41.9.1.Â
In determining the recommendations to be made to the Bethel Park
Council concerning the issuance of a Certificate of Appropriateness,
HARB shall consider only those matters that are pertinent to the preservation
to this historic and/or architectural aspect and nature of the building,
site, area or district, certified to have historical significance,
including the following:
a.Â
The effect of the proposed change upon the general historic and architectural
nature of the historic landmark, site or district;
b.Â
The appropriateness of the exterior architectural features which
can be seen from a public street or way;
c.Â
The general design, arrangement, texture, material and color of the
building or structure and the relation of such factors to similar
features of buildings or structures in the proximity to the historic
landmark, site or district. Consideration shall be given but not limited
to the following:
d.Â
Proportion of Buildings Front Facades - the relationship between
the width of the front of the building and the height of the front
of the building.
e.Â
Proportion of Openings within the Building - the relationship of
width to height of windows and doors.
f.Â
Rhythms of Solids to Voids in the Front Facade - Since rhythm is
a repeated and recurrent alteration of strong and weak architectural
elements, a rhythm of masses to openings in a building should be maintained.
g.Â
Rhythm of Spacing of Buildings and Streets - In moving past a series
of buildings, a rhythm of recurrent or repeated building masses to
spaces between them should be experienced.
h.Â
Rhythm of Entrance and/or Porch Projections - Moving past a series
of structures, one experiences a rhythm of entrances or projections
at an intimate scale.
i.Â
Relationship of Materials - Within an area the predominant materials
may be brick, stone stucco, wood siding or other material.
j.Â
Relation of Textures - The predominant textures of an area may be
smooth, such as stucco or rough as brick with tooled joints or horizontal
wood siding, or other textures.
k.Â
Relationship of Color - Insofar as the mass and detail such as trim
are concerned, a predominant color that may be of a natural material
or a patina colored by time. Blending colors of trim is also a factor.
l.Â
Relationship of Architectural Details - Architectural details and
their relationship to the structure in question and adjacent ones,
including but not limited to cornices, lintels, arches, quoins, balustrades
and iron work, chimneys, etc.
m.Â
Relationship of Roof Shapes - Building should have compatible roof
shapes such as gable, mansard, hip, flat, gambrel and/or other kinds
of roof shapes.
n.Â
Walls of Continuity - Physical ingredients such as brick walls, wrought
iron fences, evergreen landscape masses, building facades, or combinations
of these, form continuous, cohesive walls of enclosures along the
street.
o.Â
Relationship of Landscaping - There may be predominance of a quality
and quantity of landscaping although emphasis herein shall be with
the amounts and continuity of landscaping.
p.Â
Paving Materials - There may be a predominance in the use of brick
pavers, cobblestones, granite blocks or others.
q.Â
Directional Expression of Front Elevation - Structural shape, planning
of openings and architectural detail may provide a predominately vertical,
horizontal or non-directional character to the building facade.
r.Â
Scale - Scale is created by the size of units of construction and
architectural detail that relate to the size of man. It can also be
determined by building mass and how it relates to open space. The
major elements of scale may be brick or stone units, window or door
openings, porches and balconies, etc.
1.Â
Variations - The HARB shall grant variations in a manner that will
be in harmony with the character of the other buildings or structures
on the street and/or districts.
2.Â
The height of any new building or structure shall not exceed the
height of the tallest adjacent building or structure by more than
10%. This requirement shall also apply to any proposed modification
to existing buildings or structures.
3.Â
In cases where applications for proposed demolition occur, HARB shall,
where deemed necessary, recommend to the Bethel Park Council that
the proposed demolition be postponed for a period not exceeding nine
months. However, in the event demolition cannot be avoided, the moving
of a building shall be encouraged as an alternative to demolition
if there is no other way to preserve the building.
4.Â
In addition to the above, all other Bethel Park laws and ordinances
shall be complied with including the zoning and subdivision ordinances.
41.10.1.Â
No sign or permanent external advertising display of any kind
shall be erected, altered or used with an historic landmark or historic
site, except for advertising informing the public about a service,
business, occupation or profession carried on or about the property
on which such sign or permanent external advertising display appears.
In conjunction with this, no such sign or advertising display of any
kind or for any purpose shall be erected or altered until an application
for permit to make such erection or alteration has been reviewed by
HARB for its conformity in exterior material composition, exterior
structural design, external appearance and size with similar advertising
or information media used in the architectural period.
41.10.2.Â
In addition to the above, and other matters considered in Section
500, the following shall be adhered to:
1.Â
No animated, revolving or moving signs shall be permitted.
2.Â
Illumination of any sign shall be indirect, shielded, or otherwise
arranged to prevent direct glare.
3.Â
No free-standing sign shall be more than 15 feet high.
4.Â
Projecting signs extending more than two feet over any public walk
or right-of-way shall be at least eight feet above the walk grade
and at least 14 feet above any vehicular right-of-way.
5.Â
No sign shall be erected at the intersection of any streets in such
a manner as to obstruct free and clear vision, or at any location
where by reason of its position, shape or color it may interfere with,
obstruct the view of, or be confused with, any authorized traffic
sign, signal or device.
6.Â
No sign shall be located so as to prevent or hinder free ingress
to or egress from any door, window, or fire escape. No sign shall
be attached to a standpipe or fire escape.
7.Â
No sign shall be attached to or placed on any public utility pole
or tree located within any public right-of-way.
41.10.3.Â
All other requirements of any Municipal Ordinance must be complied
with. Historical markers may be authorized by HARB subject to the
provisions stipulated and such markers shall not be considered as
signs but are to be erected in accordance with the requirements established
for historic markers by HARB.