[Adopted 8-25-1992 by L.L. No. 5-1992 (Ch. 15 of the 1969 Code)]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Art. I, Recreation Commission, adopted 11-6-1969 as Ch. 21 of the 1969 Code, as amended, was repealed 11-24-2009 by L.L. No. 5-2009. This local law also redesignated former Art. II, Historic Preservation Commission, and former Art. III, Agricultural Advisory Committee, as Arts. I and II, respectively.
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 on its past and inasmuch as the Town of Farmington has many significant historic, architectural and cultural resources which constitute its heritage, this article is intended to:
A. 
Protect and enhance the landmarks and historic districts which represent distinctive elements of the Town of Farmington's historic, architectural and cultural heritage.
B. 
Foster civic pride in the accomplishments of the past.
C. 
Protect and enhance the Town of Farmington's attractiveness to visitors and the support and stimulus to the economy thereby provided.
D. 
Ensure the harmonious, orderly and efficient growth and development of the Town.
E. 
Protect and improve property values.
F. 
Promote rural preservation by fostering and encouraging restoration and rehabilitation of historic structures, buildings, objects and sites, as well as historic rural settings, open spaces and agricultural patterns.
G. 
Coordinate preservation policy with land use control policy as part of a comprehensive plan for the future of the Town of Farmington.
H. 
Promote and preserve the historic rural nature and characteristics of structures, buildings, objects, sites, properties, open spaces and agricultural properties.
Section 96-a of the General Municipal Law of the State of New York entitled, "Protection of historic places, buildings and works of art," grants local governments the authority to adopt regulations and set special conditions and restrictions to protect, enhance, perpetuate and regulate the use of places, districts, sites, buildings, structures, works of art and other objects having special character or special historical or aesthetic interest or value. Pursuant to this authority, the Town Board of the Town of Farmington has prepared and adopted this article setting forth standards to be followed in historic preservation.
There is hereby created a commission to be known as the "Town of Farmington Historic Preservation Commission."
A. 
The Commission shall consist of five members to be appointed by the Town Board. All members will have a known interest in historic preservation within the Town of Farmington and be residents of the Town of Farmington. To the extent possible in the community, members will either:
(1) 
Demonstrate expertise or experience in at least one of the following areas:
(a) 
American or local history;
(b) 
Architecture or historic preservation; or
(c) 
Real estate, planning, zoning or other relevant areas; or
(2) 
Have demonstrated interest in and commitment to the field of historic preservation evidenced either by involvement in a local historic preservation group, employment or volunteer activity in the field of historic preservation or other serious interest in the field, provided that at all times the membership of the Commission shall be such as to include at least one person with such a demonstrated interest and commitment as set forth herein.
B. 
Commission members shall serve for terms of three years, with the exception of the initial terms of two of the members which shall be one year, two which shall be two years and one which shall be three years.
C. 
The Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Commission shall be designated by the Town Board. The Town Board shall also appoint a Secretary to the Commission, a nonmember, who shall keep and maintain minutes of meetings and perform such other duties as the Commission may require.
D. 
The powers of the Commission shall include:
(1) 
Employment of staff and professional consultants as necessary to carry out the duties of the Commission.
(2) 
Promulgation of rules and regulations as necessary for the conduct of its business.
(3) 
Adoption of criteria for the identification of significant historic, architectural and cultural parks and for the delineation of historic districts.
(4) 
Conduct of surveys of significant historic, architectural and cultural landmarks and historic districts within the Town.
(5) 
Designation of identified structures or resources as landmarks and historic districts.
(6) 
Increasing public awareness of the value of historic, cultural and architectural preservation by developing and participating in public education programs.
(7) 
Making recommendations to the Town government concerning the utilization of state, federal or private funds to promote the preservation of landmarks and historic districts within the Town.
(8) 
Keeping and maintaining a register of all properties and structures that have been designated as landmarks or historic districts, including all information required for each designation. This register will be kept in the office of the Town Clerk.
(9) 
Conferring recognition upon the owners of landmarks, properties or structures within historic districts by means of certificates, plaques or markers.
E. 
The Commission shall meet at least monthly, but meetings may be held at any time on the written request of any two of the Commission members or on the call of the Chairman or the Supervisor.
F. 
A quorum for the transaction of business shall consist of three of the Commission's members, but not fewer than three votes of the full membership may grant or deny a certificate of appropriateness.
G. 
The Commission shall submit an annual budget request to the Town Board.
A. 
The Commission may register an individual property or any part thereof as a landmark if it:
(1) 
Possesses special character or historic or aesthetic interest or value as part of the cultural, political, economic or social history of the locality, region, state or nation;
(2) 
Is identified with historic personages;
(3) 
Embodies the distinguishing characteristics of an architectural style;
(4) 
Is the work of a designer whose work has significantly influenced an age; or
(5) 
Because of a unique location or singular physical characteristic, represents an established and familiar visual feature of the neighborhood.
B. 
The Commission may register a group of properties as an historic district if it:
(1) 
Contains properties which meet one or more of the criteria for designation of a landmark; and
(2) 
By reason of possessing such qualities, constitutes a distinct section of the Town.
C. 
The boundaries of each historic district registered henceforth shall be specified in detail and shall he filed, in writing, in the Town Clerk's office for public inspection.
This article shall apply to the entire area of the Town of Farmington.
The Town Board may from time to time amend, supplement, change, modify or repeal this article pursuant to the provisions of the Town Law and the General Municipal Law applicable thereto.