Page 32 - Brookings, SD Historic Preservation Plan
P. 32
Zoning Ordinance
The basic regulations that shape development throughout Brook-
ings are part of the city’s zoning code, which is provided in Chapter
94 of the City’s Municipal Code. The zoning code defines permitted
uses and densities as well as dimensional limits such as setbacks
and building heights. These regulations apply to both historic and
non-historic properties.
The zoning code includes base zone districts and overlay districts.
Base zone districts provide the regulations that apply to all properties
throughout the city, while overlays provide additional context-specif-
300 Main Avenue, a contributing
building to the Commercial Historic ic regulations for certain areas. The code includes base zone districts
District (W&Co, 2020) for residential, commercial, industrial and other uses at varying den-
sities and scales. While none of the overlay districts are specific to the
designated historic districts, two address the campus edge, which is
near or in the University Residential Historic District.
In some cases, the existing zoning districts may conflict with the goals
and objectives for historic preservation because they allow for devel-
opment that is out of character with the historic pattern. For example,
if maintaining low scale is a goal, zoning regulations that allow signif-
icant height increases could be incompatible. In other cases, zoning
regulations may be incompatible with preservation goals because
they are too restrictive. For example, if a goal is to preserve the char-
acter of a neighborhood where houses were typically built very close
together, zoning regulations that require a significant setback be-
824 7th Avenue, a contributing tween properties could be incompatible.
property to the University Residential
Historic District (W&Co, 2020) One such zoning and historic preservation conflict is found with R-2
zoning, the zone district designation for the Central Residential His-
toric District and University Residential Historic District. In addition
to single-family dwellings, the R-2 zone district currently permits two
family dwellings, townhomes and dwellings with up to 18 dwelling
units per acre, which is not in character with the historic nature of
these districts. Secondary units are also appropriate in R-2 zone dis-
tricts, but currently face obstacles in the code that make it difficult for
existing garages to be converted into a secondary unit.
• Historic Preservation Ordinance
The historic preservation ordinance can be found in Chapter 46
of the zoning code. This chapter establishes a comprehensive
program of historic preservation, and covers a variety of top-
ics. Chapter 46 establishes the Historic Preservation Commis-
sion (HPC), and explains how members of the Brookings HPC
are appointed, how vacancies are filled, and their powers and
authorities. The historic preservation ordinance also provides
information regarding historic landmarks and establishes the
Brookings Local Register of Historic Properties. It provides
criteria by which properties can be locally designated and the
process by which they can be nominated and approved. Historic
districts are also discussed in this chapter – how they’re estab-
lished, the composition of a local historic district commission,
and how Certificates of Appropriateness work and what exterior
features they apply to.
28 Brookings Historic Preservation Plan
