Zoning Regulations and Comprehensive Plans: Bringing Historic Preservaion Home

Summary

Archaeologists often wring their hands and bemoan the lack of regulations or guidelines designed to protect archaeological sites from destruction during development. Section 106 of the NHPA applies only to projects receiving federal funding, licenses, or permits. ARPA applies only to federal and Indian lands. Several states have State Historic Preservation Acts that apply Section 106-like regulations to state projects. Some cities have adopted legislation to protect cultural resources. However, much development today occurs in unincorporated townships where legislation is not an option and there is no federal/state/municipal connection. What can be done to introduce a measure of protection for historic properties during development in these areas? Zoning Regulations and Comprehensive (Master) Plans are two local land use tools where such measures can be both effective and appropriate. Zoning Codes and Plans from Ohio townships were sampled to see if they included consideration of cultural resources. Results indicate that while relatively few townships now include preservation in their codes and plans, a number indicated that they would consider adding such protections if they had more information about the issue. Archaeologists must become involved with their local land use groups to be an effective voice for preservation.

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This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 80th Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA (2015)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage