Planning Tips for Developing a Statewide Historic Preservation Plan

More Information

• Historic Preservation Planning Program
• Preservation Planning Standards
• Statewide Historic Preservation Planning
• Requirements for Historic Preservation Plans
• Developing Statewide Preservation Plans
• Statewide Preservation Plans Requirements
• Preservation Planning in Pacific Territories

There are several key features of the statewide preservation planning process.

• It encourages broad public participation to identify and solve issues facing cultural resources. Planners actively work to engage communities, large and small, urban and rural, throughout the state.

• It empowers local communities, organizations, and individuals to action.

• It encourages diverse viewpoints, which are used to create a long-term vision for the future and short-term preservation goals and objectives.

• Working with partners, planners gather and analyze information about social, economic, political, legal, and environmental trends that affect historic resources and influence preservation practice.

• Other federal, state, and local planning efforts inform the statewide preservation plan. Plans such as transportation master plans, emergency management plans, outdoor recreation plans, tourism and economic development plans, and local land-use plans (to name a only a few) will provide valuable context for the statewide preservation planning process.

• The final plan addresses the range of historic and cultural resources that represent the breadth and depth of a state's prehistory, history, and culture. These usually include buildings, structures, objects, archaeological sites, landscapes, traditional cultural properties, and underwater resources. Plans may also address cultural practices such as folklore, folk life activities, language, and traditional music and dance.

As statements of public policy, statewide plans serve as a general guide for historic preservation decision-making throughout the state. While the SHPOs facilitate the planning process and write the plan, the ideas and goals in the plan result from collaboration among many participants. The plan will be most effective if its objectives are adopted and implemented by local communities, state agencies, and other partners, not just the SHPO.

For more specific guidance, please review the following documents.

• Guidance for Developing Statewide Historic Preservation Plans is a short primer that provides guidance and the requirements for preparing a plan.
• Statewide Historic Preservation Plans Basic Requirements Overview provides an overview of the specific requirements for plans and how they are reviewed.
• Recommendations for Historic and Cultural Resource Planning in Pacific Territories and Associated States is a short primer that provides guidance and the requirements for preparing a plan.

Overview of the Statewide Historic Preservation Planning Process

Below are two flow charts outlining the steps in preparing a statewide historic preservation plan and things to consider at every one of those steps.

Evaluate Existing Conditions Review available resource data and related studies Identify knowledge and data gaps Use results as a starting point for public and partner discussions Use results to inform opportunities, constraints, priorities, and strategies	➡			Identify Statewide Values and Desired Future Conditions Develop a public engagement strategy for all steps in the planning process Maximize outreach and response throughout the state Use feedback to inform planning opportunities, constraints, priorities, strategies, and implementation options
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	Identify Opportunities and Constraints Review and address other planning efforts and political, social, economic, technological, or cultural trends that have or will influence historic preservation practice and resource outcomes in your stat
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Develop Priorities and Strategies Plan objectives flow from, and logically address, issues identified in the previous steps Plan objectives are attaibale within the planning cycle (but are not indivdiual tasks)	➡			Set Targets and Implement Plan Establish targets for completing objectives Indicate who needs to lead and help Monitor progress and update objectives as neede

Things to Consider at Each Step of the Planning Process

Below are questions and different partners to consider at each step of the statewide preservation plan development process.

Evaluate Existing Conditions Who has the data? SHPO Statewide preservation orgs Statewide professional orgs Colleges, universities Federal and state agencies Tribes, native peoples Local governments Nonprofit partners	➡			Identify Statewide Values and Desired Future Conditions Include, but go beyond usual partners; be creative in approach Youth Under-represented communities Tribe(s) with cultural ties in the state Federal/state agencies with significant CRM influence All local governments, not just CLGs Development/real estate/business/ communities
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	Identify Opportunities and Constraints Frame these kinds of issues: Under-represented communities and resources Disaster planning for cultural resources Technological needs for CRM SHPO/Statewide budget Critical legal/policy issues
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Develop Priorities and Strategies Planned actions... Feed into vision and goals for desired future Help solve identified issues Are reasonable to accomplish Are crafted with enough detail to be measurable	➡			Set Targets and Implement Plan Indicate who needs to lead or support each action People get busy! Set a timetable for completing actions to keep on track Monitor progress and update objectives as needed