rehabilitation Historic Buildings.

As with other alterations to the exteriors of landmarks and buildings within the historic districts, the introduction of fencing or changes to existing fencing must be reviewed by the Commission. The introduction of fencing on a property that currently has no fencing or no historical record of fencing will be reviewed carefully, particularly where the proposed fencing will be visible from the street. The Commission will review each fence proposal based on the project’s individual merits. The existence of other historically inconsistent fences in the area is not a basis for approval of another inconsistent fence.

4. Guidelines
1. Location

The proposed location of the fence is important. Fences placed in rear yards where visibility from the street is limited often are appropriate where the property owner seeks privacy, pet control or security.

Front yard placement or placement of fences in side or rear yards so that the fence is visible from the street warrants additional scrutiny for appropriateness. Heights and design of fences play an important role. Front yard fences that impede "clear vision" at intersections or driveways sacrifice safety as well as historical appropriateness. Blocks or neighborhoods with structure placement well away from the road offer sight vistas that should not be infringed upon by visual obstructions. Fences, where appropriate, should define site patterns and not impede streetscapes, vistas or panoramas. Visual setbacks provide a consistency and continuity in historic neighborhoods and often reflect current zoning criteria.

Placement of fences along lot lines confirms historic lot patterns of neighborhoods, as opposed to placement along arbitrary lines. Fences places off lot lines can create dead spaces and false alleys which detract from the continuity of vistas and streetscapes. Historical references (photos, plot plant, etc.) consistent with the period and design of the structure that indicate placement and design of fences will assist the Commission in reviewing fencing applications.

2. Design and Materials

Fencing proposals should be consistent in design, materials, and scale with historic fencing. Wood, iron, or other historic materials are recommended over plastic, vinyl, aluminum or other contemporary materials. Where a more ornate style of fencing can be documented as having been present at the property, that historic fencing may be replicated. In other cases, simple designs consistent with historic wrought iron fencing, wood picket fencing, dog-eared fencing or other historic types are recommended over more contemporary styles, unfinished pressure treated lumber fencing and chain link fencing. Size and scale of the fencing will be considered closely, including distance to viewing points, viewing heights, clear vision over fencing, and other visual references.

In areas or properties where no historical referencing exists for the introduction of fencing, alternatives to fencing should be considered. Planting materials, such as neatly kept shrubbery, should be considered to re-direct traffic patterns or secure privacy instead of fences.

In all cases, Zoning, Traffic Engineering and other governing agencies should be consulted by the applicant for other requirements.

These guidelines were approved by the Michigan Bureau of History as of May 24, 1995 pursuant to Section 5.(3) of Act 169 of 1970, as amended (Local Historic Districts Act).

Copyright© 1997-2010 Heritage Hill Association. All rights reserved. Revised: March 30, 2011.