[Adopted by the Town of Falmouth Annual Fall Town Meeting 11-12-2015, Art. 18, approved 2-29-2016.
Amendments noted where applicable.]
A.
This bylaw shall be known and may be cited as the Falmouth Historic
District Bylaw and is adopted pursuant to the provisions of Chapter
40C of the Massachusetts General Laws, as amended.
B.
The purpose of this bylaw is to promote the educational, cultural,
economic and general welfare of the public through the preservation
and protection of the distinctive characteristics and architecture
of buildings and places significant in the history of the Town of
Falmouth or their architecture, and through the maintenance and improvement
of settings for such buildings and places to ensure that new building
designs are compatible therewith.
The act or the fact of rebuilding, reconstruction, restoration,
replication, removal, demolition, and other similar activities.
A combination of materials forming shelter for people, animals
or property.
A certificate of appropriateness, a certificate of nonapplicability,
or a certificate of hardship as set forth in this bylaw.
The Falmouth Historical Commission as established in accordance
with Chapter 40C of the Massachusetts General Laws and shall have
all the powers and duties of the historical commission as provided
in MGL c. 40, § 8D.
The act or the fact of building, erecting, installing, enlarging,
moving and other similar activities.
One of the seven (7) historic districts established pursuant
to Chapter 654 of the Acts of 1975, and any additional historic district
as may be established pursuant to Chapter 40C of the Massachusetts
General Laws.
Any portion of the exterior of a building or structure that
is open to view from a public street, public way, public park or public
body of water, including but not limited to architectural style and
general arrangement and setting thereof, the kind and texture of exterior
building materials, the materials applied to exterior surfaces, and
the type and style of windows, doors, lights, signs and other appurtenant
exterior fixtures.
Application of this bylaw to a particular piece of property,
evaluated in its totality, owing to the unique characteristics of
the property, that is unduly oppressive, arbitrary or confiscatory
and would involve substantial economic loss to the applicant because
a literal enforcement of the bylaw, provided the conditions and characteristics
of the property are not the result of actions of the applicant, or
owner, or their agents, predecessors, successors or assigns.
The applicant; an owner of adjoining property; an owner of
property within the same district area within one hundred (100) feet
of the subject property lines; and any charitable corporation in which
one of its purposes is the preservation of historic places, structures,
buildings or districts.
[Amended AFTM 11-6-2017, Art. 9, approved 2-12-2018]
Any symbol, design or device used to identify or advertise
any place of business, product, activity or person.
A combination of materials other than a building, including
but not limited to a sign, fence, wall, terrace, walk or driveway.
A building not to be in existence for a period of more than
two (2) years.
A sign not to be in existence for a period of more than thirty
(30) days.
A structure not to be in existence for a period of more than
one (1) year.
The historic districts shall consist of the areas listed in § 36-14 (Appendices) of this bylaw.
A.
The districts shall be regulated by a Commission consisting of five
(5) members to be appointed by the Board of Selectmen. One (1) member
shall initially be appointed for one (1) year, two (2) for two (2)
years, and two (2) for three (3) years. Each successive appointment
shall be for three (3) years.
B.
The Commission shall include, if possible, one (1) member from two
(2) nominees solicited from the Falmouth Historical Society, one (1)
member from two (2) nominees solicited from the chapter of the American
Institute of Architects covering Falmouth; one (1) member from two
(2) nominees of the Board of Realtors covering Falmouth; and one (1)
property owner from within a district area. If within thirty (30)
days after submission of a written request for nominees to any of
the organizations herein named, no such nominations have been made,
the Board of Selectmen may proceed to make open appointments.
[Amended AFTM 11-6-2017, Art. 9, approved 2-12-2018]
C.
The Board of Selectmen shall appoint up to two (2) alternate members
to the Commission. Each alternate member shall have the right to act
and vote in the place of a regular member should such regular member
be absent from a meeting, or unable to vote. Said alternate members
shall initially be appointed for terms of two (2) or three (3) years,
and for three-year (3-year) terms thereafter.
D.
Meetings of the Commission shall be held at the call of the Chairman
and in such other manner as the Commission shall determine in its
rules and regulations.
E.
Three (3) members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum.
A.
The Commission shall exercise its powers in administering and regulating
the construction and alteration of any structure or building within
the district as set forth under the procedures and criteria established
in this bylaw. In exercising its powers and duties hereunder, the
Commission shall pay due regard to the distinctive characteristics
of each building, structure and district area.
B.
The Commission shall adhere to the rules and regulations previously
adopted pursuant to Chapter 654 of the Acts of 1975, unless the Commission
adopts, or from time to time amends, reasonable rules and regulations
not inconsistent with the provisions of this bylaw, MGL c. 40C, or
40, § 8D, setting forth such forms and procedures as it
deems desirable and necessary for the regulation of its affairs and
the conduct of its business, including requirements for the contents
and form of applications for certificates, fees, hearing procedures
and other matters. The Commission shall file a copy of any such rules
and regulations with the office of the Town Clerk.
C.
The Commission shall adhere to the guidelines previously adopted
pursuant to Chapter 654 of the Acts of 1975, unless the Commission,
after a public hearing duly posted and advertised at least fourteen
(14) days in advance in a conspicuous place in Town Hall and in a
newspaper of general circulation, adopts or from time to time amends
the guidelines which set forth the designs for certain exterior architectural
features which are, in general, suitable for the issuance of a certificate.
No such design guidelines shall limit the right of an applicant for
a certificate to present other designs to the Commission for approval.
D.
The Commission shall, at the beginning of each fiscal year, hold
an organizational meeting and elect a Chairman, Vice Chairman and
Secretary, and file notice of such election with the office of the
Town Clerk.
E.
The Commission shall keep a permanent record of its resolutions,
transactions, decisions and determinations and of the vote of each
member participating therein.
A.
Except as provided in this bylaw, no building or structure or part
thereof within a district shall be constructed or altered in any way
that affects the exterior architectural features visible from a public
street, public way, public park or public body of water, without a
certificate issued by the Commission.
B.
No building permit for construction of a building or structure or
for alteration of an exterior architectural feature within a district
and no demolition permit for removal of a building or structure within
a district shall be issued by the Town or any department until a certificate
is issued by the Commission.
A.
Any person who desires to receive a certificate shall file with the
Commission an application for a certificate of appropriateness, of
nonapplicability, or of hardship. The application shall be accompanied
by such plans, elevations, specifications, material and other information,
including in the case of demolition a statement of the proposed condition
and appearance of the property after removal of any buildings or structures,
as may be reasonably deemed necessary by the Commission.
B.
The Commission shall determine within fourteen (14) days of the filing
of an application for a certificate whether the application involves
any exterior architectural features which are within the jurisdiction
of the Commission.
C.
If the Commission determines that an application for a certificate
does not involve any exterior architectural features, or involves
an exterior architectural feature which is not subject to review by
the Commission under the provisions of this bylaw, the Commission
shall forthwith issue a certificate of nonapplicability.
D.
Public hearing; notice.
(1)
If the Commission determines that such application involves any exterior
architectural feature subject to review under this bylaw, it shall
hold a public hearing on the application. The Commission shall hold
such a public hearing within forty-five (45) days from the receipt
of the application. At least fourteen (14) days before the public
hearing, notice shall be given by posting in a conspicuous place in
Town Hall and in a newspaper of general circulation. Such notice shall
identify the time, place, and purpose of the public hearing.
(2)
Concurrently, a copy of the public hearing notice shall be mailed
to the applicant, to the owners of all adjoining properties, to the
owners of all property within the same district area within one hundred
(100) feet of the subject property lines, to any nonprofit organization
in which one of its purposes is the preservation of historic places,
structures, buildings or districts, to all other properties deemed
by the Commission to be materially affected, all as they appear on
the most recent applicable tax list, to the Planning Board, and to
any person filing a written request for notice of hearings (such request
to be renewed yearly in December).
E.
Within sixty (60) days after the filing of an application for a certificate,
or within such further time as the applicant may allow in writing,
the Commission shall issue a certificate or disapproval. In the case
of a disapproval, the Commission shall place upon its record the reasons
for disapproval and shall set forth the reasons in its written disapproval.
F.
The concurring vote of a majority of the members shall be required
to approve a certificate.
G.
In issuing certificates, the Commission may, as it deems appropriate,
impose certain conditions and limitations, and may require architectural
or plan modifications consistent with the intent and purpose of this
bylaw.
H.
In the event of an application for a certificate of hardship, the
Commission shall determine whether, owing to conditions especially
affecting the building or structure involved, but not affecting the
district generally, failure to approve an application will involve
a substantial hardship, financial or otherwise, to the applicant and
whether such application may be approved without substantial detriment
to the public welfare and without substantial derogation from the
intent and purposes of this bylaw. If the Commission determines that
owing to such conditions failure to approve an application will involve
substantial hardship to the applicant and approval thereof may be
made without such substantial detriment or derogation, the Commission
shall issue a certificate of hardship. The issuance of a certificate
of hardship pursuant to the foregoing provision is intended to be
employed only in rare and unusual cases.
I.
The Commission shall send a copy of its certificates and disapprovals
to the applicant and shall file a copy with the Town Clerk and Building
Commissioner. The date of issuance of a certificate or disapproval
shall be the date of the filing with the Town Clerk.
J.
If the Commission should fail to issue a certificate or disapproval
within sixty (60) days of the filing of the application, or within
such further time as the applicant may allow in writing, the Commission
shall approve the application due to a failure to act.
K.
Each certificate issued by the Commission shall be dated and signed
by its Chairman or such other person designated by the Commission
to sign on its behalf.
L.
A person aggrieved by a determination of the Commission may, within
twenty (20) days of the issuance of a certificate or disapproval,
file an appeal in the Barnstable County Superior Court as provided
in MGL c. 40C, § 12A. The remedy provided by this section
shall be exclusive but the parties shall have all rights of appeal
and exception as in other equity cases.
A.
In deliberating on applications for certificates, the Commission
shall consider, among other things, the historic and architectural
value and significance of the site, building or structure; the general
design, proportions, detailing, mass, arrangement, texture, and material
of the exterior architectural features involved; and the relation
of such exterior architectural features to similar features of buildings
and structures in the surrounding district.
B.
In the case of new construction or additions to existing buildings
or structures, the Commission shall consider the appropriateness of
the scale, shape and proportions of the building or structure both
in relation to the land area upon which the building or structure
is situated and in relation to buildings and structures in the district.
C.
When ruling on applications for certificates on solar energy systems
as defined in MGL c. 40A, § 1A, the Commission shall consider
the policy of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to encourage the use
of solar energy systems and to protect solar access.
D.
The Commission shall not consider interior arrangements or exterior
architectural features not subject to public view from a public way.
A.
The Commission shall exclude from its purview the following:
[Amended AFTM 11-14-2016, Art. 6, approved 2-17-2017]
B.
Nothing in this bylaw shall be construed to prevent the ordinary
maintenance, repair or replacement of any exterior architectural feature
within a district which does not involve a change in design, material
or the outward appearance thereof, nor to prevent landscaping with
plants, trees or shrubs, nor construed to prevent the meeting of requirements
certified by a duly authorized public officer to be necessary for
public safety because of an unsafe or dangerous condition, nor construed
to prevent any construction or alteration under a permit duly issued
prior to the effective date of this bylaw.
The Commission may determine from time to time after a public
hearing, duly advertised and posted at least fourteen (14) days in
advance in a conspicuous place in Town Hall and in a newspaper of
general circulation in Falmouth, that certain categories of exterior
architectural features, structures or buildings under certain conditions
may be constructed or altered without review by the Commission without
causing substantial derogation from the intent and purpose of this
bylaw.
A.
The Superior Court shall have jurisdiction to enforce the provisions
of this bylaw and the determinations, rulings and regulations pursuant
thereto and may upon the request of the Board of Selectmen or Commission,
restrain by injunction violations thereof; and without limitation,
such court may order the removal of any building, structure or exterior
architectural feature constructed in violation thereof, or the substantial
restoration of any building, structure or exterior architectural feature
altered or demolished in violation thereof, and may issue such other
relief as may be equitable.
B.
Notwithstanding the provisions of the State Building Code, the Building
Commissioner shall withhold any permit for construction, alteration,
demolition or the moving, use or occupancy of any building or structure
until such time as the Commission issues a determination that compliance
with its certificate of appropriateness has been accomplished or that
the Commission has received surety for the completion of construction
or other authorized site activities pursuant to the following:
(1)
Before issuing a certificate of appropriateness, the Commission may
require that construction or other authorized site activities be secured
by one of the following methods, which method may be selected and
from time to time varied by the applicant upon receiving written approval
from the Commission:
(a)
By a proper bond or deposit of money sufficient in the opinion
of the Commission to secure performance of the conditions of its decision
as noted in the certificate of appropriateness or accompanying plans;
or
(b)
By a covenant executed and duly recorded by the owner of record,
running with the land, whereby the conditions of its decision as noted
in the certificate of appropriateness or accompanying plans shall
be accomplished prior to the issuance of occupancy permits or any
conveyance, sale, rental or similar disposition of the property.
C.
Any person violating any of the provisions of this act shall be guilty
of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, fined not more than three hundred
dollars ($300) for each offense. Each day that such violation continues
shall constitute a separate offense.
The Commission established hereunder shall have the powers and
duties of a historical commission as provided in MGL c. 40, § 8D,
and may be entitled a historical commission in addition to a historic
district commission.
The provisions of this bylaw shall be deemed to be separable.
If any of its provisions, sections, subsections, sentences or clauses
shall be held to be invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent
jurisdiction, the remainder of the bylaw shall continue to be in full
force and effect.
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Appendix 1: North Falmouth Historic District
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Appendix 2: West Falmouth Historic District
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Appendix 3: Falmouth Village
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Appendix 4: Woods Hole
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Appendix 5: East Falmouth
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Appendix 6: Waquoit
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Appendix 7: Quissett
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[1]
Editor's Note: The appendices listed in this section
are on file in the Town offices.
