Amherst Historical Commission expansion would include North Pleasant Street properties

Date: 8/10/2021

AMHERST – The Amherst Historical Commission has proposed an expansion plan that would include properties on North Pleasant Street.

“The Local Historic District Commission is proposing to expand the existing Lincoln-Sunset Local Historic District to include properties from 122 N. Pleasant St. to 358 N. Pleasant St.,” said Town Planner Ben Breger.

The Lincoln-Sunset District spans 41.8 acres including roughly 194 historic properties from 1865 to 1950. “??The Local Historic District Commission views the properties on the west side of North Pleasant Street from 122 through 358 N. Pleasant as important historical resources for the town and would like to see them protected by adding them to the existing Lincoln-Sunset District,” said Berger.

If the proposed expansion is successful, the new properties would have to abide by the Historic District Commission’s rules and regulations.

“Any change to the exterior of a building that is visible from the public right-of-way requires the approval of the Local Historic District Commission at a public hearing,” Berger explained.

Some changes are excluded from review under Section 3.2.1 of the Historic District Commission’s rules and regulations which can be found at https://www.amherstma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/53102/LHD-Rules-and-Regulations-9-21-20?bidId=.

According to Berger, in order for the commission to go through with the expansion, they have to follow a prescriptive process.

“The existing Local Historic District Commission will work on developing a study report that describes the historic resources found in the proposed expansion area,” he began. “During the study process, there will be an outreach to property owners in the district and discussions with the Planning Board.”

While the commission can propose the expansion, the final decision will ultimately be up to the Massachusetts Historical Commission and the Amherst Town Council.

At this time, the Lincoln-Sunset District expansion is the only expansion currently being proposed. For more information, you can visit the commission’s website at https://www.amherstma.gov/271/Historical-Commission.