It is hereby declared a matter of public policy
that the regulation of sites of special character, aesthetic, archaeological
or historic interest or value is a public necessity and is required
in the interest of the health, safety, and general welfare of the
community. The purpose of this article is to:
A.
Effect and accomplish the protection, enhancement,
and preservation of any property that is listed on the National Register
of Historic Places in Wisconsin or the State Register of Historic
Places.
B.
Safeguard the Village's historic, prehistoric and
cultural heritage, as embodied and reflected in such sites.
C.
Stabilize and improve property values and enhance
the visual and aesthetic character of the Village.
D.
Protect and enhance the Village's attractions to residents,
tourists and visitors.
The definitions for the purpose of this article
shall be as follows:
The certificate issued by the Committee approving alteration,
rehabilitation, construction, reconstruction or demolition of a historic
site.
The Historic Preservation Committee created under this article.
Any property that is listed on the National Register of Historic
Places in Wisconsin or the State Register of Historic Places.
The Village Building Board is hereby designated
as the Historic Preservation Committee.
A.
Regulation of construction, reconstruction, alteration
and demolition.
(1)
No owner or person in charge of an historic site shall
reconstruct, alter or demolish all or any part of the exterior of
such property or construct any improvement upon such designated property
or properties or cause or permit any such work to be performed upon
such property or demolish such property unless a certificate of appropriateness
has been granted by the Historic Preservation Committee. Also, unless
such certificate has been granted by the Committee, the Building Inspector
shall not issue a permit for any such work.
(2)
Upon filing of any application for a certificate of
appropriateness, the Committee shall approve the application unless:
(a)
In the case of a designated historic site, the
proposed work would detrimentally change, destroy or adversely affect
any exterior feature of the improvement or site upon which said work
is to be done.
(b)
In the case of the construction of a new improvement
upon an historic site, the exterior of such improvement would adversely
affect or not harmonize with the external appearance of other neighboring
improvements on such site.
(c)
The building or structure is of such architectural
or historical significance that its demolition would be detrimental
to the public interest and contrary to the general welfare of the
people of the Village and state.
(d)
In the case of a request for the demolition
of a deteriorated building or structure, any economic hardship or
difficulty claimed by the owner is self-created or is the result of
any failure to maintain the property in good repair.
(3)
If the Committee determines that the application for
a certificate of appropriateness and the proposed changes are consistent
with the character and features of the property, it shall issue the
certificate of appropriateness. The Committee shall make this decision
within 45 days of the filing of the application.
(4)
The issuance of a certificate of appropriateness shall
not relieve the applicant from obtaining other permits and approvals
required by the Village. A building permit or other municipal permit
shall be invalid if it is obtained without the presentation of the
certificate of appropriateness required for the proposed work.
(5)
Ordinary maintenance and repair may be undertaken
without a certificate of appropriateness, provided that the work involves
repairs to existing features of an historic site or the replacement
of elements of a structure with pieces identical in appearance and
provided that the work does not change the exterior appearance of
the structure or site and does not require the issuance of a building
permit.
B.
Appeals. Should the Committee fail to issue a certificate
of appropriateness due to the failure of the proposal to conform to
the guidelines, the applicant may appeal such decision to the Village
Board within 30 days. In addition, if the Committee fails to issue
a certificate of appropriateness, the Committee shall, with the cooperation
of the applicant, work with the applicant in an attempt to obtain
a certificate of appropriateness within the guidelines of this chapter.
