New Mexico Administrative Code
Title 4 - CULTURAL RESOURCES
Chapter 10 - CULTURAL PROPERTIES AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION
Part 7 - REVIEW OF PROPOSED STATE UNDERTAKINGS THAT MAY AFFECT REGISTERED CULTURAL PROPERTIES
Section 4.10.7.12 - GENERAL STANDARDS FOR MODIFICATION, ADAPTATION OR ALTERATION

(1) Prior to and during the undertaking of any alteration, the areas to be affected will be recorded in all phases by photography and written description.

(2) The distinguishing original qualities or character of a building, structure, or site and its environment will not be destroyed. The removal or alteration of any historic material or distinctive architectural feature will be avoided when possible. Any historic feature that is removed will be recorded and, if possible, stored for future study or reuse.

(3) All buildings, structures and sites shall be recognized as products of their own time. Alterations which have no historical basis and which seek to create a false sense of the historical development of a structure are discouraged.

(4) Changes which may have taken place in the course of time are evidence of the history and development of a building, structure or site and its environment. These changes may have acquired significance in their own right. Such significance must be recognized and respected.

(5) Distinctive stylistic features or examples of skilled craftsmanship which characterize a building, structure or site must be treated with sensitivity.

(6) Contemporary alterations or additions may be permissible if they do not destroy significant historical, architectural or cultural material. They shall be compatible in size, scale, color and material; or in rare cases may sympathetically contrast with the older work. It is desirable that contemporary additions and alterations express their own time and not copy the details nor style of the historic property.

(7) Whenever possible, alterations or additions will be accomplished so that if removed in the future, the integrity of the original structure is essentially unchanged.

(8) Changes necessary to conform with local codes will be incorporated, if required by a building inspector. The uniform building code, adopted by the state of New Mexico, provides for variances from code standards for historic structures. Such changes shall be made in a manner which alters the existing appearance of the structure as little as possible and otherwise conforms to standards of the cultural properties review committee.

(1) Alteration of archaeological sites will be limited to areas of existing disturbance and to areas devoid of cultural manifestations, so as to have the least possible physical and visual effect as defined in Subsection C of 4.10.7.7 NMAC.

(2) Mitigation of adverse effect on disturbed sites will require documentation, analysis and dissemination of results to standards established by the cultural properties review committee.

(3) When archaeological techniques are used in the stabilization of a prehistoric or historic site or to obtain information on such sites, these techniques and the treatment of recovered materials shall be in conformance with professional archaeological practices.