(A) The design review guidelines are the basis for the Zoning Administrator’s and Design Review Committee’s conditional use review for properties within the VHS-R and VHS-C Districts. They are also the basis for the Heritage Preservation Commission’s review of heritage preservation sites designated outside of the VHS-R and VHS-C Districts.
(B) (1) The preface to the guidelines is based on the U.S. Secretary of the Interior’s standard for rehabilitation.
(2) The design guidelines further identify key visual and architectural characteristics of buildings in the district to ensure that they are preserved and enhanced in rehabilitation or new construction.
(3) They provide standards for considering the impact of exterior alterations on the individual building as well as on an entire district.
(C) (1) The guidelines are intended to be flexible, and the conditional use review will be conducted on a case-by-case basis.
(2) With regard to alterations to existing buildings, the expense of certain restoration techniques, the availability and expense of historic materials and economic hardship are among factors which should be considered by the Zoning Administrator, Design Review Committee to the Planning Commission and the Heritage Preservation Commission.
(Prior Code, § 12-1621)