[HISTORY: Adopted by the Special Town Meeting of the Town
of Fairhaven 11-12-2019 STM by Art. 18. Amendments noted where applicable.]
Any building proposed for demolition or significant alteration,
in whole or in part, built before 1921 or those built after this date
which have otherwise been determined by the Historic Commission to
be potentially historically or architecturally significant based on
established criteria shall be referred to the Historic Commission
for a public hearing to determine if they are "preferably preserved."
Any building which the Historic Commission determines to be preferably
preserved shall not be demolished within 12 months of such determination
in order for the Historic Commission and the Town to seek alternatives
to demolition in order to protect the historic character of the community.
This chapter is enacted for the purpose of preserving and protecting
historic and architecturally significant buildings within the Town
of Fairhaven that constitute or reflect distinctive features of the
architectural, cultural, economic, political or social history of
the Town and to limit the detrimental effect of demolition on the
character of the Town.
A.
This chapter provides:
(1)
An opportunity to develop preservation solutions for significant
buildings threatened with demolition;
(2)
An opportunity to inform residents of the Town of impending demolitions
of significant buildings;
(3)
A reasonable time for public notice and discussion by interested
parties to preserve such buildings;
(4)
An opportunity to create an historical record, including photographs,
of significant buildings prior to demolition.
B.
Owners of significant buildings will be encouraged to:
C.
To achieve these purposes, the Fairhaven Historical Commission is
authorized to advise the Town of Fairhaven Building Inspector with
respect to demolition permit applications. The issuance of demolition
permits is regulated as provided by this chapter. The Historical Commission
shall review all buildings that are proposed for demolition or significant
alteration that are potentially historically or architecturally significant.
If, after a public hearing, the Historical Commission determines that
the building(s) is/are "preferably preserved," then a twelve-month
demolition delay shall begin in order to seek alternative options.
The Historical Commission, in conjunction with the Planning Board,
may develop incentives in order to encourage preservation of Fairhaven's
historic structures and small town charm.
A.
No demolition permits for a building which, in whole or in part,
was built before 1921 or has otherwise been determined by the Historical
Commission to be potentially historically or architecturally significant
shall be issued without following the provisions of this chapter.
An applicant proposing to demolish a building subject to this chapter
shall file with the Building Commissioner an application containing
the following information:
B.
The Building Commissioner shall within 10 business days forward a
copy of the application to the Historical Commission and the Planning
Director. The Historical Commission shall, within 15 business days
after receipt of the application, make a written determination of
whether the building is potentially historically or architecturally
significant or not.
C.
Upon a determination by the Historical Commission that the building
is not potentially historically or architecturally significant, the
Historical Commission shall so notify the Building Department and
the applicant of the decision, in writing, within 15 business days
after receipt of the application. The Building Commissioner may then
issue the demolition permit.
D.
Upon determination by the Historical Commission that the building
is potentially historically or architecturally significant, the Commission
shall so notify the Building Commissioner and the applicant, in writing,
within 15 business days after receipt of the application. No demolition
permit may be issued at this time. If the Historical Commission does
not notify the Building Department, in writing, on the close of business
on the 15th business day after receipt of the application, the Building
Inspector may proceed to issue the demolition permit.
E.
If the Historical Commission finds that the building is potentially
historically or architecturally significant, it shall hold a public
hearing within 20 business days of the written notification to the
Building Department in order to determine if the structure is "preferably
preserved." Public notice of the time, place and purpose of the hearing
shall be posted in a conspicuous place in Town Hall for a period of
not less than seven days prior to the date of said hearing, and the
Building Commissioner and the applicant shall be notified, in writing,
of the meeting time and place.
F.
The Commission shall decide at the public hearing or within 10 business
days after the public hearing whether the building should be "preferably
preserved." If agreed to, in writing, by the applicant, the determination
of the Commission may be postponed.
G.
If the Commission determines that the building is not preferably
preserved, the Commission shall so notify the Building Commissioner
and applicant of the decision, in writing, within 10 business days
after the public hearing. The Building Commissioner may then issue
the demolition permit.
H.
If the Commission determines that the building is preferably preserved,
the Commission shall notify the Building Commissioner and applicant,
in writing, within 10 business days after the public hearing. No demolition
permit may then be issued for a period of up to 12 months from the
date of that determination unless a shorter period is agreed to by
a majority vote of the Commission.
I.
If the Historical Commission does not so notify the Building Commission,
in writing, on the close of business on the 10th business day following
the public hearing, the Building Commissioner may issue the demolition
permit.
J.
No permit for demolition of a building determined to be a preferably
preserved building shall be granted until all plans for future use
and development of the site have been filed with the Building Commissioner
and have been found to comply with all laws pertaining to the issuance
of a building permit or, if applicable, a certificate of occupancy
for that site. All approvals necessary for the issuance of such building
permit or certificate of occupancy, including, without limitation,
any necessary zoning variances or special permits, must be granted,
and all appeals from the granting of such approvals must be concluded
prior to the issuance of a demolition permit under this section.
K.
The Building Commissioner may issue a demolition permit or a building
permit for a preferably preserved building within the twelve-month
review period if the Historical Commission notifies the Building Commissioner,
in writing, that the Historical Commission finds during the 12 months
and after a further public hearing that the intent and purpose of
this chapter is served even with the issuance of the demolition permit
or the building permit. Following the twelve-month review period,
the Building Commissioner may issue the demolition permit.
- DEMOLITION OR SIGNIFICANT ALTERATION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART
- Any act of pulling down, destroying, removing, dismantling or razing a building or any substantial portion thereof or commencing the work of total or substantial destruction with the intent of completing the same, or removal of the building from its site with the intent to relocate it to another site. A substantial portion or substantial destruction of a building is defined as either half the volume of the building or half its value, as determined by the Building Commissioner. A building shall be considered to be demolished if more than 25% of the front, back or side elevations are removed or covered so as to substantially obliterate the original design. Each elevation shall be calculated separately.
- PREFERABLY PRESERVED
- Any historically or architecturally significant building that the Commission determines, following a public hearing, is in the public interest to be preserved or rehabilitated rather than demolished. A preferably preserved building is subject to a demolition review period as stated in this chapter of up to 12 months.
- POTENTIALLY SIGNIFICANT BUILDING
- Any building within the Town of Fairhaven, in whole or in part, that was built before 1921, or has otherwise been determined by the Historical Commission to be potentially historically significant based on any of the following criteria:
- A. The building or area is listed on the National or State Register of Historic Places; or
- B. The building or area is eligible to be listed on the National or State Register of Historic Places; or
- C. The building is importantly associated with one or more historic persons or events, or with the broad architectural, cultural, political, economic or social history of the Town of Fairhaven or the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; or
- D. The building is historically or architecturally important (in terms of period, style, method of building construction or association with a recognized architect or builder) either by itself or in the context of a group of buildings.
A.
If, after an inspection, the Building Commissioner or the Board of
Health finds that a building subject to this chapter is found to pose
an immediate threat to public health and safety or the health and
safety of the occupants due to its deteriorated condition and that
there is no reasonable alternative to the immediate demolition of
the building, then the Building Commissioner may issue an emergency
demolition permit to the owner of the building after making every
reasonable effort to notify the Historical Commission and the Planning
Department (preferably within 48 hours) of making this determination.
The Building Commissioner or the Board of Health shall first prepare
a report explaining the condition of the building and the basis for
the decision that shall be forwarded to the Historical Commission
and the Planning Department.
B.
The Building Commissioner shall require the property owner of the
building to be demolished to provide photograph(s) and other documentation
about the property as outlined in this chapter. The Building Commissioner
shall make every reasonable effort to provide the Historical Commission
reasonable time to document such property or building prior to demolition
provided such activity poses no threat to public health or safety
or appropriate precautions are taken to protect public health and
safety.
A.
The Historical Commission and/or the Building Commissioner are each
specifically authorized to institute any and all actions and proceedings,
in law or equity, as they may deem necessary and appropriate to obtain
compliance with the requirements of this chapter or to prevent a threatened
violation thereof.
B.
A building is considered to be demolished if it is destroyed due
to the owner's failure to maintain a weathertight and secure
structure or if it is destroyed willfully or by neglect during the
demolition review period. Any owner of a building subject to this
chapter who demolishes a building willfully or by neglect and without
first obtaining a demolition permit in accordance with the provisions
of this chapter shall be subject to a fine of not more than $300.
Each day the violation exists shall constitute a separate offense
until the demolished building is recreated as directed by the Historical
Commission, or unless otherwise agreed to by the Historical Commission.
C.
If a building subject to this chapter is demolished without first
obtaining a demolition permit, no building permit shall be issued
for a period of five years from the date of the demolition on the
subject parcel of land or any adjoining parcels of land under common
ownership and control unless otherwise agreed to by the Commission.
D.
Nothing in this chapter shall be deemed to exempt applicants from
any requirements of the state Building Code or other local bylaws
and other rules and regulations. In case any section, paragraph or
part of this chapter be for any reason declared invalid or unconstitutional
by any court, every other section, paragraph, and part shall continue
in full force and effect.
