(a) "Alter" or "alteration" means any exterior visual or material change to any listed property or property located within a historic district. For the purpose of this chapter, alterations shall include a change in design, 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 are excluded from the definition of "alteration", provided such work does not involve a change in design, color, texture, material or exterior feature.
(b) "Applicant" means any owner, owners, association, partnership or corporation who applies for a certificate of appropriateness.
(c) "Architect" means a person duly licensed as a registered architect by the State of Ohio.
(d) "Certificate of Appropriateness" means a certificate issued by the Steubenville Historic Landmarks Commission to an applicant stating that a proposed alteration, demolition or new construction to a listed property or within a historic district is appropriate under the provisions of this chapter.
(e) "Commission" means the Historic Landmarks Commission of the City of Steubenville, Ohio.
(f) "Council" means the City Council of the City of Steubenville, Ohio.
(g) "Demolish" or "demolition" means the razing or removal, in whole or in part, of any structure.
(h) "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, streets, trees, curbs and streets and paving materials.
(i) "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 fixtures appurtenant to the exterior of a building.
(j) "Historic district" means any area which contains two (2) or more properties of special character, historic, aesthetic or architectural value as a part of the heritage, development or cultural characteristics of the City, State or the United States and which has been designated as a listed property pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
(k) "Historic Preservation Officer" means that duly authorized employee of the City appointed to administer and implement the provisions of this chapter by reviewing proposals for listing or designation of historic properties or districts and applications for certificates of appropriateness. The City Planner shall be the Historic Preservation Officer.
(l) "Listed property" means any property which has special character, historic, aesthetic or architectural value as part of the heritage, development or cultural characteristics of the City, 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 Historic Landmarks Commission.
(n) "Owner" means the owner of record and the term includes the plural as well as the singular.
(o) "Ordinary maintenance" includes the repair of existing exterior architectural features including but not limited to the roof, eaves, downspouts, siding, windows and doors of a listed property or a property located within a historic district providing that it does not result in a change of design, color, texture, material or exterior architectural feature. For the purposes of this chapter the sandblasting of masonry is not considered ordinary maintenance.
(p) "Property" means any area, place, site, (including an archaeological site), building, structure, object or work of dart.
(q) "Reconstruction" means the 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.
(r) "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.
(s) "Verbal boundary description" is a detailed description which delineates the physical extent of the listed property or a historic 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 historic district from its surroundings may be used. This is also frequently referred to as a "metes and bounds" description.