[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Selectmen
of the Town of Guilford 12-21-1987; amended in its entirety 6-4-2001.
Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
This chapter is enacted pursuant to Sections
7-147a through 7-147k, as amended, of the Connecticut General Statutes.
The purpose of this chapter is to promote the
educational, cultural, economic and general welfare of the public
through the preservation and protection of buildings, places and districts
of historic interest, by the maintenance of landmarks in the history
of architecture of the town, state or nation and through the development
of appropriate settings for such buildings, places and districts.
There are hereby established two historic districts
in the Town of Guilford, to be known as the "Guilford Town Center
Historic District" and the "Whitfield Street Historic District." The
boundaries and legal description of the Guilford Town Center Historic
District shall be as shown on a map entitled "Guilford Town Center
Historic District," dated September 1986, attached hereto as Schedule
A and incorporated herein and made part of this chapter.[1] The boundaries and legal description of the Whitfield
Street Historic District shall be shown on a map entitled "Whitfield
Street Historic District," dated August 2000, attached hereto as Schedule
B and incorporated herein and made part of this chapter.[2]
There is hereby established in the Town of Guilford
the Guilford Historic District Commission (hereinafter referred to
as the "Commission") as follows:
A.
The Commission shall consist of five members and three
alternate members, all of whom shall be electors of the Town, holding
no salaried Town office. All members and alternate members shall be
appointed by the Board of Selectmen. One member shall be appointed
for a term of one year, one member for a term of two years, one member
and one alternate member for a term of three years, one member and
one alternate member for a term of four years and one member and one
alternate for a term of five years. Thereafter, the terms of office
for members and alternate members shall be five years. At all times,
at least four members or alternates shall reside within either Historic
District under the jurisdiction of the Commission, if any persons
reside in any such district and are willing to serve on such Commission.
All members shall serve without compensation. The Commission may,
subject to appropriations, employ clerical and technical assistants
or consultants and may accept donations and expend the same for such
purposes.
[Amended 7-6-2021]
B.
The Board of Selectmen shall not remove a member or
alternate member of the Commission except for good cause and, upon
request of such member or alternate member, only after public hearing.
Failure to attend four meetings of the Commission during one calendar
year shall constitute good cause for removal.
C.
Any vacancy in the membership of the Commission which
may result from the death, resignation or removal of a member or from
any other cause shall be filled for the unexpired term of such member
or alternate member by the Board of Selectmen.
D.
Within 30 days after their appointment and annually
thereafter, the regular members of the Commission shall elect a chairperson,
vice-chairperson and clerk (secretary) from its own members.
E.
In case of inability to act, because of absence, sickness
or self-interest, on the part of a member of the Commission, the Chairperson
of the Commission shall designate an alternate to act in such member's
place and stead, the Chairperson choosing alternates in rotation so
that they shall act as nearly equal a number of times as possible.
If any alternate is not available in accordance with such rotation,
such fact shall be recorded in the minutes of the meeting. When seated
as herein provided, such members shall have all the powers and duties
as regular members as set forth in this chapter, the rules and practice
of the Commission and the Connecticut General Statutes.
The Commission shall administer the provisions
of Sections 7-147a to 7-147k, inclusive, of the Connecticut General
Statutes, as amended, and shall have such powers and perform such
functions and shall be subject to such limitations as shall from time
to time be provided by said Connecticut General Statutes.
A.
Except as provided in Subsection C below, no building or structure shall be erected, altered, restored, moved or demolished within the Historic District until after an application for a certificate of appropriateness as to exterior architectural features has been submitted to the Commission and approved by said Commission in accordance with the Connecticut General Statutes and the rules of practice adopted by the Commission pursuant to § 187-7 hereof. "Exterior architectural features" shall mean such portion of the exterior of a structure or building that is open to view from a public street, way or place, except that, within the Whitfield Street Historic District, the terms "public street, way or place" shall not be construed to include the West River.
B.
Except as provided in Subsection C below, no areas shall be used for industrial, commercial, business, home industry or occupation parking, whether or not such area is zoned for such use, until after an application for a certificate of appropriateness as to parking has been submitted to the Commission in accordance with the Connecticut General Statutes and the rules of practice adopted by the Commission pursuant to § 187-7 hereof. The provisions of this subsection shall apply to the enlargement or alteration of any such parking area in existence on the effective date of this chapter.
C.
Due to the unique nature and character of its location
and use, the property owned by the Guilford Agricultural Society,
Inc. located at 111 Lovers Lane, otherwise known as "The Guilford
Fairgrounds," shall be exempt from the obligations and restrictions
imposed by this chapter for as long as said property is owned by the
Guilford Agricultural Society, Inc., or any successor corporation
whose tax-exempt status, purposes and use of the land is substantially
similar to that of the Guilford Agricultural Society, Inc.
The Commission shall adopt rules of practice
not inconsistent with the Connecticut General Statutes.
The Commission shall keep a record of all applications
for certificates of appropriateness and of all its doings under this
chapter.
