Historic Preservation Commission

The Historic Preservation Commission is responsible for issuing Certificates of Appropriateness for properties that are located within the Historic Preservation Overlay District and conversions of buildings on or eligible to be on the National Register of Historic Places which are located in the Downtown Business District and the Upper Square District.

Per 
Article 12 of the Kennebunk Zoning Ordinance (PDF), "No building or structure, including fieldstone walls or other wall structures, fences, steps, landscaping, and paving shall be altered, reconstructed, erected, restored, moved, or demolished, and no sign, light, fence, wall, or there appurtenant fixtures shall be erected or displayed on any site or lot or on the exterior of any building or structure, nor shall any building permit or other Kennebunk permits be issued, therefore, until a corresponding certificate of appropriateness has first been issued."

Current Agenda and Application Information

View Application and Instructions (PDF) to apply for a Certificate of Appropriateness, as required and outlined above. 

View current Historic Preservation Commission Agendas and corresponding meeting materials with link to Zoom meetings. 

The Commission applies the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties in the evaluation of a proposal, as well as Kennebunk's own District Design Guidelines, which provides information on approved materials and standards for design, repair and reconstruction. 

Hard copies of these Guidelines are available for residents of the District in the Community Development Department. View Guidelines in their entirety online here (PDF). Specific chapters and components are linked in the tables below. 

  1. Barns, Garages & Outbuildings
  2. Brick
  3. Chimneys, Drainage & Roof components
  4. Entrance Surrounds & Doors
  5. Fences, Walkways, Walls & Driveways 

Every effort should be made to retain historic barns, garages and outbuildings, including original doors, windows, siding and roofing material. 

If replacement of deteriorated features is necessary, repairs should be made in-kind, using matching materials and finishes as close as possible to original. 

Read more about Barns, Garages and Outbuildings (PDF)

  1. Foundations
  2. Landscaping, Plantings & Trees
  3. Paint Color
  4. Porches & Siding
  5. Windows

Foundation construction in the District evolved as technology advanced. Many early foundations were constructed of fieldstones, and later granite slabs or occasionally brick. The majority of contemporary homes in the District have foundations of poured concrete or concrete block. 

Read more about Foundations (PDF)

Meetings
The Historic Preservation Commission meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month as needed at 6:30 p.m. on the 3rd floor of Town Hall. All meeting agendas are posted on the bulletin board on the 2nd floor of Town Hall and on the Meeting Calendar.

There is a 10 day advance notice required to abutters of properties with an application before the Commission. Once an application is received, staff will calculate the time needed to meet this notification requirement and schedule the application to be heard on the next available Wednesday meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission. 


Committee Members

Name
Title Term Expires
Frances Smith
Chair 
2026
Barbara Fleshman Vice Chair 2025
Paul Bevacqua Member 2024
Judee Jaudreau Member 2026
Maria Kyriakides Member
2024
Stephen Dalzell Alternate Member
2024
James Nathan "Nate" Cartwright Alternate Member 2024
Kevin Therrien Select Board Liaison  

Join a Committee

  1. Do you want to volunteer for the Town and serve on a board or committee? Complete an application online or submit your paper application (PDF) to the Town Manager's office.
    View a listing of all committees