[HISTORY: Adopted by the Village Board of the Village of Orfordville 3-31-1992 as Title 13, Ch. 2 of the 1992 Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Building construction — See Ch. 121.
Subdivision of land — See Ch. 281.
Zoning — See Ch. 320.
The Village of Orfordville hereby declares as a matter of public policy that protecting, through preservation methods, the enhancement and perpetuation of structures and sites having historical significance is a public necessity [required by 1993 Wisconsin Act 471, amended § 62.23(7)(em), Wis. Stats.] and is in the best interests of the community. The purpose of this chapter is to:
A. 
Safeguard the historic structures, historic sites and historic districts in the Village of Orfordville that reflect elements of the Village's history.
B. 
Accomplish the protection, enhancement, and preservation of such structures and sites that reflect historical recognition.
C. 
Enhance the visual and aesthetic character of the Village.
The Village shall establish and maintain a three-member Historic Preservation Committee vested with the authority and responsibility to propose action to safeguard and preserve the historic structures, historic sites, or historic districts of the Village of Orfordville. The Village President shall appoint members consisting of at least one Board member, one local historian, and one other Village resident to two-year terms.
For the purposes of this chapter, an historic structure, historic site, or historic district in the Village of Orfordville is so designated by its inclusion on the list of either the National Register of Historic Places or the State Register of Historic Places.
The Village of Orfordville shall maintain a register complete with a description of historic sites, historic structures, and historic districts.
A. 
Designation. The Historic Preservation Committee shall establish and acknowledge potential historic structures, historic sites, and historic districts within Village limits and determine future nominations to the State Register of Historic Places and/or the National Register of Historic Places.
B. 
Regulation of construction, reconstruction, alteration and demolition.
(1) 
No owner or person in charge of an historic structure or historic site shall reconstruct, alter or demolish all or any part of the exterior of such property unless such plans are approved by the Historic Preservation Committee. Also, unless such plans have been approved by the Committee, the Building Inspector shall not issue a permit for any such work.
(2) 
The approval by Committee shall not relieve the owner or person in charge of an historic structure or historic site from obtaining other permits and approvals from the Village.
(3) 
Ordinary maintenance and repairs may be undertaken without Committee approval, provided that the work involves repairs to existing features of an historic structure or 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.
C. 
Appeals. Should the Committee not approve the plan presented, the applicant may appeal such decision to the Village Board within 30 days. The Committee shall, with the cooperation of the applicant, work together toward a mutual solution, gaining approval and furthering the applicant's plans. If no mutual solution can be made, the plan will be denied.
A. 
Any owner or person in charge of an historic structure or historic site who continues with unapproved plans will be in violation of this chapter.
B. 
Penalties will be applied using Chapter 1, General Provisions, § 1-5 of the Code of the Village of Orfordville.