For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed to them herein below; and words and phrases used in the context of this chapter but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the city code, other than adopted by reference therein. All other words and phrases used in the context of this chapter shall have the commonly understood meanings normally ascribed to them.
ALTERATION. Any act or process that changes one or more of the exterior architectural features of property which has been designated as a historic landmark, or in a Historic District under this chapter, or any interior architectural feature of any structure when the interior has been specifically designated as an interior historic landmark.
BUILDING PERMIT. Any permit required by the Department of Buildings of the city.
CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS. A certificate issued by the Commission indicating its approval of plans for the alteration, or construction, or relocation of a historic landmark, or the removal or of demolition of a historic landmark or a building, structure or improvement within a Historic District.
CERTIFICATE OF ECONOMIC HARDSHIP. A certificate issued by the Commission, after denying a certificate of appropriateness, which authorizes the performance of alterations, construction or relocation with regard to historic landmarks, or the removal or demolition of a historic landmark or a building, structure or improvement within a Historic District when the historic landmarks, or properties within a Historic District, cannot be put to a reasonably beneficial use or the owner cannot obtain a reasonable economic return thereon without the proposed alteration, construction, relocation, removal or demolition.
COMMISSION. The Berwyn Historic Preservation Commission.
COMMISSION STAFF. An employee of the city assigned by the Mayor as staff to the Commission.
CONSTRUCTION. Any act or process which requires a building permit, including the act of adding to a structure by an addition, or the erection of a new principal or accessory structure on a lot or property.
DAY. A calendar day, except where otherwise specified herein.
DEMOLITION. Any act or process which destroys in part or in whole a landmark or site within a Historic District.
ELIGIBLE HISTORIC LANDMARK. Any property and/or improvement nominated for designation as a historic landmark which has been determined by the Commission, after notice and an opportunity to be heard for the owner(s), nominators and other interested parties in accordance with § 1478.07 herein, to be eligible for designation by resolution and recommendation of the Commission to the City Council, but which has not yet been so designated by the City Council.
EXTERIOR ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES. The architectural character and general composition of the exterior of a structure or improvement, including the kind and texture of all the building materials and the type, design and character of all architectural details, including but not limited to windows, walls, roofs, doors, light fixtures, fences, signs and appurtenant elements.
HISTORIC DISTRICT. An area with geographically definable boundaries, possessing a significant concentration, linkage or continuity of properties and/or improvements united by past events or aesthetically by plan or physical development that has been designated as Berwyn HISTORIC DISTRICT pursuant to city ordinance. A district may include properties and/or improvements which are individually designated as historic landmarks under this chapter and may also contain other properties and/or improvements which, while not of the individual historical and/or architectural value to be designated historic landmarks, nevertheless contribute to the overall special character or value of the landmark or landmarks located within the District.
HISTORIC LANDMARK. Any property and/or improvement which has special character or significant historical, cultural, architectural, archeological, community or aesthetic value as part of the heritage of the city, the state or the United States which has been designated as a Berwyn HISTORIC LANDMARK pursuant to this chapter and shall include all designated interior historic landmarks.
IMPROVEMENT. Any visible building feature constituting a physical addition or any part of the addition to a property, including any building, structure, fixture, bridge, work or art, place, parking facility, fence, gate, wall, landscaping or paving.
INTERIOR ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES. The architectural character and general composition of the interior of a structure, including the room design and configuration, color and texture of materials, and the type, pattern and character of all architectural details and elements, including but not limited to staircases, doors, hardware, molding, trim, plaster work, light fixtures and wall coverings.
INTERIOR HISTORIC LANDMARK. An interior, or part thereof, which is normally open or accessible to the public and which as a significant historical or aesthetic interest or value as part of the development, heritage or cultural characteristics of the city, state or United States and which has been designated as an interior landmark pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
NOMINATED HISTORIC LANDMARK. A property and/or improvement nominated by an interested party for consideration by the Commission for designation as a historic landmark prior to determination by the Commission that it is eligible for historic landmark designation.
NON-CONTRIBUTING RESOURCE. A property and/or improvement located within a Historic District that does not represent significant historical characteristics, which qualify that District as a Historic District under this chapter.
OWNER. Owner of record as determined by the office of the Cook County Recorder of Deeds, except where otherwise specified herein.
PROPERTY. Land and improvements identified as a separate lot for purposes of the zoning regulations of the city.
PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS. Work carried out by the city for public use or service, including but not limited to the installation, major repair or improvements to the street, curbs and gutters, alleys, sidewalks, public utilizes, streetlights, signs, banners and traffic signals.
RELOCATION. Any repositioning of an improvement on the same property upon which it was originally located.
REMOVAL. Any moving of an improvement from the property upon which it was originally located.
REPAIR. Minor work, which does not require a building permit and which does not affect the architectural feature of an improvement.
REVIEW. The process of examining the plans and documents prepared by an owner of property and/or an improvement designated as a historic landmark which describe proposed work on the landmark, which will lead to the decision to grant or deny a certificate of appropriateness or a certificate of economic hardship.
REVIEW SUBCOMMITTEE. Subcommittee of no less than three members of the Commission, appointed by the Chairperson to review documents for certificates of advisory review which shall be issued by the Commission, based upon the Subcommittee’s review of the documents and recommendations to the owner. Section 1478.14(C) of this chapter authorizes the Commission to recommend and City Council to adopt amended rules and regulations which would expand Subcommittee and/or Commission staff authority to minimal types of construction and alteration work requiring a certificate of appropriateness.
SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR’S STANDARDS. The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings, revised 1990, U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Preservation Assistance Division, Washington, D.C.
SITE. The location of an event, activity, building, structure or improvement.
STRUCTURE. Anything constructed or erected the use of which requires permanent or semi-permanent location on or in the ground.
WORK. Any construction, alteration, repair, relocation, removal or demolition of an improvement.
(Ord. 06-50, passed 11-28-2006; Ord. 11-04, passed 1-25-2011; Ord. 11-19, passed 4-26-2011)