Purposes and description

[Ord. No. 08-31, 10-7-2009]

Historic districts are overlay zoning districts which cover designated districts or structures within the Town of Cumberland. The purposes of historic districts are to:

• (a) Safeguard the heritage of the Town by preserving designated districts and structures of historic or architectural value which reflect elements of Cumberland's cultural, social, economic, political, and architectural history;
• (b) Stabilize and improve property values in such districts or designated structures;
• (c) Maintain and foster civic beauty;
• (d) Strengthen the economy; and
• (e) Promote the use of designated districts and structures for the education, pleasure and welfare of the citizens.

  An historic district may include properties which are associated with broad patterns, events, and/or people significant in local, state or national history; which embody the distinctive characteristics of a broad range of building types and architectural styles; which possess high artistic value and/or represent the work of a master builder, architect, landscape architect or other designer; or which lack individual distinction but which add to the historic district zone's status as a significant and distinguishable sociocultural entity.