[HISTORY: Adopted by the County Commissioners of Kent County 11-14-2006 by Bill No. 3-2006.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Building construction — See Ch. 73.
Nuisances — See Ch. 116.
Unsafe property — See Ch. 122.
Agricultural preservation districts — See Ch. 171.
Housing standards — See Ch. 192.
A. 
The voluntary preservation of sites, structures, and districts of historical, archaeological, or architectural significance, together with their appurtenances and environmental settings, is a public purpose in the County. The Comprehensive Plan recognizes that the preservation of the County's cultural, historical and archaeological resources is essential to maintaining our sense of place. This chapter complies with and supports the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan.
B. 
It is the further purpose of this chapter to:
(1) 
Safeguard the heritage of the County by preserving sites, structures, or districts which reflect elements of the County's cultural, social, economic, political, architectural, or archaeological history;
(2) 
Stabilize and improve property values of such sites, structures, or districts;
(3) 
Foster civic beauty;
(4) 
Strengthen the economy of the County;
(5) 
Preserve and enhance quality of life;
(6) 
Promote the preservation and appreciation of the sites, structures, and districts for the education and welfare of the residents of the County;
(7) 
Develop an awareness among property owners of the value of preserving, protecting, and restoring areas of historical, archaeological, or architectural significance; and
(8) 
Enable the County to identify and officially designate sites, structures, and districts of historical, archaeological, or architectural importance to the County in order to make such sites, structures, and districts eligible for specific benefits that may be available from various local, state, or federal programs.
For the purposes of the Historic Preservation Ordinance, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them:
ALTERATION
Any exterior change that would affect the historic, archaeological, or architectural significance of a designated site or structure, any portion of which is visible or intended to be visible from a public way, including, but not limited to, construction, reconstruction, moving, or demolition.
APPURTENANCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL SETTINGS
All that space of grounds and structures thereon which surround a designated site or structure and to which it relates physically or visually. Appurtenances and environmental settings shall include, but not be limited to, walkways and driveways (whether paved or not), trees, landscaping, pastures, croplands, waterways, open space, setbacks, parks, public spaces, and rocks.
CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS
A certificate issued by the Historic Preservation Commission indicating its approval of plans for construction, alteration, reconstruction, moving, or demolition of an individually designated landmark, site, or structure or of a site or structure within a designated preservation district.
DEMOLITION BY NEGLECT
Any willful neglect in the maintenance and repair of an individually designated landmark, site, or structure, or a site or structure within a designated preservation district, that does not result from an owner's financial inability to maintain and repair such landmark, site, or structure, and which results in any of the following conditions:
A. 
The deterioration of the foundations, exterior walls, roofs, chimneys, doors, or windows, so as to create or permit a hazardous or unsafe condition to exist.
B. 
The deterioration of the foundations, exterior walls, roofs, chimneys, doors, or windows, the lack of adequate waterproofing, or the deterioration of interior features which will or could result in permanent damage, injury, or loss of or loss to foundations, exterior walls, roofs, chimneys, doors, or windows.
EXTERIOR FEATURES
The architectural style, design, and general arrangement of the exterior of an historic structure, including the nature and texture of building material, and the type and style of all windows, doors, light fixtures, signs, or similar items found on or related to the exterior of an historic structure.
LANDMARK
Any designated site or structure outside the boundaries of a preservation district that is of exceptional historic, archaeological, or architectural significance.
PRESERVATION DISTRICT
A significant concentration, linkage, or continuity of sites, structures, or objects united historically, architecturally, archaeologically, or culturally by plan or physical development. A preservation district shall include all property within its boundaries as defined and designated by the County Commissioners.
RECONSTRUCTION
The process of reproducing by new construction the exact form and detail of a vanished structure, or part thereof, as it appeared at a specific period of time.
REHABILITATION
The process of making possible a compatible use for a property through repair, alterations, and additions while preserving those portions or features which convey its historical, cultural, or architectural values.
RENOVATION
See "rehabilitation."
RESOURCE
Any building, structure, site, or object that is part of or constitutes an historic property.
RESTORATION
The process of accurately recovering the form and details of a property as it appeared at a specific period of time by means of removal of later work and the replacement of work missing from that period.
SITE
The location of an event of historic significance or a structure, whether standing or ruined, which possesses historic, architectural, archaeological, or cultural significance.
STRUCTURE
A combination of material to form a construction that is stable, including but not limited to buildings, stadiums, reviewing stands, platforms, stages, observation towers, radio towers, water tanks and towers, trestles, bridges, piers, paving, bulkheads, wharves, sheds, coal bins, shelters, fences, and display signs visible or intended to be visible from a public way. The term "structure" shall be construed as if followed by the words "or part thereof."
A. 
Historic Preservation Commission. The County hereby creates a commission to be called the "Kent County Historic Preservation Commission."
B. 
Membership. The Historic Preservation Commission shall consist of seven members appointed by the County Commissioners. At least six members of the Commission shall be residents and/or property owners of Kent County. All members shall possess a demonstrated special interest, specific knowledge, or professional or academic training in such fields as history, architecture, architectural history, planning, archaeology, anthropology, curation, conservation, landscape architecture, historic preservation, urban design, or related disciplines.
(1) 
A nonresident appointee to the Commission must possess professional or academic qualifications.
(2) 
At least two members of the Commission shall possess professional or academic training in one or more of the above-listed fields in accordance with the minimum professional requirements of the United States Department of the Interior for certifying local governments under 36 CFR Part 61. A good-faith effort to locate and appoint such professionals will be made, and documentation as to how this effort was accomplished shall be retained by the County.
(3) 
The County Commissioners may consult other private societies or agencies to request the names of possible members on the Commission. Geographic diversity within the County shall be a goal.
C. 
Commission membership qualification criteria. The requirement for Commission membership under the category of "demonstrated special interest" may be satisfied by formal training in one or more of the fields listed in Subsection B. The requirement for membership under the category of "specific knowledge" may be satisfied by formal post-secondary education, employment or practical experience in one or more of the above-listed fields. The requirement for Commission membership under the category of "professional or academic training" may be satisfied by, at a minimum, two years' experience as a professional or a Bachelor's degree in one or more of the above-listed fields.
D. 
Terms. Commission members shall be appointed for terms of three years, except that the terms of the initial appointments shall be staggered so that three members shall serve terms of three years, two members shall serve terms of two years, and two members shall serve terms of one year, so that not more than three appointments shall expire in a given year. Commission members may be reappointed.
E. 
Commission officers. The Commission shall elect, from its membership, a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson. The Chairperson and Vice Chairperson shall serve for one-year terms and shall be eligible for reelection.
F. 
Vacancy. Any vacancy in the membership of the Commission caused by the expiration of a term, resignation, death, incapacity to discharge duties, removal for cause, or any other reason shall be filled for a new term, or for the remainder of the term for which there is a vacancy, as the case may be, in the same manner as provided herein for the appointment of the initial members of the Commission. Any vacancy on the Commission shall be filled by the appointing authority within 60 days. In the case of expiration of term, a member may continue to serve until the member's successor is appointed. Unexcused absence at three consecutive meetings shall constitute resignation by the member and shall create a vacancy.
G. 
Removal for cause. A member may be removed from the Commission for cause, upon written charges, and after a public hearing, by the County Commissioners.
H. 
Compensation. The Board of County Commissioners shall determine from year to year what, if any, expenses and/or salaries shall be paid the Commission members, and what, if any, budget shall be set.
I. 
Meetings. The Commission shall hold such regular meetings and hearings as necessary to discharge its duties.
J. 
Staff. Consistent with the County's policies and procedures, employees may be assigned to the Commission, and such services and facilities shall be made available as the County deems necessary or appropriate for the proper performance of its duties.
A. 
As part of its powers and duties, the Historic Preservation Commission:
(1) 
Shall adopt rules for the organization and conduct of meetings;
(2) 
Shall act upon applications for certificates of appropriateness;
(3) 
Shall inform the citizens of the County concerning the historic and architectural heritage of the County;
(4) 
May conduct an ongoing survey to identify historically and architecturally significant sites, properties, structures and areas that exemplify the cultural, social, economic, political or architectural history of the nation, state and County;
(5) 
Shall review all petitions for designation to the Kent County Register of Historic Places and submit recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners;
(6) 
Shall keep a register of all properties, sites and structures that have been designated as landmarks or historic districts, including all information required for each designation;
(7) 
For areas which are located within a designated historic site, structure, or district, or which have preservation easements, the Commission shall review any application for a special exception, variance, site plan or subdivision, and any legislation or other proposals, including preparation and amendment of master plans, and may make recommendations thereon to the appropriate authorities;
(8) 
Shall be able to accept and use gifts and services for the exercise of its functions which are given to the Board of County Commissioners specifically for use by the Historic Preservation Commission;
(9) 
Shall recommend for adoption rehabilitation and new construction design guidelines and criteria for construction, alteration, reconstruction, repair, moving and demolition of property in designated districts or individually designated sites or landmarks which are consistent with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Treatment of Historic Properties. Guidelines may include design characteristics intended to meet the needs of particular types of sites, structures, and districts, and may identify categories of changes that do not require review by the Commission because they are minimal in nature and do not affect historic, archaeological, or architectural significance. These design guidelines shall be used in the Historic Preservation Commission's review of applications for certificates of appropriateness;
(10) 
May determine an appropriate system of markers and make recommendation for the design and implementation of specific markings of the street and routes leading from one site, landmark, or historic district to another; may confer recognition upon the owners of landmarks, sites or property or structures within historic districts by means of certificates, plaques or markers;
(11) 
May advise and assist owners of landmarks, sites, historic properties or structures within historic districts on physical and financial aspects of preservation, reconstruction, restoration, renovation, rehabilitation, and reuse, and on procedures for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places.
(12) 
May, with the written permission of the property owner(s), nominate landmarks, sites and historic districts to the National Register of Historic Places and review and comment on any National Register nomination submitted to the Commission for review;
(13) 
May consider applications for economic hardship that would allow the performance of work for which a certificate of appropriateness has been denied;
(14) 
May research sources of funding for historic preservation projects and recommend to the Board of County Commissioners the acceptance of any grant, loan or aid, in any form, from federal, state or private sources on behalf of the County;
(15) 
May, at the request of an owner or applicant, offer consultation with respect to changes to interior features; and
(16) 
Shall review and recommend for action by the Board of County Commissioners the acquisition of historic preservation easements on designated landmarks, structures, or sites and, when deemed appropriate by the Commission, sites or structures located in, or adjacent to, a designated district, consistent with the County's ordinances, resolutions, local public law, policies and procedures.
B. 
In addition, the Historic Preservation Commission shall have all the powers and authority enumerated in the Annotated Code of Maryland, Article 66B, §§ 8.01 through 8.17., as presently codified and as may be amended from time to time.
A. 
Designation. Upon the receipt of the written permission of the property owner(s), the County Commissioners of Kent County may designate boundaries for landmarks, sites, structures, or districts of historic, archaeological, or architectural significance after a public hearing thereon, consistent with adopted criteria for such designation.
B. 
Criteria for designation. In considering any property for designation to the Kent County Register of Historic Places, the reviewing agencies, boards, or commissions shall consider the following criteria:
(1) 
Historic, archaeological, and cultural significance.
(a) 
The property has significant character, interest, or value as part of the development, heritage, or cultural characteristics of the County, state, or nation;
(b) 
The property is the site of an historic event;
(c) 
The property is identified with a person or group of persons who influenced society; or
(d) 
The property exemplifies the cultural, economic, social, political, or historic heritage of the County and its communities.
(2) 
Architectural and design significance.
(a) 
The property embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction or architecture;
(b) 
The property represents the work of a master craftsman, architect, or builder;
(c) 
The property possesses significant artistic value;
(d) 
The property represents a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction;
(e) 
The property represents an established and familiar visual feature of the neighborhood, community, or County, due to its singular physical characteristics, landscape, or historical event; or
(f) 
The property is a rare example of a particular period, style, material, or construction technique.
C. 
Procedure for petitioning for designation.
(1) 
Petitions for designation or expansion shall be filed with, and on forms provided by, the Kent County Department of Planning and Zoning.
(2) 
The Planning Department shall refer the petition to the Historic Preservation Commission to determine if the property contained in the petition meets the requirements for historic designation. The Planning Department may also notify other appropriate agencies for comment.
(3) 
A petition for a proposed individual site shall be filed by, or with the written consent of the legal owner or owners of such site.
(4) 
A petition for a proposed historic district shall be filed by a legal owner or owners of properties within the district. Designation shall require the written approval of all owners of properties within the district. Noncontributing structures may be included within multiple-property districts.
(5) 
The Historic Preservation Commission, in a public meeting, shall determine if the property contained in the petition does or does not meet the requirements for historic designation as set forth in this section.
(6) 
The recommendation of the Historic Preservation Commission shall be forwarded to the Planning Commission for a recommendation. The Department of Planning and Zoning shall forward the recommendations of the Historic Preservation Commission and the Planning Commission to the Board of County Commissioners for approval or disapproval.
(7) 
Areas of special merit. If a property or district within Kent County shall be deemed by the Historic Preservation Commission to possess unusual and special historic value to the citizens of Kent County, the Historic Preservation Commission may initiate a petition for historic designation. In this instance, the petition shall first be sent to the Maryland State Historic Preservation Officer for his or her concurrence that said property has unusual and special historic value. If the Maryland State Historic Preservation Officer does concur with the Historic Preservation Commission, then the petition shall follow the procedure for designation. A petition for designation of an Area of Special Merit shall require a favorable vote of the County Commissioners and the concurrence of the property owner(s) in the proposed area of special merit to receive historic designation.
D. 
Limitations on filing of petitions. If the Board of County Commissioners declines to designate a property proposed for designation, the identical petition for designation may not be refiled within one year of the final decision by the County Commissioners. If the Board of County Commissioners declines to expand the boundary of a previously designated historic property, a petition for expansion which is identical to the rejected petition may not be refiled within one year of the final decision by the County Commissioners.
Before the construction, alteration, reconstruction, moving, or demolition is undertaken of a designated landmark, site, or structure, or site or structure within a designated district, if an exterior change is involved which would affect the historic, archaeological, or architectural significance of a designated landmark, site, or structure, or structure within a designated district, the person, individual, firm, or corporation proposing to make the construction or change shall file an application for a certificate of appropriateness with the Commission for permission to construct, alter, reconstruct, move, or demolish the landmark, site, or structure. Every application shall be referred to and considered by the Commission or, where applicable, staff, and accepted or rejected by the Commission or, where applicable, staff. An application which is identical to a rejected application may not be resubmitted within a period of one year after the rejection. No certificate of appropriateness shall be granted until the Commission or, where applicable staff, has acted thereon as hereinafter provided.
A. 
Application review.
(1) 
In reviewing applications, the Commission shall give consideration to the historic, archaeological, or architectural significance of the designated landmark, site, or structure and its relationship to the historic, archaeological, or architectural significance of the surrounding area; the relationship of the exterior architectural features of a designated landmark or structure to the remainder of the landmark or structure and to the surrounding area; the general compatibility of proposed exterior design, scale, proportion, arrangement, texture, and materials to the designated landmark, site, or structure and to the surrounding area; and any other factors, including aesthetic factors, which the Commission deems to be pertinent.
(2) 
The Commission shall consider only exterior features of a landmark or structure and shall not consider any interior arrangements.
(3) 
The Commission shall not disapprove an application except with respect to the several factors specified in Subsection A above.
(4) 
The Commission shall be strict in its judgment of plans for sites or structures determined by research to be of historic, archaeological, or architectural significance. The Commission shall be lenient in its judgment of plans for sites or structures of little historic, archaeological, or architectural significance, or of plans involving new construction, unless in the Commission's judgment such plans would seriously impair the historic, archaeological, or architectural significance of surrounding sites or structures. The Commission is not required to limit construction, reconstruction, or alteration to the architectural style of any one period.
(5) 
Plans for preserving sites and structures.
(a) 
If an application is submitted for construction, reconstruction, or alteration affecting a site or the exterior of a structure or for the moving or demolition of a structure, the preservation of which the Commission considers to be of unusual importance to Kent County or of unusual importance to the state or the nation, the Commission shall attempt to formulate an economically feasible plan with the owner(s) of the site or structure for the preservation of the site or structure. Unless the Commission is satisfied that the proposed construction, alteration, or reconstruction will not materially impair the historic, archaeological, or architectural significance of the site or structure, the Commission shall reject the application, filing a copy of its rejection with the Department of Planning and Zoning.
(b) 
If an application is submitted for construction, reconstruction, or alteration, or for the moving or demolition of a site or structure that the Commission considers to be of unusual importance and no economically feasible plan can be formulated, the Commission shall have 90 days, from the time it concludes that no economically feasible plan can be formulated, to negotiate with the owner and other parties in an effort to find a means of preserving the site or structure.
(c) 
In the case of a site or structure considered to be valuable for its historic, archaeological, or architectural significance, the Commission shall approve the proposed construction, reconstruction, alteration, moving, or demolition despite the provisions of Subsection (B)(5) of this section if:
[1] 
The site or structure is a deterrent to a major improvement program which will be of substantial benefit to the County;
[2] 
Retention of the site or structure would cause undue financial hardship to the owner; or
[3] 
Retention of the site or structure would not be in the best interests of a majority of persons in the County.
B. 
Commission decision. The Commission shall file with the Department of Planning and Zoning a certificate documenting its approval, modification, or rejection of each application and plans submitted to the Commission for review. Work shall not be commenced and no building permit shall be issued on any project until notification of approval of a certificate of appropriateness has been received by the Department of Planning and Zoning from the Commission. The failure of the Commission to act upon a completed application within 45 days from the date the completed application was filed shall be deemed to constitute automatic approval of the proposed changes unless an extension of this forty-five-day period is agreed upon mutually by the applicant and the Commission or the application has been withdrawn.
C. 
Delegation of certificate of appropriateness to staff. Staff shall be authorized to issue certificates of appropriateness for alterations to structures and environmental setting that will not significantly change the exterior features of an historic site or contributing structure within an historic district or its environmental setting and that will have no significant effect on its historical, architectural, cultural, or archaeological value. Certificates of appropriateness decisions will comply with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation, where applicable. At the staff's discretion, an application may be submitted to the Historic Preservation Commission for approval. The above category shall include, but not be limited to, such structural work items as:
(1) 
Projects that have been reviewed and approved by the Maryland Historical Trust (MHT), which, in the opinion of staff, meet the conditions for a certificate of appropriateness.
(2) 
In-kind replacement of existing features and minor repairs and/or modifications to the property that do not significantly alter its visual character. This shall include such items as:
(a) 
Repair or replacement of roof coverings where there is no change in material;
(b) 
Repair or replacement of masonry foundations where the original foundation material is retained or where new material matches the original as closely as possible; installation of metal foundation vents on side and rear only and replacement of wood access doors; installation of foundation access door that cannot easily be seen from the public right-of-way;
(c) 
Repointing and other masonry repairs when the color and composition of the mortar matches the original and any new brick or stone used in the repair work matches the original as closely as possible;
(d) 
Removal of asbestos, asphalt, or other artificial siding when the original siding is to be repaired and, where necessary, replaced in kind;
(e) 
Replacement of missing or deteriorated siding and trim and porch floors, ceilings, columns, railings, balusters, and brackets or other architectural details with new materials that are identical to the original;
(f) 
Replacement of missing architectural details, provided that at least the following conditions are met:
[1] 
At least one example of the detail to be replaced exists on the house; or
[2] 
Physical or documentary evidence exists that illustrates or describes the missing detail or details; or
[3] 
Within an historic district, the proposed replacement detail is very similar to original details found on at least one structure within the district that is comparable in terms of style, size, and age.
(g) 
Signs that do not require a sign permit.
(h) 
Additions that are not readily visible from a public right-of-way and/or easily removable, provided that the addition will not result in the loss of original fabric, impacts to archeological remains, or substantial changes to the overall character of the structure.
(i) 
Installation of gutters painted to match the house or trim, as long as no significant architectural features are removed.
(j) 
Construction of fences that are compatible with the visual character of the historic site or the historic district in terms of material, height, location and design; in-kind replacement of existing fences or minor alterations to the same that do not significantly change the original appearance or the material used.
(k) 
The construction or replacement of brick, stone, concrete, or gravel walkways, parking areas, patios, driveways, or other paved areas that are not readily visible from a public right-of-way and/or are compatible in material, location, and design with the visual character of the historic site or district; also, minor repairs to the above that do not significantly change their appearance or the material used.
(l) 
Landscaping, or the removal or modification of existing plantings, which is compatible with the visual character of the historic site or historic district in terms of type, height and location.
(m) 
Construction or replacement of storage and accessory buildings that are not visible from a public right-of-way, provided that the addition will not result in the loss of original fabric, impacts to archaeological remains, or substantial changes to the overall character of the structure.
D. 
General policies. The Commission may, if it so chooses, review all certificates of appropriateness administered by staff at the next meeting. Property owners shall retain a right of appeal to the Commission from staff sign-off. Staff shall refer an application to the Commission if any uncertainty exists as to whether the application meets the criteria for issuing a certificate of appropriateness.
E. 
Routine maintenance. Nothing in this chapter shall be taken or construed to prevent maintenance that will have no material effect on the exterior fabric or features of a designated landmark, site, structure, or district, or to prevent customary farming operations or landscaping that will have no material effect on the historic, archaeological, or architectural significance of a designated landmark, site, structure, or district.
A. 
In the event of demolition by neglect, the Commission may request the Department of Planning and Zoning to notify, in writing, the property owner of record as reflected on the tax rolls of Kent County, and the occupant or other person responsible for the maintenance of the property, of the deterioration. The notice shall specify the minimum items of repair or maintenance necessary to correct the deterioration or prevent further deterioration.
B. 
Prior to the issuance of a written notice, the Commission may request the Department of Planning and Zoning to establish a record of demolition by neglect. Such a record may include dated materials such as photographs and written reports of the condition of the property so as to record or measure the deterioration.
C. 
The notice shall provide that corrective action shall commence within the time specified by the Commission and be completed within a reasonable time thereafter. The notice shall state that the owner of record of the property, or any person of record with any right, title, or interest therein, may, within 10 days after the receipt of the notice, request a hearing on the necessity of the items and conditions contained in the notice. In the event a public hearing is requested, it shall be held by the Commission upon 30 days' written notice being mailed to all persons of record with any right, title, or interest in the property and to all citizens and organizations which the Commission determines may have an interest in the proceedings.
D. 
If, after the public hearing, the Commission determines that the corrective actions remain necessary, the Commission may request Department of Planning and Zoning corrective action to comply with the notice within 30 days of the date of the Commission's determination.
E. 
Upon failure, neglect, or refusal of the property owner or other responsible person, duly notified, to take the corrective action specified in the notice within the time required, the Commission may request that the Department of Planning and Zoning institute any of the remedies and penalties provided by law for such violations.
An applicant for a certificate of appropriateness or owner of a designated property cited for demolition by neglect may request that the Commission consider economic hardship in making its decision.
A. 
In order to meet the burden of establishing economic hardship, the applicant must present documentary evidence of the cost of maintaining or relocating the structure, the estimated cost of the demolition, the estimated cost of restoring or stabilizing the building, all other financial information on which the applicant relies to establish financial hardship, and, if the applicant relies on evidence of the lack of structural integrity of the structure, a report on the structural integrity prepared by an engineer licensed in the State of Maryland, based on the engineer's in-person observations of the interior and exterior of the structure.
(1) 
Costs that are estimated must be supported by written estimates by persons qualified to provide such estimates and in sufficient detail to permit the Commission to verify the reasonableness of the estimate.
(2) 
The Commission may find that retention of the structure would cause the applicant financial hardship if it determines that the building has been demolished by neglect or natural disaster and there is no feasible way to restore the building short of rebuilding.
B. 
The Commission may endeavor to arrange with the applicant an economically feasible plan to preserve the structure. The Commission may pursue this by asking questions of the applicant or requesting assistance from the Department of Planning and Zoning and other parties, public or private, in creating such a plan.
C. 
If, within 45 days of the initial meeting, no economically feasible plan can be agreed upon, the Commission may act on the application. In the event the Commission allows demolition due to an economic hardship, the Commission shall be permitted to make measured drawings and photographs, or on-site documentation by some other method, within a mutually agreeable period of time.
The Commission may designate the Maryland Historical Trust to make an analysis of and report recommending the preservation of sites, structures, or districts of historic, archaeological, architectural, or cultural significance within the County. The report may include proposed boundaries of sites, structures, or districts, as well as recommendations for the identification and designation of particular sites, structures, or districts to be preserved.
In the event that any party is aggrieved by a decision of the Historic Preservation Commission or the Board of County Commissioners, the party has the right of appeal to the Circuit Court in accordance with the Maryland Rules of Procedure 7-201 and following and in accordance with the provisions of Maryland Annotated Code, Article 66B.
A. 
Any person, firm, or corporation, or agent of such, who or which violates a provision of this chapter by willfully performing or allowing to be performed any construction, alteration, moving, demolition (including demolition by neglect) or repair of any structure within an historic district without first obtaining a certificate of appropriateness (as required), failing to comply with any final notice issued pursuant to this subtitle, or disobeying or disregarding a decision of the Historic Preservation Commission, may be liable for a civil monetary fine of up to $500, and each day's violation of the provision hereof shall constitute a separate offense.
B. 
In addition to other remedies and penalties:
(1) 
Any person or entity who or which demolishes a building or causes a demolition (including demolition by neglect) in violation of this chapter may be liable civilly in a sum equal to the replacement value of the building,
(2) 
Where there is any violation of this chapter, the Department of Planning and Zoning and the Historic Preservation Commission shall institute appropriate action, where applicable, to prevent, enjoin, abate or remove such violations.
C. 
The Planning Director or the Planning Director's designee is hereby authorized to enter upon any open land in Kent County for the purpose of enforcing and implementing this chapter.
The Historic Preservation Commission will review this chapter every five years to ensure that its provisions meet the current needs of Kent County. In addition, this chapter may from time to time be amended, supplemented, changed, modified, or repealed by the Board of County Commissioners. Any person or officer, department, board, commission or bureau of the County may petition for such change or amendment; however, no such change or amendment shall become effective until after a public hearing in relation thereto, at which parties in interest and citizens shall have an opportunity to be heard. At least 14 days' notice of the time and place of such hearing shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the County. The Board of County Commissioners shall, prior to any public hearing, refer all proposed changes and amendments to this chapter to the Historic Preservation Commission for report and recommendations.
If any provision of this chapter or the application thereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid for any reason, such invalidity shall not affect the other provisions or any other application of this chapter which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end, all the provisions of this chapter are hereby declared to be severable.
The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all unincorporated lands within the territorial limits of the County.