[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Tamaqua 5-22-2002 by Ord. No. 553. Amendments noted where applicable.]
Pursuant to authority contained in the Act of June 13, 1961, P.L. 282, No. 167, as amended (53 P.S. § 8001 et seq.), there is hereby created an historic district within the Borough of Tamaqua. This chapter shall be known and made be cited as the "Tamaqua Borough Historic Preservation Ordinance."
This district is created for the following purposes:
A. 
Pursuant to Article I, Section 27 of the Pennsylvania Constitution, which states:
"The people have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of the environment. Pennsylvania's public natural resources are the common property of all the people, including generations yet to come. As trustees of these resources, the Commonwealth shall conserve and maintain them for the benefit of all the people."
B. 
Now, therefore, it is the purpose and intent of the Borough of Tamaqua to promote, protect, enhance, perpetuate, and preserve historic districts for the educational, cultural, economic and general welfare of the public through the preservation, protection and regulation of buildings, structures in areas of historic interest or importance within the Borough of Tamaqua; to safeguard the heritage of the Borough of Tamaqua by preserving and regulating historic districts which reflect common elements of its cultural, social, economic, political and architectural history; to preserve and enhance the environmental quality of neighborhoods; to strengthen the Borough's economic base by the stimulation of the heritage tourism industry; to establish and improve property values; to foster economic development; to foster civil pride in the beauty and accomplishments of the Borough of Tamaqua's past; and to preserve and protect the cultural, historical and architectural assets of the Borough of Tamaqua for which the Borough of Tamaqua has determined to be of local, state and national, historical and/or architectural significance.
For the purpose of this chapter, all words used in the present tense include the future tense. All words in the plural number include the singular number and all words in the singular number include the plural number, unless the natural construction of the word clearly indicates otherwise. The word "shall" is mandatory. The word "used" includes "designated, intended, built or arranged to be used."
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ALTERATION
Any act or process requiring a sign, building, or demolition permit.
BUILDING
Any enclosed or open structure that is a combination of materials to form a construction for occupancy and/or use for human or animal habitation and is permanently affixed to the land, including manufactured homes.
BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATION
The request filed by any person with the Zoning Officer that seeks authorization to erect signage or erect, alter, reconstruct, repair, restore, demolish, or raze all or a part of any building or structure listed in the Tamaqua Borough within an historic district that requires a certificate of appropriateness.
CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS
The approval statement signed by the Tamaqua Borough Council which certifies to the historical appropriateness of a particular request for the erection of signage or the erection, alteration, reconstruction, restoration, demolition, or razing of all or a part of any building or structure within an historic district and authorizes the issuance of a building permit for said request.
COMPLETED APPLICATION
A completed permit or certificate of appropriateness application which conforms to the submittal criteria for specific historic preservation projects, as determined by the Historical Architectural Review Commission (HARC).
DEMOLITION
The dismantling or tearing down of all or part of any building and all operations incidental thereto, including neglecting routine maintenance and repairs which can lead to deterioration and decay.
DEMOLITION BY NEGLECT
The absence of routine maintenance and repair which can lead to a building's or structure's structural weakness, decay and deterioration resulting in its demolition.
ERECTION
The result of construction such as a building, structure, monument, sign or object on the ground or on a structure or building.
RECONSTRUCTION
The act or process of reproducing by new construction the exact form and detail of a vanished building, structure, or object, or a part thereof, as it appeared at a specific period of time but not necessarily of original material.
SIGN/SIGNAGE
Any display, structure, device or object which is affixed or attached to the building or property which incorporates lettering, logos, colors, lights or illuminated inert gas tubes visible to the public from a building or structure, which either conveys a message to the public, or intends to advertise, direct, invite, announce, or draw attention to goods, products, services, activities, or facilities, excluding window displays, merchandise and temporary signs.
[Amended 5-17-2006 by Ord. No. 610]
SIGN, BUILDING OR DEMOLITION PERMIT
An approval statement signed by the Zoning Officer authorizing signage or the construction, alteration, reconstruction, repair, restoration, demolition or razing of all or a part of any building listed in the Tamaqua Borough's Historic Resource Inventory.
STRUCTURE
Anything constructed or erected, having a permanent or semipermanent location on another structure or in the ground, including, without limitation, buildings, sheds, manufactured homes, garages, fences, gazebos, freestanding signs, billboards, antennas, satellite sending or receiving dishes, vending machines, decks, and swimming pools.
TAMAQUA BOROUGH HISTORICAL ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION (HARC)
The agency that advises the Tamaqua Borough Council on any requests for authorization to erect, alter, reconstruct, repair, restore, demolish all or part of any building within an historic district. This agency is the Board of Historical Architectural Review authorized by the Act of June 13, 1961, P.L. 282, No. 167, § 3 (53 P.S. § 8003).
TEMPORARY SIGNS
A sign that is defined as a temporary sign by the Eastern Schuylkill Planning (ESP) Region Joint Zoning Ordinance.
[Added 5-17-2006 by Ord. No. 610; amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
ZONING OFFICER
The municipal employee or individual designated by the Borough of Tamaqua as the individual who issues the permits for the erection of signage or the erection, alteration, reconstruction, repair, restoration, demolition or razing of all or a part of any building or structure within an historic district.
A. 
The Tamaqua Borough Historic District shall be delineated on a map designated as the Historic District Map of the Borough of Tamaqua.
B. 
The Historic District Map of the Borough of Tamaqua shall be located in the office of the Zoning Officer and made available for public inspection.
A. 
An Historical Architectural Review Commission, hereinafter referred to as HARC, is hereby established. HARC is to be composed of not fewer than five members nor more than seven members appointed by the Tamaqua Borough Council. The membership of HARC shall be as follows:
(1) 
One member shall be a registered architect;
(2) 
One member shall be a licensed real estate broker;
(3) 
One member shall be the Zoning Officer;
(4) 
The remaining members shall be persons of knowledge or of an interest in the preservation of historic districts.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
B. 
The initial terms of the members first appointed to the HARC shall be so fixed that no more than three members shall be replaced or reappointed during any one calendar year. Vacancies on the HARC shall be filled within 120 days by the Tamaqua Borough Council; however, every member shall continue in office after expiration of term until a successor has been appointed. Successors shall serve a term of three years. The position of any member of the HARC appointed to his or her capacity, such as a registered architect, a licensed real estate broker, or the Zoning Officer, who ceases to be so engaged shall be automatically considered vacant. An appointment to fill a vacancy shall only be for the unexpired portion of the term.
C. 
It shall be the duty of each HARC member to remain conscious of and sensitive to any possible conflict of interest (including, but not limited, to financial considerations) that may arise by virtue of his or her membership on the Commission. A member, promptly upon his determining he has a conflict himself relative to any matter brought, shall disqualify himself from participating in any manner, publicly or privately, in the presentation, discussion or deliberation of and the voting on any matter, including temporarily absenting himself from the room in which the discussion is being held.
A. 
Advisory role. The HARC shall give recommendations to the Tamaqua Borough Council regarding the advisability of issuing any certificate of appropriateness required to be issued in accordance with the said Act of June 13, 1961, as amended, and this chapter.
B. 
Commission rule-making power. The HARC may make and alter rules and regulations for its own organization and procedure, providing they are consistent with the laws of the commonwealth and all provisions of this chapter.
C. 
Removal of members. Any Commission member may be removed for misconduct or wrongdoing, unlawful execution of this Act, or failure to perform his or her responsibilities pursuant to this Act, or for other just cause by a majority vote of the Tamaqua Borough Council, but not before he or she has been given the opportunity of a hearing to defend to any alleged infractions of said Act.
D. 
Annual reports. The members of HARC shall make an annual report to the Tamaqua Borough Council, which shall include:
(1) 
Any recommendations for changes in this chapter;
(2) 
The number and types of cases reviewed;
(3) 
The number of cases for which a certificate of appropriateness was either approved or denied;
(4) 
Number of the HARC meetings which each member attended;
(5) 
Historic-preservation-related training which each member attended;
(6) 
A narrative summary describing the state of preservation in the Tamaqua Borough historic district with recommendations in policy, goals, and objectives for the Tamaqua Borough Council's consideration.
E. 
Compensation. The HARC may employ secretarial and professional assistance, and incur other necessary expenses only with the express, written approval of the Tamaqua Borough Council.
F. 
Meetings. The HARC shall meet publicly at regularly scheduled intervals. Further, the HARC may hold any additional meetings it considers necessary to carry out its powers and duties indicated in this chapter. Such meetings shall be opened to the public. A majority of the HARC shall constitute a quorum and action taken at any meeting shall require the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present.
In addition to the above, the HARC shall have the following powers and duties, but only after specific authorization by the Tamaqua Borough Council:
A. 
To conduct a survey of buildings, structures, objects and monuments for the purpose of determining those of historic and/or architectural significance and pertinent facts about them; action in coordination with the Tamaqua Borough Planning Commission, Tamaqua Borough Zoning Hearing Board, and other appropriate groups and to maintain and periodically revise the detailed listings (resource inventories) of historic resources and data about them, appropriately classified with respect to national, state and local significance in accordance or consistent with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission's "Cultural Resource Management in Pennsylvania: Guidelines for Historic Resource Surveys."
B. 
To propose, from time to time as deemed appropriate, the establishment of additional historic districts and revisions to existing historic districts.
C. 
To formulate recommendations concerning the establishment of an appropriate system of markers for selected historic and/or architectural sites and buildings, including proposals for the installation and care of such historic markers.
D. 
To formulate recommendations concerning the preparation and publication of maps, brochures and descriptive material about the Tamaqua Borough historical and/or architectural sites and buildings.
E. 
To cooperate with and advise the Tamaqua Borough Council in matters involving historically and/or architecturally significant sites and buildings (such as appropriate land usage, parking facilities and signs, as well as adherence to lot dimensional regulations and minimum structural standards).
F. 
To cooperate with and enlist assistance from the National Park Service, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Preservation Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and other agencies, public and private, from time to time, concerned with the preservation of historic sites and buildings.
G. 
To advise owners of historic buildings regarding rehabilitation, repairs, maintenance method and technologies, adaptive use, economic and tax incentives and other historic preservation strategies.
H. 
To promote public interest in the purpose of this chapter by carrying on educational and public relations programs.
In determining the recommendations to be made to the Tamaqua Borough Council concerning the issuance of a certificate of appropriateness, the HARC shall consider only those matters that are pertinent to the preservation of the historical and/or architectural aspect and nature of the building, site, area, or district certified to have historical significance, including the following:
A. 
Broad historical values representing the cultural, political, economic, or social history of the Tamaqua Borough.
B. 
The relationship of the building or structure to historic personages or events.
C. 
Significant architectural types representative of certain historical periods and a style or method of construction.
D. 
The effect of the proposed change upon the general historical and architectural nature of the district.
E. 
The appropriateness of the exterior architectural features which can be seen from a public street or way.
F. 
The general design, arrangement, texture, and material of a building or structure and the relation of such factors to similar features of buildings or structures in the district. Consideration shall be given, but not limited, to the following:
(1) 
Proportion of buildings from facades. Preserving the relationship between the width of the front of the building and the height of the front of the building;
(2) 
Proportion of openings within the building. Preserving the relationship of width to height of windows and doors;
(3) 
Rhythms of solids to voids in the front facade. Preserving the relationship between a recurrent alteration of strong and weak architectural elements thereby maintaining a rhythm of solids to voids;
(4) 
Rhythm of spacing of buildings on streets. Preserving the existing rhythm of recurrent or repeated building masses to spaces between each building;
(5) 
Rhythm of entrance and/or porch projections. Preserving the existing rhythm of entrances or porch projections to maintain a pedestrian scale;
(6) 
Relationship of materials. Preserving the predominant materials of the district, such as brick, stone, stucco, wooding siding, or other material (other materials may be substituted which do not compromise the spirit and intent of this chapter);
(7) 
Relationship of texture. Preserving the predominant textures of the district which may be smooth, such as stucco or rough such as brick with tooled joints or horizontal wood siding or other textures;
(8) 
Relationship of architectural details. Preserving character-defining features of buildings, such as architectural details, including, but not limited to, cornices, lintels, arches, quoins, balustrades and iron work, chimneys, etc.;
(9) 
Relationship of roof shapes. Preserving compatible roof shapes such as gable, mansard, hip, flat, gambrel, and/or kinds of roof shapes;
(10) 
Walls of continuity. Preserving physical elements which comprise streetscapes such as brick walls, wrought iron fences, building facades or combinations of these which form visual continuity and cohesiveness along the street;
(11) 
Directional expression of front elevation. Preserving the orientation of structural shapes, plan of openings and architectural detail that reflect a predominantly vertical, or horizontal character to the building's facade;
(12) 
Scale. Preserving the scale of the built environment created by the size of units of construction and architectural detail that relate to the size of persons. In addition, preserving building mass its relation to open space;
(13) 
Variations. The HARC may grant variations in a manner that will be in harmony with the character of other buildings or structures on the street and/or districts.
G. 
The height of any new building or structure shall not exceed the height of the tallest adjacent building or structure by 10%. This requirement shall also apply to any proposed modifications to existing buildings or structures.
H. 
In such rare cases where the HARC recommends and the governing body approves demolition of an historic building or structure, a good faith effort shall be made by the Borough of Tamaqua and the owner(s) to move said building or structure to another site. If moving a building or structure slated to be demolished is economically or practically infeasible, efforts shall be made to salvage architectural features of said building or structure for use within the Tamaqua Borough.
I. 
Financial feasibility.
(1) 
The HARC shall consider the financial feasibility of its recommendations in response to a request for a certificate of appropriateness or building permit for the erection of signage or the erection, reconstruction, alteration, and restoration of a building or structure. Financial feasibility shall be determined by the HARC on the basis of an unreasonable cost for repair or replacement in-kind of whole or part of a building or structure.
(2) 
The applicant shall submit a minimum of three estimates from bona fide contractors and or vendors substantiating his or her claim that the financial feasibility of repair in-kind is unreasonable. The Board shall determine as to the condition of said architectural feature based on its inspection and photographs or report from the Zoning Officer. No substitute material shall be approved which is inappropriate, incompatible, or is destructive or has the potential to be destructive to the original fabric of the building or structure.
A. 
No sign or permanent external advertising display of any kind shall be erected, altered or used in the historic district except for advertising informing the public of the service, business, occupation or profession carried on in 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, notwithstanding zoning sign approval, until an application for a permit to make such erection or alteration has been reviewed by the HARC 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 of the district and a permit granted thereon.
B. 
No sign that is internally illuminated shall receive a recommendation for approval from the HARC.
C. 
All other requirements of any Borough ordinance must be complied with. Historical markers may be authorized by HARC 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 the HARC.
D. 
The provisions of this § 192-10 shall not apply to signs erected on or at buildings owned by nonprofit emergency service organizations, and such organizations are exempt from the provisions hereof, except that all other requirements of any other Borough ordinance must be complied with in connection with such sign.
[Added 1-19-2021 by Ord. No. 720]
A. 
Upon receipt of a completed application for a building permit or a certificate of appropriateness for work to be done in the district, the Zoning Officer shall act in accordance with the procedures being followed in that office, except those procedures that are modified by the following requirements:
(1) 
The Zoning Officer shall forward copies of the completed application for a building permit together with copies of any plot plan and building plans and specifications filed by the applicant to the HARC;
(2) 
The Zoning Officer shall not issue a building permit for any erection of signage or the erection, alteration, reconstruction, repair, restoration or demolition of all or part of any building in the District until the Tamaqua Borough Council has issued a certificate of appropriateness. If the Code Enforcement Officer issues a building permit without a certificate of appropriateness due to an administrative or clerical error, said building permit shall be considered void;
(3) 
The Zoning Officer shall require applicants to submit a sufficient number of additional copies of material required to be attached to a completed application for a building permit or certificate of appropriateness so that the information needed to make the determination set forth in Subsection G(1) through (8) of this section will be available;
(4) 
The Zoning Officer shall maintain in his office a record of all such applications and final dispositions of the same.
B. 
Commission review of applications. Upon receipt of a completed building permit or certificate of appropriateness application under the jurisdiction of this chapter, the HARC shall consider such at its next regularly scheduled meeting or special meeting, provided that the application was received by the HARC in sufficient advance of the meeting to allow the HARC reasonable and proper time to complete the ten-day notification requirement as per Subsection C. Otherwise, the application will be heard at the next regularly scheduled meeting or special meeting.
[Amended 2-1-2005 by Ord. No. 600]
C. 
Notification of application of HARC meeting. The owner of record or his or her representative(s) applying for a certificate of appropriateness and/or a building permit shall be advised of the time and place of said meeting and be invited to appear to explain his or her reasons at least 10 days before the HARC meeting. The HARC may invite such other persons as it desires to attend its meeting.
D. 
Design guidelines. In determining both oral and written recommendations to be presented to the Tamaqua Borough Council concerning the issuance of a certificate of appropriateness authorizing a permit for the erection of signage or the erection, alteration, reconstruction, repair, restoration, demolition, or demolition by neglect of all or a part of any building within the historic district, the HARC shall consider the design guidelines set forth in §§ 192-9 and 192-10, and such design guidelines developed by the HARC pursuant to and congruent with the objectives of this chapter.
E. 
Time frame for decision. The HARC shall render a decision and recommendation of any application for a building permit under its review no later than 45 working days after the hearing/meeting provided for in § 192-7 of this chapter and shall submit, in writing, to the Tamaqua Borough Council recommendations concerning the issuance of a certificate of appropriateness.
F. 
Application disapproval by HARC. If the HARC decides to advise against the granting of a certificate of appropriateness, it shall so indicate to the applicant for a building permit. The disapproval shall indicate to the applicant the changes in plans and specifications, if any, which would protect the distinctive historical character of the historic district and the architectural integrity of the building or structure. The HARC shall withhold its report for five days to allow the applicant to decide whether or not to make the suggested changes in his plans and specifications. If the applicant determines that he or she will make the necessary changes, he or she shall so advise the HARC, which shall in turn advise the Tamaqua Borough Council.
G. 
Contents of written report. The written report to Borough Council concerning the HARC's recommendations on the issuance of a certificate of appropriateness shall set out the findings of fact that shall include, but not limited to, the following matters:
(1) 
The exact location of the area in which the work is to be done;
(2) 
The exterior changes to be made of the exterior character of the structure to be erected;
(3) 
A list of the surrounding structures with their general exterior characteristics;
(4) 
The effect of the proposed change upon the general historic and architectural nature of the district;
(5) 
The appropriateness of exterior architectural features of the building which can be seen from a public street or way;
(6) 
The general design, arrangement, texture, and material of the building and the structure and the relation of such factors to similar features of building or structures in the district;
(7) 
The opinion of the HARC (including any dissent) as to the appropriateness of the work or project proposed as it will preserve or destroy the historic character and nature of the district;
(8) 
The specific recommendations of the HARC based on findings of fact as to the issuance by the Tamaqua Borough Council or its refusal to issue a certificate of appropriateness.
H. 
Notification of applicant by the Tamaqua Borough Council of its consideration. Upon receipt of the written report from the HARC as provided in Subsection G of this section, the Tamaqua Borough Council shall consider, at the next regularly scheduled or special meeting, the questions of issuing to the Zoning Officer a certificate of appropriateness authorizing a permit for work covered by the application. The applicant shall be advised by the Tamaqua Borough Secretary of the time and place of the meeting at which his application shall be considered. The applicant shall have the right to attend this meeting and be heard as to the reasons for filing this said application.
I. 
Design guidelines. In determining whether or not to certify to the appropriateness of the proposed erection of signage, or the erection, alteration, reconstruction, repair, restoration or demolition of all or a part of any building within the historic district, the Tamaqua Borough Council shall consider the report of the HARC.
J. 
The Tamaqua Borough Council shall not approve an application (and shall not issue a certificate of appropriateness) for a sign that is internally illuminated.
K. 
Approval by the Tamaqua Borough Council. If the Tamaqua Borough Council approves the application, it shall issue a certificate of appropriateness authorizing the Zoning Officer to issue a building permit for the work covered.
L. 
Disapproval by the Tamaqua Borough Council. If the Tamaqua Borough Council disapproves the application, written reason(s) shall be given to the Zoning Officer, the applicant, and to the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. The disapproval shall indicate what changes in the plans and specifications would meet the conditions for protecting the distinctive historical character of the district and the architectural integrity of the building or structure. Upon receipt of a written disapproval of the Tamaqua Borough Council, the Zoning Officer shall disapprove the application for a building permit and so advise the applicant. The applicant may appeal this disapproval to the Court of Common Pleas of Schuylkill County within the time specified by law.
M. 
Final notification by Tamaqua Borough Council. In either case of approval or disapproval of the application, the Borough of Tamaqua shall notify the applicant of its decision within five days of its meeting, at which the application was considered.
N. 
The provisions of this § 192-11 shall not apply to signs erected on or at buildings owned by nonprofit emergency service organizations, and such organizations are exempt from the provisions hereof.
[Added 1-19-2021 by Ord. No. 720]
A. 
When a claim of unreasonable economic hardship is made due to the effect of this chapter, the owner of record must present evidence sufficient to prove that, as a result of the HARC's action, he will be unable to obtain a reasonable return or a reasonable beneficial use from a resource. The owner of record shall submit by affidavit to the HARC some or all of the information below at the discretion of the HARC, which shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(1) 
Date the property was acquired by its current owner.
(2) 
Price paid for the property (if acquired by purchase) and a description of the relationship, if any, between the buyer and the seller of the property.
(3) 
Mortgage history of the property, including current mortgage and the annual debt service, if any, for the previous two years.
(4) 
Current market value of the property.
(5) 
Equity in the property.
(6) 
Past and current income and expense statements for the past two years.
(7) 
Past capital expenditures during ownership of current owner.
(8) 
Appraisals of the property obtained within the previous two years.
(9) 
Income and property tax factors affecting the property.
(10) 
All appraisals obtained within the previous two years by the owner or applicant in connection with purchase, offerings for sale, financing or ownership of the property, or state that none was obtained.
(11) 
All studies commissioned by the owner as to profitable renovation, rehabilitation or utilization of any structures or objects on the property for alternative use, or a statement that none were obtained.
(12) 
Estimate(s) of the cost of the proposed erection, reconstruction, alteration, restoration, demolition or razing and an estimate(s) of any additional cost(s) that would be incurred to comply with the recommendations of the HARC for changes necessary for it to approve a certificate of appropriateness.
(13) 
Form of ownership or operation of the property, whether sole proprietorship, for profit or nonprofit corporation, limited partnership, joint venture or other.
B. 
The HARC may require that an applicant furnish additional information relevant to its determination of unreasonable economic hardship.
C. 
Should the HARC determine that the owner's present return is not reasonable, it must consider whether there are other uses currently allowed that would provide a reasonable return and whether such a return could be obtained through investment in the property for rehabilitation purposes. The HARC may choose to recommend to the Tamaqua Borough Council that special economic incentives be developed to assist the owner of the resource in maintaining it and obtaining a suitable economic return or achieving a reasonable beneficial use.
D. 
The HARC may seek the assistance of appropriate local, statewide or national preservation organizations in developing solutions which would relieve the owner's economic hardship. If the HARC chooses to explore such options, the HARC may delay issuing a certificate of appropriateness for demolition on the basis of economic hardship for a period of 90 days in addition to time periods otherwise applicable.
E. 
Should the applicant satisfy the HARC that he will suffer an unreasonable economic hardship if a certificate of appropriateness is not approved, and should the HARC be unable to develop with the Borough of Tamaqua or appropriate local, statewide and national preservation organization a solution which can relieve the owner's economic hardship, the HARC must recommend a certificate of appropriateness for demolition.
A. 
All buildings and structures located within the boundaries of the Tamaqua Borough historic district shall be maintained in good repair and kept structurally sound and reasonably protected against decay and decoration in accordance with the International Property Maintenance Code/1998 as adopted by the Borough of Tamaqua in Ordinance No. 524, enacted November 7, 1999, and as may be further amended.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See now Ch. 246, Property Maintenance, Art. I, Adoption of Standards.
B. 
Any unresolved notice of violation to the property owner shall be considered prima facie evidence of demolition by neglect.
The Zoning Officer shall serve a notice of violation on the person in violation of this chapter which would result in, but not be limited to failure to apply for a certificate of appropriateness or a building permit required for the erection, reconstruction, alteration, restoration, demolition, demolition by neglect, or razing of any building or structure which can be seen from a public way; and failure to comply with the HARC-approved work. Such notice shall direct the abatement of said violation.
The Zoning Officer or his designated representative shall have the power to institute any proceedings at law or in equity necessary for the enforcement of this chapter.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
Any person who violates or permits a violation of this chapter shall, upon being found liable therefor, pay a fine of not more than $600, plus court costs and reasonable attorneys' fees incurred by the Borough in the enforcement proceedings. If the penalty is not paid, the Borough shall initiate a civil action for collection in accordance with the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure. Each day a violation exists shall constitute a separate offense, and each section of this chapter that is violated shall also constitute a separate offense. In addition to or in lieu of enforcement under this section, the Borough may enforce this chapter in equity in the Court of Common Pleas of Schuylkill County.
The provisions of this chapter may be amended in the future by the Tamaqua Borough Council after notice and hearing as provided by law.
Immediately upon the adoption of this chapter, the Tamaqua Borough Secretary shall forward a copy thereof to the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. This chapter shall not take effect until:
A. 
The said Commission has certified, by resolution, to the historical significance of the Tamaqua Borough historical district; and
B. 
It has been duly advertised once in the newspaper of general circulation in the Borough of Tamaqua as required by law.