Historic and Architectural Preservation Commission

Oxford has three historic districts—the Uptown Historic District, the University Historic District, and the Western College Historic District—administered by the Community Development Department and the Historic & Architectural Preservation Commission.

The Historic and Architectural Preservation Commission (HAPC) was created in order to protect and enhance structures, sites and areas that are reminders of past eras, events, and persons important in local, state, or national history. This basic mission is more fully developed in Chapter 1152 of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Oxford.

• Rules of Procedure
• Design Guidelines
• Application (Pre-Application, Certificate of Appropriateness, and/or Demolition of a Historic Structure)
• Historic Marker Program
• References and Materials
• Annual Summaries

2018-19 Code Update

On March 20, 2018, Oxford City Council adopted a new building/site inventory of the Uptown Historic District. This was step one of three that was decided between the HAPC and City Council on January 20, 2015. Step two was to update the Codified Ordinance that implements the goals of the City Council and HAPC. Step three is to update the Design Guidelines. In order to complete step two the City was assisted by Compass Point Planning / Wendy Moeller, FAICP.

With the completion of the code revisions, HAPC reached out to all historic district owners and operators that could be affected. The feedback was compiled for HAPC and Planning Commission review. A brief summary of the changes were:

• Moved the entire Chapter (previously 1331) to new Ch. 1152, in Planning and Zoning
• Updated definitions to reflect terminology of 2018 Uptown Historic District Inventory
• Clarified procedures for all applications, districts and designations
• Added language to encourage historic building maintenance
• Added process for inspector to provide assessment of a building requested for demolition

Documents

• Ordinance 3530 — Chapter 1152 — Historic and Architectural Preservation - adopted on June 4, 2019 (1.07 MB)

Open Houses

1. Wednesday, December 5, 2018, 2:00 to 3:00 PM, Oxford Lane Library Havighurst Meeting Room
2. Wednesday, December 5, 2018, 6:30 to 7:30 PM, Oxford Courthouse

HAPC Staff Contact

Lynn Taylor