Permitted structures shall be sited entirely below the elevation of the nearest ridge line, to the greatest extent feasible.

Where the applicant contends that the siting of structures entirely below ridge lines is not feasible, the applicant shall include within submitted sketch, subdivision, or land development plans one or more of the following mitigative design techniques:

A landscape plan shall be required which details existing vegetation and its maintenance and all supplemental landscaping, including introduction of required screening and/or shade trees.

Disturbance of existing woodland areas shall be minimized. Where feasible, clearing of woodland to provide for construction access shall be minimized by locating access clearings so as to coincide with ultimate driveway locations. Otherwise, access clearings should be located such that each clearing serves two or more adjacent lots or building sites. Restrictions regarding tree and other vegetation removal shall not extend to deadwood or diseased vegetation.

Except as provided herein, clearing of trees for any purpose shall not result in the removal of more than 20% of any existing tree mass, treeline, hedgerow, or individual freestanding trees over six inches DBH. For the purposes of this section, the extent of area occupied by such trees shall be measured from the outer-most drip line of any tree or of all the trees in a tree mass, treeline or hedgerow.

Where the applicant demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Board that additional woodland removal is necessary to permit development in accordance with this section, replacement plantings shall be provided. Replacement plantings shall include at least one tree and two shrubs for each 300 square feet of woodland, or fraction thereof, removed beyond 20%. All specimen trees to be retained shall be credited toward any tree replacement requirement, at a ratio of three trees credited for each individual specimen tree retained. The applicant's required landscape plan shall indicate all areas of woodland removal, as well as the species and locations of replacement plantings. Plantings used to comply with the minimum number of replacement plantings shall conform to the woodland conservation provisions of § 27-1503.4B, 4C, and 4D.

Within the French Creek Scenic Corridor Overlay District, the riparian buffer area conservation provisions of § 27-1504 are modified as follows:

Wildlife habitat in the riparian corridors along the French Creek and its tributaries shall be preserved to the greatest extent feasible. Where feasible, more than one type of habitat area on a single tract shall be preserved in order to promote maintenance of habitat diversity.

Reforestation. In the context of an application for approval of a conditional use, preliminary subdivision plan, special exception, variance, or building permit, the Township may require that riparian vegetation be reestablished to a minimum width of 50 feet, measured from the top of the bank of the French Creek. A landscape plan shall accompany the application and adequately illustrate the proposed riparian buffer, including a list of native trees and shrubs to be provided, and defining the long-term management provisions. All plantings shall be established prior to final occupancy permit approval.

Applicant shall submit landscape plans indicating that the introduction of landscape screening and/or the retention of existing vegetation or topographic features shall achieve an effective visual screen as viewed from any adjacent public road and from the French Creek. An effective screen shall not be construed to require the complete preclusion of view of new development, but shall minimize the visual impact of such development to the greatest degree feasible. Landscape screening may include plant material as well as other landscape material such as berms or walls and shall constitute a continuous visual screen at least six feet in height at the time of initial occupancy of the development and lasting as long as the use requiring the screening is established. Plant material utilized for screening may include a mixture of evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs; evergreen plantings shall be grouped and spaced with such frequency as to minimize opportunity for direct view through the screen during the winter season. Submitted landscape plans shall further demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Board that proposed landscaping is designed so as to achieve the following:

Where proposed development within areas visible from any public road or from the French Creek is not effectively screened from view to the satisfaction of the Board of Supervisors, the Board may require that applicant submit schematic plans and/or drawings of affected structures. It is not the intention of the Township to govern specific architectural design nor to link development approval to any specific architectural design criteria. Rather, submitted drawings shall aim to indicate proposed siting and to illustrate the general character of the intended exterior design with sufficient detail to demonstrate, in terms of how such buildings may be viewed from adjacent public roads or from the French Creek, reasonable replication of proportional relationships of form and massing evident in existing historic resources in the Township, including ratios of height to width, length of individual facade segment, roof pitch, relative size and placement of windows, doors, and other facade details.

All buildings, sites, structures, and objects listed individually in the National Register of Historic Places.

All buildings and structures classified as "certified historic structures" by the Secretary of the Interior.

All buildings, sites, structures, and objects documented as "contributing resources" in a National Register Historic District.

Any resources which have received a determination of eligibility (DOE) by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC).

Any historic district included in the National Register of Historic Places or any historic district which has received a determination of eligibility (DOE) by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC).

Any property may be proposed for addition to or removal from the East Vincent Township Historic Resources Inventory, or for a change in classification (Class I or Class II) by the owner of such property, by the Historical Commission, by the Board of Supervisors, as provided for in this paragraph.

The receipt by the Township of written notification from the designating organization (PHMC or National Register) that any Historic Resource no longer meets the criteria upon which its classification has been based shall be treated as a proposal for a change in classification of that resource (i.e., from Class I to Class II) or for its removal from the East Vincent Township Historic Resource Inventory.

Any proposal for addition to or removal from the East Vincent Township Historic Resources Inventory, or for a change in classification (Class I or Class II), shall be considered by the Township in accordance with the following:

Has significant character, interest or value as part of the development, heritage or cultural characteristics of the Township, County, region, Commonwealth or nation, or is associated with the life of a person significant in the past.

Is associated with an event of importance to the history of the Township, County, region, Commonwealth or nation.

Embodies an icon associated with an era characterized by a distinctive architectural style.

Embodies distinguishing characteristics of an architectural style or engineering specimen.

Is the noteworthy work of a designer, architect, landscape architect or designer, or engineer whose work has significantly influenced the historical, architectural, economic, social, or cultural development of the Township, County, Region, Commonwealth or Nation.

Contains elements of design, detail, materials, or craftsmanship which represent a significant innovation.

Is part of or related to a commercial center, park, community or other distinctive area which should be preserved according to an historic, cultural, or architectural motif.

Owing to its unique location or singular physical characteristic, represents an established and familiar visual feature of the neighborhood, community, or Township.

Has yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important in pre-history or history.

Exemplifies the cultural, political, economic, social, or historical heritage of the community.

Any use permitted in the underlying zoning district in which the property is located.

Where approved by the Board of Supervisors as a conditional use in accordance with Part 19 of this chapter as well as the specific requirements for conditional use approval set forth in Subsection 3D of this Part, additional use opportunities may be permitted on properties containing Class I or Class II Historic Resource(s). Such use opportunities may be permitted in place of any use currently being made of the property or as an additional principal and/or accessory use. It is intended that uses not otherwise permitted in the underlying zoning district be principally contained within structures designated as Class I or Class II Historic Resources. Permitted use opportunities may include but are not limited to the following:

All applicable standards and criteria set forth in Part 19 for conditional use approval shall be complied with to the satisfaction of the Township.

The granting of conditional use approval shall be deemed to be necessary to the preservation of the historic resource(s).

To the extent applicable, the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation of Historic Structures shall serve as guidelines for any plans involving the rehabilitation, alteration, or enlargement of structures designated as Class I or Class II Historic Resources. In approving a conditional use, the Board of Supervisors may set conditions requiring compliance with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation as presented in Subsection 6, as applicable.

In granting conditional use approval in accordance with this section, the Board of Supervisors shall be satisfied that adequate water supply and sewage disposal can be provided for all permitted uses.

Where plans involving historic resource(s) under this section result in all or portions of any such resource(s) remaining unoccupied, such unoccupied resources shall be tightly sealed and barred off in a manner not jeopardizing historical integrity, and the utilities turned off for safety.

In granting conditional use approval in accordance with this section, the Board of Supervisors may require as a condition of approval the establishment of conservation casement(s) or other means to guarantee permanent protection of the historical integrity of the subject resource(s).

Except where clearly detrimental to historical integrity and where public health, safety, and welfare are otherwise adequately provided for, all other applicable standards contained in this chapter shall be complied with, including but not limited to requirements for buffering, lighting, storage, access and traffic management, interior circulation, loading, parking, and signs.

The Board of Supervisors may deny the request for additional use or for modification of area and bulk regulations where, upon the review of the Historical Commission, it deems the proposal to be unacceptably destructive to the integrity of the Historic Resource and/or where the Board finds the proposal to be inappropriate in the context of the immediate neighborhood.

An applicant seeking conditional use approval under the provisions of this section shall submit the appropriate application to the Township in accordance with the provisions of Part 19. The application shall include, in addition to that which is required under Part 19 where relevant, a detailed depiction of the proposed use(s), any physical changes proposed for the affected historic resource(s) and their surrounding landscape, and any proposed modifications to otherwise applicable area and bulk regulations.

Upon receipt by the Township, the complete application shall be forwarded to the Historical Commission, the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors. Within 30 days of receipt of a complete application by the Township, the Historical Commission and the Planning Commission shall each, at a regular or special meeting, review the application for conditional use approval. The applicant will be notified of such meetings at least 10 days prior to their scheduled dates and shall have the opportunity to present his reasons for filing the application.

Recommendations, if any, of the Historical Commission and Planning Commission shall be transmitted in the form of written reports to the Board of Supervisors and shall include suggestions for specific changes to proposed plans, if any. If either the Historical Commission and/or Planning Commission does not transmit its recommendations to the Board by the date set by the Board for public hearing to consider the application for conditional use approval, then it shall be deemed that such Commission recommends the approval of the application.

The Board of Supervisors shall act upon the application in accordance with the provisions of Part 19.

No Class I or Class II Historic Resource may be demolished, in whole or in part, whether deliberately or by neglect, including the indiscriminate removal, stripping, or destruction of any significant exterior architectural features, unless a demolition permit is obtained from the Township Code Enforcement Officer in accordance with the procedures and requirements of this subsection, and other applicable standards and procedures of this chapter and the Township Building Code [Chapter 5, Part 1].

Demolition permit requirements shall extend to demolition by neglect which is defined as the failure to provide ordinary and necessary maintenance and repair to a building or structure located in a historic district, or to an historic resource, except for ruins existing at the time of adoption of this section, whether by ordinary negligence or willful neglect, purpose or design, by the owner or any party in possession thereof, which results in any of the following conditions:

These provisions shall not be construed to prevent the ordinary maintenance or repair of any building, structure, site, or object where such work does not require a permit and where the purpose and effect of such work is to correct any deterioration or decay of, or damage to, a building, structure, site, or object and to restore the same to its condition prior to the occurrence of such deterioration, decay, or damage.

The applicant shall submit to the Township an application for a demolition permit, obtainable from the Township Code Enforcement Officer. If the Township determines that the permit request is for the demolition of a Class I or Class II Historic Resource, the Code Enforcement Officer shall be directed not to issue the demolition permit and the application shall be forwarded to the Historical Commission for review.

Information to be Provided. In addition to applicable requirements under the Township Building Code [Chapter 5, Part 1], an applicant seeking a permit to demolish an historic resource shall provide the following documents and written narrative supporting the application.

Review by Historical Commission. Within 30 days of receipt of a complete application for demolition from the Code Enforcement Officer, the Historical Commission, at a regular or special meeting, shall review the application. Ten days' prior written notice of the meeting shall be given to the applicant who shall have the opportunity to present his reasons for filing the application. The Historical Commission shall consider the following:

Historical Commission Recommendation. The Historical Commission shall promptly communicate its recommendation(s) in a written report to the Board of Supervisors either recommending approval of the application as submitted, recommending approval of the application with condition, or recommending delay of demolition as provided below.

Within 30 days of receiving the recommendation from the Historical Commission, the Board of Supervisors shall consider the application at a public meeting, together with the recommendations of the Historical Commission, and vote either to approve the application, approve the application with changes, or defer their decision, affording a delay of demolition for up to 90 days as set forth in Paragraph D of this section. The applicant shall be notified of the meeting at least 10 days prior to its date, and shall have the opportunity to present his reasons for filing the application. Within five days of making its decision, the Board shall provide written communication of its decision to the applicant, Historical Commission, and Code Enforcement Officer.

Issuance of Demolition Permit. Where the Board acts to approve the application, it shall authorize the Code Enforcement Officer to issue the permit. Where the approval is authorized to be granted with conditions attached, the Code Enforcement Officer shall be authorized to issue the permit upon his receipt from the applicant of written acceptance of those conditions.

The specified period of delay up to 90 days shall be used to provide an opportunity to engage in discussion with the applicant about alternatives to demolition and to allow for complete historical documentation of the resource. The Historical Commission shall make every effort to communicate with the applicant to inform him of the historical importance of the resource, its significance to the Township, and alternatives to demolition (additional uses, etc.).

Documentation of Class I Historic Resources. When prescribing the delay of demolition for a Class I Historic Resource, the Board of Supervisors may require the applicant to provide documentation of the resource proposed for demolition. Such documentation may include, as available: historical data, surveys, and other data provided by local, state, and federal historic preservation organizations and agencies; photographs; floor plans; measured drawings; archaeological surveys (if appropriate); and any other comparable form of documentation recommended by the Historical Commission. Where necessary, the delay shall continue past the stipulated 90 days until the applicant has sufficiently satisfied the documentation requirements.

Not later than the date set by the Board of Supervisors to act upon the application for demolition prior to or at the end of the applicable ninety-day time period, the Historical Commission may recommend in writing to the Board of Supervisors approval of the demolition permit or, where the Commission does not believe that the applicant has proven unreasonable economic hardship or the lack of a reasonable alternative, recommend denial of the demolition permit.

The Board of Supervisors shall act upon the application for demolition within or at 90 days, whether it receives a recommendation from the Historical Commission or not, and shall vote either to approve the application, to approve the application with changes, or to deny the application. Within 15 days of making its decision, the Board shall provide written communication of its decision to the applicant, Historical Commission, and Code Enforcement Officer.

Issuance of Demolition Permit. Where the Board acts to approve the application, it shall authorize the Building/Code Enforcement Officer to issue the permit. Where the approval is granted with conditions attached, the Code Enforcement Officer shall be authorized to issue the permit upon receipt from the applicant of written acceptance of those conditions.

Denial of Application. Where the Board acts to deny the application, a notice of denial shall be sent to the applicant indicating what changes in the plans and specifications, if any, would be sufficient to meet the standards of this section.