MARBLEHEAD — The Green Marblehead Implementation Committee met on Thursday to discuss the Marblehead Sustainable Heritage Project.

The project, which was awarded $25,000 in the spring by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) Technical Assistance Program, aims to integrate environmental sustainability with the preservation of the town’s architectural heritage.

The town’s Sustainability Coordinator Logan Casey opened up the meeting with discussion surrounding the project, as well as takeaways from the committee’s joint session on Oct. 1 with the Old and Historic Districts Commission (OHDC).

“I think it was a great conversation that was had,” said Director of Public Health Andrew Petty. “I really want to talk about making sure that we, essentially, take the OHDC, and create bylaws with that.” 

Petty said that bylaws will help to avoid confusion.

“That way, everyone knows what they can expect. From what they have to do, what the process is, and it’s kind of really spelled out for them,” he said.

In talks of bylaws as it relates to Marblehead, Nantucket is often referenced, which Petty said has “thick” bylaws as it relates to buildings and homes in town. But Petty said that Marblehead is different. “Marblehead’s a little more unique, where…my understanding is that we have three different time periods that they’re dealing with,” he said.

Petty said that while guidelines exist, he would like blyaws to be in place that people would be more aware of, so that they know the extent that they can modify.

“I want bylaws that people know, ‘this is what I’m allowed to do, if I want to go past that, I need to request a variance and go before a committee,’” he said.

Petty said that he would be interested in exploring how other nearby towns with historic districts such as Salem and Concord handle these issues.

“The community, in general, is really looking for these bylaws, as well,” he said.

Executive Director of Sustainable Marblehead Elaine Leahy asked Petty what the response was from the OHDC at the joint meeting. Petty said that it stays “pretty neutral,” extending invitations to come to meetings.

Petty said that often times, prospective homebuyers want to know beforehand what alterations they are permitted to make “…without having to spend money on architects, lawyers, and all that stuff and go through that process. That’s not an easy or quick process,” he said, adding that the OHDC often has a full docket at its meetings.

“How do we reduce that?” Petty asked. “I think you reduce that by telling people what they’re allowed to do and not do,” he said.

Town Planner Alex Eitler stressed the importance for more clarity with respect to the currently laid-out guidelines, which he said “unfortunately, comes down to a lot of discretion.” He added that was “okay,” but that given the capacity of the OHDC to hear cases, it would be of a benefit to it to bring more clarity to the guidelines, which would help to alleviate repeat applicants coming before it for the same projects.

Not only would clearer guidelines help the OHDC’s caseload, Eitler said, but it would be of general benefit to the town to help inform it “about emerging technologies that can help reduce carbon footprints for people’s homes, which I think is something that…is possible and doable given the the circumstances of the old and historic district.”

Casey said that at the second joint session between the OHDC and the Green Marblehead Implementation Committee, which it is looking to schedule for December, they will be discussing Petty’s points with respect to looking at other communities, performing a “comparative analysis,” as well as going over the current guidelines.

With respect to writing and submitting the bylaws, Petty felt that it would be too soon to try and get them to the town by the end of January.

“I think we just need to do our due diligence, take our time, and get it done the correct way the first time,” he said.