The Maryland Preservation Plan - 2005 - Maryland Historical Trust

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The Maryland Preservation Plan, 2005Traditional lifeways, like those of SmithIsland watermen in Somerset County, arepart of Maryland's rich cultural heritage.The James Brice House is an individuallylisted National Historic Landmark in theAnnapolis historic district.18Conservation EasementsThe Maryland Environmental Trust (MET), an agency of the Departmentof Natural Resources, works in conjunction with other State agencies,including the Maryland Historical Trust, the State Highway Administration, andthe Department of Natural Resource’s Program Open Space, with nationalorganizations such at The Nature Conservancy and The Trust for Public Land,and with the State’s more than forty local land trusts to protect natural landscapesand community character through the acceptance of donated conservationeasements. Like MHT’s Historic Preservation Easements, these easementsallow landowners to continue to own their land, sell it, or leave it to their children,but the land is always subject to development restrictions in the easementdeed. In return, landowners typically receive income, estate, and property taxbenefits. MET currently has over 40,000 acres under easement. Traditionallymost popular in Baltimore, Talbot, Dorchester, and Kent counties, landownerinterest has increased in other counties across the State.Maryland’s local land trusts both partner with local and State agenciesand work independently to conserve land of local and Statewide importance.Many of these groups are capable of accepting easements and purchasing landon their own. Others assist landowners with preserving their land through otherprograms – such as the State’s agricultural preservation program. Local landtrusts may also apply to MET’s Land Trust Grant Fund for zero-interest loansfor the acquisition of land or conservation easements in situations where theproperty is for sale and the owner is not donating an easement.2. Project Review and ComplianceModifying a highway alignment to avoid an historic house or excavatingan archeological site are examples of the mitigations that may emerge from theconsultative process commonly known as “Section 106” review. Authorized bySection 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and Article 83B Section5-617 and 5-618 of the Maryland Code, respectively, the federal and Statepreservation laws require responsible governmental agencies to examine theimpact of their undertakings on significant cultural resources and to take steps toavoid, reduce or mitigate any adverse effects. MHT Project Review andCompliance staff, in conjunction with Archeological Services staff, review over4,000 projects a year, ranging from the rehabilitation of single family houses tolarge scale transportation projects, to help ensure that cultural resources aregiven full consideration in the planning of projects licensed, permitted, or fundedby State and federal agencies.If MHT determines that a project may negatively affect historic properties,MHT and the project sponsor work together to identify alternatives foravoiding those adverse effects. If no alternative can be identified, or if theproject sponsor disagrees with MHT's determination, the case may be appealed.Section 106 appeals are directed towards the Advisory Council onHistorical Preservation, an independent agency whose members are appointedby the U.S. President. State appeals are referred to the Maryland AdvisoryCouncil on Historic Preservation, whose members the governor appoints.
The Status of Heritage ResourcesThe development of Programmatic Agreements and Memoranda ofAgreement between MHT and federal, State, and local government agenciescan often streamline the project review process. These agreements define areasof concern and outline corresponding action steps at the front end of a project.By identifying statutory requirements and recommended treatments at theoutset, clients are more informed and able to proceed at their own pace.3. Special State ProgramsHeritage Preservation and Tourism Areas ProgramThe Heritage Preservation and Tourism Areas Program, created in1996, assists local communities to promote, protect, and interpret their heritageresources by capitalizing on Maryland's potential for heritage tourism. Theintent of the program is to promote historic preservation and areas of naturalbeauty to stimulate the creation of new businesses and generate sales, income,and property tax revenues for the State and local jurisdictions. The MarylandHeritage Areas Authority (MHAA), established as an independent governmentunit operating in the Department of Planning (as of October 1, 2005), overseesthe program.The program is designed to:• Enhance the visitor appeal and enjoyment of the State’s history, culture,natural environment and scenic beauty by enhancing the visitor experience;• Increase the economic activity associated with tourism, creating opportunitiesfor small business development, job growth, and a stronger tax base;• Encourage preservation and adaptive use of historic buildings, conservationof natural areas important to the State’s character and environment, and thecontinuity of cultural arts, attractions, and traditions indigenous to the region;• Enable Marylanders and visitors alike to have greater access to the historyand traditional cultures of the State and to understand the important eventsthat took place here;• Foster among and between heritage attractions linkages that encouragevisitors to explore, linger, and sample the diverse offerings of the State’sdistinctive regions;• Balance the impact of tourism activity with the quality of life enjoyed byresidents; and• Accomplish these goals via partnerships among local and regional leaders,nonprofit organizations, businesses, and State agencies.National Register CriteriaThe quality of significance in Americanhistory, architecture, archeology,engineering, and culture is present indistricts, sites, buildings, structures, andobjects that possess integrity of location,design, setting, materials, workmanship,feeling, and association, and:A. That are associated with events thathave made a significant contribution tothe broad patterns of our history; orB. That are associated with the lives ofpersons significant in our past; orC. That embody the distinctive characteristicsof a type, period, or method ofconstruction or that represents the workof a master, or that possess high artisticvalues, or that represent a significant anddistinguishable entity whosecomponents may lack individualdistinction; orD. That have yielded, or may be likely toyield, information important in prehistoryor history.The process of becoming a heritage area involves two stages. First,communities prepare an application to the Maryland Heritage Areas Authorityto become a Recognized Heritage Area (RHA). Once MHAA grants RHAstatus to a heritage area, the RHA is eligible for a matching grant to prepare amanagement plan setting forth the strategies, projects, programs, actions andpartnerships that will be involved in achieving its goals. As of June, 2005, thereare three Recognized Heritage Areas. With an approved management plan,RHAs become Certified Heritage Areas. Certified Heritage Areas are eligiblefor additional financial benefits. There are ten Certified Heritage Areas, as ofSotterley, in St. Mary's County, is one ofMaryland's most important NationalRegister properties.19
Page 1 and 2: THE MARYLANDPRESERVATION PLAN2005
Page 3 and 4: THE MARYLAND HISTORICPRESERVATION P
Page 6 and 7: The Maryland Preservation Plan, 200
Page 24: The Maryland Preservation Plan, 200
Page 27 and 28: The Status of Heritage ResourcesGOA
Page 29 and 30: The Status of Heritage Resources•
Page 31 and 32: Suggestions for Implementing Statew
Page 33 and 34: Suggestions for Implementing Statew
Page 35 and 36: Selected Bibliographyagricultural a
Page 37 and 38: Statewide Historic Contextszoos, an
Page 39 and 40: Statewide Historic ContextsAmerican
Page 41 and 42: Partners in Statewide Heritage Cons
Page 43 and 44: Cover photo is courtesy of Tom Dard

The Maryland Preservation Plan - 2005 - Maryland Historical Trust

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