§ 62.704. Facades.

a.

Wood. Existing wood siding, trim and details in good condition or repairable shall be retained. Deteriorated wood shall be replaced with wood to match the existing wood in size, shape and texture. No aluminum, vinyl or other man-made type siding materials shall be used to replace or cover wood siding, trim or details. Sandblasting wood siding, trim or detailing or the use of any abrasive, corrosive or damaging technique, is prohibited.

b.

Masonry. Existing masonry in good condition or repairable shall be retained. Repair or replacement shall be made with materials duplicating the existing masonry in color, composition and texture. No aluminum, vinyl or other man-made type siding materials shall be used to replace or cover masonry, trim or details. Sandblasting masonry, trim or detailing or the use of any abrasive, corrosive or damaging technique such as blasting with pulverized materials, glass beads or other solids, with or without water, is prohibited.

Mortar joints shall be repointed only where there are obvious signs of deterioration such as disintegrating mortar, cracks in the mortar joints, loose bricks, damp walls or damaged plaster work. Repointing shall duplicate the existing mortar joints in size, composition, texture, color and structural strength.

1.

Roofs. The original roof shape of principal and accessory buildings shall be retained. Original roofing material that is in good condition or repairable shall be retained. Deteriorated roofing material shall be replaced with new material that is similar to the original roof in composition, size, shape, color and texture, except in the case of asbestos shingles. Asbestos shingles may be replaced with new materials, such as fiberglass shingles, cement fiber tiles or shingles, or clay tiles, that are similar to the original roofing in size, shape, color and texture. Architectural features that give the roof its character, such as dormers, cornices, towers, decorative brackets, eaves, chimneys, parapets and exposed rafter ends shall be retained or replicated. New features, such as skylights, shall be flush with the roof and shall not be installed on roofs visible from a public right-of-way.

2.

Windows. Windows, frames, glass, muntins, mullions, sills, lintels and pediments in good condition or repairable and in character with the style and period of the building shall be retained. If windows or window details are determined to be unrepairable, they shall be replaced, on principal facades, with new windows matching the original in material, size and muntin and mullion proportion and configuration.

If aluminum windows are used, they shall match the size and have similar muntin and mullion proportions and configuration of the original windows. New aluminum windows shall be anodized or enameled.

When replacing existing windows that are inappropriate to the style and period of the building, they shall be replaced with new windows that are appropriate to the style and period of the building. Windows shall be relocated, enlarged, reduced or introduced into a facade only when the alteration is appropriate to the style of the building.

Tinted glass and stained glass shall not be installed on the principal facades of any residential building. For buildings originally constructed for commercial use, clear glass (88% light transmission) shall be installed on the first floor. Tinted glass allowing a minimum of 50% light transmission shall be considered only for use on second floor windows and above and shall be considered on a case-by-case basis. The use of reflective glass is prohibited on all buildings.

3.

Shutters. Shutters in good condition or repairable and in character with the style and period of the building shall be retained. Missing shutters shall be replaced with wood shutters to match the existing. All replacement shutters shall be similar to the original in size, configuration and style, shall fit the window openings and shall not overlap on the surface of the wall.

4.

Awnings. Awning shapes, material, proportions, design, color, lettering and hardware shall be in character with the style of the building. Awnings shall reflect the architectural forms of the door and window openings of the buildings to which they are attached and shall not damage or obscure any architectural details. The minimum height of awnings on non-residential buildings shall be 8′0″ from the lowest point to the sidewalk and they shall not extend more than 6′0″ from the face of the structure. The highest point of a first floor awning on a non-residential building shall not be higher than the midpoint of the space between the second story window sills and the top of the first floor storefront window sills.

5.

Marquees. Marquees shall be retained where they are an historic element of the building. The design, materials, color, lettering and hardware of a marquee shall reflect the style and period of the building. The highest point of a marquee or its superstructure shall not be higher than the midpoint of the space between the second story window sills and the top of the first floor storefront window or transom. Marquees on non-residential buildings shall span the entire facade or entrance. One marquee shall be permitted on a facade. The minimum height of a marquee on a non-residential building shall be 8′0″ from the lowest point to the sidewalk.

6.

Doors. Doors and door details, frames, lintels, fan lights, sidelights, pediments and transoms, in good condition or repairable that are in character with the style and period of the building shall be retained. If doors or door details are found to be unrepairable, they shall be replaced, on principal facades, with new doors and door details in character with the structure in material, size and configuration. Only when the change is appropriate to the style and period of the building, shall doors be relocated, enlarged, reduced or introduced. Doors with modern designs, flush or sliding glass doors, or any type of door which is inappropriate to the style or period of the structure shall be prohibited.

Garage doors that are in good condition or repairable and are in character with the style and period of the building shall be retained. Garage doors shall be repaired so they match the existing materials, size and configuration. New garage doors may be constructed of wood, metal or fiberglass. A new garage door shall be the same size as the one being replaced unless an original door is narrower than 8′; then a new door may span the original width of the garage door opening.

7.

Porches. Porches and porch features that are in good condition or repairable and are in character with the style and period of the building shall be retained. Porches and porch features shall be repaired so they match the existing in materials, size and configuration.

Replacement of existing porches with a design or materials not in character with the style and period of the building shall be prohibited. New porch elements, such as balusters and columns, shall be compatible with the style and period of the building. Porches on principal facades shall not be enclosed with solid materials such as glass, wood, aluminum, vinyl, fiberglass or masonry. Porches on non-principal facades may be enclosed; the new materials shall be installed so as not to conceal or damage historic architectural elements. New screening on a porch shall be transparent so the details of the front wall are visible. The framing members for screening shall have a design and scale that is in character with the style and period of the building.

8.

Signs. Existing signs that are in good condition or repairable, in character with the style and period of the building and in conformance with the Code shall be retained, unless a new business requires the removal of the sign. New signs shall be compatible with the style and period of the building. In the Downtown Development District, the requirements of the Facade Design Guidelines shall also be met.

9.

Site Improvements. Chain link fences visible from a public right-of-way or park shall be prohibited. Replacement of drives, walks, patios, decks, stairs, fences and walls with no change in the size configuration and using the same materials, shall not be reviewed by the Historic Preservation Board.

10.

Other. Any other request requiring a building permit determined by the Planning Official or his designee to have an impact on an historic landmark or the exterior of a structure in an HP Overlay district shall be reviewed by the Historic Preservation Board using the most closely analogous standards of this Chapter.

(Ord. of 9-16-1991, Doc. #25099; Ord. of 2-22-1993, Doc. #26392)