Last modified: Friday, March 28, 2008 1:04 AM EDT North looking to make history? BY AMY DeMELIA / SUN CHRONICLE STAFF NORTH ATTLEBORO - The historic character of neighborhoods like South Washington Street could be protected in the future as part of a local historic district, although selectmen expressed concern such a move could infringe on individual property rights. Members of the town's historical commission asked selectmen Thursday night to establish a committee to study the possibility of a historic district. The study committee would be charged with determining whether any areas of town might be a good fit for historic preservation. Such districts are established to protect the distinctive historical characteristics of particular areas. Exterior changes to buildings in historic districts usually are reviewed by a special commission that sets up bylaws and guidelines that must be followed. Just how stringent those guidelines are varies from community to community. "Every city and town sets up guidelines as it sees fit. People in the district make their own guidelines," historical commission Chairwoman Ann Chapdelaine said. "In some places, they said you have six paint colors to choose from, while in others they don't care about paint color." Chapdelaine said areas that could be considered in North Attleboro are the Holmes School and Holmes Hall and South Washington Street, if a majority of residents there favor the proposal. If the study committee proposes to place an area in a local historic district, the move would have to be approved at town meeting. "This is a tool we would use if, for example, we wanted to preserve what South Washington Street looks like with all those big mansions, and we didn't want them to build strange concrete block towers that don't fit in with the neighborhood," said Margo Muhl Davis, a member of the historical commission. Selectmen expressed concern about the proposal. "I'm afraid it's taking away the rights of people to do what they want to their properties," Selectman Paul Belham said. "If all the homeowners but two want this and it passes, those two homeowners will be stuck in it." Chapdelaine responded that the district would be designed to preserve the area's character, adding that if a majority of residents in the area were opposed, the district would not be pursued. "There are a lot of rules that are to the benefit of the town," she said. It is not clear whether selectmen have to vote to establish a study committee because one was previously set up in 1983. That study committee apparently never met. Starting the committee anew might be as simple as appointing new members to the board. At least 56 cities and towns in the state have local historic districts. Selectmen plan to contact a few of those communities before continuing the discussion in April.