When in doubt, ask.  In general, you need HPC approval (called Certificate of Appropriateness) for anything that will change the external appearance of a building in Wallace.  Ordinary repair and maintenance do not require approval, so long as the result is to restore the building to the condition (including color and materials) that it was in before it deteriorated or damaged.  Demolitions and new construction also require HPC approval.

There is no charge for a Certificate of Appropriateness.  Building permits that involve new construction or exterior changes require a Certificate of Appropriateness, but the fee charged is for the building permit itself, not the Certificate of Appropriateness.

By law, the Commission must hold a hearing within 45 days of the receipt of an application and notice of the application must be published in the paper at least five working days prior to the hearing.  The Wallace P&Z and HP Commission holds a scheduled hearing on the first Wednesday of each month, with occasional changes due to holidays.  If you are in a hurry to start your project, the key thing to remember is to get your application in prior to the third Wednesday of the month.  Once your application is approved at the hearing, your building permit application will be submitted to the building inspector.  At that point, it may take up to a week to get your permit.

To expedite simple projects, the HPC has created a list of “pre-approved” items.  If your project falls within the pre-approval criteria, the City Clerk or P&Z Chairman can give you a Certificate of Appropriateness immediately without waiting for a hearing.  Note that these projects still require a Certificate of Appropriateness: pre-approval just makes getting the Certificate easier.

The Commission needs enough information to understand what is being proposed.  This is especially important if you cannot come to the hearing in person.  For simple projects, a brief description on the application form is adequate.  For projects where an off-the-shelf commercial product is a major part of it, a copy of the manufacturer’s drawing or photo should be be included.  For new construction or remodeling that involves moving walls or roofs, plan and elevation views should be included.  If the existing footprint of the building will be enlarged, a site plan showing adjacent property lines is also needed.  These drawings are normally needed for building permit purposes anyway, and the same ones will suffice for P&Z and HPC purposes.  The Commission is not concerned with structural or interior details, but only with external appearances.  Hand-drawn sketches are acceptable so long as they include enough information to make the design clear.   Be sure to note materials and colors somewhere on the plans or in the note.  On complex projects, its best to talk with the P&Z Chairman prior to the meeting to ensure that the application is complete.  The Chairman does not  have the authority to decide unilaterally what is or isn’t acceptable, however you always have the right to present anything you want to the Commission.