[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Meeting of the Town of North
Andover. Amendments noted where applicable.]
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "North Andover
Old Center Historic District Bylaw" and is adopted pursuant to Chapter
40C of the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as amended.
The purpose of this chapter is to promote the educational, cultural,
economic and general welfare of the public through the preservation
and protection of distinctive historical and architectural characteristics
of buildings and places in the Old Center area of the Town of North
Andover through the maintenance and improvement of such buildings
and places and the encouragement of appropriate and compatible design
in this area.
There is hereby established under the provisions of Chapter
40C of the General Laws an historic district to be known as the "Old
Center Historic District," which district shall be bounded as shown
on the map entitled "North Andover Old Center Historic District, 1987,"
attached and made part of this chapter.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: The Historic District Map is on file in
the office of the Town Clerk.
A.
There is hereby established under Chapter 40C of the General Laws
an Historic District Commission consisting of seven members and two
alternate members, all residents of the Town of North Andover, appointed
by the Board of Selectmen; including one member, where possible, from
two nominees submitted by the North Andover Historical Commission;
one member, where possible, from two nominees submitted by the North
Andover Historical Society; one member, where possible, from two nominees
submitted by the Greater Lawrence Board of Realtors; one member, where
possible, from two nominees submitted by the Massachusetts State Chapter
of the American Institute of Architects; and one member who is both
a resident and owner of property in the Old Center Historic District.
The Board of Selectmen shall submit written requests for nominations
to the organizations named herein. If no nomination has been made
within 30 days after submitting a request, the Selectmen may proceed
without waiting for the requested nomination.
B.
When the Commission is first established, three members shall be
appointed for three-year terms, two members and one alternate member
shall be appointed for two-year terms, and two members and one alternate
member shall be appointed for one-year terms. Successors shall each
be appointed for a term of three years. Vacancies shall be filled
within 60 days by the Board of Selectmen by appointment for the unexpired
term. In the case of absence, inability to act or unwillingness to
act because of self-interest by a member, the Chairman may designate
an alternate member of the Commission to act for a specified time.
If any member is absent from three consecutive Commission meetings,
the Chairman may appoint an alternate member as a replacement to serve
for the remainder of that member's term, whereupon the Board
of Selectmen shall appoint a new alternate member. Each member and
alternate member shall continue in office until his or her successor
is duly appointed.
C.
All members and alternate members shall serve without compensation.
The Commission shall elect annually a Chairman and a Vice Chairman
from its own number and a Secretary from within or without its number.
Meetings of the Commission shall be held only if attended by a quorum
of at least five members, including alternate members designated to
act as members. If the Chairman is absent from a meeting of the Commission,
the Vice Chairman shall act as Chairman. Decisions of the Commission
at a meeting require a majority vote of the members, including designated
alternates, who are present at the meeting.
A.
The Commission shall have all the powers and duties of Historic District
Commissions as provided by the Historic Districts Act, MGL Chapter
40C, and by subsequent amendments thereto, unless specifically limited
by this chapter. The Commission may adopt rules and regulations not
inconsistent with the provisions of the Historic Districts Act. The
Commission may, subject to appropriation, employ clerical and technical
assistants or consultants and incur other expenses appropriate to
the carrying on of its work.
B.
The Commission shall have control over new construction, reconstruction,
alterations, relocation and demolition of all exterior architectural
features of buildings and structures within the Old Center Historic
District which are clearly visible from any public street, public
way or public land within the district, except as limited by this
chapter.
C.
In passing upon matters before it, the Commission shall consider,
among other things, the historical and architectural value and significance
of the site, building or structure, the general design arrangement
of the features involved and the relation of such features to similar
features of buildings and structures in the surrounding area.
The terms used in this chapter shall have meanings set forth
in MGL c. 40C, § 5. For purposes of this chapter, any structure
partially within the Historic District shall be considered wholly
within the district.
A.
The Commission shall not act to prevent or unnecessarily delay new
construction, reconstruction or alterations except for the purpose
of preventing developments incongruous to historical considerations
and architectural features of value, viewed in relation to the surrounding
area.
B.
The following are exempt from review or control by the Commission
(except as specifically noted):
(1)
Ordinary maintenance, repair or replacement of any external architectural
features if this does not involve a change in design or materials.
(2)
Actions required by a duly authorized public officer necessary for
public safety in the event of unsafe or dangerous conditions.
(3)
Landscaping with plants, trees, or shrubs.
(4)
Terraces, walks, sidewalks, driveways and other similar structures,
provided that the structure is at grade level. (Parking lots require
Commission review.)
(5)
Storm doors and windows, screen doors and windows, window air conditioners,
residential light fixtures and conventional antennas no larger than
six feet in any dimension. (Dish antennas and solar collectors require
Commission review.)
(6)
Paint color and roofing material.
(7)
Temporary signs or structures to be in use for not more than 90 days.
(8)
Signs used for residential occupation or professional purposes, of
not more than one square foot in area, provided that no more than
one sign is displayed on or near any one building or structure and
the sign consists of lettering painted on wood without a symbol or
trademark. (Signs for commercial and institutional purposes require
Commission review.)
(9)
Reconstruction substantially similar in exterior design of a building,
structure or exterior architectural feature damaged or destroyed by
fire, storm or other calamity, provided that such reconstruction is
begun within one year thereafter and is carried forward with due diligence.
(10)
All interior architectural features, and those exterior architectural
features which are not clearly visible from any public street, public
way or public land within the Old Center Historic District.
A.
Except as this chapter provides in § 110-7, no building or structure within the Historic District shall be constructed or altered in any way that affects exterior architectural features unless the Commission shall first have issued a certificate of appropriateness, a certificate of nonapplicability or a certificate of hardship with respect to such construction or alteration; nor shall any building permit for demolition be issued for any building or structure within the Historic District until the certificate required by this section has been issued by the Commission.
B.
Applications for certificates shall be made in triplicate, one copy
being filed with the Historic District Commission, one with the Building
Inspector and one with the Town Clerk. Applications shall include
plans and elevations, drawn to scale, detailed enough to show the
architectural design of the structure and its relation to the existing
building, and other materials deemed necessary by the Commission.
Plot and site plans should be filed when an application is made for
improvements involving applicable landscape features such as walls
and fences. In case of demolition or removal, the application must
include a statement of the proposed condition and appearance of the
property thereafter.
C.
Within 14 days of the filing of an application for any certificate,
the Commission shall determine whether the application involves any
features which are subject to approval by the Commission.
D.
If the application requires the Commission's review or at the
request of the applicant, the Commission shall hold a public hearing,
unless waived according to the provisions of Chapter 40C of the General
Laws, as amended. Public notice of the time, place and purpose of
the hearing shall be given at least 14 days in advance, and the Commission
must notify by mail affected parties as provided in Chapter 40C of
the General Laws, as amended.
E.
The Commission shall decide upon the determination of any application
within 60 days of its filing or within such further time as the applicant
may allow in writing.
F.
A certificate of appropriateness shall be issued to the applicant
if the Commission determines that the proposed construction or alteration
will be appropriate for or compatible with the preservation or protection
of the Historic District. In the case of a disapproval of an application
for a certificate of appropriateness, the Commission shall place upon
its records the reasons for such determination and shall forthwith
cause a notice of its determination, accompanied by a copy of the
reasons therefor as set forth in the records of the Commission, to
be issued to the applicant, and the Commission may make recommendations
to the applicant with respect to appropriateness of design. Prior
to the issuance of any disapproval, the Commission may notify the
applicant of its proposed action, accompanied by recommendations of
changes in the applicant's proposal which, if made, would make
the application acceptable to the Commission. If, within 14 days of
the receipt of such notice, the applicant files a written modification
of his application in conformity with the recommended changes of the
Commission, the Commission shall issue a certificate of appropriateness
to the applicant.
G.
Upon request, the Commission may issue a certificate of nonapplicability
to any applicant whose request does not require Commission approval.
H.
If an application is deemed inappropriate or if application is made for a certificate of hardship, the Commission may issue a certificate of hardship if conditions especially affecting the building or structure involved, but not affecting the Historic District generally, would make failure to approve an application involve a substantial hardship, financial or otherwise, to the applicant and approval would not involve substantial detriment to the public welfare. A certificate of hardship shall also be issued in the event that the Commission does not make a determination of an application within the time specified in Subsection E.
I.
Each certificate shall be dated and signed, and the Commission shall
keep a permanent record of its determinations and of the vote of each
member participating therein, and shall file a copy or notice of certificate
and determinations of disapproval with the Town Clerk and the Building
Inspector.
Any person aggrieved may, within 20 days of the decision by
the Commission, appeal to a Superior Court sitting in equity. The
Commission must pay costs if it appears to the court that the Commission
has acted with gross negligence, bad faith or malice.
Violation of any of the provisions of this chapter shall incur
a fine of not less than $10 nor more than $100 as determined by the
Commission, each day constituting a separate offense.
The Town of North Andover shall be subject to the provisions
of this chapter, notwithstanding any Town bylaw to the contrary.
This chapter may be amended from time to time by a two-thirds
vote of the Town Meeting, subject to the procedures as set forth in
MGL c. 40C, § 3.
In case any section, paragraph or part of this chapter is for
any reason declared invalid or unconstitutional by any court of last
resort, every other section, paragraph or part shall continue in full
force and effect.
Following Town Meeting approval, this chapter takes effect immediately
when the following conditions have been met: approval by the Attorney
General of the Commonwealth; and filing of a map of the boundaries
of the Historic District with the North Andover Town Clerk, the North
Andover Building Inspector and the Registry of Deeds for North Essex
County.
