[Ord. 881, 7/21/2014]
1.
Pursuant to the authority contained in the Act of June 13, 1961,
P.L. 282, No. 167, the Historic District Act, 53 P.S. § 8001,
as amended, there is hereby created an historic district within the
Borough of Oxford.
2.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Oxford Borough
Historic District Ordinance."
[Ord. 881, 7/21/2014]
1.
This historic district is created for the following purposes:
A.
To further the implementation of Article I, § 27, of the
Pennsylvania Constitution, which states that:
|
"The people have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the
preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and aesthetic 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.
To accomplish, through the creation of an historic district, the
following:
(1)
Promote, protect, enhance, perpetuate, and preserve the historic
district for the educational, cultural, economic and general welfare
of the public through the preservation, protection and regulation
of buildings, structures, and areas of historic interest or importance
within the Borough;
(2)
Safeguard the heritage of the Borough by preserving and regulating
the historic district, which reflects elements of its cultural, social,
economic, political, and architectural history;
(3)
Preserve and enhance the environmental quality of neighborhoods;
(4)
Strengthen the Borough's economic base by the stimulation
of the tourist industry;
(5)
Stabilize and improve property values;
(6)
Foster economic development;
(7)
Foster civic pride in the Borough's beauty and past accomplishments;
(8)
Preserve and protect the cultural, historical and architectural
assets of the Borough which the Borough has determined to be of local,
state or national historical and/or architectural significance; and
(9)
Encourage appropriate settings and continued construction of
buildings in general harmony with respect to style, form, proportion,
texture, and materials between buildings of historic design and those
of more modern design.
[Ord. 881, 7/21/2014]
1.
The Oxford Borough Historic District is shown on the Historic District
Map of Oxford Borough that is contained in Appendix 1 of this chapter.[1] The provisions of this chapter shall be applied, in accordance
with its applicable terms, to all land, buildings, and structures
that are viewed or may be viewed from a public way within the boundaries
of the Oxford Borough Historic District.
[1]
Editor's Note: The Historic District Map is included as an attachment to this chapter.
2.
The principal focus of this chapter is on the following proposed
changes to a property located within the Oxford Borough Historic District
that are visible from a public way:
A.
New construction.
B.
Demolition.
C.
Alteration, restoration, rehabilitation, or reconstruction, other
than routine maintenance and minor repair.
Any activity involving new construction, demolition, or alteration,
restoration, rehabilitation, or reconstruction on a property located
within the Oxford Borough Historical District that requires a building
permit, demolition permit or sign permit shall be subject to the terms
and procedures of this chapter.
[Amended by Ord. No. 924-2019, 6/17/2019]
3.
No permanent sign or other structure within the Oxford Borough Historic
District may be constructed, altered, or otherwise changed in whole
or part, nor may the exterior architectural character of any structure
be altered, where such construction, alteration, or change necessitates
a building permit, demolition permit or sign permit, unless such proposed
action is determined to be in compliance with the applicable terms
of this chapter.
[Amended by Ord. No. 924-2019, 6/17/2019]
4.
Any alteration, restoration, rehabilitation, or reconstruction of
a residential building or structure in the historic district that
does not require a building permit under the terms of the Uniform
Construction Code shall not be subject to the terms of this chapter.
A.
Such activities may include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1)
Replacement of glass in a door or window.
(2)
Replacement of a window, door, or garage door.
(3)
Installation of a new window.
(4)
Replacement of a roof or a portion thereof.
(5)
Replacement of existing siding with material similar to that
which exists; proposed replacement or coverage of existing siding
with substantially different material shall require a building permit
and shall be subject to the terms of this chapter.
(6)
Repair/replacement of a porch or stoop, or any part thereof,
that does not structurally support a roof above.
(7)
Replacement of exterior gutters.
(8)
Installation of an uncovered deck, if the deck floor is no more
than 30 inches above grade.
B.
Exterior painting or tiling of a residential or nonresidential structure
also is not subject to the terms of this chapter.
5.
No permit for the demolition of any structure visible from a public
way and located within the historic district may be issued without
the review of an application for a certificate of appropriateness
by the HARB, a recommendation by the HARB for action by Borough Council,
and approval of the application by Borough Council.
6.
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prevent the routine
maintenance or minor repair of any exterior elements of any building
or structure, nor shall anything in this chapter be construed to prevent
the construction, reconstruction, alteration, or demolition of any
such elements which Borough Council shall certify as required for
purposes of public health, safety, or general welfare.
