(a) The Board of Architectural Review, in deciding whether to issue a certificate of appropriateness, shall determine that the application under consideration is not detrimental to the interest of the District and promotes, preserves and enhances the distinctive historical City character of the community. In conducting its review, the Board shall make examination of and give consideration to the elements of the application including, but not necessarily limited to:
(1) Height.
(2) Building massing, which shall include the relationship of the building width to its height and depth, and its relationship to the viewer's and pedestrian's visual perspective;
(3) Window treatment, which shall include the size, shape and materials of the individual window units and the overall harmonious relationship of window openings;
(4) Exterior detail and relationships, which shall include all projection and receding elements of the exterior, including but not limited to, porches and overhangs and the horizontal or vertical expression which is conveyed by these elements;
(5) Roof shape and materials which shall include type, form and materials;
(6) Materials, texture and color, which shall include a consideration of material compatibility among various elements of the structure;
(7) Compatibility of design and materials, which shall include the appropriateness of the use of exterior design details;
(8) Landscape design and plant materials, which shall include, in addition to requirements of the zoning code, lighting and the use of landscape details to highlight architectural features or screen or soften undesirable view.
(9) Signage, which shall include, in addition to the requirements of Chapter 1147, the appropriateness of signage to the building.
(10) Sustainable Features, which shall include environmentally friendly details and conservation practices such as solar energy panels, bike racks and rain barrels.
(b) The Board shall also give consideration to the United States Secretary of the Interior
Standards for Rehabilitation. The Standards are to be applied to specific rehabilitation projects in a reasonable manner, taking into consideration economic arid technical feasibility.
The Standards for Rehabilitation are as follows:
(1) A property shall be used for its historic purpose or be placed in a new use that requires minimal change to the defining characteristics of the building and its site and environment.
(2) The historic character of a property shall be retained and preserved. The removal of historic materials or alteration of features and spaces that characterize a property shall be avoided.
(3) Each property shall be recognized as a physical record of its time, place and use. Changes that create a false sense of historical development, such as adding conjectural features or architectural elements from other buildings, shall not be undertaken.
(4) Most properties change over time; those changes that have acquired historic significance in their own right shall be retained and preserved.
(5) Distinctive features, finishes and construction techniques or examples of craftsmanship that characterize a property shall be preserved.
(6) Deteriorated historic features shall be repaired rather than replaced. Where the severity of deterioration requires replacement of a distinctive feature, the new feature shall match the old in design, color, texture, and other visual qualities, and where possible, materials. Replacement of missing features shall be substantiated by documentary, physical; or pictorial evidence.
(7) Chemical or physical treatments, such as sandblasting, that cause damage to historic materials shall not be used. The surface cleaning of structures, if appropriate, shall be undertaken using the gentlest means possible.
(8) Significant archeological resources affected by a project shall be protected and preserved. If such resources must be disturbed, mitigation measures shall be undertaken.
(9) New additions, exterior alterations, or related new construction shall not destroy historic materials that characterized the property. The new work shall be differentiated from the old and shall be compatible with the massing, size, scale and architectural features to protect the historic integrity of the property and its environment.
(10) New additions and adjacent or related new construction shall be undertaken in such a manner that if removed in the feature, the essential form and integrity of the historic property and its environment would be unimpaired.
(c) In conducting its inquiry and review, the Board may request from the applicant additional information, sketches and data as it shall reasonably require. It may call upon experts and specialist for testimony and opinion regarding the matters under examination. It may recommend to the applicant changes in the plans that it considers desirable and may accept a voluntary amendment to the application to include or reflect such changes. The Board shall keep a record of its proceedings and shall append to the application copies of information, sketches and data needed to clearly describe any amendment to it.
(d) When its review is concluded, the Board will determine by a vote of its members whether the application for certificate of appropriateness shall be approved. If approved by three (3) or more of its members, the Board shall return the application and appended material to the Secretary with the instruction that the certificate of appropriateness be issued, provided all other requirements for a building permit and zoning permit, if applicable, are met. A copy of the certificate of appropriateness shall be issued to the applicant and a copy delivered to the Zoning Inspector.
The certificate of appropriateness shall be valid for five years from the date of approval, or such extension as may be granted by the Board. If not approved, the Board shall return the application and appended material to the applicant with a detailed explanation of all rationale utilized by the Board regarding the reason for disapproval.
(e) The Board may waive compliance with this Chapter upon a finding that a substantial hardship would be imposed on the property owner if the property owner is required to substantially comply with the requirements of the Chapter. The Board may issue a waiver conditioned upon the applicant's performance of reasonable conditions imposed by the Board to carry out the purposes of this Chapter as reasonably practicable.
(Ord. 20-15. Passed 12-18-15.)