Wauwatosa, WI Historic Preservation: Historic-Cultural Monuments (2026)

' The overlay does not add new use restrictions; the underlying base zoning district's uses still govern. Instead, once the historic preservation commission and plan commission propose, and the common council adopts, district-specific development and design standards for an /HIS district, any new construction or alteration within it must comply with those standards, guided by general compatibility criteria for height, massing, facade proportion, materials, texture, color and roof design. 050 also imposes maintenance requirements meant to stop 'demolition by neglect,' requiring historic structures, sites and improvements to be kept in good repair, covering deterioration of exterior walls, roofs, chimneys, plaster or mortar, ineffective waterproofing, peeling paint and any interior damage that could cause exterior disrepair.

100; ordinary maintenance that doesn't change exterior appearance and doesn't need a building permit is exempt. The commission must decide within 45 days of a complete application, and a denial can be appealed to the common council. Once a property is designated, the historic preservation commission may cause a plaque to be erected on it, visible to passing pedestrians, stating the property's accepted name, date of construction or significance, and other information the commission deems appropriate. The /HIS overlay provisions were adopted by Ord. O-19-05 pt. X on 4/2/2019.