This section contains criteria for reviewing all applications for building permits for exterior rehabilitation, renovation, alteration, reconstruction, or enlargement of any local register structure, and for any interior modification that requires the issuance of a building permit for a publicly owned and publicly accessible local register structure. In reviewing an application, the historic preservation advisory committee shall consider the following general standards and principles:
A. Every reasonable effort shall be made to provide a compatible use for a property that 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 should be avoided when possible.
C. All buildings, structures and sites shall be recognized as products of their own time. Alterations that have no historic basis and that 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 characterize a building, structure or site, shall be treated with sensitivity.
F. Deteriorated architectural features shall be repaired rather than replaced, wherever 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 historical, 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 will damage the historic building materials shall not be undertaken, without prior approval of the historic preservation advisory committee.
H. Every reasonable effort shall be made to protect and preserve archaeological resources affected by, or adjacent to any acquisition, protection, stabilization, preservation, rehabilitation, restoration or reconstruction project.
(Ord. 2022-10 (part), 2022: Ord. 2710 (part), 2017: Ord. 2001-13 § 4 (part), 2001: prior code § 7711)