Pittsford Town City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XXI
Design Review and Historic Preservation Board
§ 185-147 Creation and appointment.
There shall be a Design Review and Historic Preservation Board which shall consist of seven members. The Town Board shall appoint the members of the Design Review and Historic Preservation Board and shall annually designate a Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Board.
§ 185-148 Qualifications of members.
All members of the Design Review and Historic Preservation Board shall be residents of the Town and shall be deemed qualified by reason of training, experience or civic interest and by reason of sound judgment to determine the effects of an application upon the desirability, property values and development of surrounding areas. Up to three members of such Board shall be registered architects in the state, one of whom must possess demonstrated experience with historic architecture, and at least two members of such Board shall be deemed qualified by reason of training, experience or civic interest and shall have a known interest in historic preservation and architectural development within the Town.
§ 185-149 Terms of members; removal; filling of vacancies.
A.
Members of the Design Review and Historic Preservation Board shall serve for seven-year terms, except that the initial Board shall be appointed so that there is one member serving a term of one, two, three, four, five, six and seven years, respectively.
B.
The Town Board shall have the power to remove any member of the Board for cause and after public hearing.
C.
If a vacancy shall occur in the Board other than by expiration of term, it shall be filled by the Town Board for the unexpired term.
§ 185-150 Powers and duties.
A.
The Design Review and Historic Preservation Board shall have powers and duties as follows:
(3)
Approval or denial of applications for certificates of appropriateness, pursuant to Article XXX of this chapter.
(4)
Such other powers and duties as are granted to it or imposed on it by this chapter.
(5)
Seeking the advice of professional consultants, subject to Town Board approval.
(6)
Promulgation of rules and regulations as necessary for the conduct of its business.
(7)
Adoption of criteria for the identification of significant historic, architectural and cultural landmarks.
(8)
Conducting surveys of potentially significant historic, architectural and cultural structures within the Town, in order to update the Town's list of inventoried structures. Such survey activity and inventoried structures update shall include a five-year reassessment of previously inventoried structures to assess any changes in physical integrity and the evaluation of potentially eligible structures that have reached 50 years of age and have not been previously surveyed and/or included on the Town's list of inventoried structures. The results of each such survey shall be submitted to the Town Board for potential amendment to the Town's list of inventoried structures and shall include, at a minimum, representative photographs of structures the Board finds to be appropriate for inclusion in the Town's inventoried structures list, together with statements as to the relevant background and the distinguishing character-defining features of each such structure.
(9)
Making recommendations to the Town Board concerning the acquisition of facade easements or other interests in real property as necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter.
(10)
Increasing public awareness of the value of historic, cultural and architectural preservation by developing and participating in public education programs.
(11)
Making recommendations to the Town Board concerning the utilization of state, federal or private funds to promote the preservation of historic landmarks within the Town.
(12)
Recommending to the Town Board acquisition of a landmark structure by the Town where its preservation is essential to the purposes of this act and where private preservation is not feasible.
B.
The Board may adopt, after a public hearing, such rules, regulations and forms as it may deem necessary for the proper and efficient discharge of its duties, so long as such rules, regulations and forms do not conflict with state law. Such rules, regulations and forms are subject to the approval of the Town Board.
§ 185-151 Coordination with Planning Board.
Upon request of the Planning Board, the Design Review and Historic Preservation Board shall consult with and advise the Planning Board with respect to any site plan or subdivision plan on which it is required to pass under the provisions of law or of this chapter.
§ 185-152 Records.
The Design Review and Historic Preservation Board shall keep minutes of its proceedings showing the vote of each member upon every question, or if absent or failing to vote, indicate such fact, and shall also keep records of its examinations and other official actions.