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Historic
Architectural Review Board (HARB)
The New
Hope Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB) and Borough Council
must approve
(by issuance of a Certificate of Appropriateness)
all changes and modifications to the exteriors of buildings and
structures that are visible from a public street or way in the
Borough’s Historic District.
A property owner may submit an application to HARB for review
of a Concept Plan, or may submit detailed construction plans and
drawings along with separate zoning and building permit applications
for review by the Zoning Officer and Code Official. If these officials
determine that a Certificate of Appropriateness is required, they
will direct the property owner to submit an application to HARB.
HARB HISTORY
AND FUNCTION
In 1961 the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania approved The Historic District Act to provide
municipalities with a tool to protect “…those
historical areas within our great Commonwealth, which have a distinctive
character recalling the rich architectural and historic heritage
of Pennsylvania.” The Act authorized the establishment of
local Historic Districts and Historic Architectural Review Boards.
Historic Districts within the Borough and the New Hope Borough
Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB) were established in
1987 by Ordinance 183-A1. This ordinance demonstrated the commitment
of the citizens of New Hope to preserve and protect buildings of
architectural and historic significance and the cultural heritage
of the community.
The New Hope Borough Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB)
consists of nine (9) members appointed by Borough Council to serve
three-year overlapping terms. HARB provides counsel and recommendations
to Borough Council on the advisability of issuing Certificates
of Appropriateness, which are required in order to erect, reconstruct,
alter, restore, demolish or raze any building or structure within
a Historic District.
In considering whether or not to issue a Certificate of Appropriateness,
HARB and Council consider the general design, arrangement, texture,
material, and color of the building or structures and the relation
of such factors to similar features of buildings and structures
in the Historic District. The issuance of a Certificate of Appropriateness
demonstrates that the property owner, HARB and Council have agreed
that a proposed change to the exterior of a building will be consistent
with, and preserve the general historic and architectural features
of the Historic District.
The jurisdiction of HARB and Council is limited to exterior architectural
features of buildings and structures (including fences, signs,
retaining walls, etc.) that can be seen from a public street or
way. Modifications to the interior of a structure are exempt from
HARB requirements, although construction permits may be required
before such work can proceed.
APPLYING FOR A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS
Before a zoning or building
permit can be issued for exterior work within the New Hope Borough
Historic District, a “Certificate
of Appropriateness” is required.
The following activities within the Historic District require
a Certificate of Appropriateness reviewed by HARB and approved
by Borough Council.
- Demolition
of a building or structure.
- Relocation
of a building or structure.
- Construction
or re-construction that would involve additions, replacement,
rehabilitation,
restoration, or any other
change, including painting, to the exterior facade of
a building or structure.
- Changes
or additions to existing signage or exterior lighting.
- Changes
or additions to existing fencing or other architectural landscaping
features.
- Changes
or additions to buildings or structures within the Historic
District, but
not of historic significance, must be reviewed
by HARB. Work on these buildings, including modifications,
improvements, or additions, must be consistent with the building's existing
architectural style and compatible with other structures within
the Historic District.
TYPES
OF PLAN REVIEWS
Concept Review, Administrative Review, Formal Review
HARB
Concept Review – An
applicant may request comments from the Historic Architectural
Review Board at any time in the
planning process for a proposed project. The purpose of the Concept
Review is to allow HARB members to provide informal comments and
opinions on the historical appropriateness of a proposed project
without issuing a formal recommendation to Borough Council for
a Certificate of Appropriateness.
Applicants
requesting a Concept Review must submit an application to be
heard at an upcoming HARB
public meeting by contacting Borough Hall no later than ten (10)
days before the HARB meeting date. An applicant should provide
all information required by HARB. Adequate information provided
well in advance of a scheduled meeting will promote discussion
and encourage helpful comments on the application.
Administrative
Review – An applicant for zoning and construction
permits must provide the Zoning Officer and the Code Official with
complete applications, satisfying all submittal criteria developed
by HARB and all information necessary for zoning and construction
permit reviews. The Zoning Officer and Code Official will determine
the completeness of the application and advise applicants of any
required supplemental information.
These officials
will then determine if the application is appropriate for an
Administrative Review.
The Code Official and Zoning Officer will evaluate the application
using the HARB design standards found in Ordinance No. 2004-08
and Appendix “A,” a set of Predetermined Standards
established by HARB and approved by Borough Council for satisfying
the requirements of the New Hope Borough Historic District Ordinance.
If the Zoning Officer and Code Official determine that the application
satisfies HARB’s Predetermined Standards, as well as the
requirements of the Zoning Ordinance and the construction codes,
the Borough will issue the zoning and construction permits necessary
to commence work.
If the Zoning
Officer and Code Official determine that the application fails
to comply with HARB’s Predetermined
Standards, the Borough will promptly notify the applicant in writing
of the decision, and the applicant will be given an opportunity
to revise and resubmit the application or to request a formal meeting
with, and review by HARB.
HARB
Formal Review – In cases where a proposed change to
the exterior of a building or structure does not comply with HARB’s
Predetermined Standards, the applicant must first submit zoning
and construction permit applications to the Zoning Officer and
Code Official, who will determine compliance of the application
with the standards of the Zoning Ordinance and construction codes.
If the Zoning
Officer and Code Official determine that the application complies
with the applicable ordinances and codes, the applicant
will be directed to apply for and obtain a Certificate of Appropriateness
prior to the start of construction and will be directed to attend
the next regularly scheduled HARB meeting, provided that the
HARB application is submitted a minimum of ten (10) days prior
to the
meeting date. The applicant must receive a Certificate of Appropriateness
from Borough Council before issuance of zoning or construction
permits.
PROCEDURE FOR OBTAINING A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS
First, determine if your property is located in a Borough Historic
District. You may examine a Historic District map at Borough Hall, or
you may obtain this information by calling Ms. JoAnn Connell at
Borough Hall at 215-862-3347, or you may click here for a downloadable copy of the Historic District map.
Second, you may obtain
an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness at Borough
Hall, located at 41 North Main Street, or on-line at
this web site under Applications
and Forms . There
is no application or review fee, although applicants may be charged
an amount not to exceed $10.00 for property photographs taken by
the Borough staff.
Third, submit your application to Borough Hall. Applicants are
required to submit fourteen (14) copies of the completed application
form, along with all necessary support documents, plans, and specifications.
Completed applications must be submitted a minimum of ten (10)
days prior to the monthly HARB meeting. It is recommended that
applicants submit the required zoning and construction code permit
applications a minimum of twenty (20) days prior to the HARB monthly
meeting date to allow the Zoning Officer and Code Official sufficient time to determine compliance with the applicable ordinances and
codes. HARB meets at Borough Hall on the first Tuesday of each
month at 7:30 P.M. Borough Hall is located at 41 North Main Street
in New Hope.
After review and acceptance
of an application by HARB, the application and HARB’s recommendations
will be forwarded to the New Hope Borough Council for consideration
of issuance of a Certificate
of Appropriateness.
Applicants are encouraged to attend both HARB and Council meetings
to answer questions and to avoid delays.Written decisions are mailed to all applicants. The process of
obtaining zoning and construction permits continues after Council
issues a Certificate of Appropriateness.
REMINDERS
All plans must be submitted to the Zoning Officer and Code Official
to determine compliance with the Zoning Ordinance and the Pennsylvania
Uniform Construction Code prior to applying for a Certificate of
Appropriateness.
Applications for zoning and construction permits, along with applicable
fees, are required prior to submission of an application to HARB.
For questions regarding procedures and other requirements, please
contact the Zoning Officer at 215-862-3347.
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