The demolition or moving of contributing structures within the historic district or any noncontiguous listed property shall be discouraged. The Review Commission may at its own discretion after due consideration issue a certificate of appropriateness for the demolition or moving of such aforementioned structure. However, in order to grant such a certificate, the Review Board shall be satisfied that the structure meets at least one of the following criteria:
(a) Such a structure has been deemed by appropriate authority to be a hazard to public health or safety, and repairs are deemed to be impossible as determined by the Chief Building Official or his designee;
(b) Such structure is a deterrent to a major community improvement program which the applicant must demonstrate will be of substantial benefit to the community. This improvement shall be shown to have great potential for increasing surrounding property values and shall be shown as a part of a formally adopted long-range plan or improvement effort;
(c) Retention of the structure would require undue financial hardship. Such hardship shall be proved by the applicant and shall be demonstrated in terms of net loss in value of the structure in question; or
(d) The retention of the structure would not be in the interest of the community as a whole as is determined by the Review Commission in relationship to formally adopted overall plans for the Stow Historic District and other such districts and listed properties as shall be designated.
In cases where approval for demolition is granted for reasons other than public health and safety, such certificate shall not become effective until three months after the date of such issuance in order to provide a period of time within which it may be possible to relieve a hardship or to cause the property to be transferred to another owner who will retain the structure. This in no way implies approval by the Building Department, whose approval must also be secured in addition to the certificate of appropriateness.
(Ord. 2012-4. Passed 1-26-12.)