(a) Standards of Review: In considering an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness, the Historic Landmarks Commission shall be guided by the following general guidelines:
(1) Every reasonable effort shall be made to provide a compatible use for a property which requires minimal alteration of the building, structure or site and its environment or to use a property for its originally intended purpose.
(2) The distinguishing original qualities or character of a building, structure or site and its environment shall not be destroyed. The removal or alteration of any historic material or distinctive architectural feature should be avoided when possible.
(3) 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 shall be discouraged.
(4) Changes which may have taken place in the course of time are evidence of the history and development of a building, structure or site and its environment. These changes may have acquired significance in their own right and such significance shall be recognized and respected.
(5) Distinctive stylistic features or examples of skilled craftsmanship which characterize a building, structure or site shall be treated with sensitivity.
(6) Deteriorated architectural features shall be repaired rather than replaced, wherever possible. If replacement is necessary, then the new material should match the material being replaced in composition, design, color, texture and other visual qualities. Repair or replacement of missing architectural features should be based on accurate duplications of features, substantiated by historic, physical or pictorial evidence rather than on conjectural designs or the availability of different architectural elements from other buildings or structures.
(7) The surface cleaning of structures shall be undertaken with the gentlest means possible. Sandblasting and other cleaning methods that will damage the historic building materials shall not be undertaken.
(8) Every reasonable effort shall be made to protect and preserve archaeological resources affected by or adjacent to any project.
(9) Contemporary design for alterations and additions to existing properties shall not be discouraged when such alterations and additions do not destroy significant historical, architectural or cultural material and when such design is compatible with the size, scale, color, material and character of the property, neighborhood or environment.
(10) 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 structure would be unimpaired.
(b) Guidelines for Applying Standards of Review: The following guidelines are designed to help individual property owners formulate plans for the rehabilitation, preservation and continued use of historic buildings consistent with the intent of the Secretary of the Interior's "Standards of Rehabilitation." The guidelines pertain to buildings of all occupancy and construction types, sizes and materials. They apply to permanent and temporary construction on the exterior and interior of historic buildings as well as new attached or adjacent construction.
(1) Techniques, treatments and methods consistent with the "Standards for Rehabilitation" are listed as "recommended." Not all recommendations listed under treatment will apply to each project proposal. Rehabilitation approaches, materials and methods which may adversely affect a building’s architectural and historic qualities, are listed as "not recommended."
(2) Specific information on rehabilitation and preservation technology may be obtained by writing to the Technical Preservation Services Division, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior (www.cr.nps.gov/hps/tps/tax/rhb/), or to the appropriate State Historic Preservation Officer. Advice should also be sought from qualified professionals, including architects, architectural historians and archaeologists skilled in the preservation, restoration and rehabilitation of old buildings.
(Ord. 25-2006. Passed 3-7-06.)