Historic District Commission: (Term 3 years – 7 members)
At their April 7, 2025 meeting and according to Ordinance 01-2025, the HDC made a motion to change the time to 6 pm for their regularly scheduled meetings, beginning May 7, 2025 .
Regularly scheduled meetings are held the first Wednesday of each month at 6:00 pm, unless otherwise announced.
Deadlines:
For new construction and demolition permits, applications and supporting documents must be submitted to the Town office no later than twenty-five (25) days prior to the regularly schedule hearing. New Construction and Demolition permits require two (2) HDC hearings.
Applications and supporting documents must be submitted to the Town office no later than 4:00 pm the Wednesday prior to a regularly schedule hearing.
A signup sheet will be available at the meeting to allow interested parties to make comments.
Town of Chestertown Charter Chapter 19
(2) The Commission may establish reasonable time limitations and registration requirements for witnesses and speakers, so that all may have an opportunity to be heard. In general, these times limits will be:
(a) Historic District Permit applicant: 7 minutes
(b) Comment by interested or aggrieved parties: 3 minutes
Historic District Boundaries Map
Historic District Design Guidelines (2012)
Draft 2025 Design Guidelines (not the final draft)
Draft 2025 Architectural Section (not the final draft)
Draft 2025 Climate Resiliency Section (not the final draft)
Checklist for Applications to the Historic District Commission
Building Permit for the Historic District
Reminder: No work shall begin until all Town permit fees have been paid. If work has begun without paying the permit fees, a stop work order and a fine of $1000 will be issued.
In reviewing applications, the Commission shall give consideration to the historic, archeological, or architectural significance of the site or structure and its relationship to the historic, archeological, or architectural significance of the surrounding area; the relationship of the exterior architectural features of a structure to the remainder of the structure and to the surrounding area; the general compatibility of exterior design, scale, proportion, arrangement, texture and materials proposed to be used; and any other factors, including aesthetic factors, which the Commission deems to be pertinent.
(excerpt from Chestertown Code of Ordinances)
Join Us!Anyone wishing to serve on a Commission or Committee should send a resume to Town Hall (118N Cross Street, Chestertown, Maryland 21620) with a letter of interest indicating which Commission or Committee that they would like to serve.
1984 Chestertown Historic District Nomination Form
BP230185 – WC Armory Project Information Page
BP230163 – 206 Cannon Street Project Information Page
HDC Training
On February 27, 2024, The Historic District Commission engaged in training by the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions (NAPC) Camp Training. Below are the resources from the training.
Maryland Historic Preservation Commission Training Program
Join Us!
Anyone wishing to serve on a Commission or Committee should, fill out this application and email to lynda [at] chestertown.com (lynda[at]chestertown[dot]com) or mail or drop-off at 118 N Cross Street, Chestertown. Make sure to attach a letter of interest indicating which Commissions or Committees that you would be interested in serving on. When a vacancy opens, we will call to see if you are still interested.
If you have questions regarding serving on any of the Board/Commissions/Committees, please contact Lynda Thomas at 410-778-0500 or by email lynda [at] chestertown.com (lynda[at]chestertown[dot]com).