[Amended 12-8-2021 by Ord. No. 466]
A. Applicability. An historic resource impact study shall be required,
unless waived or modified by the Board of Supervisors, for the purpose
of guiding the treatment of historic resources and/or of mitigating
the impact of a project upon historic resources when any of the following
are proposed.
(1) On-site. Subdivision or land development of property that contains
one or more historic resources identified on the Township Historic
Resources Map.
(2) Off-site. Subdivision or land development of tracts where the tract
boundary comes within 300 feet of the exterior walls of an historic
resource identified on the Township Historic Resources Map.
(3) Off-site. Any construction or improvement, including subsurface and
grading work, to be undertaken in conjunction with a subdivision or
land development where the area of disturbance for such construction
or improvement comes within 300 feet of the exterior walls of an historic
resource identified on the Township Historic Resources Map.
(4) An historic resource impact study shall also be provided with a conditional use application when the subject tract contains or is within 300 feet of the exterior walls of an historic resource identified on the Township Historic Resources Map, pursuant to §
325-124A of this chapter. When a study deemed satisfactory by the Township is provided with a conditional use application and that application is approved by the Board, no subsequent or additional historic resource impact study shall be required for any land development plan submitted pursuant to said approved conditional use.
(5) An historic resource impact study shall be provided as a condition
of approval for the demolition of any historic resource identified
on the Township Historic Resources Map.
B. The historic resource impact study shall be prepared by a qualified
professional in historic preservation, historical architecture, planning,
or related disciplines and presented by the applicant or their agent
for discussion at a meeting of the Township Historical Commission.
C. Contents. The study shall contain the following information:
(1) Background information.
(a)
If not otherwise provided by the applicant, a general site description,
including topography, watercourses, vegetation, landscaping, and existing
improvements.
(b)
General description of all historic resources upon or within
300 feet of the tract proposed for subdivision or land development
or, where no land development is proposed, within 300 feet of all
proposed construction and improvements, including but not limited
to subsurface activity (such as boring and excavation) and grading.
(c)
Physical description of all historic resources upon the tract
proposed for subdivision or land development or other construction
or improvement.
(d)
Statement of the significance of each historic resource identified pursuant to Subsection
C(1)(b) and
(c), above, relative to the Township and to the general region.
(e)
Photographic documentation of all historic resources identified in Subsection
C(1)(c), above, in their setting. Such photography shall satisfy the archival requirements of the Historical Commission, and each photograph shall feature or be accompanied by a key indicating the location and direction from which the photograph was taken as well as the date of the photograph. Photographs of the interior of the resource(s) shall be included insofar as it is possible to procure them safely.
(f)
Narrative description of the historical development of the subject
tract. Depending upon the significance of the resource(s) and where
reasonably available, documentation of archival research shall be
provided in support of the narrative description, which may include
but is not necessarily limited to deed and chain-of-title research;
historic maps; articles, photographs, and other images from magazines,
newspapers, and other media; and public notices. The Historical Commission
and/or the Township's historic preservation consultant shall provide
guidance regarding the significance of the resource and possible sources
for such documentation.
(2) Proposed change.
(a)
General description of project.
(b)
Description of impact on each historic resource identified in Subsection
C(1)(b) above, with regard to architectural integrity, historic setting and all anticipated future uses.
(c)
General description of effect of noise and traffic and any other impacts generated by the proposed change on each historic resource. This requirement shall not be interpreted to require a traffic impact study meeting the standards of §
325-42 of this chapter; however, where such a study is required pursuant to §
325-42A of this chapter, the description required here shall be consistent with that study.
(3) Mitigation measures. Measures for mitigating the project's impact on historic resources, including but not limited to design alternatives, buffering, and landscaping in accordance with §
325-89.
D. Township Historical Commission. The historic resource impact study
shall be reviewed by the Township Historical Commission and the Township's
historic preservation consultant, who shall provide the Historical
Commission with their evaluation and recommendations in a written
report. Should the Historical Commission determine that an historic
resource impact study is incomplete or unacceptably deficient based
upon the requirements of this section, the said Commission may advise
the Board of such determination, and the Board shall have the right
to reject the said study and to require submission of a new or sufficiently
revised study.