What is a Conservation District?
A Conservation District (CD) is a tool for zoning an area of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance. The character or appearance of a conservation area is derived from a variety of factors, including the buildings and spaces within it.
As a planning tool, Conservation Districts are used to protect the character and more modest scale of older historic neighborhoods facing increased development pressures and tear-downs. Modern construction is encouraged, if done thoughtfully in concert with older structures.
What can a Conservation District do?
Conservation districts are geared toward the conservation of the built environment. Thus, they are generally designed to:
- Identify what built and natural features have special value and meaning in a given area/neighborhood
- Increase awareness of the history and unique character of an area/neighborhood
- Limit demolition of buildings or built features identified as a contributing resource(s) within the area/neighborhood
- Support compatible infill and new development that fits in with the established area/neighborhood
What doesn’t a Conservation District do?
A Conservation District (CD) differs from the City’s Old and Historic District because it does not require City staff or Architectural Review Board (ARB) approval of all exterior alteration(s) visible from the public-right of way.
A conservation district solely requires City approval for:
- Demolition of contributing asset(s) within the area/neighborhood
- New infill construction within the area/neighborhood
- Sizable additions and new buildings that will be visible from the public right-of-way
Why is the character of a neighborhood worth conserving?
The City of Fredericksburg has long acknowledged the crucial role its historic built environment plays in maintaining the economic well-being and unique sense of place within the community–in and outside the Old and Historic District. For the past 30 years, each Strategic and Comprehensive Plan has reaffirmed the economic, cultural, psychological, and environmental benefits of preserving and enhancing the community’s character.
The Comprehensive Plan makes clear how all of the City’s goals and best practices for a sustainable livable environment are interdependent and require a coordinated effort to achieve. Chapter 7 of the City’s Comprehensive Plan is dedicated to preserving what many older historic neighborhoods inherently possess:
- A walkable and densely developed area
- Visually attractive built environment
- Diverse types of housing
- Intermixture commercial properties
- Mature tree canopy and greenspace
- Accessible via various modes of transportation
City planning staff and professional consultants have discussed ways to help preserve Fredericksburg’s unique and distinct older neighborhoods. Some planning-zoning tools currently under consideration include creating Conservation Districts and “Neighborhood Pattern Books” to highlight and protect the traditional patterns of development that give each Fredericksburg neighborhood its own distinct character.
Older parts of the city exhibit architectural diversity, tree lined streets, and sidewalks, which are all features that define Fredericksburg’s character and contribute to its charm. Newer development, however, is often more typical of suburban communities, where the emphasis on automobile access sometimes comes at the expense of pedestrian safety
(City of Fredericksburg Comprehensive Plan, page 93).
Learn more about Fredericksburg’s older neighborhoods: