Sec. 54-2Definitions

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Certificate of appropriateness means a document evidencing approval by the historic preservation commission of an application to make a material change in the appearance of a designated historic property or of a property located within a designated historic district.

Contributing resource means a building, site, structure, or object within a historic district that adds to the historic significance of that district.

Demolition by neglect means allowing a building to fall into such a state of disrepair that it becomes necessary or desirable to demolish it. Property owners have been accused of permitting demolition by neglect on purpose, in order to save rehabilitation costs.

Exterior architectural features means the architectural style, general design, and general arrangement of the exterior of a building or other structure, including but not limited to the kind or texture of the building material and the type and style of all windows, doors, signs, and other appurtenant architectural fixtures, features, details, or elements relative to the foregoing.

Exterior environmental features means all those aspects of the landscape or the development of a site which affect the historical character of the property.

Historic district means a geographically definable area possessing a significant concentration, linkage, or continuity of sites, buildings, structures, or objects united historically or aesthetically by plan or physical development and designated as historic by the mayor and council of the city pursuant to the criteria in article III of this chapter.

Historic property means an individual building, structure, site, or object, and the land on which the historic property and any related buildings and/or structures are located, and designated as historic by the mayor and city council pursuant to the criteria in section 54-62 of this chapter. The land surrounding the historic property to be designated as historic includes that which provides the grounds, premises or setting for the historic property.

Historic resource report means a document created by or for the historic preservation commission containing the following information about a historic district and/or historic property:

(1) A physical description;

(2) A statement of the historical, cultural, architectural, and/or aesthetic significance;

(3) A map showing district boundaries and classification (i.e. contributing or non-contributing) of individual properties therein, or showing boundaries of individual historic properties;

(4) A statement justifying district or individual property boundaries; and

(5) Representative photographs.

Material change in appearance means a change that will affect either the exterior architectural or environmental features of a historic property or any building, structure, site, object, landscape feature or work of art within a historic district, and may include any one or more of the following:

(1) A reconstruction or alteration of the size, shape, or facade of a historic property, including relocation of any doors or windows or removal or alteration of any architectural features, details, or elements;

(2) Demolition or relocation of a historic structure;

(3) Commencement of excavation for construction purposes;

(4) A change in the location, size, or type of advertising visible from the public right-of-way; or

(5) The erection, alteration, restoration, or removal of any building or other structure within a historic property or district, including walls, fences, steps, and pavement, or other appurtenant features.

Noncontributing resource means a building, site, structure, or object within a historic district that does not add to the historic significance of that district.

Ordinary repair or maintenance means work for which an approved certificate of appropriateness application is not required, and the purpose and effect of such work is to correct the deterioration of, decay of, or damage to, the real property or structure, and to restore same, as nearly as practicable, to the condition prior to the occurrence of such deterioration, decay or damage.

History: (Ord. No. 07-08, § II, 6-7-2007)