Lake Helen Historic Preservation Board

This is a first, introductory article in an ongoing series of features on the Lake Helen Historic Preservation Board, the Lake Helen Historic District and the Lake Helen Historic Preservation Ordinance.

One of the Board’s stated purposes is to “stimulate public interest in neighborhood conservation” and to “act as a resource for information on historic matters for the citizens of Lake Helen.” A big THANK YOU to Pat Chadwick and the OBSERVER for providing space for such public information.

The Lake Helen Historic Preservation Ordinance was passed and adopted by the City Commission on April 1, 1999 (Ok, I know that’s April Fool’s Day) and provided for the creation of the Lake Helen Historic District, the Lake Helen Historic Preservation Board and By-laws and general functions and powers of the board.

The Board has an advisory function and all actions and decision are ultimately subject to the authority of the City Commission. Thus, decisions of the Board may be appealed to the City Commission.

The Board’s functions are too numerous to mention in a short article but can be studied in detail in the ordinance available at City Hall. The aim here is to briefly summarize those ordinance sections which most affect Lake Helen Historic District residents.

It is true that property owners within the boundary of the Historic District are held to a higher standard and different “rules” than owners outside the Historic District. The reason for the “tighter” regulations within the district is to protect the existing historic homes from deterioration, neglect and uncontrolled alteration and construction which may tend to deface the features of individual historic structures and to compromise the historic character of the town. The ordinance, then, is to help preserve old homes and landmarks and cultural values they represent to Lake Helen’s citizens.

Having said that the ordinance is “tough” on preservation standards, I want to assure readers that the ordinance and the Secretary of Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation offer considerable flexibility in renovation and new construction as long as historic character is not diminished. The Lake Helen ordinance, for example, does not dictate any color one chooses to paint his or her home, and does not have any authority what-so-ever on interior work. The Standards allow for any number of restoration approaches to a historic home as long as the proposed work is in keeping with the general character and time period of the structure. Some “adaptive reuse” modifications are allowed in recognition of the fact that old structures must sometimes conform to modern uses (For example, installation of skylights to provide well-lighted use of an upper story or attic.).

The activities within the Lake Helen Historic District that require Board review and which, therefore, are of likely interest to Historic District residents are as follows:

- Demolition of any contributing (historic) building within the district. Demolition would be allowed only for badly deteriorated structures where restoration is impossible or would impose “undue hardship” upon the owner. Presently Lake Helen’s seventy-one historic homes within the District have no severely deteriorated homes. Therefore, exercise of this ordinance regulation in the near or far future is unlikely.

- The movement or relocation of any building or structure within the Lake Helen Historic District. Such movement or relocation would require board review. Generally, relocation of structures is discouraged due to “loss of setting” issues; however, relocation may be allowed in some instances.

- Construction of any new principal buildings or accessory structures visible from the public roadway within the district. These activities require board review.

- Any material change, addition or alteration in the exterior appearance of historic structures within the district. For the past three years of its existence, the Lake Helen Historic Preservation Board’s main function has been the review of proposed exterior work to existing historic structures within the district. The City Commission, through the appeals process, overruled one board decision. Otherwise, citizens apparently, have been satisfied with board decisions on proposed renovation work.

I hope this information is useful to you. A copy of the Historic District boundaries is on the last page of the ordinance. A larger boundary map is on the wall at City Hall. If you have questions or comments on Historic Board issues, please call City Hall at 228-2121 or contact a Historic Board member.

The Historic Board members have each expressed a sincere desire to serve the citizens of Lake Helen and to win their trust. We seek your support in preserving the historic beauty of Lake Helen.