Spotsylvania Courthouse Spotsylvania Courthouse Historic DistrictHistoric District

AT A CROSSROADSAT A CROSSROADS

Photo by: Kate HusbandPhoto by: Cristine Lynch

Planning LabPlanning Lab

Expands on Expands on previous courseworkprevious coursework

Practical experience Practical experience in a nearby in a nearby community community

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The ProjectThe Project

Assess Assess development development pressurespressures

Analyze the Analyze the current historic current historic district design district design guidelinesguidelines

Evaluate the Evaluate the current district current district boundariesboundariesPhoto by M. Megan McDonald

Certificate of Certificate of Appropriateness Appropriateness

Applications 2001-Applications 2001-20072007

HistoryHistoryNew ConstructionNew ConstructionRehabilitationRehabilitationSigns and FencesSigns and Fences

COA Application HistoryCOA Application History

COA Applications 2001-2007

0

1

2

3

4

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Signs

Rehabs & additions

New construction

Fences & streetscapeimprovements

New Construction COAsNew Construction COAs

Increase in Increase in number number

of applicationsof applications CompatibilityCompatibility Area of Area of

influence influence Photos by Cristine Lynch

Rehab and additions Rehab and additions COAsCOAs

Application rate Application rate steadysteady

Use of synthetic Use of synthetic and substitute and substitute materialsmaterials

Owner compliance Owner compliance with COA decisionswith COA decisions

Episcopal Church Episcopal Church additionaddition

Photos by Cristine Lynch

Fence and Streetscape Fence and Streetscape COAsCOAs

Application rate Application rate steadysteady

Transition from Transition from rural and open to rural and open to small-town small-town atmosphereatmosphere

Sidewalk projectSidewalk project Fence guidelinesFence guidelines

Sign COAsSign COAs

Increase in number of Increase in number of applicationsapplications

County-owned County-owned buildings buildings predominatepredominate

Current guidelines Current guidelines inadequateinadequate

Free-standing signsFree-standing signs Monument signsMonument signs

Photo mon sign?Photo mon sign?Photos by Cristine Lynch

Monument SignsMonument Signs

www.black-signs.com/monument-signs.html

Rezoning Applications Rezoning Applications 1974-2005 1974-2005

In and Around the Historic In and Around the Historic DistrictDistrict

18 applications, less in recent years18 applications, less in recent years Analysis of three most recent rezoningsAnalysis of three most recent rezonings

– All are contiguous to DistrictAll are contiguous to District

Younger Office (1999)Younger Office (1999)

Younger Office Younger Office (1999/2005)(1999/2005)

Photo by Cristine Lynch

Courthouse Village Courthouse Village (1998)(1998)

Courthouse Village Courthouse Village (1998)(1998)

Village Square (2005)Village Square (2005)

Village Square (2004)Village Square (2004)

Implications of Courthouse Implications of Courthouse VillageVillage

In the Path of In the Path of DevelopmentDevelopment

Photo by Cristine Lynch

Photo by Cristine Lynch

Photo by Kate Husband

Where Will Pressure Be Where Will Pressure Be Felt?Felt?

Recommended action Recommended action by the HPCby the HPC

Strengthen the Historic District Design Strengthen the Historic District Design GuidelinesGuidelines

Make COA decisions based on the Make COA decisions based on the guidelinesguidelines

Create a mechanism for follow-up Create a mechanism for follow-up inspections of COA approvalsinspections of COA approvals

Initiate the expansion of district boundariesInitiate the expansion of district boundaries Investigate protection of adjacent farmlandInvestigate protection of adjacent farmland

Recommended Action By Recommended Action By BOSBOS

Adopt the current Draft Comp Plan Update Adopt the current Draft Comp Plan Update as it applies to the Districtas it applies to the District

Enact zoning congruent with Comp Plan, Enact zoning congruent with Comp Plan, including TND’sincluding TND’s

Make sure that rezoning decisions on land Make sure that rezoning decisions on land contiguous to the district reflect Comp contiguous to the district reflect Comp Plan and Preservation Element goalsPlan and Preservation Element goals

Consult the HPC in a non-binding advisory Consult the HPC in a non-binding advisory capacity when making rezoning decisions capacity when making rezoning decisions on land contiguous to the Districton land contiguous to the District

Analysis of Analysis of Design GuidelinesDesign Guidelines

RehabilitationRehabilitationLandscape ArchitectureLandscape ArchitectureNew Construction New Construction FormattingFormatting

Architectural Rehabilitation Architectural Rehabilitation GuidelinesGuidelines

Document should stand aloneDocument should stand alone Emphasis on materials and detailsEmphasis on materials and details Photos and illustrationsPhotos and illustrations Advice and guidelines on Advice and guidelines on

maintenance and repairmaintenance and repair UtilitiesUtilities Energy retrofitting and renewable Energy retrofitting and renewable

energyenergy

Landscape Architectural Landscape Architectural GuidelinesGuidelines

Tree Ordinance and Tree Ordinance and LandscapingLandscaping

Pedestrian Pedestrian ImprovementsImprovements

Parking, walls, and Parking, walls, and fencesfences

Photo by Kate Husband

Photo by Kate Husband

Landscape Architectural Landscape Architectural GuidelinesGuidelines

Disability accessDisability access Signs and historic characterSigns and historic character New site designNew site design

Photo by Cristine Lynch Photo by Cristine Lynch

New ConstructionNew Construction StrengthsStrengths

– 4 Design 4 Design Tendencies in Tendencies in 1997 Jaeger 1997 Jaeger ReportReport

RecommendatioRecommendationsns– Strengthen Strengthen

Characteristics Characteristics of Existing of Existing DevelopmentDevelopment

– Develop Historic Develop Historic District IdentityDistrict Identity

– AdditionsAdditions

Photo by Cristine Lynch

FormattingFormatting

AudienceAudience Introduction- Convey the purposeIntroduction- Convey the purpose

– ToneTone– What Guidelines Can and Cannot Do What Guidelines Can and Cannot Do

SectionSection– What else to includeWhat else to include

Glossary, Bibliography, etc. Glossary, Bibliography, etc.

Formatting Cont’d.Formatting Cont’d. Labeling SystemLabeling System

– Current: 5.3.1.1Current: 5.3.1.1– Suggested: I.A.1Suggested: I.A.1

Appearance Appearance – Portrait LayoutPortrait Layout– Limit GraphicsLimit Graphics

PublicationPublication– OnlineOnline– Print copiesPrint copies

Winchester, VA Guidelines

Importance of a stronger district:

D. 1. of the Comprehensive plan:“Expand the district where appropriate”

Recommended Local Historic

District Boundary Extensions

Increased number of architecturally significant Increased number of architecturally significant structuresstructuresOffer a greater precendent for future decisionsOffer a greater precendent for future decisionsProtecting the historic viewshedProtecting the historic viewshedCorrelation with the comprehensive planCorrelation with the comprehensive plan

The following recommendations include:

147

148

149

150

152

47a4-a4

70

Current Local BoundariesCurrent Local Boundaries

Lot 147. The Dabney Lot 147. The Dabney FarmFarm

Lot 147.

Commands viewshed upon entrance or exit of district.

Only front portion is within district boundaries.

Correlates to Comprehensive Plan.

E. “Scenic approaches and buffers… shall be secured.”

Extension of boundary to the bypass

would help protect the view sheds

to the north and south of the bypass

as well as asserting the rural nature

of the Spotsylvania Courthouse District.

Lot 148Lot 148Example of a Vernacular Italianate style house in the Historic District

Area

Inclusion will strengthen the historic character

The lot, along with lots 149, 150, and 152 will continue the streetscape along Courthouse Road.

Lot 149Lot 149Example of a Vernacular Queen Anne Style Structure.

Fits the overall character of the district.

Improves architectural precedent for HPC and guideline decisions.

Creates continuum down Courthouse Road with neighboring structures.

Lot 150Lot 150Excellent example of Vernacular Queen Anne Style

Contributes to the overall integrity of the district and street.

7-11 Convenience Store across 208, currently is inside the district. This substantial structure is currently not included.

Excellent architectural precedent for HPC and design guideline reference.

Lot 152Lot 152While there is no permanent structure on lot 152, its location and size warrants consideration for inclusion in the district. If accepted any new

construction would be privy to the Design Guidelines for New Construction resulting in a contextually sensitive structure.

Lots 47a4-A4 and 47A4-A2

While there is no permanent structure on these lots, their location and size warrant consideration similar to Lot 152.

Would provide the HPC with the ability to use Design Guidelines; establishing a walkable, mixed use development at the base of the intersection, correlating to

the Comprehensive Plan.

Lot 70Lot 70Example of a Vernacular Queen Anne Style Structure.

Fits the overall character of the district.

Improves architectural precedent for HPC and guideline decisions.

Boundary Recommendation Summary

The current Historic District boundaries that overlook several key areas described above. 

 Lots 148, 149, 150, and 152 are facing the most development pressure stemming from the Courthouse Village under construction behind these lots and into lot 151. 

Extending the Dabney Farm boundaries to encompass all open land up to the Courthouse Road bypass is important due to its rural character and contributing to the view shed. 

The inclusion of the vacant lots in the proposed new boundaries would help control infill to the area.

These considerations would greatly enhance the character and integrity of the Spotsylvania Courthouse Historic District while providing a firm foundation and direction for future growth in and adjacent to this cultural resource. 

Overall SummaryOverall Summary

District is experiencing development District is experiencing development pressure inside and outside its pressure inside and outside its boundariesboundaries

Its current guidelines have many Its current guidelines have many weaknesses which make them weaknesses which make them susceptible to insensitive development susceptible to insensitive development and modificationsand modifications

Current district boundaries exclude Current district boundaries exclude some historic resources and vacant lotssome historic resources and vacant lots

What Can Spotsy Do?What Can Spotsy Do?

HPC members should work with HPC members should work with developers of the Campus Master Plan in developers of the Campus Master Plan in an advisory capacityan advisory capacity

Strengthen the design guidelines (possibly Strengthen the design guidelines (possibly by blending 1989 with 1997)by blending 1989 with 1997)– Synthetic materialsSynthetic materials– Fence heights and streetscape standardsFence heights and streetscape standards– New construction and infillNew construction and infill– SignageSignage

Expand the district boundaries to include Expand the district boundaries to include nearby historic properties and vacant lotsnearby historic properties and vacant lots

Thank You for Allowing Us Thank You for Allowing Us to Conduct Our to Conduct Our InvestigationInvestigation

UMW Planning Lab 2008Photo by: M. Megan McDonald