Safeguard the heritage of the Township of Mount Holly, preserving those elements of the natural and built environment of the Township which reflect its cultural, social, economic and architectural history.

Support of the maintenance and development of harmonious settings for the architecturally and historically significant sites within Mount Holly Township.

Stabilize and improve property values and facilitate (not hinder) municipal redevelopment.

Foster civic pride and beauty.

Protect and enhance the Township's historic sites for residents, tourists and visitors.

Promote, support and stimulate the use of the historic sites for the education, pleasure and welfare of the citizens of the Township, its visitors, business and industry.

Encourage beautification and private reinvestment.

Balance historic preservation with the economic development goals and the quality of life of Mount Holly's residents.

Not be overly excessive as to be an economic disincentive to improving an existing property or choosing Mount Holly as a new home or place of business.

Guide the advisory recommendations of the Commission so that properties within the historic district may utilize modern alternative materials, be feasibly maintained, repaired, and upgraded.

Not require or prohibit any particular architectural style; rather, its purpose is to preserve the past by making the past compatible with and relevant to the present. To that end, new construction upon or near a landmark or within the historic district should not necessarily duplicate the exact style of the landmark or district; however, it must be compatible with, and not detract from, the landmark and/or historic district.

There is created in the Township an agency to be known as the "Historic Preservation Commission" ("Commission").

Planning Board. The Commission will work with and advise the Planning Board on the effect of development applications in historic zoning districts or on historic sites designated on the Zoning or Official Map, or as otherwise identified in the Municipal Master Plan.

The Commission will provide a written report (certificate of appropriateness) to the Construction Code Official on each application for issuance of a permit pertaining to an historic site or property as may be required by this article.

The boundaries of the municipal historic district are as established by the map attached to this chapter and made a part hereof. The location of each historic site situated outside of the historic district shall be as designated on the map attached and made a part of this chapter.[1]

Member classes.

Appointment and terms. The Mayor shall appoint, with the approval of the Common Council, all members of the Commission and shall designate at the time of appointment the regular members by class and the alternate members as "Alternate No. 1" and "Alternate No. 2."

Alternate members may participate in discussions of the proceedings but may not vote except in the absence or disqualification of a regular member. A vote shall not be delayed in order that a regular member may vote instead of an alternate member. In the event that a choice must be made as to which alternate member is to vote, Alternate No. 1 shall vote.

A member may, after public hearing if so requested by the member, be removed by the Common Council for cause.

No member shall be permitted to act on any matter in which he or she has, either directly or indirectly, any personal or financial interest.

The Common Council shall annually designate a member to serve as the liaison between the Common Council and the Commission.

That a quorum to conduct a meeting shall be at least three members, which may include alternate members.

That all meetings shall comply with N.J.S.A. 10:4-6 et seq., known as the "Open Public Meetings Act."

Such other rules and regulations as the Commission may adopt to further its purposes.

The Common Council may make a provision in its budget and appropriate funds for the expenses of the Commission.

Subject to approval by Mayor and Council the Commission may employ, contract for and fix the compensation of experts and other staff and services in order to fulfill their responsibilities.

The Commission shall obtain its legal counsel from the Township Solicitor at the rate of compensation determined by the Common Council.

Expenditures pursuant to this subsection shall not exceed, exclusive of gifts or grants, the amount appropriated by the Common Council for the Commission's use.

Balance historic preservation with the quality of life, redevelopment, and economic development goals as established within Mount Holly's Municipal Master Plan and supported by the Mayor and Council.

Approve, approve with conditions or deny applications for certificates of appropriateness.

Advise and assist the Planning Board during the preparation and/or update of the Historic Preservation Plan Element of the Master Plan which may include recommendations concerning designation or changes to designations of key, contributing, and noncontributing structures.

Advise and assist the Planning Board during the preparation of a capital improvement program on matters related to historic preservation.

Advise the Planning Board on certain applications for development within the historic district.

Advise the Planning Board, upon request by the Planning Board, as to any applications which are not within but which may substantially affect any historic district or historic landmarks.

Advise the Construction Code Official by written report concerning applications for issuance of permits pertaining to historic sites or property in the historic district.

Report annually to the Planning Board and to the Common Council as to the state of historic preservation within the Township, to include recommendations and measures for improvement or amendment and to recommend the placement of appropriate historical markers on designated structures and sites.

Recommend, as circumstances warrant, amendments or deletions to the list of landmarks specified on the historic preservation element of the Master Plan, amendments to the Historic District Map or the creation of new historic districts to the Planning Board, which is charged with the responsibility of implementing those recommendations and designation of historic landmarks.

Collect and disseminate materials on the importance of historical preservation.

Advise any interested citizen, applicant, municipal, county or state agency regarding the goals and techniques for historic preservation as it relates to the preservation of the heritage of the Township.

Recommend adoption and promulgation of such regulations and procedures, not inconsistent with this chapter, as may be necessary and proper for the effective and efficient performance of the duties and purposes of the Commission.

Carry out such advisory, educational and informational functions as will promote historic preservation in the Township and consult with the local historical society, the Burlington County Historical Society, on all matters pertaining to the protection of the Township's historic resources.

Review historical survey material and, if necessary, to update said material at least every other year to incorporate any newly acquired historical documentation and to reflect changes to a resource's integrity or condition to be reported to the Planning Board.

Advise the Township Council on available grants that may be available to the Township to support historic preservation efforts that would benefit the entire Township.

In addition to the structures already identified as being within the historic district or designated as a landmark, the Commission shall consider for historic site or historic district designation any additional buildings, structures, objects, sites, and districts within the Township which merit historic site or historic district designation and protection, possessing integrity or location, design, setting, materials, workmanship of association and being:

Based on its review or upon the recommendation of other municipal bodies or of concerned citizens, the Commission may make a list of additional historic sites or historic districts recommended for designation. For each historic site, there shall be a brief description of the historic site and the significance pursuant to the criteria in Subsection F(1) of this section, a description of its location and boundaries. Thereafter, the Commission shall refer any property recommended for designation to the Planning Board.

The Planning Board may consider amending the municipal Master Plan in accordance with the Commission's recommendation and with the procedures established within the MLUL. The Township Council may support and enact changes to historic district limits and ordinances that may be included in master plan revisions through the ordinance adoption process as enabled by the MLUL.

All historic sites and historic districts shall be based on identifications in the Historic Preservation Plan element of the Master Plan.

Notwithstanding the above procedures, the Common Council may, at any time, adopt, by affirmative vote of a majority of its authorized membership, a zoning ordinance designating one or more historic sites or historic districts that are not based on identifications in the historic preservation plan element, the land use plan element or community facilities plan element, provided the reasons for the action of the governing body are set forth in a resolution and recorded in the minutes of the governing body.

Emergency situations: emergency repair to preserve continued habitability. When an historic site requires immediate emergency repair to preserve the continued habitability of the building and/or health and safety of its occupants or others, emergency repairs may be performed in accordance with existing codes then in effect, without the necessity of first obtaining the Commission's review. Under such circumstances, the repairs performed shall only be such that are necessary to maintain the habitability of the structure. If required by this article, an application for a certificate of appropriateness should be made as soon as possible, and no additional work shall be performed upon the structure until approval is obtained in accordance with the procedures set forth in this chapter.

Interior: for changes to the interior of structures.

Landscaping and sculpture: landscaping involving plants, trees, sculpture or nonstructural ornaments.

Architecural appearance: Noncontributing properties may undergo a change or rearrangement in the structural parts or architectural features (which may require building permits), which may change the architectural appearance of the property but does not lead to an increase in building size (volume or floor area).

Painting 1:

Painting 2:

Exterior work 1:

Exterior work 2: Exterior work that requires a permit: repair or replacement using the same materials, provided the architectural appearance of the building is not changed. New materials (the same as which that were there before the work effort) being installed on an existing building-structure that do not change the exterior architectural appearance of an improvement may be considered a repair, provided the project complies with Subsection B of the definition of repair. See the definitions of "repair" and "replacement."

Development application. The Planning Board shall refer to the Commission every application form and all accompanying documents required by ordinance for approval of an application for development, i.e., subdivision plat, site plan, planned development, conditional use, zoning variance or direction for the issuance of a permit pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-34 and 40:55D-36, submitted to the Board for development in an historic zoning district or on an historic site designated on the Zoning or Official Map or identified in any component element of the Master Plan. This referral shall be made when the application for development is deemed complete or is scheduled for a hearing, whichever occurs sooner. Failure to refer the application as required shall not invalidate any hearing or proceeding. The Commission shall hear such applications employing its procedures set forth in § 149-165 and the criteria set forth in § 149-167.

Building permit application. Except when review is expressly exempted pursuant to § 149-164A, all applications pertaining to historic sites or property in historic districts shall be referred to the Commission by the Construction Code Official for a written report (certificate of appropriateness) on the application of the zoning provisions of this chapter concerning historic preservation to any of those aspects of the change proposed, which aspects were not determined by approval of an application for development by the Planning Board pursuant to the Municipal Land Use Law.[1] The Commission shall hear such applications employing its procedures set forth in § 149-165 and the criteria set forth in § 149-167.

No development application or building permit needed; however, Historic Preservation Commission review still required. Except when review is expressly exempt pursuant to § 149-164A, projects that alter or change the existing appearance of key and contributing properties in the High Street Historic District and other key properties throughout the Township require an administrative or Commission approval depending on the type of work involved. The property owner (or applicant as authorized by the property owner) shall make application directly to the Commission for a certificate of appropriateness. The Commission shall hear such applications employing its procedures set forth in § 149-165 and the criteria set forth in § 149-167, and will render its findings in writing. The findings of the Commission, in such cases, shall be enforceable by the Construction Code Official.

Fees: There shall be no application fees or escrow charges for obtaining a certificate of appropriateness unless otherwise permitted by the Township of Mount Holly through a redevelopment agreement or other legally permissible mechanism. In the event the Township shall permit and/or require such fees or escrow charges, the applicant shall be notified in advance of such fees and/or escrow.

The Planning Board will forward to the Commission a complete application for development as well as the application for a certificate of appropriateness. The Commission shall be allowed at least 14 days from the day it receives a complete application to prepare its advisory recommendations to the Planning Board.

Should the Commission elect to make any advisory recommendations, it may be conveyed through its delegation of one of its members or staff to testify orally at the Planning Board hearing on the application and to explain any written report (certificate of appropriateness) that may have been submitted.

The Commission's recommendations shall focus on how the proposed undertaking would affect an historic site or architectural significance. In considering the Commission's recommendations (which may be accepted, modified, or rejected), the Planning Board should consider Master Plan goals and the guidelines included within this ordinance.

Unless exempt from review per § 149-164A, prior to undertaking any action that requires a building permit affecting the exterior architectural appearance of an historic site or an improvement-structure within the historic district, the property owner shall complete and submit to the Construction Code Official and Commission Secretary an application for a certificate of appropriateness. Applications for certificates of appropriateness under this section may include, but not be limited to, approvals for permits for new construction, demolition, alterations, additions or replacements affecting the exterior architectural appearance of an historic site or an improvement-structure within the historic district.

The Commission's Secretary shall review the application for technical completeness against the application checklist for certificates of appropriateness. Any application found to be incomplete by the Commission Secretary shall be returned to the property owner within 10 days of receipt of the application with a written explanation why the application has been returned.

When an application is found to be technically complete by the Commission Secretary, the Commission's Secretary shall schedule the application to be reviewed at the Commission's next regularly scheduled meeting. The property owner shall be notified of the Commission meeting date and is welcome to present his or her application to the Commission for approval. Applicants are also encouraged to reference any section of the Historic Preservation Ordinance or Master Plan that supports their project for approval.

The Commission shall inform the property owner and the Construction Code Official of its decision by a written certificate of appropriateness, setting forth its findings and conclusions no later than 45 days from the day the application shall have been deemed technically complete.

If the Commission does not act upon the application within the time period provided, the application shall be deemed to have been approved and the certificate of appropriateness granted without condition. The time periods provided may be extended by mutual agreement between the applicant and the Commission.

Review when an application for development or building permit is not required within the High Street Historic District. In the event that the Zoning Officer or the Construction Code Official shall determine that a building permit and/or application for development involving any development activity that would affect an historic district or historic site is not needed, then the property owner and/or tenant of the property on which the exterior changes, alterations or improvements are proposed to be made shall make application directly to the Commission for a certificate of appropriateness. The Commission shall hear such applications employing its procedures set forth in § 149-165D and the criteria set forth in § 149-167, and will render its findings in writing. The findings of the Commission, in such cases, shall be enforceable by the Construction Code Official.

After reviewing a technically complete application for administrative approval the Historic Preservation Commission Chairperson may approve the issuance of a certificate of appropriateness for specific minor actions-activities on properties within the historic district. The administrative approval may be based upon the written recommendations of the Commission's consultant and involve a site inspection by the consultant and/or Chairperson prior to the approval. The administrative approval (certificate of appropriateness), if obtained, must be provided, in writing, by the Commission Chairperson to the Historic Preservation Commission Secretary, who will provide a copy to the applicant. Applicants for administrative approval must complete the necessary application for certificate of appropriateness and submit it to the administrative officer at the Township. In order to allow the Chairperson a reasonable time frame to review and approve a "fast-track" application, the application may be processed according to the time limits established within § 149-165D for technical completeness and approval by the Commission Chairperson. Minor projects that may apply for administrative approval of a certificate of appropriateness:

Material and design. Although applicants are encouraged to install windows, siding, doors, roofing material, shutters, downspouts, and other building elements that are made of the same material and of the same design appropriate for the period when the structure was built, it is not necessarily required by this article and a suitable alternative material and/or design may be administratively approved for contributing properties outside the High Street Historic District and contributing properties within the High Street Historic District when the item-feature is changing material only and is not visible from the High Street Corridor or connecting side streets. (Design changes require Commission approval.)

At each monthly meeting of the Commission, the Chairperson shall be responsible for providing the Commission with a written report on those administrative approvals of a certificate of appropriateness that were reviewed and acted upon during the preceding month. That written report shall include: the name and address of the applicant; the name and address of the property owner, if different than the applicant; the block and lot number; a description of what was proposed and what was acted upon; and the date the action was taken.

The impact of the proposed change on the historic and architectural significance of the site or the historic district;

The site's importance to the Township and the extent to which its historic or architectural interest would be adversely affected to the detriment of the public interest;

The extent to which the proposed action would adversely affect the public's view of an historic site within an historic district from a public street;

If the application deals with a structure within an historic district, the impact the proposed change would have on the district's architectural or historic significance and the structure's visual compatibility with the buildings, places and structures to which it would be visually related in terms of the visual compatibility factors set forth in this section.

Height. The height of the proposed building shall be visually compatible with adjacent buildings.

Proportion of the building's front facade. The relationship of the width of the building to the height of the front elevations shall be visually compatible with the buildings and places to which it is visually related.

Proportion of openings within the facility. The relationship of the width of windows to the height of windows in a building shall be visually compatible with the buildings and places to which it is visually related.

Rhythm of spacing of buildings on streets. The relationship of the building to the open space between it and adjoining buildings shall be visually compatible with buildings and places to which it is visually related.

Rhythm of solids to voids on facades fronting on public places. The relationship of solids to voids in such facades of a building shall be visually compatible with buildings and places to which it is visually related.

Rhythm of entrances. The relationship of entrances and porches to the street shall be visually compatible to the buildings and places to which it is visually related.

Relationship of materials. The relationship of materials, texture and color of the facade and roof of a building shall be visually compatible with the predominant materials used in buildings to which it is visually related.

Roof. The roof shape of a building shall be visually compatible with the buildings to which it is visually related.

Continuity of walls. Appurtenances of a building such as walls, open fencing, evergreens, landscaping and so forth shall form cohesive walls of enclosure along a street to the extent necessary to maintain visual compatibility of the building with the buildings and places to which it is visually related.

Scale of buildings. The size of a building, mass of a building in relation to open spaces, the windows and door openings, porches and balconies shall be visually compatible with the buildings and places to which it is visually related.

Directional expression. A building shall be visually compatible with buildings and places to which it is visually related in its directional character, whether this be vertical character, horizontal character or nondirectional character.

Exterior features. A structure's related exterior features, such as lighting, fences, signs, sidewalks, driveways, and parking areas, shall be compatible with the features of those structures to which it is visually related and shall be appropriate for the historic period for which the structure is significant.

This article does not require or prohibit any particular architectural style; rather, its purpose is to preserve the past by making the past compatible with and relevant to the present. To that end, new construction upon or near a landmark or within the historic district should not necessarily duplicate the exact style of the landmark or historic district; however, it must be compatible with and not detract from the landmark and/or historic district.

Design and materials. The proposed design and materials will conform to the building's original architectural style when technically and economically feasible. Although applicants are encouraged to utilize materials and designs appropriate for the period when the structure was built, the Commission can approve alternative materials and/or design changes.

Original qualities. The distinguishing original qualities or character of a building, structure or site and its environment should not be destroyed. The removal or alteration of any historic material or distinctive architectural features should be avoided when possible.

Acquired significance. Changes that have taken place in the course of time are evidence of the history and development of a building, structure or site and its environment. These changes may have acquired significance in their own right, and this significance shall be recognized and respected.

Repair versus replacement. When feasible, deteriorated architectural features (e.g., windows, doors, shutters, trim, siding, etc.) should be repaired rather than replaced. In the event replacement is necessary, owners are encouraged to match the new material with the material being replaced in composition, design, color, texture and other visual qualities. Repair or replacement of missing architectural features should be based on accurate duplications of features substantiated by historic, physical or pictorial evidence rather than conjectural designs or the availability of different architectural elements from other buildings or structures.

Design of alterations. Contemporary design for alterations and additions to existing properties should not be discouraged when such alterations and additions do not destroy significant historic, architectural or cultural material and such design is compatible with the size, scale, color, material and character of the property, neighborhood or environment.

Character of alterations. Wherever possible, new additions and alterations to structures shall be done in such a manner that if such additions or alterations were to be removed in the future, the essential form and integrity of the structure would be unimpaired.

Synthetic siding. Synthetic siding is generally not acceptable on key buildings or contributing building facades within the High Street Historic District that are visible from the High Street corridor and connecting streets; however, the Commission may approve alternative material siding if the applicant demonstrates its appropriate use. Architectural trim should be retained.

Window and door materials and openings.

Its historic, architectural, cultural or scenic significance.

If it is within an historic district, the significance of the structure in relation to the historic character of the district and the probable impact of its removal on the district.

Its potential for use for those purposes currently permitted by the Zoning Ordinance.

Its structural condition and the economic feasibility of alternatives to the proposal.

Its importance to the Township and the extent to which its historical or architectural value is such that its removal would be detrimental to the public interest.

The extent to which it is of such old, unusual or uncommon design, craftsmanship, texture or material that it could be reproduced only with great difficulty and expense.

The extent to which its retention would promote the general welfare by maintaining and increasing the real estate values, generating business, attracting tourists, attracting new residents, stimulating interest and study in architecture and design, or making the Township an attractive and desirable place in which to live.

If it is within an historic district, the probable impact of its removal upon the ambience of the historic district.

The historic loss to the site of original location and the historic district as a whole.

The reasons for not retaining the building improvement or structure at its present location.

The compatibility, nature and character of the current and of the proposed surrounding areas as they relate to the protection of interest and values referred to in this chapter.

The probability of significant damage to the historic site.

If the proposed new location is within an historic district, visual compatibility factors as set forth in Subsection B of this section.

If it is to be removed from the Township, the proximity of the proposed new location to the Township, including the accessibility to the residents of the Township and other citizens.

The signs for a particular building or shop should be reduced to the fewest separate panels or statements as possible.

Buildings which are designed with a definite panel or framed zone for the sign mounting should have the sign take a complementary shape.

Signs on buildings should not obliterate or obscure the architecture of the building. A sign on a building should be compatible or integral with it.

Obsolete signs from defunct activities should be removed, unless it is an integral part of the building's original character.