Carlisle City Zoning Code

The area included within Historic Carlisle is that as shown on the Official Historic Carlisle Map, which, together with all explanatory matters thereon, is hereby adopted by reference and declared to be part of this chapter.[1]

Boundaries. Said district, as shown on the aforesaid map, includes the area bounded by the center lines of Louther Street on the north, West Street on the west, South Street on the south and East Street on the east; it also includes the area bounded by the center lines of South Street on the north, Pitt Street on the west, Walnut Street on the south and Hanover Street on the east. It also includes an area bounded by the center line of Louther Street, between College Street and LeTort Run, and a line opposite and parallel thereto 75 feet north of said center line of Louther Street; an area bounded by the center line of West Street, between Louther Street and South Street, and a line opposite and parallel thereto 75 feet west of said center line of West Street; an area bounded by the center line of South Street between College Street and Pitt Street and between Hanover Street and East Street, and lines opposite and parallel thereto 75 feet south of said center line of South Street; an area bounded by the center line of Pitt Street, between Walnut Street and South Street, and a line opposite and parallel thereto 75 feet west of said center line of Pitt Street; an area bounded by the center line of Walnut Street, between Pitt Street and Hanover Street, and a line opposite and parallel thereto 75 feet south of said center line of Walnut Street, and an area bounded by the center line of Hanover Street between Baltimore Street and South Street, and a line opposite and parallel thereto 85 feet east of said center line of Hanover Street; and an area bounded by the center line of East Street, between South Street and Louther Street, and a line opposite and parallel thereto 75 feet east of said center line of East Street. It also includes an area bounded by the center line of Louther Street, between College Street and West Street and between East Street and LeTort Run, and lines opposite and parallel thereto 75 feet south of said center line of Louther Street; an area bounded by the center line of South Street, between College Street and West Street, and a line opposite and parallel thereto 75 feet north of said center line of South Street; and an area bounded by the center line of Hanover Street, between Baltimore Street and Walnut Street, and a line opposite and parallel thereby 85 feet west of said center line of Hanover Street. It also includes an area bounded by lines 85 feet east and 85 feet west of the center line of Hanover Street, between Penn Street and Louther Street, and opposite and parallel thereto; and an area bounded by lines 85 feet north and 85 feet south of the center line of High Street, between East Street and LeTort Run, and opposite and parallel thereto.

Map. The Historic Carlisle Map shall be identified by the signature of the Mayor, properly attested and bearing the seal of the Borough under the following words: "This is to certify that this is the Historic Carlisle Map referred to in Section 2 of Ordinance No. 1197 of the Borough of Carlisle, Pennsylvania," together with the date of the adoption of such ordinance.

Changes to map.

Official Map. Regardless of the existence of purported copies of the Official Historic Carlisle Map, which may from time to time be made or published, the Official Historic Carlisle Map which shall be located in the office of the Zoning Officer shall be the final authority as to the current historic status of buildings and other structures in the Borough for purposes of this chapter.

Uncertain boundaries. Where uncertainty exists as to the boundaries of the district as shown on the Official Historic Carlisle Map, the following rules shall apply:

Protect that portion of Carlisle which most strongly reflects the cultural, economic, social, political and architectural history of Carlisle and also Pennsylvania.

Encourage greater interest in local and state history.

Promote the use and reuse of portions of Carlisle for the culture, education, enjoyment and general welfare of citizens.

Strengthen the economy of Carlisle by improving property values and economic activity in the historic district.

Provide for buildings, structures, or signs, and alteration of any of the foregoing, that will be harmonious with existing historically and architecturally significant buildings, structures, and signs.

A Board of Historical Architectural Review (HARB) is hereby established, to be composed of seven members appointed by Council, one of whom shall be a registered architect, one a licensed real estate broker, one a building inspector and four additional persons with a knowledge of and interest in the preservation of historic districts, two of which additional persons must reside within the historic district and be property owners in the Borough, and one of which additional persons should be a professor or teacher of fine arts with a knowledge of and interest in the preservation of historic districts.

Each member shall serve for a term of four years.

The position of any member of the Board appointed in his capacity as a registered architect, a licensed real estate broker, or as a building inspector who ceases to be so engaged shall automatically be considered vacant.

An appointment to fill a vacancy shall be only for the unexpired portion of the term.

HARB members shall disqualify themselves from voting on any project in which their own financial interests are directly or indirectly involved.

Board procedures. The HARB may make and alter rules and regulations for its own organization and procedure, provided that they are consistent with the laws of the commonwealth and all provisions of this chapter.

The Board shall be charged with the responsibility of review of the historic district limits as outlined in this section of this chapter.

The Board is further charged with the responsibility of developing and continuing an effective program of landmark recognition and preservation.

Within such district, the Board shall approve any survey which designates areas, places, buildings, structures, monuments, works of art and other objects having special historical, architectural, community or aesthetic interest and value and worthy of preservation.

The Board should be available to provide informal advice to building owners on methods of preservation.

The Board may sponsor public relations programs to promote public interest in preservation.

The Board shall give counsel to the Council of the Borough of Carlisle regarding the advisability of issuing any certificates required to be issued pursuant to the State Historic District Act of 1961 and this chapter. Such counsel shall at all times be consistent with the provisions of all ordinances of the Borough.

For this purpose, the Board may make and alter rules and regulations for their own organization and procedure, consistent with the ordinances of the Borough and the laws of the commonwealth.

A majority of the Board shall constitute a quorum, and action taken at any meeting shall require the affirmative vote of the majority of members present.

The members of the Board shall serve without compensation and may make an annual report of their transactions to the Council.

For the purposes of this article, the words "application," "permit," "building permit," or "written authorization" shall mean any application for a certificate of appropriateness, in conjunction with a permit or written authorization issued by the Borough Zoning Officer, including but not limited to building, structure, demolition and sign permits or written authorizations.

Upon receipt of an application for a certificate of appropriateness, permit, building permit, demolition permit, sign permit or written authorization for work to be done in the Historic Preservation District affecting the exterior of a building, structure or sign then existing or to be built or erected in said district, the Borough Zoning Officer shall act in accordance with the procedures presently being followed in that office, except as those procedures are necessarily modified by the following requirements:

Upon receipt by the Board of a notice that an application for a certificate of appropriateness has been filed in the office of the Borough Zoning Officer, the Board shall, at a legally advertised meeting, consider a recommendation to give to the Borough Council.

The person applying for the certificate of appropriateness shall be advised of the time and place of said meeting and invited to appear to explain his reasons therefor.

The Board shall also announce to and invite the public to attend its meeting, notice of which shall be given in accordance with the Sunshine Act, Act of July 3, 1986, P.L. 388, No. 84, § 1, 65 P.S. § 271, et seq., as amended.[1]

The Board shall submit its recommendation in writing to the Council of the Borough of Carlisle within 45 days of the date of the application unless the applicant grants a waiver to extend this time.

The effect of the proposed change upon the general historic and architectural nature of the district.

The appropriateness of exterior architectural features which can be seen from a public street or a public way.

The compatibility with Historic Preservation District Guidelines adopted by the Borough Council which outline accepted methods, materials and techniques for the repair, restoration, erection, alteration or reconstruction which will change the exterior appearance of any building, structure or sign within the Historic District.

If the Board, on the basis of the information received at the meeting and from its general background and knowledge, decides to recommend against the granting of a certificate of appropriateness, it shall indicate to the applicant the changes in plans and specifications, if any, which, in the opinion of the Board, would protect the distinctive historical character of the Historic Preservation District.

If, subsequent to disapproval by the Board, the applicant determines that he will make the suggested changes, he shall advise the Zoning Officer prior to the meeting of Borough Council where the application will be reviewed and acted on by Council.

The Board, after the hearing provided for in § 255-155 above, shall submit its written report to the Borough Council containing its recommendation concerning the issuance of a certificate of appropriateness for the repair, erection, reconstruction, alteration, restoration, demolition or razing of all or a part of any building, structure or sign within the Historic Preservation District.

The written report shall set out the following matters:

Upon receipt of the written counsel of the Board as provided in § 255-159 above, the Borough Council shall consider at a regular or special meeting the question of issuing to the Zoning Officer a certificate of appropriateness for the work covered by the application.

The applicant shall be advised by the Borough of the time and place of the meeting at which his application will be considered and shall have the right to attend and be heard as to his reasons for filing the same.

In determining whether or not to certify to the appropriateness of the proposed repair, erection, reconstruction, alteration, demolition or razing of all or a part of any building, structure or sign within the Historic Preservation District, the Borough Council shall consider the same factors as the Board of Historical Architectural Review set forth in § 255-159

If the Borough Council approves the applicant’s request, it shall issue a certificate of appropriateness for the work covered.

If the Council disapproves, it shall do so in writing, and copies shall be given to the applicant and to the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

The disapproval shall indicate what changes in the plans and specifications would meet the conditions for protecting the distinctive historical character of the district.

The Council shall not consider any matter not pertinent to the historical aspect and nature of the district.

Time. In any event, the Council shall render its decision no later than 60 days from the date the HARB renders its recommendation for a certificate of appropriateness. The applicant should be notified in person or in writing at his last known address not later than 10 days after the Borough Council makes a decision.

Intent. The intent of this section is to ensure that valuable historic resources are not permanently destroyed unless there are no reasonable alternatives available.

This section shall apply to any existing building, structure or sign, or portion thereof, within the Historic Preservation District that the Borough Council determines, based upon the recommendation of the Board, is highly important to the historic character and continuity of that portion of the Historic Preservation District or is, by itself, a highly important architecturally historic resource.

No building, structure or sign shall be demolished unless one of the following is satisfied, in the terms of the Borough Council, based upon the recommendations of the Board: