[Ord. 579, 10/6/2004; as added by Ord. 656, 4/9/2015]
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Historic
District Ordinance."
[Ord. 579, 10/6/2004; as amended by Ord. 656, 4/9/2015]
Pursuant to authority contained in the Pennsylvania Historic
District Act, 53 P.S. § 8001 et seq., as amended, this chapter
is hereby established for the creation and regulation of historic
districts within the Township.
[Ord. 579, 10/6/2004]
The historic districts established pursuant to this chapter
are created for the following purposes:
A.Â
As stated in Article I, § 27, of the Pennsylvania Constitution:
"The people have the right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation
of the natural, scenic, historic and aesthetic values of the environment.
Pennsylvania's public natural resources are the common property
of all the people, including generations yet to come. As trustees
of these resources, the Commonwealth shall conserve and maintain them
for the benefit of all the people."
B.Â
The purpose and intent of this chapter is to promote, protect, enhance,
perpetuate, and preserve historic districts for the educational, cultural,
economic and general welfare of the public through the preservation,
protection and regulation of buildings, structures, and areas of historic
interest or importance within the Township; to safeguard the heritage
of the Township by preserving and regulating historic districts which
reflect elements of its cultural, social, economic, political, and
architectural history; to preserve and enhance the environmental quality
of neighborhoods, to strengthen the Township's economic base
by the stimulation of the tourist industry; to establish and improve
property values; to foster economic development, to foster civic pride
in the beauty and accomplishments of the Township past; and to preserve
and protect the cultural, historical and architectural assets of the
Township for which the Township has been determined to be of local,
state or national, historical and/or architectural significance.
[Ord. 579, 10/6/2004; as amended by Ord. 656, 4/9/2015]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated, unless a different meaning clearly appears from
the context:
Any act or process requiring a building permit under the Construction Code [Chapter 5, Part 1] and any other act or process not requiring a building permit but specifically listed in this chapter as a reviewable action including, without limitation, the repair, replacement, reconstruction, demolition or relocation of any structure or object, or any part of a structure which is visible from the public way.
Any structure used or intended for supporting or sheltering
any use or occupancy (human or animal), including manufactured homes.
An approval statement signed by the Code Official authorizing
the construction, alteration, reconstruction, repair, restoration,
demolition or razing of all or part of any building or structure within
a historic district.
The request for a building permit filled by any person with
the Code Official that seeks authorization to erect, alter, reconstruct,
repair, restore, demolish, or raze all or a part of any building or
structure within a historic district that requires a certificate of
appropriateness.
The approval statement issued by the Board of Supervisors
which certifies to the historical appropriateness of a particular
request for the erection, addition, reconstruction, demolition or
razing of all or a part of any building or structure within a historic
district and authorizes the issuance of a building permit for said
request.
An administratively complete permit or certificate of appropriateness
application filed with the Township which conforms to the relevant
submittal criteria under this chapter; including the payment of the
requisite filing fee.
The dismantling or tearing down of all or part of any building
and all operations incidental thereto, including neglecting routine
maintenance and repairs, which can lead to deterioration and decay.
The absence of routine maintenance and repair which can lead
to a building's or structure's structural weakness, decay
and deterioration resulting in its demolition.
The result of construction such as a building, structure,
monument, sign or object on the ground or on a structure or building.
A historic district within the Township established by this chapter and specifically delineated by § 11-105 hereof.
The Pennsylvania Historic District Act, 53 P.S. § 8001
et seq., as amended.
The Township agency that advises the Board of Supervisors
on any request (including, but not limited to, a building permit application
or request for certificate of appropriateness) for authorization to
erect, alter, reconstruct, repair, restore or demolish all or part
of any building within a historic district.
The act or process of reproducing by new construction the
exact form and detail of a building, structure, or object, or a part
thereof, as it appeared at a specific period of time but not necessarily
of original material.
Any display, structure or device used to attract attention
by work and/or graphic display.
Anything constructed or erected, where the use of which requires
a fixed location on the ground or an attachment to something having
a fixed location on the ground, including, but not limited to, buildings,
storage sheds, carports, garages, porches, freestanding signs and
free standing walls.
[Ord. 579, 10/6/2004; as amended by Ord. 656, 4/9/2015]
1.Â
Mooncrest Heritage Conservation District. The Mooncrest Heritage
Conservation District, as described on the map attached hereto and
incorporated herein as Exhibit 11-A, is hereby created and established
as a historic district pursuant to the Historic District Act and this
chapter.
2.Â
(Reserved)
