It is hereby declared as a matter of public
policy that the protection, enhancement and perpetuation of landmarks
and historic districts are necessary to promote the economic, cultural
and general welfare of the public. Inasmuch as the identity of a people
is founded on its past, and inasmuch as the Town of New Paltz has
many significant historic, architectural and cultural resources which
constitute its heritage, this article is intended to:
A. Protect and enhance the landmarks and historic districts
which present distinctive elements of the historic, architectural
and cultural heritage of the Town;
B. Focus attention on and foster civic pride in the historic
resources of the Town;
C. Protect and enhance the attractiveness of the Town
to visitors and support and provide stimulus to the local economy;
and
D. Ensure the harmonious, orderly and efficient growth
and development of the Town.
There is hereby established a commission to
be known as the "Historic Preservation Commission of the Town of New
Paltz," hereinafter referred to as the "Commission."
The powers and duties of the Commission shall
include:
A. Employment of staff and professional consultants as
necessary to carry out the duties of the Commission;
B. Promulgation of rules and regulations as necessary
for the conduct of its business;
C. Conduct of surveys of significant historical, architectural
and cultural landmarks and historic districts within the Town;
D. Proposal of identified structures or resources to
be designated as landmarks and recommendations to the Town Board on
the creation of historic districts;
E. Acceptance on behalf of the Town of the donation of
facade easements and development rights; the making of recommendations
to the Town Board concerning the acquisition of facade easements or
other interests in real property as necessary to carry out the purposes
of this article;
F. Increasing public awareness of the historic, cultural
and architectural preservation of development and participating in
public education programs;
G. Making recommendations to Town Board concerning the
utilization of state, federal or private funds to promote the preservation
of landmarks and historic districts with the Town;
H. Making recommendations to the Planning Board regarding
applications for site plan review or subdivisions of real property
containing landmarks or within a historic district;
I. Employment, where justified, of the use of special
techniques or policies so as to improve the quality of the area or,
where economic assistance is warranted, to provide such aids or other
incentives so that privately owned properties may realize a reasonable
economic return;
J. Recommending acquisition of a landmark structure by
the Town Board where its preservation is essential to the purposes
of this article and where private preservation is not feasible;
K. Approval or disapproval of applications for certificates
of appropriateness pursuant to this article; and
L. Making recommendations to the Town Board for the creation
and establishment of historic districts.
The Historic Preservation Commission shall comply
with the provisions of the State Environmental Quality Review Act
under Article 8 of the Environmental Conservation Law and its implementing
regulations.
All work performed pursuant to a certificate
or appropriateness issued under this article shall conform to any
requirements included therein. It shall be the duty of the Building
Inspector to inspect any such work to assure compliance. In the event
work is performed that is not being performed in accordance with the
certificate of appropriateness, or upon notification of such fact
by the Commission, the Building Inspector shall issue a stop-work
order and all work shall immediately cease. No further work shall
be undertaken on the project as long as a stop-work order is in effect.