1. What is a Material Change in Appearance?
Any change that will effect either the architectural or site features of a designated protected site or any building, structure, site, object, or built landscape feature within a preservation district. Most work that requires a building permit in the city will also require a Certificate of Appropriateness.
2. What activities do not require a Certificate of Appropriateness?
Activities such as routine maintenance and repair, including but not limited to:
- Minor repair to windows, such as caulking or reglazing, replacement of broken window glass (with the same size and style of glass).
- Minor repairs to doors, siding, trim, gutters, steps, fences, and walls as along as the repairs match the existing in materials, scale, style, design, and materials.
- Selective masonry repointing and replacement, when matching historic materials in strength, type, unit size, mortar joint thickness and tooling profile, bond pattern, texture, finish and color.
- Replacement of roofing material with matching material.
- Replacement of existing mechanical equipment.
- Repairs to or repaving of driveways, walkways and patios if using the same or similar materials.
- Installation of new planting beds, pruning of trees and shrubs.
- Installation or removal of non-fixed items (that can be removed without heavy equipment) such as bird baths, planters, rain barrels, and dog houses.
3. What criteria determines approval of a Certificate of Appropriateness?
The SLPB reviews Certificate of Appropriateness applications to determine the effect of the proposed work on the historical, cultural, architectural, and/or educational significance and value of an individual Protected Site; or, in the case of a property located within a Preservation District, the effect of the proposed work on the historical, cultural, architectural, and/or educational significance of the property, the district or neighboring properties in the district. If the board determines that the proposed work will have an adverse effect on the property or district, it will deny the application. If it determines that the proposed work will have limited or no adverse effect, then it may approve the application or approve the application with conditions.
In making its determination, the board is guided by the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. In addition, the SLPB may use adopted guidelines specific to individual Protected Sites or Preservation Districts in its decisions as long as these guidelines are consistent with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.