(a) No person shall demolish or make any alteration or change to any designated property without first obtaining a certificate of appropriateness.
(b) The Historic Preservation Board shall make a determination on an application for a certificate of appropriateness within thirty days of the filing of the action unless the applicant approves an extension of time. The Historic Preservation Board may also table the application for additional information, or for lack of information or clarification until the next meeting or for a specific period of time. If the Board fails to render its decision within sixty days, the application for a certificate of appropriateness shall be deemed approved. This provision shall not apply if the application is tabled due to lack of information provided by the applicant, or due to the applicant requesting that the application remain tabled.
(c) In making such a determination, the Historic Preservation Board shall refer to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation, and to the design guidelines adopted by the Historic Preservation Board.
(d) In addition to the above procedures, if an application for a certificate of appropriateness seeks approval of demolition, the Historic Preservation Board may delay determination of the application for a period of sixty days upon a finding that the structure is of such importance that alternatives to demolition may be feasible and should be actively pursued by both the applicant and the Historic Preservation Board. In the event that action on an application is delayed as provided herein, the Historic Preservation Board may take such steps as it deems necessary to preserve the structure in accordance with the purposes of this section. Such steps may include but are not limited to, consultation with civic groups, public agencies, and interested citizens, marketing plans, recommendations for acquisition of the property by public or private bodies or agencies, and exploration of the possibility of moving the structure or structures.
(e) Following its review, the Historic Preservation Board shall either:
(1) Approve the certificate of appropriateness as submitted;
(2) Approve the certificate of appropriateness subject to specific conditions; or
(3) Deny the certificate of appropriateness.
(f) A certificate of appropriateness shall be conditional upon the commencement of work within one year of issuance. If work has not commenced within one year of issuance or work has not been more than fifty percent completed within one and one-half years of issuance, the certificate shall expire and be revoked.
(g) Design Criteria. The following design criteria shall apply to all buildings, site elements, structures, and property designated as historic buildings or within an historic district:
(1) All construction, reconstruction, exterior alteration, demolition, or other exterior structure or site element change shall preserve the character, historical significance, and architectural style of the existing buildings, site elements, structures, and property. Such changes shall be visually compatible with the subject structure, property, and area.
(2) Materials. Traditional building materials such as wood, brick, or stone shall be used for construction, reconstruction, exterior alteration, or other exterior structure or site element change. Modern man-made materials may be utilized at the discretion of the Board if the proposed project keeps in character with the existing building, site, area structures, and the Board’s Guidelines.
(3) Building massing. For new construction and additions, the structure’s width, height, surrounding setbacks, and style shall be considered in relation to adjacent structures. This relationship between structures shall allow for consistency of style, size, and density in each given neighborhood area.
(4) Enhancement of pedestrian environment. Where possible, elements which can contribute to the quality of the pedestrian environment and other public amenities should be promoted. Included among these may be benches, water features, seating areas, arcades, awnings, or canopies.
(5) Signage. Signage shall be proportionally scaled and appropriately designed to coalesce with the subject building, site and area.
(Ord. 041-20. Passed 2-24-20.)