Allentown City Zoning Code
§ 28-16.10
Standards, Design Guidelines and Criteria.
[Added 4-20-2021 by Ord. No. 03-2021]
a.
All projects requiring a certificate of appropriateness and all applications for development in historic districts or on historic sites shall be governed by the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation, the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties with Guidelines for Preserving, Rehabilitating, Restoring & Reconstructing Historic Buildings and the Allentown Design Guidelines.
b.
The Allentown Design Guidelines are adopted as Appendix D to this section of Chapter 28 and are incorporated herein by reference, as the same may be applicable and appropriate, and as amended and revised from time to time. The Design Guidelines are adopted as design criteria and guidelines pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-65.1.
Editor's Note: Appendix D, Design Guidelines, may be found as an attachment to this Chapter 28.
c.
Criteria for Finding Appropriateness. Consistent with the Design Guidelines, the Historic Preservation Commission may consider the siting, design, arrangement, exterior design, design quality, bulk, rhythm, building elements, lighting, fixtures, directional emphasis, proportions, style, texture, details, scale, shape, materials, finish, color, and relationship to streetscape, of the proposed work and the relationship of those characteristics to the historic, architectural, cultural, archeological, and aesthetic significance of the historic site or district.
d.
In considering certificates of appropriateness, the Historic Preservation Commission shall not consider use, zoning requirements for setbacks, density, height limitations, or lot coverage, as these fall within the purview of the Planning Board.
e.
In reviewing development applications, the Historic Preservation Commission may consider use, zoning requirements for setbacks, density, height limitations, and lot coverage in rendering its advice to the Planning Board. The Commission should emphasize the streetscape when reviewing applications for development. The Commission shall not hear applications for development unless requested by the Planning Board.
f.
Guidelines and Criteria for Plan Review. All reviews of plans within historic districts shall give consideration to:
1.
The cultural, historic or architectural values of a structure and its relationship to properties in the surrounding area.
2.
The general compatibility of the proposed use to the cultural and historical values of the surrounding area.
3.
The general compatibility of exterior design, arrangement, texture and materials proposed to be used. In carrying out the review under the guidelines, the following criteria shall be utilized:
g.
Guidelines for Non-Contributing Sites. In recognition of the lesser importance of applications for certificates of appropriateness related to non-contributing structures/sites, the following criteria shall be used for review by the Historic Preservation Commission:
1.
The general compatibility of the exterior design, arrangement, texture and materials proposed to be used with the historical value of the surrounding area. In carrying out its design review under these guidelines, the following criteria shall be utilized:
h.
Certificate of Compliance. After receiving a certificate of appropriateness and completing the approved work, the applicant shall submit a certificate of compliance for review and approval by the Historic Preservation Commission to demonstrate that the applicant has complied with the conditions of the certificate of appropriateness.
i.
Expiration of Approval.
1.
In cases where demolition is permitted, the certificate of approval shall be valid for one year from the date of Historic Preservation Commission approval of the application. The one-year period shall not be extended.
2.
At the time of issuance of the certificate of approval, the construction official shall designate the period of time (within the one-year approval period) within which demolition must be completed after it is initiated on site.
j.
Approval After Change of Circumstances. The Commission may at any time during such notice period, if a significant change in circumstances occurs, approve a certificate of appropriateness to demolish, in which event, a permit shall be issued within 10 days thereafter.