[Ord. No. 2014-44 § 10]
The purpose of the historic designation is to preserve the unique
historic character of Princeton for the enjoyment of members of the
public. Therefore, wherever possible, boundaries of historic preservation
districts will be configured to provide views of the major historic
features of the district from the public way. The land within a historic
preservation district or historic preservation buffer district need
not be contiguous.
(1)
Procedures for designation. The party proposing a property for
designation under this section shall prepare and submit to the Historic
Preservation Commission a nomination report for each proposed structure,
site, feature, or historic preservation district or historic preservation
buffer district. The report shall include the following:
(a)
Photographs of the building or buildings,
(b)
The tax lot and block number of the property or properties as
designated on the official tax map of the municipality.
(c)
A site plan of the property delineating the proposed district.
(d)
The present zoning of the proposed district.
(e)
A recommendation of whether the proposed districts should be
designated Type 1 or 2 or other type enacted subsequent to the adoption
of this ordinance.
(f)
Nomination report and physical description and statement addressing
the following:
(i)
The significance in American history, architecture, archaeology,
culture, and engineering that is present in the proposed district,
site, feature, or structure and objects within them that possess integrity
of design, setting, materials, workmanship, and association and that:
[a]
Are associated with events that have made a significant
contribution to the broad patterns of our past, or
[b]
Are associated with the lives of persons significant
in our past, or
[c]
Embody the distinctive characteristics of a type,
period, or method of construction or that represent the work of a
master or that possess high artistic values or that represent a significant
and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction,
or
[d]
Have yielded or may be likely to yield information
important in prehistory or history.
(2)
For districts, sites, structures, or features already listed
on the State and National Registers of Historic Places, the Statement
of Significance on the National Register Inventory-Nomination Form
shall be considered in addition to such other documentation as is
required. A New Jersey State Historic Preservation Office declaration
of eligibility for the State and National Register shall also be considered.
While it contains basic information, such declaration must, however,
be supplemental by a more thorough evaluation of the documentary evidence.
If the application for such a district, site, structure, or feature
is denied, the Commission shall indicate on the record in a manner
it deems appropriate why such district, site, structure, or feature
is not recommended to be designated.
(3)
When the Historic Preservation Commission chooses for study
a potential historic preservation district, historic buffer district,
historic structure, historic feature, or historic site either as reflected
in the Princeton Master Plan or as otherwise recommended for study,
it shall mail a letter by regular mail to the property owners in the
area that is being studied or, in the case of a proposed historic
structure or site, the owners thereof and all property owners within
200 feet of the potential historic preservation district or buffer
district or the lot on which the historic site or structure is located.
The letter shall outline the following information:
(a)
The Commission is researching the area for historic data, the
land is being considered for such designation, and the reasons thereof.
(b)
An architectural survey will be performed by the Commission
or a Commission consultant who may make an on-site reconnaissance
study of the area.
(c)
A request to the property owner soliciting information about
any historical facts pertaining to the proposed district or the names
and addresses of any individuals who may have information concerning
the historical background of the proposed district.
(d)
Notice to the owner of record of the ordinance regulations governing
such designation and of the rights of the owner of record to contest
such designation under the provisions of this division.
(4)
The Commission or its consultant will thereafter perform a survey
of the proposed historic preservation district. The boundaries of
the district will be delineated. After the survey is completed, the
Commission shall provide a reasonable opportunity for public comment
on the Commission's proposed recommendation for the designation of
an historic preservation district. The Commission shall:
(a)
Cause to be published a notice in a newspaper of general circulation
within the municipality setting forth the date, time, and place of
a public hearing on the Commission's proposed recommendations for
an historic preservation district, buffer district, site, or structure.
Said publication shall take place at least 10 days prior to the Commission's
public hearing on the proposed recommendation to same. A copy of the
nomination report shall also be made available for public inspection
in the office of the Princeton clerk at least 10 days prior to the
hearing.
(b)
Send via regular mail to each owner of property within the proposed
district as set forth on a certified owners' list prepared by the
municipality a letter stating:
(i)
The date, time and location of the hearing concerning the proposed
designation of the site, structure, or district; and
At said public hearing, the Commission shall review the nomination
report and accompanying documents and receive comments from all interested
parties on the proposed nomination for designation. Following the
conclusion of said public hearing, the Commission shall deliberate
and shall, after review of the proposed site, structure, feature,
or district, prepare a concise report, including a list and map of
its recommendations with respect to the sites or districts to be nominated
and make its final recommendations to the Planning Board for designation
of sites, structures, and features to be formally listed as such in
the Master Plan and to Princeton Council as to historic preservation
districts and historic preservation buffer districts. The Princeton
Council shall hold a hearing before acting on the designation of an
historic site or structure, historic preservation district, or historic
buffer district. Notice of such hearing shall be given by the municipal
clerk as per N.J.S.A. 40:55D-62.1. The Planning Board shall hold a
meeting on any recommended sites, structures, and features and, if
it thereafter deems advisable, hold a noticed Master Plan hearing
thereon.
[Ord. No. 2014-44 § 10]
Parties who intend to apply for a new historic preservation
district or buffer district designation or a designation of an historic
site, structure or feature are strongly encouraged to secure informal
concept review of the proposal by the Commission. The purpose of such
review is to facilitate discussion between the potential applicant
and Commission at a public meeting and secure the Commission's comments
with respect thereto. The potential applicant may secure informal
concept review by filing a request with the Historic Preservation
Officer on such forms as shall be provided for this purpose, together
with whatever documentation the potential applicant deems would best
demonstrate why a district or structure, site, or feature should be
designated. The potential applicant shall not be bound by the documentation
submitted, and the Commission shall not be bound by any comments made
thereon. The Commission meeting on the application for informal concept
review shall be held within 60 days after the request for such review
is filed.
[Ord. No. 2014-44 § 10]
(1)
The Historic Preservation Commission may make recommendations
to the Planning Board and Princeton Council concerning the designation
of individual historic sites, structures, features, historic preservation
districts, and historic preservation buffer districts. Such recommendation
shall be based upon the following:
(a)
The designated site, structure, feature or district must be
significant on the national, state, or local level in terms of history,
architecture, archaeology, culture, or engineering. It must possess
integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, and
association (i.e., a high degree of character-defining features) from
the period during which it earned its significance. Recommended districts,
sites, structures, or features must be:
A.
Associated with events that have made a significant contribution
to the broad patterns of the cultural, political, economic, architectural,
or social history of the locality, region, state, or nation; or
B.
Associated with the lives of persons significant to our past;
or
C.
Embody the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or
method of construction, represent the work of a master, possess high
artistic values, or represent a significant and distinguishable entity
whose components may lack individual distinction; or
D.
Have yielded or may be likely to yield information important
in prehistory or history.
(2)
The following factors shall also be considered when delineating
historic preservation district boundaries:
(a)
The relationship of the physical
aspects of the site, structure, features, or district to the significance
for which it was designated. This should include:
(b)
Visual qualities of the site, structure, or area, including
the surroundings of the property or district and the view from it.
(c)
Natural boundaries and features such as rivers or other bodies
of water, changes in contour, and distinctive changes in soils or
vegetation.
(d)
Human-made boundaries, such as highways, walls and fences, tree
lines, and hedgerows.
(e)
Political divisions and property lines.
(f)
Difference in land use.
(g)
Multiple resources and thematic combinations.
(3)
In recommending the designation of historic preservation districts
and their boundaries, property achieving significance within the past
50 years may be designated if it is of exceptional importance.
(4)
In recommending the establishment of a historic buffer district,
the Commission shall include intervening or surrounding properties
significantly affected by the quality and character of existing or
potential historic site or sites. An historic preservation buffer
district serves as a buffer zone to historic preservation districts.
By virtue of their location, historic preservation buffer districts
serve as gateway for transitions to existing historic preservation
districts and changes to its streetscape, landscape, or buildings
visually affect the historic preservation district to which it connects.
Additionally, current property boundaries often do not encompass land
historically related to designated sites. As a consequence, development
on adjacent properties could have an adverse impact on the setting
of historic sites and buildings.
