For purposes of this chapter the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ALTERATION. Any construction, replacement, demolition or change to the exterior, of a building or structure that is visible to the public that may affect the historic, archeological, or architectural significance of a designated site or structure.
APPURTENANCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL SETTINGS. All that space of grounds and structures thereon, which surrounds a designated site or structure and to which it relates physically or visually. APPURTENANCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL SETTINGS shall include, but not be limited to walkways and driveways (paved or unpaved), trees, landscaping, pastures, crop lands, waterways, open space, setbacks, parks, public spaces and rocks.
CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS (COA). A document approving or disapproving a proposal to make an alteration in the appearance of a property located within a designated HDO, which must first be obtained from the Historic Preservation Committee (HPC) before any alteration may be undertaken.
CULTURAL RESOURCE SURVEY. A process, which defines a proposed HDO boundary and identifies all structures as contributing or non-contributing. CONTRIBUTING are those, which are predominant styles of the area and built during the era when the bulk of the structures in the HDO were constructed. NON-CONTRIBUTING are those, which have been severely altered and/or were built at a later date and do not therefore contribute to the historic architectural fabric of the area. The survey also includes an overview of the history and development, detailing the significance of the area history and architecture. It contains photographs and a brief description of each structure.
DEMOLITION. Any act that destroys in whole or in part a landmark, building or structure in a historic district.
EXTERIOR FEATURES. Includes the architectural style, design, and general arrangement of the exterior, the nature and texture of building material, and the type and style of all windows, doors, light fixtures, signs, and similar items found on, or related to the features of an historic site or the exterior features of a historic resource within a historic district.
HISTORIC DISTRICT OVERLAY WORK PERMIT. A permit approved by the Historic Preservation Committee and issued by the building inspector authorizing work on any property located within the HDO.
LEGAL OWNER. A titled owner of record in the Simpson County Clerk's Office.
NEW CONSTRUCTION. Any addition to an existing building or structure or the construction of a new building or structure.
ORDINARY MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS. Any work, the purpose of which is to correct deterioration or to prevent deterioration of an historic property. The work shall restore the property to its appearance prior to deterioration. The work shall involve the use of the same building materials that are as close as possible to the original. Work that changes the appearance of the exterior shall be considered an alteration.
PRESERVATION PLAN. A set of design guidelines created by the residents and property owners of an HDO used to determine the appropriateness of alterations in the decision-making process by the HPC.
RECONSTRUCTION. The process of reproducing by new construction the exact form and detail of a vanished structure, or part thereof, as it appeared at a specific period of time.
RESTORATION. The process of accurately recovering the form and details of a property as it appeared at a specific period of time by means of removal of later work and the replacement of work missing from that point.
STANDARDS FOR REHABILITATION.
(1) The Secretary of Interior's standards for rehabilitation as follows:
(a) A property shall be used for its historic purpose or be placed in a new use that requires minimal change to the defining characteristics of the building and its site and environment.
(b) The historic character of a property shall be retained and preserved. The removal of historic materials or alteration of features and spaces that characterize a property shall be avoided.
(c) Each property shall be recognized as a physical record of its time, place and use. Changes that create a false sense of historical development, such as adding conjectural features or architectural elements from other buildings, shall not be undertaken.
(d) Most properties change over time; those changes that have acquired historic significance in their own right shall be retained and preserved.
(e) Distinctive features, finishes and construction techniques or examples of craftsmanship that characterize a historic property shall be preserved.
(f) Deteriorated historic features shall be repaired rather than replaced. Where the severity of deterioration required replacement of a distinctive feature, the new feature shall match the old in design, color, texture, and other visual qualities and, where possible, materials. Replacement of missing features shall be substantiated by documentary, physical, or pictorial evidence.
(g) Chemical or physical treatments, such as sandblasting, that cause damage to historic materials shall not be used. The surface cleaning of structures, if appropriate, shall be undertaken using the gentlest means possible.
(h) Significant archaeological resources affected by a project shall be protected and preserved. If such resources must be disturbed, mitigation measures shall be undertaken.
(i) New additions, exterior alterations, or related new construction shall not destroy historic materials that characterize the property. The new work shall be differentiated from the old and shall be compatible with the massing, size, scale and architectural features to protect the historic integrity of the property and its environment.
(j) New additions and adjacent or related new construction shall be undertaken in such a manner that if removed in the future, the essential form and integrity of the historic property and its environment would be unimpaired.
(2) As stated above in the definition, the treatment REHABILITATION assumes that at least some repair or alteration of the historic building will be needed in order to provide for an efficient contemporary use; however, these repairs and alterations must not damage or destroy materials, features or finishes that are important in defining the building's historic character. For example, certain treatments, if improperly applied, may cause or accelerate physical deterioration of the historic building. This can include using improper repointing or exterior masonry cleaning techniques, or introducing insulation that damages historic fabric. In almost all of these situations, use of these materials and treatments will result in a project that does not meet the standards. Similarly, exterior additions that duplicate the form, material and detailing of the structure to the extent that they compromise the historic character of the structure will fail to meet the standards.
STRUCTURE. Anything constructed or erected, the use of the ground, including (but without limiting the generality of the foregoing) barns; smokestacks; advertising signs; billboards; backstops for tennis courts; bridges; fences; pergolas; gazebos; radio and television antennae, solar collectors and microwave antennae, including the supporting towers; roads; ruins; or remnants (including foundations); swimming pools or walkways.
(Ord. 2018-005, passed 4-9-2018)