In the review of applications for a certificate of appropriateness and other matters, the Board shall be guided by the following requirements and criteria:
(a) The distinguishing original qualities or character of a period building, structure or site and their environment shall not be destroyed. The removal or alteration of any historic material or distinctive architectural features should be avoided when feasible.
(b) All buildings, structures, and sites shall be recognized as products of their own time. Alterations that have no historical basis and which seek to create an earlier appearance inconsistent or inappropriate to the original integrity of the building shall be discouraged.
(c) If changes to a building that have taken place in the course of time are evidence of the history and development of a building, structure or site and its environment, and these changes are deemed to have acquired significance, then this significance (if any) shall be recognized and respected.
(d) Distinctive stylistic features or examples of skilled craftsmanship that characterize a building, structure or site shall be treated with sensitivity.
(e) Significant architectural features that have deteriorated shall be repaired, wherever possible. In the event replacement is necessary, the new material should match the material being replaced in design, color, texture and other visual qualities. Repair or replacement of architectural features should be based on accurate
duplications of features, and if possible, substantiated by historic, physical or pictorial evidence rather than on conjectural, designed or the availability of different architectural elements from other buildings or structures.
(f) The surface cleaning of structures shall be undertaken with methods designed to minimize damage to historic building materials. Sandblasting and other cleaning methods that will damage historic building materials should be avoided.
(g) Every reasonable effort shall be made to protect and preserve archeological resources affected by, or next to any project.
(h) Contemporary design for alterations and additions to existing properties shall not be discouraged when such alterations and additions do not destroy historical, architectural or cultural material and such design is compatible with the size, scale, color, material and character of the property, neighborhood or environment.
(i) Wherever possible, new additions or alterations to structures shall be done in such a manner that if such additions or alterations were to be removed in the future, the essential form and integrity of the original structure would be unimpaired.
(j) The Design Review Board may require applicants to explore alternatives to demolition of a building or structure.
(k) The design of new structures and of additions to existing structures, including new site improvements, shall take into account the architectural style, general design, arrangement, texture, material, and color of other structures and premises within the Architectural Review District.
(l) All new structures and all reconstruction or remodeling of existing structures shall use natural traditional exterior materials such as brick, stone, masonry and wood, where possible.
(m) Traditional colors and combinations of those colors that are both identified with the origin or the era in which the area was originally built, should be used for building exteriors for all new construction.
(n) All signs shall be of such a style or design that is reflected in the district, and shall conform to the requirements of Chapter 1258. Sign size and shape shall also respond to the existing proportions of period structures, and signs shall not be permitted to cover or otherwise hid important architectural features.
(Ord. 75-96. Passed 11-18-96.)