All applications for a certificate of appropriateness shall conform to the applicable standards in this section.
A. General Standards:
1. Alterations that do not affect any essential architectural or historic features of a structure or building as viewed from a public or private street ordinarily should be permitted.
2. The distinguishing original qualities or character of a structure, building, or site and its environment should not be destroyed. No alteration or demolition of any historic material or distinctive architectural feature should be permitted except when necessary to assure an economically viable use of a site.
3. All structures, buildings, sites, and areas should be recognized as products of their own time. Alterations that have no historical basis and that seek to create an earlier appearance than the true age of the property are discouraged.
4. Changes that may have taken place in the course of time are evidence of the history and development of a structure, building, or site and its environment. These changes may have acquired significance in their own right, and this significance should be recognized and respected when dealing with a specific architectural period.
5. Distinctive stylistic features or examples of skilled craftsmanship that characterize a structure, building, site, or area should ordinarily be maintained and preserved.
6. Deteriorated architectural features should be repaired rather than replaced, whenever possible. In the event replacement is necessary, the new material should match the material being replaced in composition, design, color, texture, and other visual qualities. Repair or replacement of missing architectural features should be based on accurate duplications of features, substantiated by historic, physical, or pictorial evidence rather than on conjectural designs or the availability of different architectural elements from other buildings or structures.
7. The surface cleaning of structures and buildings should be undertaken with the gentlest means possible. Sandblasting and other cleaning methods that will damage the structures and buildings should be avoided.
8. New structures or buildings, or alterations to sites should not be discouraged when such structures or alterations do not destroy significant historical or architectural features and are compatible with the size, scale, color, material, and character of the site, neighborhood, or environment.
9. Whenever possible, new structures or buildings, or alterations to the existing conditions of sites should be done in such a manner that, if such new structures or alterations were to be removed in the future, the essential form and integrity of the original structure, building, site, or area would be unimpaired.
10. Any permitted alteration or demolition should promote the purposes of this title and general welfare of the village and its residents.
11. Demolition should not be permitted if a structure, building, or site is economically viable in its present condition or could be economically viable after completion of appropriate alterations, even if demolition would permit a more profitable use of such site.
B. Design Standards:
1. Height: The height of a landmark after alteration should be compatible with the height of the original landmark. The height of a structure or building and adjacent open spaces after any proposed alteration or construction within a historic district should be compatible with the style and character of the structure or building and with surrounding structures and buildings.
2. Relationship Between Mass And Open Space: The relationship between a landmark and adjacent open spaces after its alteration should be compatible with such relationship prior to such alteration. The relationship between a structure or building and adjacent open spaces after alteration within a historic district should be compatible with the relationship between surrounding structures, buildings and adjacent open spaces.
3. Relationship Among Height, Width And Scale: The relationship among the height, width, and scale of a landmark after alteration should be compatible with such relationship prior to such alteration. The relationship among height, width, and scale of a structure or building after an alteration within a historic district should be compatible with the relationship among height, width, and scale of surrounding structures and buildings.
4. Directional Expression: The directional expressions of a landmark after alteration, whether its vertical or horizontal positioning, should be compatible with the directional expression of the original landmark. The directional expression of a structure or building after alteration within a historic district should be compatible with the directional expression of surrounding structures and buildings within such historic district.
5. Roof Shape: The roof shape of a landmark after alteration should be compatible with the roof shape of the original landmark. The roof shape of a structure, building, or object after alteration within a historic district should be compatible with the roof shape of surrounding structures and buildings within such historic district.
6. Architectural Details, General Designs, Materials, Textures, And Colors: The architectural details, general design, materials, textures, and colors of a landmark after alteration should be compatible with the architectural details, general design, materials, textures, and colors of the original landmark. The architectural details, general design, materials, textures, and colors of a structure or building after alteration within a historic district should be compatible with the architectural details, general design, materials, textures, and colors of surrounding structures and buildings within such historic district.
7. Landscape And Appurtenances: The landscape and appurtenances, including, without limitation, signs, fences, accessory structures, and pavings, of a landmark after alteration should be compatible with the landscape and appurtenances of the original landmark. The landscape and appurtenances of a structure or building after alteration within a historic district should be compatible with the landscape and appurtenances of surrounding structures and buildings within such historic district.
8. Construction: New construction should be compatible with the architectural styles, design standards and streetscapes within a historic district.
C. Additional Standards: In addition to the foregoing standards, the commission may consider the secretary of the interior's standards for rehabilitation guidelines for rehabilitating historic buildings, and any amendments thereto, in reviewing any application under this section. (Ord. O-1-06, 1-9-2006)