The purpose of this chapter is to establish an Historic Overlay
District which recognizes existing municipal historic districts within
the City of Harrisburg and provides for the establishment of new municipal
historic districts, in accordance with State Act of 167 of 1961, P.L.
282, as amended. The Historic Overlay District has been created to:
A. Protect the portions of the City which recall the rich architectural
and cultural heritage of Harrisburg and the state;
B. Increase interest in the City's history and promote the general
welfare, education, and culture of the City;
C. Strengthen the City's economy by improving property values and
economic activity; and
D. Provide for new buildings and alterations that will be harmonious
with existing historically and architecturally significant buildings.
This chapter applies to all properties located within the Historic
Overlay District as further described below:
A. The Historic Overlay District is hereby delineated as those municipal
historic districts shown on the Historic Overlay District Map which,
together with all explanatory matter thereon, is hereby adopted by
reference and declared to be a part of this chapter.
B. The Historic Overlay District shall function as an overlay zoning
district to the existing zoning districts. All of the provisions of
the underlying zoning district shall remain in full effect, except
that the additional procedures and requirements of this chapter shall
also apply.
C. If, in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, changes are
made in the district boundaries or other matters portrayed on the
Historic Overlay District Map, such changes shall be entered on such
map promptly after the amendment has been approved by City Council
and certified by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.
D. No changes of any nature shall be made on the Historic Overlay District
Map or matter shown thereon except in conformity with the procedures
set forth in this chapter. Any unauthorized change of whatever kind
by any person or persons shall be considered a violation of this chapter
and shall be ineffective.
E. While copies of the Historic Overlay District Map may from time to
time be made or published, the Historic Overlay District Map shall
be located in the Planning Bureau in the Department of Building and
Housing Development, or its successor agency.
F. Where uncertainty exists as to the boundaries of municipal historic
districts as shown on the Historic Overlay District Map, the following
rules shall apply:
(1)
Boundaries indicated as approximately following the center lines
of streets, highways, or alleys shall be construed to follow such
center lines.
(2)
Boundaries indicated as approximately following plotted lot
lines shall be construed as following such lot lines.
(3)
Boundaries indicated as parallel to or extensions of features
indicated in the above shall be so construed. Distances not specifically
indicated on the Historic Overlay District Map shall be determined
by the scale of the map.
Changes to the boundaries of a municipal historic district or
proposed boundaries of a new historic district shall be submitted
by the City Clerk for certification by resolution of the Pennsylvania
Historical and Museum Commission concerning the historic significance
of the area within the limits of such historic district. The City
Clerk shall maintain records of such certification.
The Codes Administrator and the Zoning Officer shall not issue
a permit for activity regulated by this chapter unless a certificate
of appropriateness has been issued as specified in this chapter.
Upon receipt of the written disapproval of the Council, the
Codes Administrator shall not approve the application for the building
permit.
The Zoning Officer shall have the power to institute any proceedings
at law or in equity necessary for the enforcement of this chapter
in the same manner as in the enforcement of the Zoning Code of the
City of Harrisburg, as presently enacted and as the same may from
time to time be amended.
Chapters
7-701, 7-301.99 and 1-305 shall apply.