[Amended 11-16-2010 by Ord. No. 10-20]
In determining the recommendations to be made
to the Municipality of Norristown Municipality Council concerning
the issuance of a certificate of appropriateness, the HARB shall consider
only those matters that are pertinent to the preservation of the historical
and/or architectural aspect and nature of the building, site, area
or district, certified to have historical significance, including
the following:
A.Â
Broad historical values representing the cultural,
political, economic or social history of the Municipality of Norristown.
B.Â
The relationship of the building or structure to historic
personages or events.
C.Â
Significant architectural types representative of
a certain historical period and a style or method of construction.
D.Â
The effect of the proposed change upon the general
historical and architectural nature of the pertinent historic district.
E.Â
The appropriateness of the exterior architectural
features which can be seen from a public street or way.
F.Â
HARB Zone A. The general design, arrangement, texture
and material of a building or structure, and the relation of such
factors to similar features of other buildings or structures in HARB
Zone A, shall be considered by the HARB when making recommendations
on the issuance of a certificate of appropriateness. These factors
shall be limited to the following:
[Amended 12-1-2020 by Ord. No. 20-18]
(1)Â
Relationship of textures: preserving the predominant textures of
the district which may be smooth such as stucco or rough such as brick
with tooled joints or horizontal wood siding or other textures, or
such as stone textures, including, but not limited to, marble and
slate.
(2)Â
Relationship of architectural details: preserving character defining
features of buildings such as architectural details, including but
not limited to, cornices, lintels, arches, quoins, balustrades and
iron work, chimneys, roofs, etc.
(3)Â
Fenestration of building facades: fenestration appropriate to building
style includes the arrangement of windows and doors, the proportion
of wall openings, the height to width proportion and size of window
openings and panes and the dimension of mullions and muntins.
(4)Â
Proportion of buildings front facades: preserving the historic relationship
between the width of the front of the building and the height of the
front of the building.
(5)Â
Proportion of openings within the building: preserving the relationship
of width to height of windows and doors.
(6)Â
Rhythms of solids to voids in the front facade: preserving the relationship
between a recurrent alteration of strong and weak architectural elements
thereby maintaining a rhythm of solids to voids.
(7)Â
Rhythm of spacing of buildings on streets: preserving the existing
rhythm of recurrent or repeated building masses to spaces between
each building.
(8)Â
Rhythm of entrance and/or porch projections: preserving the existing
rhythm of entrances or porch projections to maintain a pedestrian
scale.
(9)Â
Relationship of materials: preserving the predominant materials of
the district such as brick, stone, stucco, slate, wood siding or other
material.
(10)Â
Relationship of roof shapes: preserving compatible roof shapes
such as gable, mansard, hip, flat, gambrel and/or kinds of roof shapes.
(11)Â
Walls of continuity: preserving physical elements which comprise
streetscapes such as brick walls, wrought iron fences, building facades
or combinations of these which form visual continuity and cohesiveness
along the street.
(12)Â
Directional expression of front elevation: preserving the orientation
of structural shapes, plan of openings and architectural detail that
reflect a predominantly vertical or horizontal character to the building's
facade.
(13)Â
Scale: preserving the scale of the built environment created
by the size of units of construction and architectural detail. In
addition, preserving building mass in its relation to open space.
(14)Â
Variations. The HARB shall grant variations in a manner that
will be in harmony with the character of other buildings or structures
on the street and/or district. The following variations may be permitted
provided that the corresponding criteria and/or requirements are met:
(a)Â
Slate roofing replacement to asphalt/fiberglass shingles: The
replacement shingle should be visually similar in shape or decorative
shape, size and profile to the existing slate shingle being replaced.
Roof fasciae and trim may not be capped when new roofing is installed.
An exception may be made when the trim was capped prior to roof replacement.
(b)Â
Wood window replacement to vinyl or any other suitable window
material: The new vinyl window, wood window (clad type) or any other
suitable window material shall have simulated divided lite muntins
(SDLs). The windows must clearly illustrate the size of the window,
frame, sash and all details for comparison with the original windows.
(such as one over one, two over one etc.) The new window units must
fully fill the existing window opening, without infill or blocking
materials. The new window units may not be capped when installed.
An exception may be made when the trim was capped prior to window
replacement.
H.Â
The height of any new building or structure shall
not exceed the height of the tallest adjacent building or structure
by more than 25% or one story, whichever is greater. This requirement
shall also apply to any proposed modifications to existing buildings
or structures.
I.Â
In such rare cases where the HARB recommends and the
Norristown Municipality Council approves demolition of an historic
building or structure, a good faith effort shall be made by the Municipality
of Norristown and the owner(s) to move said building or structure
to a proximate site. If moving a building or structure slated to be
demolished is economically or practically infeasible, efforts shall
be made to salvage architectural features of said building or structure
for use within the Municipality of Norristown via the Norristown Preservation
Society.
J.Â
In addition to the above, the Municipality of Norristown
Zoning Ordinance shall be so amended as to be compatible with the
purpose of and objectives of the HARB Zone ordinance.
K.Â
All other Municipality of Norristown laws and ordinances
shall be complied with, including the Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances.
L.Â
Only the preservation guidelines referenced in Article V of this chapter, or other subsequently published or authored by the HARB, are to be used by the HARB or Municipality Council when issuing a certificate of appropriateness.
M.Â
No vinyl or aluminum siding, stucco or other material
shall be allowed to be added onto the exterior of any masonry wall
of a building or structure except for the repair to existing areas
of those materials. No capping with aluminum or vinyl or other material
shall be allowed on the exterior of character defining features of
a building or structure.
N.Â
Financial feasibility.
(1)Â
The Review Board shall consider the financial feasibility
of its recommendations in response to a request for a certificate
of appropriateness or building permit for the erection, reconstruction,
alteration and restoration of a building or structure. Financial feasibility
shall be determined by the HARB on the basis of an unreasonable cost
for repair or replacement in-kind of whole or part of a building or
structure.
(2)Â
The applicant shall submit a minimum of three estimates
from bona fide contractors and or vendors substantiating his or her
claim that the financial feasibility of repair in-kind is unreasonable.
The Board shall determine as to the condition of said architectural
feature based on its inspection, photographs or report from the Building
Inspector or preservation staff or consultant. No substitute material
shall be approved which is inappropriate, incompatible or is destructive
or has the potential to be destructive to the original fabric of the
building or structure.
O.Â
Signs attached
to buildings in the HARB Zones shall be subject to HARB review.
