As used in this chapter:
(a) “Alter” and “alteration” mean any exterior visual or material change to any listed property or property located within the Olde Downtown Pickerington District. For purposes of this chapter, alterations shall include a change in design, current color, texture, material or exterior feature. Ordinary maintenance to correct any deterioration, decay or damage to a structure and to restore the structure to its condition prior to such deterioration, decay or damage, is excluded from the definition of the word “alteration,” provided that such work does not involve a change in design, original color, texture, material or exterior feature.
(b) “Applicant” means any owner, person, association, partnership or corporation who or which applies for a certificate of appropriateness.
(c) “Certificate of appropriateness” means a certificate issued by the City to an applicant stating that a proposed alteration, demolition or new construction to a listed property or property within the District is appropriate under the provisions of this chapter.
(d) “Commission” means the Planning and Zoning Commission of the City, serving as the Design Review Board.
(e) “Council” means the City Council of the City of Pickerington, Ohio.
(f) “Demolition” means the substantial deterioration or the complete or substantial removal or destruction of any structure which is located within the District.
(g) “District” means the Olde Downtown Pickerington Village District or any other area which contains two or more properties of special character or historic, aesthetic or architectural value as part of the heritage, development or cultural characteristics of the City, the State or the United States, which has been designated as a listed property pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
(h) “Environmental change” means any material alteration, removal, construction or addition of private or public improvements to a structure within the District, including any new construction.
(i) “Environmental feature” means any natural or man-made object, attachment or landscaping that is intended as part of the visual composition of a street or site, including, but not limited to, fences, sidewalks, driveways, exterior lighting fixtures, street trees, curbs, streets and paving materials.
(j) “Exterior architectural feature” means the architectural style, general design and general arrangement of the exterior of a building or other structure, including, but not limited to, windows, doors, porches, storefronts, cornices, siding materials, decorative trim, signs and other features appurtenant to the exterior of a building.
(k) “Landscaping” means and includes only major landscaping work that is to be on open tracts of land, parking lots, streets, alleys and other large open areas, but not including the planting or arrangement of flowers and plants incidental to the enhancement of single properties.
(l) “Listed property” means any property which has special character or historic, aesthetic or architectural value as part of the heritage, development or cultural characteristics of the City, the State or the United States and which has been designated as a listed property pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
(m) “Member” means any member of the Planning and Zoning Commission.
(n) “Nonconforming” means property, the character of which does not conform to the characteristics of the District.
(o) “Ordinary restoration” includes the repair of existing, or in the case of historic structures, original, exterior architectural features, including, but not limited to, the color, roof, eaves, downspouts, siding, windows and doors of a listed property or a property located within the District, provided that such repair does not result in a change of design, current color, texture, material or exterior architectural feature. For purposes of this chapter, power washing or chemical cleaning of masonry is considered ordinary maintenance, but the sandblasting of masonry is not considered ordinary maintenance. Owners of nonconforming properties are encouraged to take advantage of maintenance to improve and upgrade the character of their properties to better conform with the character of the District. (See "Simple repairs and upkeep.")
(p) “Owner” means the owner of record, and the term shall include the plural as well as the singular.
(q) “Property” means any area, place, site (including an archaeological site), building, structure, object or work of art.
(r) “Reconstruction” means reproducing, by new construction, the exact form and detail of a vanished structure, or a part thereof, as it appeared at a specific period of time.
(s) “Simple repairs and upkeep” includes paint touch-up, repainting in original recommended colors, gutter or roof repairs, window glass or screen replacement, trim repairs, masonry repointing, routine gardening and work that does not significantly affect the appearance of the property.
(t) “Substantial hardship” means a condition unique to the property under consideration and a condition under which an action by the Commission would force the applicant to suffer practical difficulty and denial of the reasonable use of the property.
(u) “Verbal boundary description” means a detailed description which delineates the physical extent of a listed property or the Olde District. If the boundaries do not coincide with legally recorded boundaries (lot or parcel number, deed book and page number), then street names, property lines, geographical features and other lines of convenience which clearly distinguish the listed property or District from its surroundings may be used. The term “verbal boundary description” is also frequently referred to as a "metes and bounds" description.
(Ord. 94-46. Passed 7-5-94; Ord. 2000-77. Passed 8-1-00.)