[Amended 9-27-2000 by Ord. No. 1070-2000]
The purpose of this Article is to regulate the facade design and appearance of buildings throughout the City of Perth Amboy. Any conflicts with the zoning and land development provisions of Chapter 430 with regards to facade design standards shall be resolved in favor of this Article. All enforcement penalties for violating the provisions of this Article shall be governed by the zoning and land development provisions located in Section 430-109.
[Added 9-27-2000 by Ord.
No. 1069-2000]
A.
Statutory authority for design criteria. Pursuant to the authority
of N.J.S.A. 40:56-71, the construction or alteration of building and
structure facades within the City of Perth Amboy shall be subject
to prior review and approval to assure compliance with the design
criteria developed by the Downtown Perth Amboy Business Improvement
District, Inc.
B.
Designation of review and approval authority.
(1)
The Council of the City of Perth Amboy hereby finds that the
Urban Enterprise Zone ("UEZ") is so constituted and organized as to
be reasonably appropriate and qualified to be designated to review,
and grant or deny approvals, of proposed construction or alteration
of facades within the city.
(2)
Pursuant to the authority of N.J.S.A. 40:56-71, the Council
of the City of Perth Amboy hereby designates the Department of Code
Enforcement to conduct the review, and grant or deny approvals, or
proposed construction or alteration of facades within the District
and the city.
(3)
All signs and awnings shall meet the approval of the Department
of Code Enforcement and follow the process of application and approval
adopted by the Council of the City of Perth Amboy, following the submission
of the design standards and criteria developed by the Downtown Perth
Amboy Business Improvement District, Inc. No section or provision
of this section shall nullify, impair or excuse compliance with any
applicable zoning regulation or decision.
(4)
The Downtown Perth Amboy Business Improvement District, Inc.,
and/or the City of Perth Amboy or an affiliate department of the City
of Perth Amboy may from time to time initiate a study of the Downtown
Perth Amboy Business Improvement District, Inc. Should a new study
be considered, the Downtown Perth Amboy Business Improvement District,
Inc., shall come before the City Council to accept the new study.
(5)
Dissolution of the UEZ. If at any point in time the UEZ is repealed,
the substance of this section shall prevail with the Department of
Code Enforcement taking responsibility.
A.
Subject to conditions imposed by the reviewing Facade Committee,
which shall be appointed by the Business Improvement District consistent
with the rules and regulations governing the creation and appointment
of committees within the Business Improvement District, a facade plan
shall be approved only if the proposed action:
(1)
Is compatible with the existing structures of the District.
(2)
Would not adversely affect the character and appearance of the District
and the relationships among structures and between structures and
public ways in the District.
(3)
Would not adversely affect the exterior architectural features and
setting of the structure and its architectural interest.
(4)
In consistent with the additional criteria of this section.
B.
A facade plan for the construction of new structures, additions to
existing structures or alterations of structures shall be granted
only if the proposed action, as may be modified by the reviewing Facade
Committee, is visually compatible with the structures and places within
the District to which it is visually related and acts as a backdrop
to and does not visually intrude upon such structures and places.
The reviewing Facade Committee shall categorize the impact such structures,
additions and alterations will be expected to have on the structures
and features within the District to which they are visually related
as higher impact or lower impact. Higher impact improvements are ones
which, because of proximity and other pertinent factors, have a close
and direct visual relationship to such structures and features. All
other improvements shall be considered lower impact.
(1)
Higher impact improvements shall comply with the following standards:
(a)
The height of the proposed structure shall be visually compatible
with structures within the district.
(b)
The relationship of the width of the structure to the height
of the front elevation shall be visually related.
(c)
The relationship of the width of windows to the height of windows
in a structure shall be visually compatible with the structures within
the district to which it is visually related.
(d)
The relationship of solids to voids in the front facade of a
structure shall be visually compatible with the structures within
the district to which it is visually related.
(e)
The relationship of the structure to the open space between
it and adjoining structures shall be visually compatible with the
structures and places within the district to which it is visually
related.
(f)
The relationship of entrances shall be visually compatible with
the structures and places within the district to which it is visually
related.
(g)
The relationship of materials, texture and color of the facade
and roof of a structure shall be visually compatible with the predominant
materials used in the structures within the district to which it is
visually related, and such materials, texture and color shall act
as a backdrop to and shall not intrude visually upon the structures
and places within the district to which the structure is related.
Except in unusual circumstances, the colors used shall be the backdrop-type
colors of whites, grays and earth tones. The Perth Amboy Business
Improvement District has approved colors available for guidance.
(h)
The roof shape of a structure shall be visually compatible with
structures within the district to which it is visually related.
(i)
Appurtenances such as walls and fencing shall be visually compatible
with the structures within the district to which it is visually related.
(j)
The size of the structure, the mass of a structure in relation
to open spaces and the windows, door openings, porches and balconies
shall be visually compatible with the structures and places within
the district to which they are visually related.
(k)
A structure shall be visually compatible with structures and
places within the district to which it is visually related in its
directional character, whether this be vertical character, horizontal
character or nondirectional character.
(l)
The pattern and variety of plantings shall be visually compatible
within the district to which they are visually related.
(m)
Parking areas shall be screened from view from the public right-of-way
and from the structures within the district.
(n)
To the extent possible, views from structures or places within
the district shall not be blocked or impeded.
(3)
It is not the intention of this section to discourage contemporary
architectural expression or to encourage new construction which emulated
existing buildings of historic or architectural interest or of a certain
period of architectural style, but to preserve the integrity and authenticity
of the district and to ensure the compatibility of alterations and
new construction therein.
C.
A facade plan for the alteration of structures shall be granted only
if the proposed action, as may be modified by the Facade Committee:
(1)
Preserves or enhances the architectural value and character of the
structure.
(2)
Seeks to return the structure, or the part covered by the application,
to the known or reasonably conceived appearance (including design
elements, architectural details and textures) it had when it was first
constructed or when it was remodeled, except that modification necessary
or beneficial to contemporary-use living consistent with the architectural
design and character of the structure may be considered. In determining
whether the applicant is proposing work which will restore the authenticity
of the structure, as hereby required, the following principles, among
other appropriate factors, shall when feasible, be followed:
(a)
Existing materials, if they are the original materials of the
original structure or remodeling which is being restored, should be
maintained and repaired rather than replaced.
(b)
Architectural details of the original construction or remodeling
which is being restored or altered should be retained. This includes,
but is not limited to, cornices and their brackets, window trim such
as molded lintels and windows, particularly the number and size of
the individual panes.
(c)
If an element must be replaced rather than repaired, a copy
of the original is preferable to a similar or conjectural piece.
(d)
If a copy of a missing piece cannot be obtained, similar or
conjectural items are preferable to none at all.
(e)
The original siding and roofing material should be maintained
or repaired, and, if replacement is needed, it should be of the same
material and size. If the same material is not available, a substitute
material should be of the same shape and size.
(f)
Storm windows and doors are not prohibited but should be as
unobtrusive as possible.
D.
When there is a change in property ownership or a new tenant the
new owner or new tenant must remove all items not in compliance with
the facade plan and effectuate conformance with the provisions of
this Article.
[Added 9-27-2000 by Ord.
No. 1070-2000]
E.
All property owners and tenants are responsible for the care and
maintenance of their buildings, the appearance of their awnings and
other structures on their property; and effectuate conformance with
the provisions of this Article.
[Added 9-27-2000 by Ord.
No. 1070-2000]
F.
Recommendations and Guidelines for the Perth Amboy Business Improvement
District prepared by the National Register Programs Division, Mid-Atlantic
Region, National Park Services, Philadelphia, P.S., dated March 1994,
shall be included in its entirety as part of this Building Facade
Design Standards Article.
[Amended 9-27-2000 by Ord. No. 1070-2000]
G.
For signage design standards and control, see Article I of this chapter.
[Amended 9-27-2000 by Ord. No. 1070-2000]
H.
For approved building colors, consult with the Department of Code
Enforcement.
[Added 9-27-2000 by Ord.
No. 1070-2000]
A.
No facade work shall be installed unless application is made to the
Perth Amboy Business Improvement District and the Perth Amboy Business
Improvement District has by permit authorized the facade work. The
Perth Amboy Business Improvement District may determine the manner
in which application is made, may require that the application be
accompanied by a site plan, drawings or other suitable illustrations
sufficient to indicate the character of the work and of the surroundings
in which it is to be done and may attach to its approval of an application
for facade work those conditions which, in its judgment, are reasonable,
having regard to the character of the facade and of the surrounding
buildings.
C.
Procedures for obtaining a permit are to be established by the City
of Perth Amboy's Code Enforcement Department.
