Page 103 - Plano, TX Heritage Preservation Plan

PROTECTING HERITAGE RESOURCES

Description
Once a heritage resource is identified, protection is key to maintaining the “We need to protect the

historic fabric of the city. Plano’s primary management tools are the ordinances Texas Pool.”
that guide historic preservation efforts as well as underlying zoning regulations, - Online survey participant
the design review process, and design standards that manage the treatment of
the city’s heritage resources. In addition to regulations at the local level, it will
be important to consider how local regulations interact with state and federal
regulations. In some cases, modifying the underlying zoning for a heritage
district to more closely reflect traditional development patterns will reduce Site
conflicts later in design review. In neighborhoods not designated as heritage A site is the location of an important
districts, applying an overlay or developing a conservation district tool may be event, a prehistoric or historic
a consideration. occupation or activity, or a building
or structure, whether standing,
With the adoption of the city’s Comprehensive Plan, Plano Tomorrow, in 2015, a ruined or vanished, where the
new policy statement and action statements were adopted to lead the heritage location itself possesses historical,
preservation program in Plano. Steps to accomplishing almost all of the heritage cultural, or archaeological value
preservation action statements have been taken. The following policies are part regardless of the value of any existing
of Plano’s heritage preservation program and, together, work to protect Plano’s structure. Examples of sites include
heritage resources. a designated landscape, a natural
feature having cultural significance,
Municipal Code ruins of a building or structure, trail,
Ordinances in the Plano Municipal Code establish the basic rules for construction village or habitation site. Source:
related to heritage resources and set forth the process for establishing Secretary of the Interior National Park
protections for them. Article VI – Heritage Resource Preservation of Chapter 16 Service
of the Municipal Code outlines specific policies for heritage preservation. The
newly adopted Heritage Preservation Ordinance includes visual charts to assist
property owners in navigating the heritage resource designation process and
the Certificate of Appropriateness review process.

Zoning Ordinance
The basic regulations that shape development throughout Plano are provided
in the Plano Zoning Ordinance. The zoning ordinance defines permitted uses
and densities as well as dimensional limits such as setbacks and building
heights. It also includes base districts and overlay districts. Base zoning districts
provide the regulations that apply to all properties throughout the city, while
overlays provide additional context-specific regulations in certain areas. The
code includes base zoning districts for residential, commercial, industrial, and
other uses as well as overlay districts such as the Heritage Resource Overlay
District, which outlines appropriate uses and criteria for designation.

The Zoning Ordinance also provides opportunities to include specific design
standards for communities, as it does for the Douglass Community. In the
Douglass Community, standards are included that are consistent with the size,
dimensions, and configurations of lots, and that guide infill development to be
compatible with historic buildings in the neighborhood, effectively creating a
conservation district. Opportunities to create conservation districts in the same
method for other neighborhoods may also be available.

In some cases, the requirements of an “underlying” zoning district may conflict
with goals and objectives for heritage preservation because they allow for
november 2018 chapter 6: Issues and Recommendations 103