[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Norristown
6-5-1990 as Ord. No. 90-16. Section 125-5 added at time of adoption of Code;
see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I. Other amendments noted where applicable.]
A.
The Borough of Norristown recognizes that certain structures
exist in the borough which have been documented for their historic associations
to the community and/or for outstanding architectural values. Also, there
are certain structures located in the historic districts established by the
borough and approved by the National Park Service on November 23, 1984, which
have historical and/or architectural values which should be preserved. Each
structure merits special consideration in the event that a demolition permit
is requested.
B.
It is the intent of this chapter to provide a review
period of 120 days prior to the issuance of a demolition permit for any key
or landmark building and a review period of 45 days prior to the issuance
of any demolition permit for any structure within the designated historic
districts. The purpose of this review is to allow and encourage all parties
concerned to carefully consider all options and alternatives to the partial
or total demolition of historical or architectural resources.
A.
In the event that a property owner requests a demolition
permit for any structure in the Borough of Norristown, excluding ancillary
garages or associated outbuildings, the Building Inspector shall identify
key or landmark buildings listed in the borough's 1981 Historic/Architectural
Inventory or buildings located in a designated historic district.
B.
If the building is identified as a key or landmark building
or is located in an historic district, the Building Inspector shall, within
three days, notify the applicant, in writing, of this finding. No demolition
permit, exterior or interior, may be issued. There shall be a review period
for key or landmark structures of 120 days. The review period for buildings
located in historic districts shall be 45 days.
C.
The Building Inspector shall develop and maintain a list
to provide notice of a request for a demolition permit. The list shall include
the Mayor, all members of the Borough Council, the Borough Administrator,
the Director of Planning and Municipal Development and the Norristown Preservation
Society. Other interested persons or organizations concerned with the effects
of demolition of historic properties may write to the Building Inspector to
be added to the notification list.
D.
Notification of a request for demolition shall include,
at a minimum, the name of the property owner, the property address, the reason
for the demolition, a list of alternatives to demolition and a statement that
all alternatives to demolition have been considered.
A.
Structures which are located within an historic district
but were built after 1960 are exempt from the review period.
B.
If a property is destroyed by fire or other natural disaster,
the Building Inspector or Fire Chief may order its immediate demolition if
the structure constitutes a hazard to the general public. Such demolition
order must occur within one week of the disaster. The Borough Administrator
may waive the procedural requirements for unsafe structures up to 45 days
after a disaster upon the written recommendation of the Building Inspector,
Fire Chief or other qualified inspector.
C.
Where efforts to preserve a key or landmark building
have failed, the Mayor, with the consent of the majority of the members of
Borough Council, shall have the right to waive the one-hundred-twenty-day
review period required by this chapter and require only a forty-five-day review
period.
[Added 4-6-1999 by Ord. No.
99-4]
All structures listed as key or landmark buildings in the 1981 Historic
Architectural Survey of the Borough of Norristown and all structures located
in an historic district designated by the borough and approved by the National
Park Service on November 23, 1984, unless otherwise exempted, are subject
to the requirements of this chapter.
[Added 9-1-1992 by Ord. No.
92-19]
Any person who shall violate any provision of this chapter, upon conviction
thereof, shall be subject to a fine of not more than $600, plus costs of prosecution,
and, in default of payment of said fine and costs, to imprisonment for a term
not to exceed 30 days.
