[Amended 4-29-2003 by L.L. No. 3-2003]
A.
No structure, site, place or building designated as a landmark or landmark site appearing on the Landmark and Historic District Map and the Official Zoning Map of the area in which the landmark or landmark site is located nor any place, site, structure, building or property located wholly or partly within the boundaries of the historic district shall be constructed, altered, repaired, subdivided, moved or demolished except in compliance with the requirements set forth in this article.
B.
The Landmarks Preservation Commission shall review all plans for the moving, exterior construction, alteration or repair, subdivision, landscaping or demolition of places, sites, structures or buildings wholly or partly within the boundaries of the historic district.
(1)
It shall be the duty of the Landmarks Preservation Commission to review such plans before a building permit for the proposed activity is granted by the Division of Building and before any subdivision plat is approved by the Nassau County Planning Commission.
(2)
The Landmarks Preservation Commission shall only review plans relating to the exterior features of a structure or building as are visible from the public way and shall have no jurisdiction to consider interior walls, arrangements or structures.
(3)
In reviewing plans and plats, the Landmarks Preservation Commission shall give consideration to:
(a)
The historical and architectural value and significance of the building or structure and its relationship to the historic and architectural value of the site and surrounding area.
(b)
The general appropriateness of proposed exterior design, colors, arrangement, texture and materials.
(c)
Any other factors relating to aesthetic considerations which the Landmarks Preservation Commission deems pertinent to the benefit to the Town and to the historic significance of the structure or building and surrounding area.
(d)
The potential visual impact of any proposed new building(s) or building lot(s) upon the historic site or structure.
C.
Alterations, repairs and additions to buildings or structures located wholly or partly within the boundaries of the historic district or which are designated as landmarks shall be made consistent with the materials and styles of the particular architectural period of which said building or structure is characteristic.
D.
New construction shall be consistent with the architectural styles of historic value in the historic district. However, the Landmarks Preservation Commission may approve the construction of buildings or structures which have a dissimilar architectural style to that of the historic district if said Commission deems it proper that the new construction will be in the best interests of the historic district.
E.
Moving of buildings or structures designated as landmarks or located wholly or partly within the boundaries of the historical district may be allowed as an alternative to demolition.
F.
Procedure for the review of plans and plats:
(1)
Applications for subdivision approval or for a building permit to construct, alter, repair, move or demolish any place, site, structure or building designated as a landmark or any place, site, structure or building within or on the boundaries of the historic district shall be made to the Division of Building pursuant to the Building Code, Chapter 93 of the Town Code, except as provided hereafter. The application shall state the property is a landmark and/or is located within or on the boundaries of the historic district. Plans shall be submitted showing the structure or building in question and also giving its relation to adjacent structures or buildings and the construction, alteration, repair, moving or demolition sought to be accomplished.
(2)
The Division of Building shall transmit the application and the plans to the Landmarks Preservation Commission.
(3)
The Landmarks Preservation Commission shall then review the plans according to the provisions of this chapter. In reviewing the plans, the Landmarks Preservation Commission may confer with the applicant or his authorized representative concerning the building permit.
(4)
Notwithstanding any other provisions of the chapter, if the applicant establishes to the satisfaction of the Commission that there is unnecessary hardship in the strict application of the provisions of this article:
(a)
The land or improvement in question cannot yield a reasonable return if the proposed construction, removal, alteration or demolition is not permitted; or
(b)
The hardship of the applicant is due to unique circumstances and the proposed alteration, construction, removal or demolition will not alter the essential character of the area and the hardship is the result of the application of the chapter and is not the result of any act or omission by the applicant.
(5)
The Landmarks Preservation Commission shall approve, modify and approve or disapprove such plans within 60 days after receiving the application and said plans and shall transmit a record of its proceedings and findings to the Superintendent of the Division of Building and the applicant. If the Commission fails to act within 60 days of receipt of the application, the application shall be deemed to have been approved.
(6)
The Superintendent of the Division of Building shall not grant a building permit until such time as an application has been approved by the Landmarks Preservation Commission or 60 days have elapsed from the date the application is received by the Commission.
(7)
In the case of an application for subdivision approval, the Commission shall report its recommendations to the Nassau County Planning Commission within 30 days or such other time-frame as may be authorized by the county.
G.
Nothing in this article shall be construed to prevent ordinary maintenance or repair, with like materials of similar quality and color, of any place, site, structure or building designated as a landmark or landmark site or any property located wholly or partly within the boundaries of an historic district.
H.
This chapter shall not apply in any case where the Division of Building or any authorized Town enforcement agency orders or directs the construction, removal, alteration or demolition of any improvement on a landmark site or in an historic district for the purpose of remedying conditions determined to be unsafe or dangerous to the life, health or property of any person.