Historic District Commission

Mission Statement

On March 18, 1972, the voters of the Town of Wenham passed a by-law establishing an Historic District along Main Street from Beverly to the Hamilton town line.

The by-law also established a Wenham Historic District Commission to exercise the powers and duties granted in Chapter 40-C of the General Laws of the Commonwealth.  Under the rules of the Commission, property owners in the Historic District are required to present plans to the Commission before undertaking certain changes within the District.

The purpose of the design review process is to promote the educational, cultural, economic and general welfare of the public through the preservation and protection of the Town's distinctive characteristics, including its buildings, architecture, and historically significant places, through the maintenance and improvement of such settings and the encouragement of compatible designs.

Certificate of Appropriateness:

The Historic District Commission meets on the third Thursday of each month primarily to review applications for Certificates of Appropriateness regarding new construction or modifications to existing buildings located in the Historic District. 

Applications for a Certificate of Appropriateness may be obtained from the Building Inspector's Office at Town Hall.  Once an applicant has completed all of the information requested on the application, it must be returned to the Building Inspector's Office and the applicant should then schedule a meeting with the Historic District Commission by contacting its Chairman.  If an application is approved by the Commission, the Commission Secretary prepares and sends a Certificate of Appropriateness to the person or persons who requested it and a copy is sent to the Wenham Building Inspector.

Commission Members:

James Howard, Chairman
Jennifer Tymann
David Mehlin
Thomas Zampell
Sissi Finn
Lanse Robb
Don Bannon

The Historic District Commission holds regular public meetings on the third Thursday of each month.
 

Online Forms & Applications: Historic District Commission Guidelines for Application Review Process (PDF) Historic District Commission Application for Certificate of Appropriateness (PDF)