(A) Application for a certificate of appropriateness shall be made in the office of the Department on forms provided by the Department. Detailed drawings, plans, or specifications are not required. However, to the extent reasonably required for the Historic Review Board to make a decision, each application must be accompanied by such sketches, drawings, photographs, descriptions, or other information showing the proposed exterior alterations, additions, changes, or new construction.
(B) The Board may advise and make recommendations to the applicant before acting on an application for a certificate of appropriateness. Application for a certificate of appropriateness shall be evaluated according to specific guidelines established by the Board for the assigned Historic or Conservation District.
(C) A certificate of appropriateness is not required for the following:
(1) Replacement of foliage up to four feet full grown height;
(2) Landscape maintenance, pruning, or replacement of foliage with plants of similar type and size;
(3) Removal of trees smaller than eight inches in diameter for shade and evergreen trees and four inches in diameter for ornamental trees;
(4) Repair or replacement of existing sidewalks, driveways, and steps not attached to a building;
(5) Any work, visible from the street, that does not change the present form of the property and is done as normal maintenance of the property;
(6) The removal of inappropriate fences:
(a) Chain-1ink fences (once removed, they cannot be replaced); and
(b) Board-on-board, board and batten, basket weave, louver, split rail and stockade.
(7) The installation of a single, wal1-mounted mailbox near the main entrance on the front of the structure;
(8) Approval is not required for the following roofs and gutter repairs and maintenance:
(a) Repair of storm damaged roof areas if the surface matches the existing;
(b) Replacement of up to 50% of deteriorated roof shingles on any roof surface if they match the existing roof shingles;
(c) Repair or re-roofing of any flat roof provided it is not visible from the ground and its shape is not altered;
(d) Repair or relining of built-in gutters provided no portion of the gutter visible from the ground is altered;
(e) Replacement of deteriorated portions of existing gutter if the replacements match that of the portions removed; and
(f) Replacement or installation of mechanical equipment, skylights, or vents on flat roofs provided the new element is not visible from the ground.
(D) If an application for certificate of appropriateness is approved by the Board, or is not acted on by the Board within 30 days after it is filed, a certificate of appropriateness shall be issued. If the certificate is issued, the application shall be processed in the same manner as applications for building permits required by the city, if any, are processed. If no building permits are required by the city, the applicant may proceed with the work authorized by the certificate.
(E) If the Board denies an application for a certificate of appropriateness within 30 days after it is filed, the certificate may not be issued. The Board must state its reasons for the denial in writing, and must advise the applicant. An application that has been denied may not be processed as an application for a building permit and does not authorize any work by the applicant.
(F) The Board may grant an extension of the 30-day limit prescribed by divisions (D) and (E) above if the applicant agrees to it.
(Ord. 5-C-91, passed 5-14-91; Am. Ord. 13-C-95, passed 6-13-95; Am. Ord. 20-C-14, passed 7-29-14)