Historic District Commission Regulations

As amended June 2, 1998

Section  1 - Authority

Pursuant to the authority vested in the Hampstead Historic District Commission by the voters of the Town of Hampstead, and in accordance with the provision of Chapter 675:6, the Hampstead Historic District Commission adopts the following regulations governing the Historic Districts in the Town of Hampstead, New Hampshire. Such regulations may, from time to time, be amended as set out in Chapter 675:61, NHRSA.

Section 2 - Purpose

The preservation of structures and places of historic and architectural value is hereby declared to be a public purpose. The heritage of the municipality will be safeguarded by preserving districts in the municipality which reflect elements of its cultural, social, economic, political and architectural history, conserving property values in such districts, fostering civic beauty, strengthening the local economy, prompting the use of historic districts for the education, pleasure and welfare of the citizens of the Town of Hampstead.

Section 3 - Historic District Commission Membership Qualification, Terms, Vacancies

The membership of the Historic District Commission shall consist of not less than five nor more than seven members. All members shall be residents of the Town of Hampstead, one member shall be a member of the Board of Selectmen, and one may be a member of the Planning Board. The members shall be appointed for three-year terms by the Board of Selectmen. Members shall serve without compensation.

In the event of a vacancy, interim appointments will be made by the Board of Selectmen to complete the unexpired term of such position.

Section 4 - Organization and Meetings

The Commission shall elect a Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer from the appointed members, and create and fill such offices, as it may deem necessary for its work. The term of all officers shall be one year, but any officer may succeed himself.

The Commission shall meet on the first Tuesday of the month and/or at the call of the Chairman. All meetings and records of the Commission shall be open to the public.

Section 5 - Powers and Duties

It shall be the duty of the Hampstead Historic District Commission to be responsible for the accomplishment of the purposes of these regulations. It shall further be the duty of the Commission to be responsible for all town-owned historic buildings situated in any Historic District in the Town of Hampstead.

The Commission shall have the power to accept, review, and act upon all applications for building permits in reference to properties situated within the boundaries of any historic district established under Chapter 676:10, NHRSA.

Such power of review and approval or disapproval shall be limited to those considerations which affect the relationship of the applicant’s proposal to its surroundings, to the location, and arrangement of structures, to the architectural treatment of the exterior features and finish of structures, and to the compatibility of land uses within the district as they may be deemed to affect the character and integrity of said district to achieve the purposes of these regulations.

It shall be the duty of the Hampstead Historic Commission to request reports and recommendations regarding the feasibility of the applicant’s proposal from the Planning Board, Fire Chief, Building Inspector, Health Officer, and such other administrative officials who may possess information pertinent to the application.

It shall be the duty of the Hampstead Historic District Commission to seek advice from such professional, educational, cultural or other group or persons as may be deemed necessary for the determination of a reasonable decision.

The Hampstead Historic District Commission shall have the power to engage such technical assistance and consultants as may be deemed necessary to carry out the purposes of these regulations.

It shall be the duty of the Hampstead Historic District Commission to file with the Building Inspector or other duly delegated authority either a Certificate of Approval or a Notice of Disapproval following the review and determination of the application. Said certificate shall be filed with the Building Inspector or other duly delegated authority within forty five days after the filing of the application for said certificate, unless the applicant shall agree to a longer period of time. No building permit shall be issued until a Certificate of Approval has been filed with the Building Inspector, but in the case of disapproval, such notice shall be binding on the Building Inspector or other duly delegated authority, and no permit shall be issued. Failure to file said certificate within the specified period of time shall be deemed to constitute approval by the Hampstead Historic District Commission.

The Hampstead Historic District Commission shall have the power to accept and use gifts, grants or contributions for the exercise of its functions.

Section 6 - Interpretation

Nothing in these regulations shall be construed to prevent ordinary maintenance or repair of any structure or place within any historic district, nor to prevent construction, alteration, repair, moving or demolition of any structure under a permit issued by the Building Inspector or other duly delegated authority prior to the establishment of any such district.

Section 7 - Appeal

Any person or persons jointly or severally aggrieved by a decision of the Hampstead Historic District Commission shall have the right to appeal concerning such decision to the Board of Adjustment as provided in RSA 674:48.

Section 8 - Separability

In case any sub-section, paragraph or part of an Historic District subdivision be for any reason declared invalid or held unconstitutional by any court of last resort, every other subsection, paragraph or part shall continue in full force.

At a public hearing held on this date, June 2, 1998, at 7:00 PM in the Historic Library Building, the attached regulations were voted and approved by the Hampstead Historic District Commission.