Borough of Bath, PA Design Guidelines

In determining the recommendations to be made to Borough Council concerning the issuance of a certificate of appropriateness, HARB shall consider only those matters that are pertinent to the preservation of the historical and/or architectural aspect and nature of building, site, area, or district, certified to have historical significance, and only to the extent a facade of a principal building, structure, site, area, or district fronts on the following streets: North Chestnut, Street, South Chestnut Street, Green Street, East Main Street, West Main Street, West Northampton Street, Race Street, and South Walnut Street of the Bath Historic District, and the following additional guidelines:

(1)

Broad historical values representing the cultural, political, economic, or social history of the Borough.

(2)

The relationship of the building or structure to historic personages or events.

(3)

Significant architectural types representative of a certain historical period and a style of method of construction.

(4)

The effect of the proposed change upon the general historical and architectural nature of the district.

(5)

The appropriateness of the exterior architectural features which can be seen from a public street or way.

(6)

The general design, arrangement, texture, and material of the building or structure and the relation of such Factors to similar features of buildings or structures in the district. Consideration shall be given but not limited to the following:

(a)

Proportion of buildings' front facades. Preserving the relationship between the width of the front of the building and the height of the front of the building.

(b)

Proportion of openings within the building. Preserving the relationship of width to height of windows and doors.

(c)

Rhythms of solids to voids in the front facade. Preserving the relationship between a recurrent alteration of strong and weak architectural elements, thereby maintaining a rhythm of solids to voids.

(d)

Rhythm of spacing of buildings on streets. Preserving the existing rhythm of recurrent or repeated building masses to spaces between each building.

(e)

Rhythm of entrance and/or porch projections. Preserving the existing rhythm of entrances or porch projections to maintain a pedestrian scale.

(f)

Relationship of materials. Preserving the predominant materials of the district such as brick, stone, stucco, wood siding, or other material.

(g)

Relationship of textures. Preserving the predominant textures of the district which may be smooth, such as stucco or rough such as brick with tooled joints or horizontal wood siding or other textures.

(h)

Relationship of architectural details. Preserving character defining features of buildings, such as architectural details, including but not limited to cornices, lintels, arches, quoins, balustrades and iron work, chimneys, and other details.

(i)

Relationship of roof shapes. Preserving compatible roof shapes such as gable, mansard, hip, flat, gambrel, and/or other kinds of roof shapes.

(j)

Walls of continuity. Preserving physical elements which comprise streetscapes such as brick walls, wrought-iron fences, building facades or combinations of these which form visual continuity and cohesiveness along the street.

(k)

Directional expression of front elevation. Preserving the orientation of structural shapes, plan of openings and architectural detail that reflect a predominantly vertical, or horizontal character to the buildings facade.

(l)

Scale. Preserving the scale of the built environment created by the size of units of construction and architectural detail that relate to the size of persons, in addition, preserving building mass its relation to open space.

Variations. The HARB shall grant variations in a manner that will be in harmony with the character of the other buildings or structures on the street and/or districts.

Height of new building. The height of any new building or structure shall not exceed the height of the tallest adjacent building or structure by 10%. This requirement shall also apply to any proposed modifications to existing buildings or structures.

Demolition. In such rare cases where the HARB recommends and the Borough Council approves demolition of an historic building or structure a good-faith effort shall be made by the Borough and the owner(s) to move said building or structure to a proximate site. If moving a building or structure slated to be demolished is economically or practically infeasible, efforts shall be made to salvage architectural features of said building or structure for use within the Borough.

Amendment of zoning. In addition to the above, Chapter 675, Zoning, shall be so amended as to be compatible with the purpose of and objectives of this chapter.

Compliance with laws and ordinances. All other Borough laws and ordinances shall be complied with, including the Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances.

Financial feasibility.

(1)

The Review Board shall consider the financial feasibility of its recommendations in response to a request for a certificate of appropriateness or building permit for erection, reconstruction, alteration, and restoration of a building or structure. Financial feasibility shall be determined by the HARB on the basis of an unreasonable cost for repair or replacement in-kind of whole or part of a building or structure.

(2)

The applicant shall submit a minimum of three estimates from bona fide contractors and/or vendors substantiating his or her claim that the financial feasibility of repair in-kind is unreasonable. The Board shall determine as to the condition of said architectural feature based on its inspection, photographs or report from the Building Inspector or preservation staff or consultant. No substitute material shall be approved which is inappropriate, incompatible, or is destructive or has the potential to be destructive to the original fabric of the building or structure.

(3)

No vinyl or aluminum siding or other material shall be allowed on the exterior of any masonry wall of a building or structure.

(4)

No capping with aluminum or vinyl or other material shall be allowed on the exterior of character defining features of a building or structure.