The United States Secretary of the Interior Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties may be used as a guide to assist the Historic Preservation Overlay Review Board in the issuance of certificates of appropriateness.
(a) General Standards.
(1) Building proportion (height, depth, and width) for new construction shall be such that it is similar to any immediately adjacent structures on the same street, or streets of a corner lot. Any exterior modifications or additions to existing structures shall maintain the proportions of wall height and length, window and door opening sizes, and roof height and slope as the original structure. New principal structures shall conform in these regards to the proportions of adjoining structures. All existing and new principal structures shall maintain a rhythm of the masses to openings.
(2) Materials utilized in exterior renovations, additions, and construction of new principal structures shall either match the appearance of the materials used in construction of the original buildings or shall be modern construction materials which create the same effect. Such materials shall not be a cosmetic treatment which simulates original fabric.
(3) All exterior colors shall be appropriate to the architectural style and time period in which the structure was built. Visual relationships of the streetscape shall be maintained.
(4) Decorative detail items of new construction or major additions or alterations such as chimneys, gutters, downspouts, gables, soffits, hardware, light fixtures, and shutters shall be compatible with the architectural style of the principal structure. Materials used for and design of decorative details may be modern reproductions, which create the same effect.
(5) Techniques utilized in the rehabilitation of existing exterior surfaces shall be sympathetic to the surface materials.
(b) Standards for Major Additions or Alterations.
(1) Every reasonable effort shall be made to use the property for its originally intended purpose or to provide a compatible use requiring minimal alteration.
(2) Each property shall be recognized as a product of its own time. Alterations that have no historical basis and which seek to create an earlier appearance shall be discouraged.
(3) Deteriorated architectural features shall be repaired rather than replaced whenever possible, substantiated by historic, physical, or pictorial evidence.
(4) The gentlest means possible shall be used to clean the property's surface if necessary. Sandblasting and other cleaning methods that will damage the historic building material are prohibited unless specifically approved by the Historic Preservation Overlay Review Board.
(5) Archaeological resources affected by or adjacent to any alteration shall be protected and preserved.
(6) Contemporary design for alteration to a property shall not be discouraged when such alteration does not destroy significant, historical, architectural, or cultural material and character of the property, its environment, and surrounding contributing properties.
(7) Whenever possible, a new major addition or alteration shall be accomplished so that its future removal will not impair the essential form and integrity of the structure.
(8) Materials utilized in exterior renovations and additions to the principal structures shall either match the appearance of that used in construction of the original buildings or shall be modern construction materials which create the same effect. The materials shall not be a cosmetic treatment which simulates original fabric. Decorative detail items such as chimneys, gutters, downspouts, gables, soffits, hardware, light fixtures, signs, and shutters shall be compatible with the architectural style of the principal structure.
(9) In passing upon appropriateness, the Historic Preservation Overlay Review Board shall consider, in addition to any other pertinent factor, the architectural characteristics typical of structures in the District; and the historical and architectural value and significance, architectural style, general design, arrangement, texture, material, and color of the architectural feature involved and its relation to the architectural features of other contributing properties in the immediate neighborhood.
(c) Standards for New Construction.
(1) New structures should look new, but relate to existing contributing properties surrounding the new structure. Building height, width, mass, and proportion affect the degree of compatibility between the old and the new.
(2) Physical size and scale shall be compatible to existing contributing properties without overwhelming them.
(3) The proportion of openings, width, and height of windows, doors, and entries, shall be visually compatible with adjacent contributing properties and open space.
(4) The rhythm or relationship of solid spaces to voids (i.e., walls to windows and doors) in the facade of a structure shall be visually compatible with adjacent contributing properties and open spaces in its environment.
(5) The rhythm of spacing, the relationship of a structure to the open space between it and adjoining structures, shall respect the surrounding environment.
(6) The rhythm of projections, the relationship of entrances, porches, and other projections to sidewalks or streets, shall be guided by the streetscape provided by adjacent and visually related structures and open spaces.
(7) The choice of material, texture, and color for the facade of the structure should relate attractively to and be tempered by the predominant material, texture, and color of adjacent and visually related structures.
(8) Preservation and allocation of appropriate green spaces shall be encouraged and respective of the rhythm or relationship of solid spaces to voids.
(9) The scale, size, and mass of structures in relation to open spaces, openings, and projections shall be compatible with adjacent, visually related structures and open spaces.
(10) A structure that has frontage on more than one street or alley resulting in multiple facades shall require application of compatibility standards to each facade.
(11) The Historic Preservation Overlay Review Board shall consider, in addition to any other pertinent factor, the architectural characteristics typical of structures in the district and the historical and architectural value and significance, architectural style, general design, arrangement, texture, material, and color of the architectural feature involved and its relation to the architectural features of other structures in the immediate neighborhood.
(Ord. 21-2020. Passed 12-14-20.)