For the purposes of this Historic Preservation Ordinance, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them.
ALTERATION. Any exterior change that would affect the historic, cultural, archaeological, or architectural significance of a designated site or structure, any portion of which is visible or intended to be visible from a public way, including, but not limited to, construction, reconstruction, moving, or demolition.
APPURTENANCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL SETTINGS. All that space of grounds and structures thereon which surrounds a designated site, historic district, or structure and to which it relates physically or visually, and is within the designated boundary of the site, historic district, or structure. APPURTENANCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL SETTINGS shall include, but not be limited to, walkways and driveways (whether paved or not), trees, landscaping, pastures, croplands, waterways, open space, setbacks, parks, public spaces, and rocks.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL DATA RECOVERY. Also known as Phase III data recovery, this involves large-scale excavations designed to document the data from an archaeological resource before a project proceeds and the resource is lost.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVALUATION STUDY. Also known as a Phase II survey, this study requires the investigation of adequate portions of archaeological properties to evaluate the significance of the resources. The investigated areas should be no larger than necessary to achieve the research goals.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL IDENTIFICATION STUDY. Also known as a Phase I survey, the goal of this study is to locate archaeological properties that may be significant in the area of potential impact. This study involves development of research designs, archival and background research, field survey, analysis, and reporting. An archaeological identification study involves some form of sampling to permit the economical investigation of land with a high assurance that significant archaeological resources have not been overlooked.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES. This resource type refers to any physical remains or artifacts left behind by human activity that provide information about past cultures, civilizations, and societies. These can include sites, features, artifacts, human remains, and other types of material evidence that have been buried over time.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT PLAN. A plan prepared by a professional archaeologist that is designed to manage and mitigate adverse effects on significant archaeological resources within an area of potential impact and create a long-term management plan for these archaeological resources.
AREA OF POTENTIAL IMPACT. The geographic area or areas within which a project actively regulated by this chapter may directly, indirectly, or cumulatively cause changes in the character or use of historic properties, if any such properties exist.
CEMETERY. Any land or structure, including any natural or prepared physical location, whether originally located below, at, on, or above the surface of the earth, used for the interment of human remains or deposit of funerary objects. The term "cemetery" shall include the terms "graveyard," "burial site," "burial ground," "ossuaries," "burial pits," and "burying ground."
CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL. A certificate issued by the Historic Preservation Commission indicating its approval of plans for construction, alteration, reconstruction, moving, or demolition of an individually designated landmark, site, or structure or of a site or structure within a designated historic district.
CULTURAL RESOURCES. Cultural resources are any prehistoric or historic remains or indicators of human activities, including artifacts, sites, structures, landscapes, and objects of importance to a culture or community for scientific, traditional, religious, or other reasons.
DEMOLITION BY NEGLECT. Any neglect in the maintenance and repair of an individually designated landmark, site, or structure, or a site or structure within a designated historic district that results in the gradual deterioration of these historic resources.
DIVISION. The Frederick County Division of Planning and Permitting.
ECONOMIC HARDSHIP. Extreme economic impact on an individual property owner resulting from application of the provisions of this chapter.
EXTERIOR FEATURES. The architectural style, design, and general arrangement of the exterior of an historic structure, including the nature and texture of building material, and the type and style of all windows, doors, light fixtures, signs, or similar items found on or related to the exterior of an historic structure.
GOOD FAITH. Describes a level of review, the provision of information, or type of action(s) taken with respect to requirements under this chapter that are characterized by honesty, objectivity, timeliness, reasonableness, and lacking the intent to mislead.
HISTORIC DISTRICT. A significant concentration, linkage, or continuity of sites, structures, or objects united historically, culturally, or aesthetically by plan or physical development. A HISTORIC DISTRICT shall include all property within its boundaries as defined and designated by the county.
HISTORIC INTEGRITY. The ability of a property to convey its historical associations or attributes. Seven aspects or standards are used to evaluate the integrity of properties: location, setting, design, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association.
HISTORIC PROPERTY. Historic properties are any historical, archaeological, architectural, or cultural resources designated or eligible for designation by the Frederick County Historic Preservation Commission as a historic resource.
LANDMARK. Any site or structure designated by Frederick County outside the boundaries of a historic district that is of historic, cultural, archaeological, or architectural significance.
PROFESSIONAL ARCHAEOLOGIST. An archaeologist who meets or exceeds the professional qualifications in archaeology as outlined by the Secretary of the Interior's Professional Qualifications Standards.
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.
REHABILITATION. The process of making possible a compatible use for a property through repair, alterations, and additions while preserving those portions or features which convey its historical, cultural, or architectural values.
RENOVATION. See REHABILITATION.
RESOURCE. Any building, structure, site, or object that is part of or constitutes an historic property.
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 period.
SITE. The location of an event of historic significance, a significant landscape, or a structure, whether standing or ruined, which possesses historic, architectural, archaeological, or cultural significance.
STRUCTURE. A combination of material to form a construction that is stable, including but not limited to buildings, stadiums, reviewing stands, platforms, stagings, observation towers, radio towers, water tanks and towers, trestles, bridges, piers, paving, bulkheads, wharves, sheds, coal bins, shelters, fences, and display signs visible or intended to be visible from a public way. The term STRUCTURE shall be construed as if followed by the words “or part thereof.”
UNANTICIPATED DISCOVERY. A discovery made when ground disturbance uncovers archaeological resources or evidence of a cemetery.
UNUSUAL HISTORIC VALUE. A property eligible for designation under this chapter with the added requirement that the property represent an outstanding or exceptional aspect of federal, state, or local history, culture, architecture or archaeology that is not otherwise represented within the Frederick County Register of Historic Places, the loss of which would cause irreparable harm to the public interest as stated in § 1-23-2 of this chapter.
(Ord. 97-16-194, 12-2-1997; Ord. 10-19-554, 7-13-2010; Ord. 14-23-678, 11-13-2014; Bill No. 24-01, 4-16-2024)