About HARB
The purpose of the City of York, Historical Architectural Review Board (HARB), is to regulate the erection, reconstruction, alteration, restoration, demolition or razing of buildings within the (local) historic districts (as designated by York City Council).
HARB is much misunderstood. It is a local historic district, which is separate from the National Register Historic District. (Most residents will have no contact with the National Register district regulations, unless government money, tax credits, or a government agency is involved in their project.)
HARB is only an advisory board to City Council – all decisions rendered must receive a majority vote of Council, or they do not stand. Although Council votes in favor of most HARB decisions, Council has overturned HARB in the past, on both major and minor issues.
HARB is composed of 7 regular and 3 alternate members, appointed by City Council. Of those members, one member must be recommended by the York County Heritage Trust, one member must be a registered architect, one member must be a licensed real estate broker, and one member must be a building inspector. Four members must be residents of / or property owners in the City of York, and all members must have demonstrated interest or related expertise in historic buildings.
If you live in the HARB District and are proposing to do any exterior work which is visible from a public street or alley, you must receive HARB approval before undertaking the work even if a permit is not required. HARB has a paid consultant that reviews all applications and writes a review of each application for the Board to consider. HARB is constantly trying to streamline its process and many items are now either exempted or are dealt with as “staff reviews” and do not have to come before the HARB Board at all. Furthermore, the consultant is constantly available to advise anyone on what the HARB Board will be looking for from each application.
Meetings: HARB meetings are held at 6:00 p.m. every 2nd & 4th Thursday of the month in City Council Chambers located at 101 S. George St., York, PA, except when Council Chambers is reserved for other purposes. If a HARB meeting falls on a holiday, accommodations will be made to reschedule said meeting.
A brief history: HARBs were authorized in Pennsylvania by the “Historic District Act” dated July 13, 1961. York City Council established York’s HARB by ordinance in 1970, and its second in 1975. A larger HARB district, which encompasses the first two, was established in 2002.
Meetings
2nd and 4th Thursday of each month at 6:00 p.m. City Council Chambers – 1st Floor 101 S. George St. *Unless another location or time is advertised.
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HARB Application (Fillable)
- HARB Applicant Information Packet
- HARB Fillable Application Form
- HARB District Map
- Types of HARB Reviews
- The Secretary of Interior Standards
- York Design Guidelines
- Is Your Property Located in the HARB District?
- National Park Service Technical Preservation Briefs
- Historic York Ordinance (Article 1731)
- 2024 HARB Meetings
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HARB Members
HARB is composed of 7 regular and 3 alternate members, appointed by City Council. Of those members, 1 member must be recommended by the York County Heritage Trust, 1 member must be a registered architect, 1 member must be a licensed real estate broker, and 1 member must be a building inspector. Four members must be residents of / or property owners in the City of York, and all members must have demonstrated interest or related expertise in historic buildings.
HARB Members
- Dennis Kunkle, Chair, City Resident, recommended by the York County Heritage Trust – Five-year term expires on first Monday of January 2025
- VACANT, Real Estate Agent – Five-year term expires on the first Monday of January 2024 (To fill unexpired term of Robyn Pottorff)
- Craig Zumbrun, City Resident – Five-year term expires on the first Monday of January 2027
- Mark Skehan, City Resident – Five-year term expires on the first Monday of January 2027
- Steve Buffington, Building Inspector – Five-year term expires on the first Monday of January 2026
- Mark D. Shermeyer, Registered Architect/City Business-Property Owner – Five-year term expires on the first Monday of January 2027
Alternate Members
- Blake Gifford – Five-year term expires on the first Monday of January 2026 (Filled unexpired term of Alan Neff)
- Lindy B. Hitzel – Five-year term expires on first Monday of January 2026
- VACANT – Five-year term expires on first Monday of January 2025
- 2023 HARB Meetings
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2022 HARB Meetings
January 13, 2022 (Agenda)(Minutes)
January 27, 2022 – Meeting Canceled (Click here to read press release)
February 10, 2022 – (Agenda) (Minutes)
February 24, 2022 – Meeting Canceled
March 10, 2022 (Minutes)
April 14, 2022 (Agenda) – Meeting Canceled (No quorum)
April 28, 2022 (Agenda) (Minutes)
May 12, 2022 (Agenda & Minutes)
May 26, 2022 (Agenda & Minutes)
June 9, 2022 (Agenda) (Minutes)
June 23, 2022 (Agenda) (Minutes)
July 14, 2022 (Agenda) (Minutes)
July 28, 2022 (Agenda) (Minutes) – Meeting Canceled
August 11, 2022 (Agenda) (Minutes)
August 25, 2022 (Agenda) (Minutes)
September 8, 2022 (Agenda) (Minutes)
September 22, 2022 (Agenda) (Minutes)
October 13, 2022 (Agenda) (Minutes)
October 27, 2022 (Agenda) (Minutes)
November 10, 2022 (Agenda) (Minutes)
November 24, 2022 – Canceled in observance of the Thanksgiving Holiday
December 8, 2022 (Agenda) (Minutes) -
2021 HARB Meetings
January 14, 2021 (Agenda) (Virtual Meeting Access Instructions) (Minutes)
January 28, 2021 (Agenda) (Virtual Meeting Access Instructions) (Minutes)
February 11, 2021 (Agenda) (Virtual Meeting Access Instructions) (Minutes)
February 25, 2021 (Agenda) (Virtual Meeting Access Instructions) (Minutes)
March 11, 2021 (Agenda) (Virtual Meeting Access Instructions) (Minutes)
March 25, 2021 (Agenda) (Virtual Meeting Access Instructions) (Minutes)
April 8, 2021 (Agenda) (Virtual Meeting Access Instructions) (Minutes)
April 22, 2021 (Agenda) (Virtual Meeting Access Instructions) (Minutes)
May 13, 2021 (Agenda) (Virtual Meeting Access Instructions) (Minutes)
May 27, 2021 (Agenda) (Virtual Meeting Access Instructions) (Minutes)
June 10, 2021 (Agenda & Virtual Meeting Access Instructions) (Minutes)
June 24, 2021 (Agenda) (Minutes)
July 8, 2021 (Agenda) (Minutes)
July 22, 2021 (Agenda) (Minutes)
August 12, 2021 (Agenda) (Minutes)
August 26, 2021 (Agenda) (Minutes)
September 9, 2021 (Agenda) (Minutes) – CANCELED
September 23, 2021 (Agenda) (Minutes)
October 14, 2021 (Agenda) (Minutes)
October 28, 2021 (Agenda) (Minutes)
November 11, 2021 (Agenda) (Minutes)
December 9, 2021 (Agenda) (Minutes)
December 23, 2021 (Agenda) (Minutes) -
2020 HARB Meetings
January 9, 2020 (Agenda)(Minutes)
January 23, 2020 (Agenda)(Minutes)
February 13, 2020 (Agenda)(Minutes)
February 27, 2020 – No Applications. Meeting Canceled.
March 12, 2020 (Agenda)(Minutes)
March 26, 2020 – COVID-19 Disaster emergency in effect. Meeting Canceled.
April 9, 2020 – COVID-19 Disaster emergency in effect. Meeting Canceled.|
April 23, 2020 (Agenda)(Minutes)
May 14, 2020 (Agenda)(Minutes)
May 28, 2020 (Agenda)(Virtual Meeting Access Instructions)(Minutes)
June 11, 2020 (Agenda)(Virtual Meeting Access Instructions)(Minutes)
June 18, 2020 – Emergency Meeting (Agenda)(Minutes)
June 25, 2020 (Agenda)(Virtual Meeting Access Instructions)(Minutes)
July 9, 2020 (Agenda)(Virtual Meeting Access Instructions)(Minutes)
July 23, 2020 (Agenda)(Virtual Meeting Access Instructions)(Minutes)
August 13, 2020 (Agenda)(Virtual Meeting Access Instructions)(Minutes)
August 27, 2020 (Agenda)(Virtual Meeting Access Instructions)(Minutes)
September 10, 2020 (Agenda)(Virtual Meeting Access Instructions)(Minutes)
September 24, 2020 (Agenda)(Virtual Meeting Access Instructions)(Minutes)
October 8, 2020 (Agenda)(Virtual Meeting Access Instructions)(Minutes)
October 22, 2020 – No Applications. Meeting Canceled.
November 12, 2020 (Agenda)(Virtual Meeting Access Instructions)(Minutes)
December 10, 2020 (Agenda)(Virtual Meeting Access Instructions)(Minutes) -
2019 HARB Meetings
January 10, 2019 (Agenda)(Minutes)
January 24, 2019 (Agenda)(Minutes)
February 14, 2019 (Agenda)(Minutes)
February 28, 2019 (Agenda)(Minutes)
March 14, 2019 (Agenda)(Minutes)
March 28, 2019 (Agenda)(Minutes)
April 11, 2019 (Agenda) – Meeting Canceled. Rescheduled to April 25, 2019
April 25, 2019 – (Agenda)(Minutes)
May 9, 2019 – No Applications. Meeting Canceled.
May 23, 2019 – (Agenda)(Minutes)
June 13, 2019 – (Agenda)(Minutes)
June 27, 2019 – (Agenda)(Minutes)
July 11, 2019 – (Agenda)(Minutes)
July 25, 2019 – No Applications. Meeting Canceled.
August 8, 2019 – (Agenda)(Minutes)
August 22, 2019 – No Applications. Meeting Canceled.
September 12, 2019 – (Agenda)(Minutes)
September 26, 2019 – (Agenda)(Minutes)
October 10, 2019 – (Agenda)(Minutes)
October 24, 2019 – (Minutes)
November 14, 2019 – (Agenda)(Minutes)
December 12, 2019 – (Agenda)(Minutes) -
2018 HARB Meetings
WHAT: HARB meetings are held on 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month TIME: 6:00 p.m. WHERE: City Council Chambers – 1st Floor, 101 S. George St. *Unless another location or time is advertised.
January 11, 2018 – No applications. Meeting Canceled.
January 25, 2018 (Agenda)(Minutes)
February 8, 2018 (Agenda)(Minutes)(Note: HARB did not have quorum on 2/8/18 so they met in special session on 2/16/18)
February 22, 2018 (Agenda)(Minutes)
March 8, 2018 – No applications. Meeting Canceled.
March 22, 2018 (Agenda)(Minutes)
April 12, 2018 (Agenda)(Minutes)
April 26, 2018 – No applications. Meeting Canceled.
May 10, 2018 (Agenda)(Minutes)
May 24, 2018 (Agenda)(Minutes)
June 14, 2018 (Agenda)(Minutes)
June 28, 2018 (Agenda)(Minutes)
July 12, 2018 (Agenda)(Minutes)
July 26, 2018 (Agenda)(Minutes)
August 9, 2018 (Agenda)(Minutes)
August 23, 2018 (Agenda)(Minutes)
September 13, 2018 (Minutes)
September 27, 2018 (Agenda)(Minutes)
October 11, 2018 (Agenda)(Minutes)
October 25, 2018 (Agenda)(Minutes)
November 8, 2018 (Agenda)(Minutes)
December 13, 2018 -
2017 HARB Meetings
- January 26, 2017 (Agenda)(Minutes)
- February 9, 2017 – No applications. Meeting Canceled.
- February 23, 2017 (Agenda)(Minutes)
- March 9, 2017 (Agenda)(Minutes)
- March 23, 2017 (Agenda)(Minutes)
- April 13, 2017 (Agenda)(Minutes)
- April 27, 2017 (Agenda)(Minutes)
- May 11, 2017 (Agenda)(Minutes)
- May 25, 2017 (Agenda)(Minutes)
- June 8, 2017 (Agenda)(Minutes)
- June 22, 2017 (Agenda)(Minutes)
- July 13, 2017 (Agenda)(Minutes)
- August 10, 2017 (Agenda)(Minutes)
- August 24, 2017 – No applications. Meeting Canceled.
- September 14, 2017 (Agenda)(Minutes)
- September 28, 2017- No applications. Meeting Canceled.
- October 12, 2017 (Agenda)(Minutes)
- October 26, 2017- No applications. Meeting Canceled.
- November 9, 2017 (Agenda)(Minutes)
- December 14, 2017 (Agenda)(Minutes)
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Contact Information
- Nancy Griffin|City Planner
Department of Economic and Community Development
Bureau of Permits, Planning, and Zoning
101 S. George St.
York, Pennsylvania 17401
Phone: (717) 849-7005
- Nancy Griffin|City Planner
