In determining whether to issue a certificate of appropriateness, the commission and, if applicable, the board of trustees shall consider the following criteria, as applicable.
(a) General standards.
(1) Reasonable efforts should be made to use a property for its originally intended purpose or to provide a compatible use that requires minimal alteration of a structure, building, object or site and its environment.
(2) The distinguishing original qualities or character of a structure, building, object 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, objects, 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, object 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, object, 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, buildings and objects should be undertaken with the gentlest means possible. Sandblasting and other cleaning methods that will damage the structures, buildings or objects should be avoided.
(8) New structures, buildings or objects or alterations to sites should not be discouraged when such structures or alterations do not destroy significant historical, architectural or cultural features and are compatible with the size, scale, color, material and character of the site, neighborhood or environment.
(9) Wherever possible, new structures, buildings or objects 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, object, site or area would be unimpaired.
(10) Alterations that do not affect any essential architectural or historic features of a structure, building or object as viewed from the public way ordinarily should be permitted.
(11) Any permitted alteration or demolition should promote the purposes of this ordinance and general welfare of the village and its residents.
(12) Demolition should not be permitted if a structure, building, object 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 guidelines.
(1) Height. The height of a certified landmark after alteration should be compatible with the height of the original landmark. The height of a structure, building or object after alteration within an historic district should be compatible with the height of surrounding structures, buildings and objects within such historic district.
(2) Relationship between mass and open space. The relationship between a landmark and adjacent open space after its alteration should be compatible with such relationship prior to such alteration. The relationship between a structure, building or object and adjacent open spaces after alteration within an historic district should be compatible with the relationship between surrounding structures, buildings and objects and adjacent open spaces within such historic district.
(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, building or object after an alteration within a historic district should be compatible with the relationship among height, width and scale of surrounding structures, buildings and objects within such historic district.
(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, building or object after alteration within an historic district should be compatible with the directional expression of surrounding structures, buildings and objects 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 an historic district should be compatible with the roof shape of surrounding structures, buildings and objects 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, building or object after alteration within a historic district should be compatible with the architectural details, general design, materials, textures and colors of surrounding structures, buildings and objects 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, building or object after alteration within an historic district should be compatible with the landscape and appurtenances of surrounding structures, buildings and objects within such historic district.
(8) Construction. New construction in an historic district should be compatible with the architectural styles and designs within such historic districts.
(c) Additional guidelines. In addition to the foregoing guidelines, the commission may consider the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings (revised 1983), and any amendments thereto, in conducting an advisory review.
(d) Economic hardship. Notwithstanding the foregoing criteria, if an applicant seeks a certificate of appropriateness on the grounds of economic hardship, the applicant shall present sufficient evidence to the commission and, if applicable, to the board of trustees to establish that no economically viable use of a site can be made unless the requested change is permitted. In order to evaluate fully a claim of economic hardship, the commission and, if applicable, the board of trustees may require an applicant to provide any relevant data or studies or may itself undertake or cause to undertake studies relating to the economic viability of the site. Economic hardship shall be but one criterion to be considered by the commission and, if applicable, by the board of trustees.
(Ord. No. 90-32-1841; Ord. No. 2013-10-3340)