November 26, 2007

Dear Island Home Neighbors,

Thanks to all of you who participated in the 10/30 meeting on the proposed Historic Overlay (H-1), and to those of you who have called or emailed the Overlay Committee. Your feedback and input are critically important, and we want to hear from all of you.

In response to concerns raised at the meeting, the Overlay Committee has revised the initial proposal. While we still recommend an Historic Overlay for the older parts of the neighborhood, we are now proposing a Neighborhood Conservation Overlay (NC-1) for sections of the neighborhood of more recent construction. The attached map shows the proposed boundaries for both NC-1 and H-1 Overlay Districts.

Both H-1 and NC-1 Overlays regulate demolition and new construction and additions. The H-1 Overlay also regulates exterior renovations and changes to existing buildings if those changes require a building permit. The NC-1 overlay does not regulate changes to existing buildings.

An NC-1 will protect the more recent parts of the neighborhood from teardowns and inappropriate new construction, without burdening folks who need to make changes to their homes. However, we still feel that an H-1 overlay is needed to protect architectural features on existing homes in the older parts of the neighborhood.

Please see the attached fact sheets for more information and a comparison of the overlays. This information is also available on the IHPNA website at www.ihpna.net.

We are in the process of developing NC-1 draft guidelines and revising the H-1 guidelines based on neighborhood feedback. The next neighborhood meeting to review those with you is scheduled for January 29 at 7 p.m. in the TSD Ward Building Auditorium. Each of you will receive a copy of those guidelines before the meeting.

Next week (starting Dec. 3), committee members will be calling each neighborhood property owner individually to discuss your questions and concerns. You can also contact any member of the committee (listed on the back of this letter) at any time. The committee is committed to working with the entire neighborhood to identify the best alternative for Island Home Park. We look forward to talking with each of you.

IHPNA H-1/NC-1 Overlay Committee Members: