[Adopted 3-1-2011 by L.L. No. 1-2011]
A.
In the Town of Bedford, certain buildings have been designated by statute as historic structures by reason of age, character or role in significant historic events. In accordance with Article I, §§ 71-1 and 71-2; Article II, §§ 71-8 and 71-9; and Article III, §§ 71-19 and 71-20 of the Town Code of the Town of Bedford the following article is hereby adopted.
B.
A property owner of a designated historic structure, by virtue of
its being located within the Bedford Village Historic District or
the Katonah Historic District or being a historic building that is
at least 200 square feet and was either built before 1900 or is registered
on the list of National Register of Historic Places, or was constructed
after 1900 but is listed on the Survey of Historic Buildings prepared
by the Town, who allows such structure, through neglect, to deteriorate
into a state of disrepair that could result in the destruction of
such building or its historic architectural features or will, in the
judgment of the Historic Board or Commission having jurisdiction over
that structure, have a detrimental effect upon the historic character
of the building, property or Town as a whole, shall be in violation
of this article.
C.
Such neglect includes, but is not limited to:
(1)
Allowing deterioration of the integrity of any structural supports.
(2)
Allowing deterioration of weather-tight integrity of roofs and exterior
walls.
(3)
Allowing deterioration of weather-tight integrity of exterior openings.
(4)
Allowing deterioration of structural integrity of exterior chimneys.
(5)
Allowing the deterioration of any feature so as to create a hazardous
condition.
(6)
Allowing the infestation of animals or bug life.
The Building Inspector, upon his/her own observation or upon
the request of the Historic Building Preservation Commission, Bedford
Village Historic District Review Commission, or Katonah Historic District
Advisory Commission, shall issue a notice of violation consistent
with this article requiring immediate remediation, maintenance and/or
repair of the designated historic structure. Failure to cure the violation(s)
set forth in the notice of violation within 30 days of the notice
of violation being issued shall be a violation of this article and
cause the Building Inspector to issue a summons setting forth the
violation(s).
Any person found guilty of violating this article shall be guilty
of a violation and subject to a fine of $250 per day until the violation
is remedied in accordance with the notice of violation or, in the
alternative, a term of imprisonment not to exceed 15 days. Nothing
herein shall prevent the Town of Bedford from commencing an action
in Westchester County Supreme Court seeking injunctive relief in order
to cure a violation of this article.
