Historic & Architectural Review Commission - HARC

The Historic & Architectural Review Commission (HARC) meets on the second Monday of every month at 5:30 PM in the Commission Chambers of City Hall.  Deadlines for these meetings are 10 days before, on a Friday, before noon.  Contact the City of Paducah Department of Planning at (270) 444-8690 if you have any questions about the Historic and Architectural Review Commission.

 

 HARC MEMBERS 

Mike McDowell - Chairperson  (term expires June 4, 2008)

Paul King - Vice-Chair  (term expires June 4, 2010)

Fred Vowell  (term expires June 4, 2009)

Heather Coltharp  (term expires June 4, 2009)

Louis Lovera (term expires June 4, 2010)

 

 

HARC Membership 

The City of Paducah Historical and Architectural Review Commission was established under KRS 100.217.  HARC is a special board of adjustment, which has sole and exclusive jurisdiction as a Board of Adjustment over historic zones and the Neighborhood Services Zone (NSZ) within the City.  The HARC consists of five members, each appointed by the Mayor and approved by the City Commission. The HARC is a highly specialized administrative body.  Where practical, its membership is to include at least two preservation related professional members from the fields of architecture history, archaeology, history, planning, or related fields.  All members shall have an interest in historic preservation and a background of historical study.  When one or two professionals are not available, the Mayor may appoint other persons interested in historic preservation to serve.

 

HARC Responsibilities 

HARC's main duty is the power to review and approve application for a Certificate of Appropriateness or a Certificate of Zoning Compliance.  The City of Paducah's zoning ordinance states that no person shall cause or permit changes in the exterior appearance of real estate lying within a historical zone or the NSZ without first applying for and obtaining a special conditional use permit, to be known as a Certificate of Appropriateness or Certificate of Zoning Compliance. Other duties carried on by the HARC include, but are not limited to:

  • Hold Public Hearings

  • Review and approve conditional uses in the H-1 or H-2 Zone

  • Review and approve dimensional variances in the H-1 or H-2 Zone

  • Review and approve Non-Conforming Uses in the H-1 or H-2 Zone

  • Conduct Administrative Reviews

  • Hear Zoning Appeals and render decisions

  • Administer Certificates of Land Use Restriction for structures in the H-1 or H-2 Zone

  • Review sites for Designation of Historic Districts, Landmarks and Landmark sites within the city

  • Review sites for Nomination to the National Register of Historic Places within the city

 

Paducah's Historic Zones

Paducah has two types of historic zones, the H-1 Historic Commercial Zone, which covers the Market House / Second Street area, and the H-2 Historic Neighborhood Zone, which includes the Lower Town area.  The City of Paducah's zoning ordinance book states that the purpose of the historic zones is to encourage the development, redevelopment and preservations of the City of Paducah's historic areas.  Click Historic Places for a list of links.  Click Advisory Design Guidelines for the guidelines to Paducah's historic neighborhoods.  Click Demolition Control Zone for a map and more information about the process of demolishing buildings in historic areas.

 

 

planninginfo@ci.paducah.ky.us