(A) Certificate of appropriateness (COA) required. A certificate of appropriateness must be issued by the Building Commissioner before a permit is issued for, or work is begun on, any of the following:
(1) The demolition of any building or structure;
(2) The moving of any building or structure;
(3) A conspicuous change in the exterior appearance of any historic building or any part of such a building, including walls, fences, doors, windows, lighting fixtures, steps, paving, and signs by additions, reconstruction, alteration, or maintenance involving exterior color change;
(4) Any new construction of a building, addition, or exterior change.
(B) Application for certificate of appropriateness. An application for a certificate of appropriateness shall be made in the Building, Planning, and Zoning Office, 314 West Washington Street, Greensburg on forms provided by the Building Commissioner. All applications shall be subject to the rules and requirements established by the City Council. Rules may include, but are not limited to, filing fees or deadlines and application requirements such as sketches, drawings, photographs, descriptions, or other information which the city requires to make a decision.
(C) Approval or denial of certificate of appropriateness. The Building Commissioner should confer with the Executive Director of Main Street Greensburg and may approve or deny certificates of appropriateness for any actions covered by this title. If an application for a certificate of appropriateness is not acted on by the Building Commissioner within 30 days after it is filed, a certificate of appropriateness shall be issued. The Building Commissioner may grant an extension of the 30-day limit if the applicant agrees to it. The Building Commissioner must report its findings and the reasons for its decision in written form and supply the applicant with a copy of its report. A copy of the certificate of appropriateness must be submitted with the application for a building or demolition permit; no building or demolition permit shall be issued unless a copy of the certificate of appropriateness is provided by the applicant with the application. If work proceeds without a certificate of appropriateness than a stop work order may be issued. Any person aggrieved by the Building Commissioners decision may appeal to the City Plan Commission, with a ten-day written notice before the next regularly scheduled meeting.
(D) Criteria for considering effect of actions on historic buildings. The Building Commissioner, in considering the appropriateness of any work shall require that work be done in a manner that preserves the historical and architectural character of the building, structure, or appurtenance. In considering historic and architectural character, the Building Commissioner shall consider, among other things, the following:
(1) Purposes of this title.
(2) Historical and architectural value and significance the building, structure, site or appurtenance.
(3) Compatibility or insignificance of additions, alterations, details, materials, or other non-original elements, which may be of a different style and construction date than the original.
(4) The texture, material, color, style, and detailing of the building, structure, site or appurtenance.
(5) The continued preservation and protection of original or otherwise significant structure, material, and ornamentation.
(6) The relationship of buildings, structures, appurtenances, or architectural features similar to one within the same historic district, including, visual compatibility as defined in § 155.261.
(7) The position of the building or structure in relation to the street, public right of way and to other buildings and structures.
(Ord. 2006-32, passed 2-5-07; Am. Ord. 2020-27, passed 11-2-20)