[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Meeting of the Town of Eastham 5-5-1986
ATM by Art. 59. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Zoning — See Ch. 165.
This bylaw shall be known and may be cited as the "Eastham Historic
District Bylaw" and is adopted pursuant to Chapter 40C of the General Laws
of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as amended.
The purpose of this bylaw is to promote the educational, cultural, economic
and general welfare of the public through the preservation and protection
of the distinctive characteristics of buildings and places significant in
the history of the Town of Eastham or their architecture, and through the
maintenance and improvement of settings for such buildings and places and
the encouragement of design compatible therewith.
There is hereby established under the provisions of Chapter 40C of the
General Laws an historic district to be known to the "Old Town Centre Historic
District" which district shall be bounded as shown on map entitled "Old Town
Centre Historic District," 1986, attached and made part of this bylaw.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: The map referred to is on file in the Town Clerk's
office.
A.
There is hereby established under Chapter 40C of the
General Laws an Historic District Commission consisting of five unpaid regular
members and two unpaid alternate members appointed by the Board of Selectmen,
within the Town of Eastham where at least one regular member, where possible,
shall be a nominee of the local historical society; at least one regular member,
where possible, shall be a nominee of the Chapter of the American Institute
of Architects; a third regular member, where possible, shall be a nominee
of the Board of Realtors covering the area. If the above groups do not submit
nominees, Commission members may then be chosen from the categories as listed
below. When the Commission is first established, one regular and one alternate
member shall be appointed for one year, two regular members and one alternate
member shall be appointed for two years, and two regular members shall be
appointed for three years. Successors shall each be appointed for terms of
three years. Vacancies shall be filled within 60 days by the Board of Selectmen
by appointment for the unexpired term. In the case of absence, inability to
act, or unwillingness to act because of self-interest by a member, the Chair
shall designate an alternate member of the Commission to act for a specified
time. All members shall serve without compensation. The Commission shall elect
annually a Chair and Vice Chair from its own number and a Secretary from within
or without its number.
B.
Additional membership suggestions: lawyer, professional
historian, residents of district, member of Planning Board, member of Conservation
Commission, individuals interested in historic preservation.
The Historic District Commission shall have all the powers and duties
of Historic District Commissions as provided by the Historic Districts Act,
MGL C. 40C, and of subsequent amendments thereto unless specifically limited
by this bylaw.
A.
Rules and regulations. The Commission may adopt rules
and regulations not inconsistent with the provisions of the Historic District
Act.
B.
The Commission may, subject to appropriation, employ
clerical and technical assistants or consultants and incur other expenses
appropriate to the carrying on of its work.
C.
The Commission shall have control over new construction,
reconstruction, alterations, movements and demolitions of all exterior architectural
features of buildings and structures within the Historic District which are
visible from any public street, public way or public park (within the Historic
District) except as limited by this bylaw. The term "structure" includes stone
walls, fences and appurtenant fixtures on lots, buildings or structures. For
purposes of this bylaw, any structure partially within the Historic District
shall be considered wholly within the district.
[Amended 10-5-1987 STM by Art. 9]
D.
Considerations. In passing upon matters before it, the
Commission shall consider, among other things, the historic and architectural
value and significance of the site, building or structure, the general design
arrangement of the features involved, and the relation of such features to
similar features of building and structures in the surrounding area. In the
case of new construction or additions to existing buildings or structures,
the Commission shall consider the appropriateness of the size and shape of
the building or structure both in relation to the land area upon which the
building or structure is situated and to buildings and structures in the vicinity,
and the Commission may, in appropriate cases, impose dimensional and setback
requirements in addition to those required by applicable Zoning Bylaws.[1]
E.
The Commission may determine from time to time after
public hearing that certain categories of exterior architectural features
or structures may be constructed or altered without review by the Commission.
A.
The Historic District Commission shall not make any recommendation
or requirement with regard to new construction, reconstructions or additions
except for the purpose of preventing developments incongruous to the historic
aspects of architectural characteristics of the surroundings and of the Historic
District.
B.
The following are exempt from the control of the Historic
District Commission:
(1)
Ordinary maintenance and repair of any exterior architectural
feature if such repair and maintenance does not involve a fundamental change
in design and materials.
(2)
Any constructions, demolitions or alterations under a
permit issued by the Building Inspector or similar agent prior to the effective
date of the establishment of the district.
(3)
Any constructions, demolitions or alterations under orders
issued by the Building Inspector or similar agent for the purpose of public
safety.
(4)
Landscaping with plants, trees, hedges or shrubs.
(5)
Terraces, walks, sidewalks and other similar structures,
including driveways or parking lots, provided that the structure is at grade
level.
(6)
Storm doors and windows, screen doors and windows, air
conditioners and conventional rooftop TV antennas. (Not exempt from Commission
review would be TV satellite dishes and short-wave radio antennas.)
(7)
The reconstruction substantially similar in exterior
design of a building, structure or exterior architectural feature damaged
or destroyed by fire, storm, or other disaster, provided such reconstruction
is begun within one year thereafter and carried forward with due diligence.
(8)
Signs.
(a)
Signs used for residential occupation or professional
purposes which are not more than one foot square in area are excluded from
review, provided that:
(b)
Signs used in connection with nonresidential purposes
which are not more than 12 square feet in area are excluded from review, provided
that:
(9)
Temporary signs and structures up to 30 days.
A.
Except as this bylaw provides in § 80-5, no building or structure within the Historic District shall be constructed or altered in any way that affects exterior architectural features unless the Commission shall first have issued a certificate of appropriateness, a certificate of nonapplicability or a certificate of hardship with respect to such construction or alteration, nor shall any building permit for demolition be issued for any building or structure within the Historic District until the certificate required by this section has been issued by the Commission.
B.
Applications for certificates shall be made in triplicate
with the Historic District Commission. Applications shall be in the form specified
by the Commission, to include plans and elevations drawn to scale, detailed
enough to show architectural design of the structure and its relation to the
existing building, and other materials deemed necessary by the Commission.
Plot and site plans should be filed when application for certificates are
made for improvements affecting appearances, such as wells and fences. In
the case of demolition or removal, the application must include a statement
of the proposed condition and appearance of the property thereafter.
C.
Within 14 days of the filing of an application for any
certificate, the Commission shall determine whether the application involves
any features which are subject to approval by the Commission.
D.
If the application requires the Commission's review,
or at the request of the applicant, the Commission shall hold a public hearing,
unless waived according to the provisions of Chapter 40C of the General Laws,
as amended. Public notice of the time, place and purposes of the hearing shall
be given at least 14 days in advance, and the Commission must notify by mail
affected parties as provided in Chapter 40C of the General Laws, as amended.
E.
The Commission shall decide upon the determination of
any application within 60 days of its filing or within such further time as
the applicant may request in writing.
F.
A certificate of appropriateness shall be issued to the
applicant if the Commission determines that the proposed construction or alteration
will be appropriate for or compatible with the preservation or protection
of the Historic District. In the case of a disapproval of an application for
a certificate of appropriateness, the Commission shall place upon its records
the reasons for such determination and shall forthwith cause a notice of its
determination, accompanied by a copy of the reasons therefor as set forth
in the records of the Commission, to be issued to the applicant, and the Commission
may make recommendations to the applicant with respect to appropriateness
of design. Prior to the issuance of any disapproval, the Commission may notify
the applicant of its proposed action, accompanied by recommendations of changes
in the applicant's proposal which, if made, would make the application acceptable
to the Commission. If within 14 days of the receipt of such notice, the applicant
files a written modification of his or her application in conformity with
the recommended changes of the Commission, the Commission shall issue a certificate
of appropriateness to the applicant.
G.
Upon request, the Commission may issue a certificate
of nonapplicability to any applicant whose request does not require Commission
approval.
H.
If an application is deemed inappropriate or if application is made for a certificate of hardship, the Commission may issue a certificate of hardship if conditions especially affecting the building or structure involved, but not affecting the Historic District generally, would make failure to approve an application involve a substantial hardship, financial or otherwise, to the applicant, and approval would not involve substantial detriment to the public welfare. A certificate of hardship shall also be issued in the event that the Commission does not make a determination on an application within the time specified in Subsection E of this section.
I.
Each certificate shall be dated and signed, and the Commission
shall keep a permanent record of its determinations and of the vote of each
member participating therein, and shall file a copy of notice of certificates
and determinations of disapproval with the Town Clerk and the Building Inspector.
An applicant may, within 20 days of the filing of the decision of the
Commission with the Town Clerk, appeal to a superior court. The Commission
must pay costs only if it appears to the court that the Commission has acted
with gross negligence, bad faith or malice.
Violation of any of the provisions of this bylaw shall incur a fine
of not less than $10 nor more than $500, each day constituting a separate
offense.
The Town of Eastham shall be subject to the provisions of this bylaw
notwithstanding any Town bylaw to the contrary.
This bylaw may be amended from tine to time by a two-thirds vote of
the Town Meeting subject to the procedures as set forth in MGL C. 40C, § 3.
In case any section, paragraph or part of this bylaw be for any reason
declared invalid or unconstitutional by any court of last resort, every other
section, paragraph or part shall continue in full force and effect.
Following Town Meeting approval, this bylaw takes effect immediately
when the following conditions have been met:
