For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ARCHITECTURAL RESOURCES. Districts, structures, buildings, monuments, sites and landscaping that possess local interest or artistic merit, or which are particularly representative of their class or period, or represent achievements in architecture, engineering technology, design, or scientific research and development.
CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS. The official document issued by the Historic Preservation Commission approving any application for permission to construct, erect, demolish, move, reconstruct, rehabilitate, restore, stabilize or alter any structure within a historical district.
COMMISSION. Historical Preservation Commission of the city.
EXTERIOR ARCHITECTURAL FEATURE. The architectural style, design, general arrangements and components of all of the outer surfaces of an “improvement”, as distinguished from the interior surfaces enclosed by said exterior surfaces, including, but not limited to, the kind, color and texture of the building material and the type and style of all windows, doors, lights, roofs, signs and other fixtures appurtenant to such “improvements”.
GOOD REPAIR. A condition which not only meets minimum standards of health and safety, but which also guarantees continued attractiveness, continued structural soundness and continued usefulness.
HISTORIC DISTRICT. A geographically definable area as designated by ordinance of the City Council which may contain one or more significant landmarks and which may have within its boundaries other properties or structures, while not of such historic and/or architectural significance to be designated as landmarks, nevertheless contribute to the overall visual characteristics of the district.
HISTORICAL RESOURCES. Sites, districts, structures, buildings or monuments that represent facets of history in the locality, state or nation; places where significant historical or unusual events occurred; places associated with a personality or group important to the past.
LANDMARK. An individual structure, building, site or monument which contributes to the historical, architectural or archeological heritage of the city and is worthy of rehabilitation, restoration and/or preservation.
LANDMARK SITE. A parcel or part thereof on which is or was situated a LANDMARK.
ORDINARY MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR. Any work for which a building permit or any other city permit or certificate is not required, and where the purpose of such work is stabilization, and further, where such work will not noticeably change the exterior appearance of the resource. Any work not satisfying all of the above requirements shall not be considered ORDINARY MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR. The following examples shall not be considered ordinary maintenance and repair: the application of paint to previously unpainted brick, or masonry; the construction or enlargement of a driveway or parking area; the replacement of exterior doors or windows, except for repair of broken glass or screens by use of like glass or screens; and further, there are other types of construction or other work that shall not be considered ORDINARY MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR.
PRESERVATION. The adaptive use, conservation, protection, reconstruction, restoration, rehabilitation or stabilization of sites, buildings, districts, structures, monuments or other resources significant to the heritage of the people of the city, and further:
(1) ADAPTIVE USE. The restrained alteration of a historic or architectural resource to accommodate uses for which the resource was not originally constructed, but in such a way so as to maintain the general historical and architectural character.
(2) CONSERVATION. The sustained use and appearance of a resource essentially in its existing state.
(3) IMPROVEMENT. Any building, structure, place, parking facility, fence, wall, work of art or other object, the addition or deletion of which constitutes a physical betterment of real property, or any part of such betterment of real property.
(4) PROTECTION. Maintaining the security and integrity as it exists through the establishment of the mechanisms of this chapter.
(5) RECONSTRUCTION. The process of recreating or reproducing by new construction all or part of the form and detail of a vanished resource as it appeared at a specified period in time.
(6) REHABILITATION. The process of returning a historical or architectural resource to the state of efficiency or soundness by repair or alteration designed to encourage its continued use but without noticeably changing the exterior appearance of the resource.
(7) RESTORATION. The process of accurately recovering all or a part of the form and detail of a resource and its setting as it appeared at a particular period of time by means of the removal of a later work and the replacement or duplication of missing earlier work.
(8) STABILIZATION. The process of applying measures designed to halt deterioration and establish the structural stability of an unsafe or deteriorated resource while maintaining the essential form as it presently exists without noticeably changing the exterior appearance of the resource.
SIGN. Includes every sign, device, figure, painting, sculpture, drawing, message, placard, poster, billboard, ground sign, temporary sign, marquee, awning, canopy, banner, pennant, flag, announcement, decoration, demonstration, display, illustration or insignia, designed to be seen from outside any improvement, and which is used to advertise or promote the interests of any person when the same is placed in view of the general public.
SIGNIFICANT CHARACTERISTICS OF HISTORICAL OR ARCHITECTURAL RESOURCES. Those characteristics which are important to or expressive of the historical, architectural or cultural quality and integrity of the resource and its setting, and which include, but are not limited to, building materials, detail, height, mass, proportion, rhythm, scale, setback, setting, shape, street accessories and workmanship.
(1) BUILDING MATERIALS. The physical components and the manner of their utilization which create the aesthetic and structural appearance of the resource, including, but not limited to, a consideration of the texture, nature and style of the components and their combinations, such as brick, stone, shingle, wood, concrete or stucco.
(2) DETAIL. The architectural aspects which, due to particular treatment, draw attention to certain parts or features of a structure.
(3) HEIGHT. The vertical dimension of a given structure, building or monument.
(4) PROPORTION. The relative physical sizes within and between buildings and building components.
(5) RHYTHM. A regular pattern of shapes including, but not limited to, windows, doors, projections, and heights, within a building, structure or monument, or a group of the same.
(6) SCALE. The harmonious proportion of parts of a building, structure or monument to one another and to the human figure.
(7) SETTING. The surrounding buildings, structure or monuments or landscaping which provides visual aesthetic, or auditory quality to the historical or architectural resources.
(8) SHAPE. The physical configuration of structures or buildings or monuments and their component parts including, but not limited to, roofs, doors, windows and facades.
(9) STREET ACCESSORIES. Those sidewalks or street fixtures which provide cleanliness, comfort, direction, or safety, and are compatible in design to their surroundings, and include, but are not limited to, trash receptacles, benches, advertising displays, signs, lights, hydrants and landscaping including, but not limited to, trees, shrubbery and planters.
STRUCTURE. Anything constructed or erected, the use of which requires permanent location on the ground or which is attached to something having a permanent location on the ground. This includes, but is not limited to, buildings, fences, walls, driveways, sidewalks, parking areas and signs.
(Prior Code, § 9-11-3) (Ord. 563, passed 12-4-1990)