These historic preservation regulations are intended to effect
and accomplish the protection, enhancement and perpetuation of especially
noteworthy examples or elements of the Township's environment in order
to:
A. Safeguard the heritage of the Township by preserving resources which
reflect elements of its cultural, social, economic and architectural
history.
B. Encourage the continued use of historic sites and to facilitate their
appropriate use.
C. Maintain and develop an appropriate and harmonious setting for the
historic and architecturally significant buildings, structures, site
objects or districts within the Township.
D. Stabilize and improve property values within the district and foster
civic pride.
E. Promote appreciation of historic sites for the education, pleasure
and welfare of the population.
F. Encourage beautification and private reinvestment.
G. Manage change by preventing alteration or new construction not in
keeping with any historic district.
H. Discourage the unnecessary demolition of historic resources.
I. Recognize the importance of individual historic sites located outside
of a district by urging property owners and tenants to maintain their
properties in keeping with the requirements and standards of this
article.
J. Encourage the proper maintenance and preservation of historic settings
and landscapes.
K. Encourage appropriate alterations of historic sites.
L. Enhance the visual and aesthetic character, diversity, continuity
and interest in the Township.
M. Promote the conservation of historic sites and districts and invite
and encourage voluntary compliance.
N. Support the existing Smithville County Park.
O. Support the existing structures and architecture within Smithville
County Park.
P. Use the period architecture in the Smithville County Park as a theme
for future development in the area.
Q. Use the Smithville County Park and its historic architecture to promote
an architectural focal point for the Township.
The terms set forth hereinafter shall have the following meanings:
ADDITION
A new improvement constructed as part of an existing improvement
when such new improvement changes the exterior architectural appearance
of the existing improvement.
ALTERATION
Any work done on any improvement which:
A.
Is not an addition to the improvement; and
B.
Constitutes a change by addition or replacement in the exterior
architectural appearance of an improvement.
APPLICANT
Any private person, persons or any representative of any
private entity, private organization, association or public agency
with legal authority to make an alteration, addition, improvement,
renovation, repair or demolish a structure.
BUILDING
Any structure, either temporary or permanent, having a roof
(including an annex or addition), which requires for its use a fixed
location on the land and which is designed, intended or used for the
sheltering or protection of persons, animals or chattel.
CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS
A document indicating permission or a permit to commence
work or activity on a structure located within the historic district
or a designated historic site.
CONTRIBUTING
Any buildings, structures, sites or objects within an historic
district which are integral components of the historic district either
because they date from a time period for which the district is significant
or because they represent an architectural type, period or method
for which the district is significant.
DEMOLITION
Partial or total razing or destruction of any historic site
or of any improvement within an historic district.
DISREPAIR
The condition of being in need of repairs; a structure or
building in disrepair.
EXTERIOR ARCHITECTURAL FEATURE
Any element or resource of the architectural style, design
or general arrangement of a structure that is visible from the outside,
including but not limited to the style and placement of all windows,
doors, cornices, brackets, porch spindles, railings and shutters;
the roof; type, color and texture of the building materials; signs;
fences; and other decorative architectural elements.
HISTORIC DISTRICT
A geographically definable area possessing a significant
concentration, linkage or continuity of sites, buildings, structures
and/or objects which, when viewed collectively:
A.
Represent a significant period(s) in the architectural and social
history and development of the municipality;
B.
Have a distinctive character resulting from their architectural
style; and
C.
Because of their distinctive character, can readily be viewed
as an area or district from surrounding portions of the municipality.
HISTORIC LANDMARKS (or LANDMARK)
Any buildings, structures, sites, objects or districts which
possess integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship
and association and which have been determined, pursuant to the terms
of this article, to be:
A.
Of particular historic significance to the Township of Eastampton
by reflecting or exemplifying the broad cultural, political, economic
or social history of the nation, state or community;
B.
Associated with the historic personages important in national,
state or local history;
C.
The site of an historic event which had a significant effect
on the development of the nation, state or community;
D.
An embodiment of the distinctive characteristics of a type,
period or method of architecture or engineering;
E.
Representative of the work of an important builder, designer,
artist or architect;
F.
Significant for containing elements of design, detail, materials
or craftsmanship which represent a significant innovation; or
G.
Able or likely to yield information important in prehistory
or history.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
The body which, for the purposes of this article, acts as
the Historic Preservation Commission as cited in the Municipal Land
Use Law, N.J.S.A. 40:55D-1 et seq.
IMPROVEMENT
Any structure or any part thereof installed upon real property
by human endeavor and intended to be kept at the location or such
construction or installation for a period of not less than 120 continuous
days.
NONCONTRIBUTING
Any buildings, structures, sites or objects within an historic
district which are not integral components of the historic district
because they neither date from a time period for which the district
is significant nor represent an architectural type, period or method
for which the district is significant.
OBJECT
A thing of functional, aesthetic, cultural, historical or
scientific value that may be, by nature or design, movable yet related
to a specific setting or environment.
ORDINARY MAINTENANCE
The act of repairing any deterioration, wear or damage to
a structure, or any part thereof, in order to return the same as nearly
as is practicable to its condition prior to the occurrence of such
deterioration, wear or damage. Ordinary maintenance shall further
include replacement of exterior elements or accessory hardware, including
signs, using the same materials and having the same appearance.
RECONSTRUCTION
The act or process of reproducing by new construction the
exact form and details of the exterior building, structure or object,
or part thereof, as it appeared at a specific period of time.
REHABILITATION
The act or process of returning the exterior of a building
or structure to a state of utility through repair or alteration which
makes possible an efficient contemporary use while preserving those
portions or features of the property which are significant to its
historic, architectural and cultural values.
REMOVAL
The act of partially or completely causing a structure or
portion of a structure to change to another location, position, station
or residence.
REPAIR
Any work done on any improvement which:
A.
Is not an addition to the improvement; and
B.
Does not change the exterior architectural appearance of any
improvement.
REPLACEMENT
The act or process of replicating any exterior architectural
feature.
RESTORATION
The act or process of accurately recovering the form and
details of the exterior of a building and/or structure and its setting
as it appeared at a particular period of time by means of the removal
of later work or by the replacement of missing earlier work.
STRUCTURE
A combination of materials to form a construction for occupancy,
use or ornamentation having a fixed location on, above or below the
surface of land or attached to something having a fixed location on,
above or below the surface of land. For purposes of this article,
the word "structure" shall also include fences, walls, independent
radio and television antennas, gasoline pumps, pergolas and swimming
pools.
The following uses are permitted in H Districts:
B. Public buildings, parks, playgrounds and uses incidental thereto.
C. Cluster developments, as permitted by and in accordance with §
540-30.
The following uses are permitted in the H District:
A. Garages and carports incidental to the permitted use conducted on
the premises.
B. Signs, subject to the provisions of §
540-48 et seq.
D. Off-street parking facilities, subject to the provisions of §§
540-57 and
540-58.
The maximum building height, minimum lot size, maximum coverage,
etc., shall be as provided in this chapter for the respective zones,
except such regulations may be waived where necessary to preserve
historic characteristics.
All actions that affect the exterior of an historic landmark
or an improvement within an historic district shall be reviewed by
the Commission. Such review shall be required for, but not limited
to, the following actions:
A. Demolition of an historic landmark or of an improvement within an
historic district.
B. Relocation of an improvement within an historic district or of an
historic landmark.
C. Change in the exterior appearance of an improvement within an historic
district or of an historic landmark by addition, alteration or replacement.
D. Site plans or subdivisions affecting an historic landmark or an improvement
within an historic district.
E. Any new construction of an improvement in an historic district.
F. Changes in, or addition of, signs or exterior lighting for an historic
landmark or an improvement within an historic district.
G. Zoning variances affecting an historic landmark or an improvement
within an historic district.
The following actions do not require review by the Historic
Preservation Commission:
A. Changes to the interior of structures.
B. Ordinary repairs and maintenance which do not constitute a change
to the appearance of the structure. The following are the only activities
which do not require Commission review according to this criteria:
(1) Repair and replacement of existing windows and doors involving no
change in the design, scale, material and/or configuration in appearance,
using the same material.
(2) Maintenance and repair and replacement of existing roof material,
involving no change in the design, scale, color, material or appearance
of the structure.
(3) Repair of existing roof structures, such as cupolas, dormers and
chimneys, using the same materials, which will not alter the exterior
architectural appearance of the structure.
(4) Maintenance and repair of existing shingles, clapboards or other
siding, using the same materials and details that are being repaired
or maintained.
(5) Repairs to existing signs, shutters, outdoor displays, fences, hedges,
street furniture, awnings, off-street driveway and parking materials
and sidewalks, using the same material for those items noted above
being repaired. This does not include replacement of those existing
items.
C. When a structure within an historic district or a designated historic
landmark requires immediate or emergency repair to preserve the continued
habitability of the structure and/or the health, safety and welfare
of the occupants, such repairs may be performed in accordance with
the Township Codes, without the necessity of first obtaining the Commission's
review. Under such circumstances, the repairs shall be only such as
are necessary to protect the health and safety of the occupants of
the historic landmark and/or to maintain the habitability of the landmark
as determined by the Township Construction Official. In such cases,
the property owner shall immediately notify the Commission of such
repairs. A request for a review shall be made as soon as possible,
and no further work shall be performed upon the structure until an
appropriate approval is obtained in accordance with the procedures
set forth in this article. The Chairperson may call a special meeting
of the Commission in accordance with the provisions for emergency
review with cases of extreme emergency which call for extensive repairs
or alterations.
[Amended 12-10-2001 by Ord. No. 2001-12]
A. For all applications presented to the Land Use Planning Board which affect an historic landmark or an improvement within an historic district, the property owner shall submit an application for a certificate of appropriateness, drawings and plans of the proposed improvement and samples of materials and colors to the Land Use Planning Board, along with the request for Board approval. Such an application shall solely pertain to the proposed site review or zoning request. If building permits are required, these actions will be reviewed separately by the Commission in accordance with the procedures outlined in §
540-43 of this chapter. Escrows must be posted in accordance with §§
460-57 through
460-58, inclusive, of the Code.
B. The Land Use Planning Board will forward to the Commission a complete
set of all application material, as well as the application for certificate
of appropriateness. The Commission shall be allowed at least 21 days
from the day it receives a complete application to prepare its recommendations
to the Land Use Planning Board. Said recommendations shall be in the
form of a written report which is orally conveyed to the appropriate
Board through the Commission's delegate at a hearing on the application.
C. The Commission's recommendation shall focus on how the proposed undertaking would affect a landmark's historic or architectural significance as outlined in §
540-33 of this chapter. In considering the Commission's recommendations, the Land Use Planning Board shall be guided by the review criteria established in §
540-44 of this chapter.
[Amended 12-10-2001 by Ord. No. 2001-12]
In reviewing an application for its effect on a building, improvement
or structure within the historic district or classified as an historic
landmark, the following criteria shall be used by the Commission and
the Land Use Planning Board:
A. In regard to all applications affecting an historic landmark or an
improvement within an historic district, the following factors shall
be considered:
(1) The impact of the proposed change on the historic and architectural
significance of the landmark or the historic district.
(2) The site's importance to the Township of Eastampton and the extent
to which its historic or architectural interest would be adversely
affected to the detriment of the public interest.
(3) The use of any structure involved.
(4) The extent to which the proposed action would adversely affect the
public's view of an historic landmark or improvement within an historic
district from a public street.
(5) If the application deals with a structure within an historic district,
the impact the proposed change would have on the district's architectural
or historic significance and the structure's visual compatibility
with the buildings, places and structures to which it would be visually
related in terms of the visual compatibility factors set forth herein.
B. In regard to an application for new construction or replacements
affecting an historic site or an improvement within an historic district,
the following factors shall be considered visual compatibility factors:
(1) Height. The height of the proposed building shall be visually compatible
with adjacent buildings.
(2) Proportion of the building's front facade. The relationship of the
width of the building to the height of the front elevations shall
be visually compatible with the buildings and places to which it is
visually related.
(3) Proportion of openings within the building. The relationship of the
width of windows to the height of windows in a building shall be visually
compatible with the buildings and places to which it is visually related.
(4) Rhythm of spacing of buildings on streets. The relationship of the
building to the open space between it and adjoining buildings shall
be visually compatible with buildings and places to which it is visually
related.
(5) Rhythm of solids to voids on facades fronting on public places. The
relationship of solids to voids in such facades of a building shall
be visually compatible with buildings and places to which it is visually
related.
(6) Rhythm of entrances. The relationship of entrances and porches to
the street shall be visually compatible to the buildings and places
to which it is visually related.
(7) Relationship of materials. The relationship of materials, texture
and color of the facade and roof of a building shall be visually compatible
with the predominant materials used in buildings to which it is visually
related.
(8) Roof. The roof shape of a building shall be visually compatible with
the buildings to which it is visually related.
(9) Continuity of walls. Appurtenances of a building such as walls, open
fencing, evergreens, landscaping and so forth shall form cohesive
walls of enclosure along a street to the extent necessary to maintain
visual compatibility of the building with the buildings and places
to which it is visually related.
(10)
Scale of buildings. The size of a building, mass of a building
in relation to open spaces, the windows and door openings, porches
and balconies shall be visually compatible with the buildings and
places to which it is visually related.
(11)
Directional expression. A building shall be visually compatible
with buildings and places to which it is visually related in its directional
character, whether this be vertical character, horizontal character
or nondirectional character.
(12)
Exterior features. A structure's related exterior features,
such as steps and railings, columns, patios and porches, flower boxes,
canopies and awnings, lighting, fences, signs, sidewalks, driveways
and parking areas, shall be compatible with the features of those
structures to which it is visually related and shall be appropriate
for the historic period for which the structure is significant. New
signage shall also abide by any supplemental historic design graphic
standards that may be developed by the Commission for the district.
C. In addition to the visual compatibility factors listed in Subsection
B, the following standards, as promulgated by the United States Secretary of the Interior, should be considered:
(1) A property shall be used for its historic purpose or be placed in
a new use that requires minimal change to the defining characteristics
of the building, structure and its site and environment.
(2) The historic character of a property shall be retained and preserved.
The removal of historic materials or alteration of features and spaces
that characterize a property shall be avoided.
(3) Each property shall be recognized as a physical record of its time,
place and use. Changes that create a false sense of historical development,
such as adding conjectural features or architectural elements from
other buildings, shall not be undertaken.
(4) Most properties change over time; those changes that have acquired
historic significance in their own right shall be retained and preserved.
(5) Distinctive stylistic features, finishes and construction techniques
or examples of craftsmanship which characterize a building, structure
or site shall be preserved.
(6) Deteriorated historic features shall be repaired rather than replaced.
Where the severity of deterioration requires replacement of a distinctive
feature, the new feature shall match the old in design, color, texture
and other visual qualities and, where possible, materials. Replacement
of missing features shall be substantiated by documentary, physical
or pictorial evidence.
(7) Chemical or physical treatments, such as sandblasting, that caused
damage to historic materials shall not be used. The surface cleaning
of buildings and/or structures, if appropriate, shall be undertaken
using the gentlest means possible.
(8) Significant archaeological resources affected by a project shall
be protected and preserved. If such resources must be disturbed, mitigation
measures shall be undertaken.
(9) New additions, exterior alterations or related new construction shall
not destroy historic materials that characterize the property. The
new work shall be differentiated from the old and shall be compatible
with the massing, size, scale and architectural features to protect
the historic integrity of the property, neighborhood and its environment.
(10)
New additions and adjacent or related new construction shall
be undertaken in such a manner that, if removed in the future, the
essential form and integrity of the historic property and its environment
would be unimpaired.
D. In its review, the Historic Preservation Commission shall also be
guided by the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment
of Historic Properties and by the Preservation Briefs (prepared by
the United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service,
Washington D.C., and as amended from time to time).
[Amended 12-10-2001 by Ord. No. 2001-12]
In addition to the criteria for review of applications as outlined here in §
540-44, the Commission and the Land Use Planning Board shall consider the following additional regulations in reviewing an application for its effect on a building, improvement or structure within an historic district or an historic landmark:
A. Historic architectural themes. Within the historic district, all
new construction shall be designed with a Georgian, Federal or Greek
Revival architectural style. However, if approved by the Land Use
Planning Board, different historic architectural styles may be used
if they complement the styles already utilized in the area.
B. Exemption. Existing structures which are not contributing to the
historic district are exempt from this article. (See Appendix A with
block and lot numbers.)
C. Demolition. In regard to an application to demolish an historic landmark
or any improvement within an historic district, the following matters
shall be considered:
(1) Its historic, architectural, cultural or scenic significance.
(2) If it is within an historic district, the significance of the structure
in relation to the historic character of the district and the probable
impact of its removal on the district.
(3) Its potential for use for those purposes currently permitted by this
chapter.
(4) Its structural condition and the economic feasibility of alternatives
to the proposal.
(5) Its importance to the Township and the extent to which its historical
or architectural value is such that its removal would be detrimental
to the public interest.
(6) The extent to which it is of such old, unusual or uncommon design,
craftsmanship, texture or material that it could be reproduced only
with great difficulty and expense.
(7) The extent to which its retention would promote the general welfare
by maintaining and increasing the real estate values, generating business,
attracting tourists, attracting new residents, stimulating interest
and study in architecture and design or making the Township an attractive
and desirable place in which to live.
(8) If it is within an historic district, the probable impact of its
removal upon the ambience of the historic district.
D. Moving. In regard to an application to move any historic landmark
or to move any structure within an historic district, the following
matters shall be considered:
(1) The historic loss to the site of the original location and the historic
district as a whole.
(2) The reasons for not retaining the building improvement or structure
at its present location.
(3) The compatibility, nature and character of the current and of the
proposed surrounding areas as they relate to the protection of interest
and values referred to in this article.
(4) The probability of significant damage to the historic site.
(5) If the proposed new location is within an historic district, visual compatibility factors as set forth in §
540-44B of this chapter.
(6) If it is to be removed from the Township, the proximity of the proposed
new location to the Township, including the accessibility to the residents
of the Township and other citizens.
E. Synthetic siding. Synthetic siding is not acceptable on landmarks.
Metal or vinyl siding may be used to resurface facades of low public
visibility on buildings within an historic district that were originally
wood-sided only if the substitute siding is similar in design, width
and texture to the original clapboard and will not endanger the physical
condition and structural life of the building. Architectural trim
must be retained.
F. Window and door openings. The number, size and locations of original
window and door openings shall be retained. Window and door openings
shall not be reduced to fit stock material. New window and door openings
shall not be added on elevations that are subject to view from a public
street. Vinyl, vinyl clad, aluminum and aluminum clad windows and
doors are not acceptable on landmarks. Non-wood-surfaced window frames
and doors may be used on side and rear exposures of low public visibility
on buildings within an historic district that were originally wood
windows and doors when the substitute windows and doors are similar
in design, width and texture to the original wood windows or doors
and will not endanger the physical condition and structural life of
the building. Architectural trim and adornments must be retained.
G. Color standards. The selection of colors is critical to implementing
the objectives of the historic district. All plans shall indicate
the proposed color treatment for all exterior features of the building.
Colors shall be Benjamin Moore Historical Color Collection or equivalent.
H. Street patterns. Curvilinear street patterns are a modern design
and were not utilized often in the 18th and 19th Centuries. Therefore,
where possible and practical, new streets shall be considered in rectilinear
pattern.
I. Signs and lighting. Where signs are permitted, they shall be made
of materials and colors that blend into the basic architectural style
of the buildings. Both streetlighting poles and facade lighting, if
permitted, shall be executed in period fixtures compatible with the
architectural style of the buildings.