[Ord. 114, 1/21/1991, § 104]
A demolition permit must be obtained from the Code Enforcement Officer before any building or structure is demolished or razed within the Township of Wrightstown.
[Ord. 114, 1/21/1991, § 104]
1. 
The Code Enforcement Officer or Zoning Officer shall delay for 30 days the issuance of a demolition permit for a building or structure over 75 years of age and refer such application for such permit to the Wrightstown Historical Commission for review:
A. 
Within five working days of its receipt, the Historical Commission shall determine the historical significance of the structure and shall render a written opinion on the historic significance to the Code Enforcement Officer.
B. 
If the structure is determined to have historic significance, the Code Enforcement Officer upon request from the Historical Commission shall order an additional delay in the issuance of the permit up to 60 days from the date of the application for the permit.
C. 
In the case of any building or structure appearing on or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, the Code Enforcement Officer or Zoning Officer shall, upon request of the Historical Commission, delay the issuance of said permit for up to six months from the date of application for the permit during which time the Historical Commission shall seek alternatives to demolition.
D. 
In the event historically significant features are discovered by the Commission, e.g., stairways, decorative trim, paneling, beams, etc., and there appears to be no alternative to demolition, the applicant shall cooperate with the Historical Commission in permitting these features to be removed for preservation before the building or structure is demolished.
[Ord. 114, 1/21/1991, § 104; as amended by Ord. 266, 9/17/2007]
1. 
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision of this Part, upon conviction thereof in an action brought before a magisterial district judge in the manner provided for the enforcement of summary offenses under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $1,000 plus costs and, in default of payment of said fine and costs, to a term of imprisonment not to exceed 90 days. Each day that a violation of this Part continues or each section of this Part which shall be found to have been violated shall constitute a separate offense.
A. 
In the event a building or structure of historic significance is demolished prior to issuance of a demolition permit, the Code Enforcement Officer or Zoning Officer shall take immediate action to begin prosecution of such violation and seek the maximum penalty permitted by law against the person, firm or corporation responsible for the demolition.
B. 
In the event a building or structure of historic significance is demolished prior to issuance of a demolition permit, each day from the date of the initial violation to the maximum waiting time permitted under § 4-202 above will constitute a separate offense (up to 21 days for structures greater than 75 years, up to 60 days for structures of historic significance and up to 180 days for structures appearing or eligible for the national historic register).
[Ord. 114, 1/21/1991, § 104]
When used in this Part, the word "demolish" shall mean to alter a structure by rendering it unfit for use to such an extent that repair is not feasible or is so costly as to be economically prohibited. Alterations within the scope of an approved building permit shall not be regarded as demolition.