Village Historic District Commission

The Commission is composed of seven members, appointed by the Mayor, for a three-year term. The Commission has the following powers and duties:

• To adopt rules of procedure;
• To review permit applications for work affecting resources;
• To issue a Certificate of Appropriateness, for appropriate proposed work; or a Notice to Proceed or a denial of the application for proposed inappropriate work, on a resource that affects the exterior appearance, or the interior arrangements, as provided in MCL 399.205(1) and (4);
• To issue a Notice to Proceed, or deny an application to demolish a resource;
• To give advice and guidance regarding any proposed work on a resource;
• To advise and assist property owners, City Departments, City Council, the Mayor, and the general public on physical and financial aspects, and benefits of historic preservation;
• To recommend to the City Council the designation of additional historic districts from resources chosen according to the criteria listed in MCL 399.203 and MCL 399.214;
• To accept and administer grants and gifts given to the Commission for the purpose of preserving the Village Historic District;
• To enter into agreements and contracts for the purpose of assisting the Commission in carrying out its duties;
• To write an annual report to the Mayor, at the end of the fiscal year;
• To conduct an ongoing survey, in accordance with the survey procedures established by the State Historic Preservation Office, in order to identify properties, structures, and areas that exemplify the cultural, social, spiritual, economic, political, educational, engineering, or architectural history of the City, State, or nation;
• To keep a register of all designated historic resources within the Village Historic District, including all information required for each designation;
• To determine an appropriate system of markers, and to confer recognition on the owners of historic resources, within the Village Historic District, by means of certificates, plaques, or markers;
• To nominate Village Historic District historic resources to the State and National Register of Historic Places and to review and comment on any nominations submitted to the Commission;
• To disseminate information to the public concerning those resources deemed worthy of preservation, and to encourage the protection, enhancement, perpetuation and use of resources of historic and/or architectural interest;
• To adopt design review standards and guidelines for resource treatment and seek approval of the standards and guidelines from the State Historic Preservation Office.

The commission meets on the first Thursday of the month Feb-June, Aug-Dec at 7pm at 5961 Beebe St.

Commission Members

Jo Alter
John DeDecker, Chairman
Cindy Hogan, Secretary
Tony Malugin
Dianna Ondra
Sandra Peavley
Linda Smith
Ex-Officio: Jonathan Lafferty

The Village of Warren Historic District Commission was created by City of Warren Ordinance Article XXI-A to ensure the preservation of historically and culturally significant portions of the original Village of Warren.

HOW TO OBTAIN A PERMIT

Application can be found here.

A permit is required for any exterior changes to a building, home, or site in the Village Historic District. During the Village Historic District Commission review procedure, the Commission has the authority to administer a permit review meeting and may approve, deny, or give notice to proceed based on the appropriateness of the proposed work within the Historic Village District.

The permit application review provides a way for the Village Historic District Commission to review proposed exterior changes. The Commission’s review of the application provides a forum for assisting and guiding property owners in the preparation of appropriate improvement proposals. Upon receipt of a Certificate of Appropriateness or Notice to Proceed, a homeowner, building owner, or property owner may then furnish the executed certificate to the City of Warren Building Division to finish the permitting process.

Work requiring a permit within the Village Historic District includes, but is not limited to:

• Excavations;
• New construction or erection: buildings, fences, walls, other structures, significant landscape features, pavement, or driveways;
• Removal: Architectural features, significant landscape features;
• Reconstructions;
• Alternations: including new roofs or windows;
• Surface treatment change: including siding replacement;
• Color change by painting or other;
• Demolition: Structure or structure portions

If you are unsure if your project requires review and authorization from the Village Historic District Commission please email: villagehistoric@cityofwarren.org, or attend the next open meeting and approach the commission during open discussion.   The Commission meets on the first Thursday of every month at 7:00 p.m. at 5961 Beebe, Warren, MI  48092.  (There is no meeting in July or December),

All proposed work must comply with all adopted City of Warren Zoning Codes and Ordinances and the United States Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation and Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings.

Section 21A.31 Penalties:

(a) Any person or entity who violates any provision of this Article is responsible for a municipal infraction punishable by a fine of up to $5,000.00

(b) Pursuant to MCL 399.215(2), a court may order the person or entity to pay the costs to restore or replicate a resource unlawfully constructed, added to, altered, repaired, moved, excavated or demolished.