Volunteer: Committee for Historic Preservation

Term: Three years; two-term maximum.
Meeting frequency: One per month (Tuesday evenings).
Approximate meeting length: 30 to 60 minutes, depending on issues under consideration.
Establishment and Charge: Village Code Chapter 182

What does the Committee for Historic Preservation do?

Preserving Scarsdale’s historic buildings and other architectural and cultural resources is important to the unique fabric and history of the Scarsdale community. To protect and preserve historic buildings, the Committee for Historic Preservation (CHP) reviews every application submitted to the Building Department for a permit to demolish all or any substantial part of any building in the village.

The CHP has the authority to cause denial of a request for permit based upon a finding of historical importance. It may also impose conditional approvals that must be adhered to in order for a permit to be issued and a subsequent Certificate of Occupancy issued. If an application is approved or approved with conditions, then the project then continues to follow the standard development review process for a project of its type, which involves a building department code compliance review and may also include review by another board or commission, e.g., the Board of Architectural Review.

An applicant may choose to appeal any CHP denial to the Village Board and/or pursue a hardship application.

What is expected of members?

Committee members are expected to review applications, conduct site visits, and complete research related to all properties in question. The process takes approximately two to three hours per property, but may vary.

What professional, volunteer, and/or personal experiences have been helpful to members of this council?

Legal knowledge, appreciation for architectural, local and national history, and/or having actively participated in or performed some aspect of home renovations are all helpful but not necessarily required experience for this committee. 

What kind of preparation for meetings is expected of members of this council?

Members have benefited from legal knowledge and experience, an appreciation for architectural, local, and national history, and/or experience with some aspect of home renovations. While helpful, a background in one or more of these areas is not required to join the committee.