The Board shall follow the guidelines outlined hereinbelow in reviewing plans for changes or alterations to historic structures and for sites in the project area. The Board shall be lenient in it judgment of plans for structures of little value or for plans involving new construction, unless such plans would seriously impair the historic or architectural value of surrounding structures of the surrounding area.
(a) 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.
(b) 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 features shall be avoided when possible.
(c) 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.
(d) 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 this significance shall be recognized and respected.
(e) Distinctive stylistic features or examples of skilled craftsmanship which characterized a building, structure or site shall be treated with sensitivity.
(f) Deteriorated architectural features shall be repaired rather than replaced, wherever and whenever possible. In the event replacement is necessary, 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.
(g) The surface cleaning of structures shall be undertaken with the gentlest means possible. Sandblasting and other cleaning methods that damage the historic building materials shall not be undertaken.
(h) Every reasonable effort shall be made to protect and preserve archeological resources affected by, or adjacent to any project.
(i) 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 such design is compatible with the size, scale, color, material and character of the property, neighborhood or environment.
(j) Whenever possible, new additions or alterations to structures shall be done in such a manner that if such additions or alterations to structures were to be removed in the future, the essential form and integrity of the structure would be unimpaired.
(Ord. 13-22. Passed 10-13-22.)