Source: https://www.ecode360.com/13278457
Timestamp: 2019-10-21 23:07:54
Document Index: 235149584

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 121', '§ 121', '§ 121', '§ 121', '§ 121', '§ 121', '§ 121', '§ 121', '§ 121', '§ 121', '§ 121', '§ 121', '§ 121', '§ 121', '§ 121', '§ 121', '§ 121']

Town of Amherst, NY Historic Preservation
§ 121-1 Designation; title.
§ 121-2 Authority.
§ 121-5 Historic Preservation Commission.
§ 121-6 Designation of historic landmarks, sites and districts.
§ 121-7 Certificates of appropriateness required.
§ 121-8 Criteria for approval of certificate of appropriateness.
§ 121-9 Application for certificate of appropriateness.
§ 121-10 Hardship criteria.
§ 121-11 Hardship application procedure.
§ 121-12 Maintenance and repair required.
§ 121-13 Administration and enforcement; display of certificate.
§ 121-14 Penalties for offenses.
§ 121-15 Appeals.
§ 121-16 Conflict with other provisions.
§ 121-17 Compliance required prior to action.
§ 121-18 Applicability.
§ 121-19 Severability.
Chapter 121 Historic Preservation
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Amherst 10-3-1994 by L.L. No. 5-1994. Amendments noted where applicable. For additional information regarding 2010, 2011 and 2012 state local law numbers, refer to the Disposition List at the end of this volume.]
This chapter shall be Chapter 121 of the Code of the Town of Amherst and may be cited as the "Historic Preservation Law of the Town of Amherst."
[Amended 5-16-2018 by L.L. No. 10-2018]
In accordance with Section 96-a of the General Municipal Law of the State of New York entitled "Protection of historical places, buildings and works of art," and Article 5-K of the General Municipal Law of the State of New York, entitled "Historic Preservation," the Town Board of the Town of Amherst has the authority to provide, by local law, regulations, special conditions and restrictions for the protection, enhancement, perpetuation and the use of places, districts, sites, buildings, structures, works of art and other objects having special character or special historical or other aesthetic interest or value. Pursuant to that authority, the Town Board has prepared and adopted this Chapter setting forth standards to be followed in historic preservation.
It is hereby declared as a matter of public policy that the protection, enhancement and perpetuation of landmarks and historic districts is necessary to promote the economic, cultural, educational and general welfare of the public. Inasmuch as the identity of a people is founded in its past and inasmuch as Amherst has many significant historic, architectural and cultural resources which constitute its heritage, this chapter is intended to:
Protect and enhance the landmarks and historic districts which represent distinctive elements of Amherst's historic, architectural and cultural heritage.
Protect and enhance Amherst's attractiveness to visitors and support and stimulate the Town's economy.
The Commissioner of Building of the Town of Amherst.
A certificate issued by the Preservation Commission approving plans for alteration, construction, removal or demolition of a landmark, an improvement to a landmark site or a structure within an historic district.
Architectural style, design, general arrangement and components of the outer surfaces of an improvement, building or structure as distinguished from the interior surfaces, including but not limited to the kind and texture of building material and the type and style of windows, doors, signs and other such exterior fixtures.
Property, object, structure or natural feature or any part thereof so designated pursuant to this code.
A significant historical or cultural site(s) where buildings or structures no longer exist, so designated pursuant to this code.
A person, firm or corporation which owns the fee of property or a lessor state therein, a mortgage or vendee in possession, a receiver, an administrator, an executor, a trustee or any other person, firm or corporation in control of property.
Retention of essential character of an improvement, object, building, natural feature or structure as embodied in its existing form, integrity and material. This term includes the retention of trees, landscaping and vegetative cover of a site. This term may include temporary stabilization work, as well as ongoing maintenance of historic building materials.
PRESERVATION COMMISSION or COMMISSION
The Town of Amherst Preservation Commission.
The Town of Amherst, County of Erie, State of New York.
The Town Board of the Town of Amherst, Erie County, New York.
The Town of Amherst Town Clerk.
There is hereby created a commission to be known as the "Town of Amherst Historic Preservation Commission."
The Commission shall consist of seven (7) members. The Town of Amherst shall be the primary residence of each Commission member. Commission members shall serve terms of four years, with the exception of the initial term, in which four (4) members shall serve terms of four (4) years and three (3) members shall serve terms of two (2) years.
Appointment of Commissioners shall be made by the Town Board.
To the extent available in the Town of Amherst, the Commission should consist of the following:
At least one (1) shall be an architect.
At least one (1) shall be an historian.
At least one (1) shall be a licensed real estate broker.
At least one (1) shall be a licensed professional engineer.
All members shall have demonstrated significant interest and commitment to the field of historic preservation.
The Director of the Buffalo Niagara Heritage Village, or his/her designee shall be a nonvoting, ex officio member of the Commission and the designee shall be a resident of the Town of Amherst.
The Chairperson and the Vice Chairperson shall be elected by and from voting members of the Commission. The terms of office shall be two (2) years. If the Chairperson or Vice Chairperson cannot fulfill his or her term of office, a Chairperson or Vice Chairperson shall be elected by and from the membership to fulfill the remainder of the term until the next regular election.
If any Commissioner resigns or otherwise cannot fulfill his or her term of office, the Town Board shall appoint an interim member to serve the remainder of the term.
The Vice Chairperson shall ensure that minutes of all Commission meetings are suitably recorded, prepared and distributed.
To recommend designation of historic landmarks, sites and districts to the Town Board for its consideration.
To advise and recommend to the Town Board on matters of employment of staff and professional consultants as necessary to carry out the duties of the Commission.
To promulgate rules and regulations as necessary for the conduct of its business.
To adopt criteria for the identification of significant historic architectural and cultural landmarks and or for the delineation of historic districts.
To conduct surveys of significant historic, architectural and cultural landmarks within the Town.
To make recommendations to the Town Board on the acceptance or donation of facade easements and development rights, the acquisition of facade easements and development rights or other interests in real property as necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter.
To make recommendations to the Town Board concerning the utilization of state, federal or private funds to promote the preservation of landmarks and historic districts within the Town.
To recommend acquisition of a landmark or structure by the Town where its preservation is essential to the purposes of this chapter and where private preservation is not feasible.
To approve or disapprove applications for certificates of appropriateness, subject to review by the Building Commissioner pursuant to this Chapter.
The Commission shall meet at least monthly if any business is pending. Meetings may be held at any time on the written request of any two Commission members. The Commission must meet at least once quarterly.
A quorum for the transaction of business shall consist of a majority of the Commission members, but not less than a majority of the full authorized membership may grant or deny a certificate of appropriateness.
The Commission may recommend designation of an individual property as a landmark, subject to Town Board approval, if it:
Is associated with the lives of individuals or of people or of events significant in the national, state or local history.
Embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, a period or a method of construction.
Represents the work of a master architect or designer or possesses high artistic values.
Represents a significant or distinguished entity whose components may lack individual or special distinction.
The Commission may recommend designation of a property or a group of properties as an historic site, subject to Town Board approval, if it:
Contains significant historical or cultural sites where buildings or structures no longer exist, such as a battlefield, a cemetery or a former transportation facility; or sites which may yield information important to area history or prehistory.
The Commission may recommend designation of a group of properties as an historic district, subject to Town Board approval, if it:
Contains properties which meet one or more of the criteria for designation as a landmark; or
Is an area that represents several periods or styles of architecture typical of different areas of history; or
Is an area that has several buildings of the same architectural period or style and thus constitutes unified architectural streetscape consistency or a significant community uniformity of style; or
Is an area connected with significant events or cultural happenings or development its involving ethnic, religious groups or other groups of special historical interest; and
By reason of possessing such qualities, constitutes a distinct section of the Town of Amherst.
The boundaries of each proposed historic district designated henceforth shall be specified in detail and shall be filed, in writing, in the Town Clerk's office for public inspection.
Notice of a proposed designation shall be sent by the Town Clerk thirty (30) days prior to a public hearing to the owner(s) of any property(ies) proposed for historic designation. The notice shall describe the property proposed for designation, summarize the proposed action and announce the date, time and location of the public hearing. A copy of the notice of proposed designation shall also be sent to the Town Board.
Once the Historic Preservation Commission has issued a notice of a proposed designation, no building permits shall be issued by the Building Commissioner except for emergency repairs until a final determination on the proposed designation has been reached. The Historic Preservation Commission shall provide a copy of any notice of proposed designation to the Building Commissioner.
The notice of proposed designation shall also be sent to the Town of Amherst Highway Department, the Town of Amherst Engineering Department, the Town of Amherst Planning Department, the Town of Amherst Assessor's Department, the Buffalo Niagara Heritage Village and any other Town department and/or county or state agency as appropriate. Each department/agency shall be given thirty (30) days from the date of transmission to provide comments on the proposed designation to the Historic Preservation Commission.
The Commission shall hold a public hearing prior to recommending designation of any landmark, historic site or historic district. The Commission, the property owner and any interested parties may present testimony or documentary evidence at the hearing which will become part of a record regarding the historic, architectural or cultural importance of the proposed landmark or historic district. The record may also contain staff reports, public comments or other evidence offered outside of the hearing. A public hearing notice must be published by the Town Clerk in the Town's designated official newspaper at least fifteen (15) days prior to the hearing date.
The Commission will recommend to the Town Board the designation of an historic landmark, site or district. The Town Board will also conduct a public hearing prior to acting on the recommendation.
The Commission shall file notice of each property designated as a landmark and of the boundaries of each designated historic district with the Erie County Clerk's office, the Town of Amherst Clerk's office, the Town of Amherst Building Department, the Town of Amherst Planning Department, the Town of Amherst Highway Department, the Town of Amherst Engineering Department and the Town of Amherst Assessor's Department.
Minutes of any business conducted by the Historic Preservation Commission shall be placed on file in the Town of Amherst Clerk's office and will be posted to the Town's website.
No person shall carry out any exterior alteration, restoration, reconstruction, excavation, grading, demolition, new construction or moving of a designated landmark or property within an historic district, nor shall any person make any material change to such property, its light fixtures, signs, sidewalks, fences, steps, paving or other exterior elements which affect the appearance or cohesiveness of the landmark or historic district without first obtaining a certificate of appropriateness from the Historic Preservation Commission.
In passing upon an application for a certificate of appropriateness, the Historic Preservation Commission shall not consider changes to the interior of buildings.
Features which contribute to the character of the historic landmark or district shall be retained with as little alteration as possible.
Any alteration of existing features shall be compatible with its historic character as well as with the surrounding property.
The scale of proposed alteration or new construction in relation to itself, surrounding properties and the neighborhood.
Texture, materials and color and their relation to the property itself, surrounding properties and the neighborhood.
Prior to the commencement of any work requiring a certificate of appropriateness, the owner shall file an application for such certificate with the Historic Preservation Commission. The application shall contain:
Where the proposal includes signs or lettering, a scale drawing showing the type(s) of lettering to be used, all dimensions and colors, a description of materials to be used, the method of illumination and a plan showing the sign's proposed location on the property.
No building permit shall be issued for such proposed work until a certificate of appropriateness has first been issued by the Historic Preservation Commission. The Commission shall act to approve or deny a certificate of appropriateness within 65 days of the date upon which a completed application is filed with the Historic Preservation Commission. If the application is not acted upon within 65 days, the application shall be deemed approved. The applicant may request an extension of the decision deadline date if so desired. The certificate of appropriateness required by this chapter shall be in addition to and not in lieu of any building permit that may be required by any other ordinance of the Town of Amherst.
An applicant whose certificate of appropriateness for a proposed demolition has been denied may apply for relief on the grounds of hardship. In order to prove the existence of hardship, the applicant shall establish that:
The property is incapable of earning a reasonable return regardless of whether that return represents the most profitable return possible.
The property cannot be adapted for any other use permitted by Chapter 203, Zoning, which would result in a reasonable return.
An applicant whose certificate of appropriateness for a proposed alteration has been denied may apply for relief on the grounds of hardship. In order to prove the existence of hardship, the applicant shall establish that:
After receiving written notification from the Commission of the denial of a certificate of appropriateness, an applicant may commence the hardship application process.
The Commission shall hold a public hearing on the hardship application, at which time an opportunity will be provided for proponents and opponents of the application to present their views.
All decisions of the Commission shall be in writing. A copy shall be sent to the applicant by registered mail, and a copy shall be filed with both the Town Clerk's office and with the Building Department. The Commission's decision shall state the reasons for granting or denying the hardship application.
No building permit or demolition permit shall be issued while the hardship application is pending. The Commission shall make a determination on whether a hardship exists. Building and demolition permits shall be issued in accordance with that determination.
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prevent the ordinary maintenance and repair of any architectural feature of a landmark or property within an historic district which does not involve a change in design, material, color or outward appearance.
No owner or person with an interest in real property designated as a landmark or included within an historic district shall permit the property to fall into a serious state of disrepair so as to result in the deterioration of any architectural feature which would, in the judgment of the Historic Preservation Commission, produce a detrimental effect upon the character of the historic district as a whole or the life and character of the property itself. Examples of such deterioration include:
Administration. The Building Commissioner shall administer and enforce the provisions of this chapter. In connection with overseeing this responsibility, the Building Commissioner shall provide a permit procedure coordinated with the established building permit procedure.
Enforcement. All work performed pursuant to this chapter shall conform to any requirements included herein. It shall be the duty of the Building Commissioner to inspect periodically any such work to assure compliance. In the event that work is found that is not being performed in accordance with the certificate of appropriateness, the Building Commissioner shall issue a stop-work order, and all work shall immediately cease. No further work shall be undertaken on the project as long as the stop-work order is in effect.
Any person who violates any provision of this chapter or any regulation adopted hereunder is guilty of an offense punishable by a fine not exceeding $250 or imprisonment for a period not to exceed 15 days, or both. Each week's continued violation shall constitute a separate violation.
Failure to comply with any of the provisions of this chapter shall result in the termination of any permits issued or any proceedings commenced under provisions of this chapter.
Any person(s) who demolishes, alters, constructs or permits a landmark to fall into a serious state of disrepair which results in a violation of this chapter shall be required to restore the property and its site to an appearance acceptable to the Historic Preservation Commission. Any action to enforce this subsection shall be brought by the Town Attorney upon authorization by the Town Board. This civil remedy shall be in addition to and not in lieu of any criminal prosecution and penalty.
[Amended 6-20-2011 by L.L. No. 18-2011; 5-16-2018 by L.L. No. 10-2018]
Any person aggrieved by a decision of the Historic Preservation Commission relating to designation, hardship, demolition permit application (see Chapter 151, Section 56 for related regulations) or a certificate of appropriateness may, within thirty (30) days of the filing of the decision in the Town Clerk's office, file a written application with the Town Board for review of the decision. The Town Board shall schedule a public hearing on the matter without unnecessary delay. The appeal of the Commission's decision may be based only upon the record and criteria utilized by the Commission to render its decision. If new information becomes available subsequent to the Commission's decision, a new application must be submitted to the Commission. The Town Board's decision on the appeal shall be considered final.
Where this chapter imposes greater restrictions than are imposed by the provisions of any law, ordinance or regulation, the provisions of this chapter shall apply. Where greater restrictions are imposed by any law, ordinance or regulation, such greater restrictions shall apply.
No decision to carry out or approve an action subject to the provisions of this chapter shall be rendered by any department, board, commission, officer or employee of the Town of Amherst until there has been full compliance with all requirements of this chapter. This shall not prohibit environmental, engineering, economic feasibility or other studies, preliminary planning or budgetary processes, nor the granting of an application relating only to technical specifications and requirements, but not authorizing commencement of action until full compliance with this chapter has been met.
This chapter shall apply to the entire area of the Town of Amherst, excluding that area within the corporate limits of the Village of Williamsville.
If any section, clause or provision of this chapter or the application thereof to any persons is adjudged invalid, the adjudication shall not affect other sections, clauses or provisions or the application thereof which can be sustained or given effect without the invalid section, clause or provision or application, and, to this end, the various sections, clauses or provisions of this chapter are declared to be severable.