[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Beverly
as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Zoning — See Ch. 300.
[Adopted 1-8-2003 by Ord. No. 33 (Art. XV of the Code of
Ordinances)]
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Historic
Districts Ordinance" promulgated under authority of MGL Chapter 40C.
The purpose of this article is to promote the educational, cultural,
economic and general welfare of the public through the preservation
and protection of the distinctive characteristics or architecture
of buildings and places significant in the history of the commonwealth
and the City, and through the maintenance and improvement of settings
for such buildings and places and the encouragement of design compatible
therewith.
A.
There is hereby established under the provisions of MGL Chapter 40C,
as amended, an historic district to be known as "Fish Flake Hill I
Historic District," shown on a plan entitled, "Plan showing Fish Flake
Hill I Historic District, located off Cabot Street between Stone,
Bartlett and Water Streets, Beverly, Mass., dated November, 1971 and
signed by Edgar G. Mitchell, Acting Commissioner of Public Works,"
which plan is on file in the offices of the City Clerk and is recorded
in the Essex South District Registry of Deeds, and described as follows:
Beginning at the most northwesterly corner of Front Street,
being the intersection of the easterly line of Cabot Street and the
northerly line of Front Street, thence running easterly along the
northerly line of Front Street, a distance of about 100.0 feet to
the southwesterly corner of Lot #2 on said plan, thence turning and
running in a general northerly direction on three courses by Lot #2,
a distance of about 111.5 feet to the southeasterly line of Cabot
Street, thence turning and running in a northeasterly direction along
the southeasterly line of Cabot Street, a distance of about 32.5 feet
to the northeastern corner of Lot #3 on said plan, thence turning
and running in a general northeasterly direction several courses,
by the rear lot lines of Lots #3, #4, #5 and #6, a distance of about
394.9 feet to the northerly line of Lot #6 on said plan, thence turning
and running along the northerly line of Lot #6, a distance of about
35.8 feet to the westerly line of Davis Street, thence turning and
running in a northerly direction along the westerly line of Davis
Street, a distance of about 119.1 feet to Cabot Street, thence turning
and running in an easterly direction by the end of Davis Street, a
distance of about 53.0 feet to the easterly line of Davis Street,
thence turning and running in a southeasterly direction along the
southerly line of Stone Street, a distance of about 95.0 feet to the
easterly line of Lot #4 on said plan, thence turning and running in
a southerly direction along the rear lot line of Lot #41, a distance
of about 60.0 feet to the northerly side line of Lot #42, thence turning
and running in an easterly direction along the northerly side line
of Lot #42, a distance of about 20.0 feet to the rear lot line of
Lot #42, thence turning and running in a southerly direction along
the rear lot lines of Lots #42, #43, #44 and #45, a distance of about
160.0 feet to the northerly line of Lot #34, thence turning and running
in an easterly direction along the rear lot lines of Lots #34 and
#35, a distance of about 92.7 feet to the westerly line of South Street,
thence turning and running in a southerly direction along the westerly
line of South Street, a distance of about 50.0 feet, thence turning
and running in an easterly direction across South Street and along
the rear lot line of Lot #46, a distance of about 128.5 feet to the
westerly line of Lot #47 on said plan,
thence turning and running in a northern direction along the
western line of Lot #47, a distance of about 38.0 feet to the southerly
line of Cottage Lane, thence turning and running in an easterly direction
along the southern line of Cottage Lane, a distance of about 85.0
feet to the easterly line of Lot #47 on said plan, thence turning
and running in a southern direction along the easterly line of Lot
#47, a distance of about 40.00 feet to the rear lot line of Lot #48,
thence turning and running in an eastern direction along the rear
lot lines of Lots #48, #49 and #50, a distance of about 179.0 feet
to the western line of Lot #51 on said plan, thence turning and running
in a northerly direction along the westerly line of Lot #51, a distance
of about 40.0 feet to the southerly line of Cottage Lane, thence turning
and running in an eastern direction along the southerly line of Cottage
Lane, a distance of about 55.0 feet to Bartlett Street, thence turning
and running along the western line of Bartlett Street in a southern
direction, a distance of about 80.0 feet to Front Street, thence turning
and running in a southeasterly direction along the eastern end of
Front Street, a distance of about 70.0 feet to the southern line of
Front Street, thence turning and running in a general southeastern
direction along the southwesterly line of Bartlett Street on several
courses, a distance of about 406.8 feet to Lothrop Street, thence
turning and running in a southerly direction along the westerly line
of Lothrop Street and across Water Street, a distance of about 60.0
feet to the southerly line of Water Street, thence turning and running
in a general westerly direction along the southerly line of Water
Street, a distance of about 1,314.6 feet to a point about 200.0 feet
west of the eastern line of Lot #83 as shown upon said plan, thence
turning and running in a northwestern direction across Water Street,
by Lot #1-82 and across Front Street, a distance of about 120.0 feet
to the point of beginning.
B.
The establishment of the historic district under this section shall
not take effect until all the Commissioners are appointed by the Mayor
and confirmed by the City Council.
[Adopted 12-16-1991 by Ord. No. 279 (Art. XVI of the Code
of Ordinances)]
[Amended 2-19-2004 by Ord. No. 24]
A.
This article is adopted to protect and preserve buildings and structures
within the City which reflect or constitute distinctive features of
the architectural, cultural, economic, political or social history
of the City and to encourage the preservation and restoration rather
than demolition of such buildings and structures; and, by furthering
these purposes, to promote the public welfare and to make the City
a more attractive and desirable place in which to live and work.
B.
To achieve this purpose, the Beverly Historic Districts Commission
(hereinafter "the Commission") is empowered to advise the Director
of Municipal Inspections with respect to the issuance of permits for
demolition of historically significant buildings. Further, the Commission
is mandated to offer its advice and expertise to owners of preferably
preserved buildings and structures.
C.
The issuance of demolition permits is regulated as described hereafter
in this article.
[Amended 2-19-2004 by Ord. No. 24]
The following words and phrases, when used, whether or not capitalized
in this article, shall have the meanings set forth below, unless the
context otherwise requires:
Any person or entity who or which files an application for
a demolition permit. If the applicant is not the owner of the premises
upon which the building is situated, the owner must indicate with
the application his/her assent to the filing of the application.
A day which is not a legal municipal holiday, Saturday or
Sunday.
The intentional act of pulling down, destroying, removing,
dismantling or razing a building or structure or commencing the work
of total or substantial destruction with the intent of completing
the same.
Fish Flake Hill Historic District or any other historic district
which may be established in the City under Chapter 40C of the General
Laws of Massachusetts; or the regulations of the National Register
of Historic Places.
The Beverly Historic Districts Commission, which has the
powers and duties and acts as the Beverly Historical Commission. The
Commission may designate one or more of its members to act in its
behalf between the Commission's regular monthly meetings.
Any building or structure within the City which is determined
by the Commission to be historically significant because such building
or structure is:
Associated with one or more historic persons or events, or with
the architectural, cultural, economic, political or social history
of the City; or
Historically or architecturally important (in terms of period,
style, method of building construction or association with a famous
architect or builder) either by itself or in the context of a group
of buildings or structure.
Any historically significant building or structure which
is determined by the Commission, because of the important contribution
made by such building or structure to the historical and/or cultural
resources of the City, to be in the public interest to preserve.
The provisions of this article shall apply only to any building
or structure which, in whole or in part, was built 50 or more years
prior to the date of the application for the demolition permit, and
is:
A.
A building or structure listed or eligible to be listed on the National
Register of Historic Places, or on the State Register of Historic
Places (The criteria used to determine eligibility for listing on
the National and/or State Register of Historic Places is on file in
the Planning Department in City Hall and available for public review.);
or
B.
A building or structure importantly associated with one or more historical
persons or events, or with the broad architectural, cultural, economic,
political or social history of the City; or
C.
A building or structure which is historically or architecturally
significant in terms of period style, method of building construction
or association with a significant architect or builder either by itself
or as part of a group of buildings; or
D.
A building or structure located within 150 feet of a federal, state
or local historic district boundary.
[Amended 2-19-2004 by Ord. No. 24]
A.
No permit for the demolition of any building or structure shall be
issued other than in conformity with the provisions of this article,
as well in conformity with the provisions of the other laws and ordinances
applicable to the demolition of buildings and structures and the issuance
of permits generally.
B.
Upon receipt of an application for a demolition permit, the Director
of Municipal Inspections shall forward a copy to the Commission and
to the Planning Director of the City.
C.
Within 10 business days from receipt by the Commission or a designee
of the Commission of an application for a demolition permit, the Commission
or a designee of the Commission shall make determination of whether
or not the building or structure is a regulated building or structure,
and if the Commission or a designee of the Commission determines that
the building or structure is regulated by this article, the Commission
or a designee of the Commission shall also determine within the same
10 business days whether or not the building or structure may be an
historically significant building or structure.
D.
If the Director of Municipal Inspections does not receive the opinion
of the Commission or a designee of the Commission in regard to these
determinations within 10 business days of the date of the receipt
of the application by the Commission or a designee of the Commission,
then, subject to the provisions of the Historic Districts Act as provided
in this article, the Director of Municipal Inspections may grant the
permit applied for.
E.
If the Commission or a designee of the Commission determines that
the building or structure is not regulated by this article, or is
not historically significant, the demolition permit application shall
be signed as approved by the Commission or a designee of the Commission
and returned to the Director of Municipal Inspections. Upon receipt
of such, the Director of Municipal Inspections may, subject to the
requirements of the building code and any other applicable laws, issue
the demolition permit.
F.
If the Commission or a designee of the Commission determines that
the building or structure may be an historically significant building
or structure, the Commission or a designee of the Commission shall
review the application for demolition at a public hearing to be held
within 20 business days of determination that the subject building
or structure may be an historically significant building or structure.
The Commission or a designee of the Commission shall cause to be published
in a newspaper of local circulation notice of the date and place of
such public hearing. Such notice shall specify the address of the
subject building, and shall be published in said newspaper at the
expense of the applicant once during each of the two weeks preceding
the date of such public hearing.
G.
No less than five business days before the public hearing, the applicant
for the demolition permit shall submit to the Commission three copies
of a demolition plan which shall include the following:
(1)
A map showing the location of the building or structure to be demolished
on its property and with reference to the neighboring properties.
(2)
Photographs of all street facade elevations.
(3)
A description of the building or structure, or part thereof, to be
demolished.
(4)
The reasons for the proposed demolition and data supporting said
reason or a brief description of the proposed reuse of the property
on which the building or structure to be demolished is located.
H.
After said public hearing, the Commission shall, within 10 business
days, determine whether or not the subject building or structure is
(1) historically significant; and (2) a preferably preserved building
or structure, and notify, in writing, the applicant and the Director
of Municipal Inspections of its determination, stating the reasons
for such decision.
I.
If the determination is that the subject building or structure is
both historically significant and preferably preserved, the Director
of Municipal Inspections shall not issue a demolition permit for a
period of 12 months from the date of such determination, unless the
Commission informs the Director of Municipal Inspections, in writing,
prior to the expiration of the twelve-month period, that:
(1)
The Commission is satisfied that the applicant has made a bona fide,
reasonable, and unsuccessful effort to locate a purchaser for the
building or structure who is willing to preserve, rehabilitate or
restore the building or structure; or
(2)
The applicant has agreed to accept a demolition permit according
to certain conditions approved by the Commission.
J.
No permit for demolition of a building determined to be a preferably
preserved building shall be granted until all plans for future use
and development of the site have been filed with the Director of Municipal
Inspections and have been found to comply with all laws pertaining
to the issuance of a building permit. All approvals necessary for
the issuance of such building permit, including, without limitation,
any necessary zoning variances or special permits, must be granted
and all appeals from the granting of such approvals must be concluded,
prior to the issuance of a demolition permit under this section.
[Amended 2-19-2004 by Ord. No. 24]
Notice of a hearing or determination provided for in this article
shall be sent by the Commission to the owner of record, the applicant
for the demolition permit (if different from the owner of record),
the immediate abutters to the subject property, the Director of Municipal
Inspections, and to such other persons and organizations in such manner
as the Commission may determine appropriate. The Commission may require
that the applicant maintain on the building which is subject of a
demolition permit application notice, in a form designated by the
Commission, visible from the nearest public way, of any hearing on
the subject matter or such application; and applicant shall comply
with such requirement.
[Amended 2-19-2004 by Ord. No. 24]
Nothing in this article shall be construed to derogate in any way from the authority of the Director of Municipal Inspections derived from Chapter 143 of the General Laws. However, before acting pursuant to this article, the Director of Municipal Inspections shall make every reasonable effort to inform the Chairperson of the Historic Districts Commission of his intentions to issue a demolition permit before it is issued.
Nothing in this article shall be deemed to conflict with the
provisions of the Historic Districts Act, Massachusetts General Laws
Chapter 40C, with respect to requirements of notice, hearing and issuance
by the Commission of a certificate of appropriateness, a certificate
of nonapplicability or a certificate of hardship prior to demolition
of any building in an historic district. Any temporary building erected
or maintained in an historic district pursuant to a certificate issued
by the Commission may be demolished in a manner consistent with the
terms of such certificate.
[Amended 1-8-2003 by Ord. No. 33; 2-19-2004 by Ord. No. 24]
A.
The Director of Municipal Inspections is specifically authorized
to institute any actions, in law or in equity, as he or she deems
necessary to obtain compliance with the requirements of this article
or to prevent a threatened violation thereof.
B.
Any owner of a building determined by the Commission to be a preferably
preserved historic building or structure who caused the building to
be demolished without first obtaining a demolition permit in accordance
with the provisions of this article shall be subject to a fine of
not more than $300. Each day the violation exists shall constitute
a separate offense until a faithful restoration of the demolished
building is complete or unless otherwise agreed to by the Commission.
C.
No building permit shall be issued with respect to any premises upon
which a building or structure subject to this article has been voluntarily
demolished in violation of this article for a period of two years
after the date of the completion of such demolition, to be determined
by the Director of Municipal Inspections. As used herein, "premises"
includes the parcel of land upon which the demolished significant
building was located.
D.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, whenever the Commission shall, on
its own initiative, or on the application of the landowner, determine
that earlier reconstruction, restoration or other remediation of any
demolition in violation of this article better serves the intent and
purpose of this article, it may, prior to the expiration of said period
of two years, consent to the issuance of a building permit, upon such
conditions as the Commission deems necessary or appropriate to effectuate
the process of this article, and may so notify the Director of Municipal
Inspections.
E.
Upon the determination by the Commission that a building is a preferably
preserved building, the owner shall be responsible for properly securing
the building if vacant, to the satisfaction of the Director of Municipal
Inspections. Should the owner fail to secure the building, the loss
of such building through fire or other cause shall be considered demolition
for the purpose of this article.
