Heritage Resources

Danville has a rich heritage, reflected in the unique character of many older buildings, particularly in the downtown area.  Maintaining a high quality of life and retaining the small town charm and character that exists are important goals identified by the Town and its residents. The Town adopted the Historic Preservation Ordinance and the Design Guidelines for Heritage Resources to convey community policies involving properties listed in the Town’s Survey of Historically Significant Resources and properties designated as Heritage Resources.

Design Guidelines for Heritage Resources

The Design Guidelines for Heritage Resources is a document that provides guidelines for exterior alterations and new construction used by Town staff, design review boards, and commissions when reviewing development proposals involving historic properties.  While the guidelines formally apply to properties officially listed under local ordinance, owners of other older properties are also encouraged to use them.

 What are the Design Guidelines?

The guidelines convey community policies about the design of alterations to existing structures, additions, new construction, and site work on historic properties. However, they do not dictate solutions. Instead, they define a range of appropriate responses to a variety of specific design issues.

 Who should use the Guidelines?

Property owners, real estate agents, developers, tenants, and architects should use these design guidelines when beginning a project that affects a Heritage Resource or property listed on the Town’s Survey of Historically Significant Resources.  This will help establish an appropriate direction for the project. The applicant should refer to these guidelines at the outset, to avoid planning efforts that may later prove to be inappropriate.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact Town Planning Staff for direction and guidance prior to developing plans for a historic site.

Heritage Resource Commission

The Heritage Resource Commission is a seven-member board appointed by the Town Council. The purpose of the Commission is to recognize, protect, and promote the retention and use of Town Heritage Resources. They are also responsible for developing preservation incentives for property owners.  

The Commission considers each project application for historic design review on a case-by-case basis, to determine if an adequate number of the relevant guidelines have been met. The guidelines provide a basis for making informed and consistent policy decisions about design and historic preservation. However, there is no set number of guidelines that must be met to gain approval. In making a determination, the Commission's overall concerns are that the proposed work complies with the criteria in Historic Preservation Ordinance and Design Guidelines for Heritage Resources. Depending on the level of significance of the alteration, the project may also be submitted to the Planning Commission or the Town Council as appropriate.