[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Franklin 12-29-1997
by Ord. No. 97-17. Amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
A district, area, object, structure, site and/or building significant
in Franklin Township, County, state and/or national history, architecture,
engineering, archeology or culture.
A.
There is hereby established an Historic Preservation
Commission to be appointed by the Mayor of the Township of Franklin. The Commission
shall consist of five regular members, and one alternate member who shall
serve without compensation and who shall be interested in and qualified to
contribute to the preservation of historic buildings, sites, objects and structures.
[Amended 11-26-2001 by Ord. No. 2001-12]
B.
At least one member shall be designated in Class A and
Class B. Alternate members shall meet the qualifications of Class C members.
At the time of appointment, alternate members shall be designated as Alternate
1 and Alternate 2. Of the regular members, at least one less than a majority
shall be of Classes A and B.
C.
The terms of the members first appointed under this act
shall be so determined that to the greatest practicable extent the expiration
of the terms shall be distributed in the case of regular members, evenly over
the first four years after their appointment and, in the case of alternate
members, evenly over the first two years after their appointment, provided
that the initial term of no regular member shall exceed four years and that
the initial term of no alternate member shall exceed two years. Thereafter,
the term of a regular member shall be four years, and the term of an alternate
member shall be two years. A vacancy occurring otherwise than by expiration
of term shall be filled for the unexpired term only. Notwithstanding any other
provision herein, the term of any member common to the Historic Preservation
Commission and the Planning Board shall be for the term of membership on the
Planning Board; and the term of any member common to the Historic Preservation
Commission and the Board of Adjustment shall be for the term of membership
on the Board of Adjustment.
D.
The Historic Preservation Commission shall elect a Chairman
and Vice Chairman from its members and select a Secretary, who may or may
not be a member of the Historic Preservation Commission or a municipal employee.
E.
No member of the Historic Preservation Commission shall
be permitted to act on any matter in which he or she has, either directly
or indirectly, any personal or financial interest.
F.
A member of the Historic Preservation Commission may,
after public hearing if he or she so requests, be removed by the governing
body for cause.
The governing body shall make provision in its budget, if sufficient
funds are available, for the expenses of the Historic Preservation Commission.
Expenditures by the Historic Preservation Commission shall not exceed, exclusive
of gifts or grants, the amount appropriated by the governing body for the
commission's use.
The Historic Preservation Commission may undertake the following;
A.
The preparation of a survey of historic sites of the
Township.
B.
Make recommendations to the Planning Board on the Historic
Preservation Plan Element of the Master Plan and on the implications for preservation
of historic sites of any Master Plan elements.
C.
Advise the Planning Board on the inclusion of historic
sites in the recommended capital improvement program.
D.
Advise the Planning Board and Board of Adjustment on applications for development pursuant to § 21-5 of this chapter.
E.
Carry out such other advisory, educational and informational
functions as will promote historic preservation in the Township.
If historic zoning districts or historic sites are designated on the
Zoning or Official Map of the Township of Franklin or identified in any component
element of the Master Plan, then the Planning Board and Board of Adjustment
shall refer applications which relate to the development in such districts
or to such sites to the Historic Preservation Commission for review and comment.
Referral shall be made when the application for development is deemed complete
or is scheduled for a hearing, whichever is sooner. Failure to refer the application
as set forth herein shall not invalidate any hearing or proceeding. The Historic
Preservation Commission may provide its advice, which shall be conveyed through
one of its members or staff who shall testify at the hearing on the application
and shall also explain any written reports which might be prepared by the
Historic Preservation Commission.
