[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township of
Nether Providence 8-8-2002 by Ord. No. 665. Amendments noted where applicable.]
It is declared as a matter of public policy that the preservation of
buildings, structures, and sites of historic, architectural, cultural, archeological,
educational and aesthetic merit are public necessities and are in the interests
of the health, prosperity and welfare of all the residents of Nether Providence
Township.
The purposes of this chapter are:
A.
In accordance with provisions of the Municipalities Planning
Code,[1] to identify and provide an opportunity to preserve historic buildings
sites and structures which are important to the education, culture, traditions
and economic values of the residents of the Township;
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 10501 et seq.
B.
To retain and enhance historic properties which contribute
to the character of the Township and to advise for preservation and recommend
conservation action;
C.
To encourage the continuation of historical resources
and facilitate their appropriate reuse;
D.
To promote civic pride among the residents of the Township
through a knowledge of the history of the community and the architectural,
cultural and educational accomplishments of the Township; and
E.
To discourage the unnecessary demolition or deterioration
of historic resources and mitigate the negative effects of proposed changes
upon historic resources.
A.
There is hereby established an Historical Commission
which shall consist of seven members who shall all be residents of Nether
Providence Township and who shall be appointed by the Board of Commissioners.
The membership of the Historical Commission shall include individuals who
have an interest in history, archeology or historic preservation and will
strive to advance the purposes of this Commission.
B.
Each Commission member shall serve for a term of three
years which shall be so fixed that no more than three terms shall expire each
year. Three members shall be appointed for one year, two members shall be
appointed for two years and two members shall be appointed for three years.
The Commission shall notify the Board of Commissioners of any vacancies in
the Commission. Appointments to fill vacancies for unexpired terms shall he
only for the unexpired portion of the term.
C.
Members shall serve without pay, but shall be reimbursed
for any personal expenditures in the conduct of Commission business when authorized
by the Board of Commissioners.
The Commission shall annually elect from its own membership a Chairman,
who will direct the activities of the Commission, and such other officers
as may be required for the conduct of its business. A quorum shall be not
less than a majority of the current membership. The Commission may make, alter,
and rescind rules and forms for its procedures consistent with the ordinances
of the Township and laws and regulations of the Commonwealth. The Commission
shall keep full public records of its business and shall submit regular reports
of its activities to the Board of Commissioners.
In accordance with the purposes of this chapter, the Commission's primary
purpose is to advise the Board of Commissioners, the Planning Commission and
the Zoning Hearing Board of Nether Providence Township on matters pertaining
to the historic resources of Nether Providence Township, and shall have the
following functions and duties:
A.
To oversee all aspects of preservation including to gather
documentary evidence, illustrations, photographs, and other appropriate materials,
to establish historic sites worthy of listing in an historic resources map,
and to maintain a system for the continued survey and inventory of historic
buildings, sites, structures, objects, and districts in Nether Providence
Township.
B.
Conduct research on and nominate significant resources
to the National Register of Historic Places and any other appropriate lists
or programs.
C.
Advise the Township administration and Board of Commissioners
on concerns and alternatives to the issuance of demolition permits affecting
historic resources.
D.
Review and comment on subdivision or land development
applications which contain historic resources, or are within 300 feet of an
historic resource, in accordance with the requirements and procedures of the
Township of Nether Providence Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance,[1] this chapter and other applicable ordinances.
F.
With the approval of the Board of Commissioners, apply
for technical and financial assistance from appropriate local, county, state,
federal and other agencies in the preservation of significant historical and
architectural sites within the Township, and to report all related actions
to the Board of Commissioners.
G.
Submit a yearly budget to the Board of Commissioners
for sums deemed necessary to carry out the objectives of the Commission.
H.
Assist individual property owners with decisions pertaining
to historic resources in terms of their use and maintenance.
I.
Identify resources suffering from neglect and confer
with property owners to alleviate and correct neglect situations.
J.
Advise the Township administration and Board of Commissioners
of requests for special exceptions, conditional uses, or variances affecting
historic resources.
K.
Establish an historic preservation plan and implementation
procedures subject to review by the Board of Commissioners.
