§ 28-3-4. Historic (HI) District.

(a)

Purposes of the HI District. The HI District is established for the purpose of preserving and safeguarding the heritage of the City by:

(1)

Providing for the protection of buildings, structures, sites, and areas that represent significant elements of the City's cultural, social, political, and architectural history;

(2)

Enhancing the visual character of the City by encouraging new construction to respect established architectural traditions;

(3)

Fostering public appreciation and civic pride in the City's historical resources;

(4)

Strengthening the City's economy through protection and enhancement of the attractiveness of the community to residents, tourists, and visitors;

(5)

Conserving property values within the City of Concord; and

(6)

Promoting the use of the HI District for the education, pleasure, and welfare of the citizens of Concord.

(b)

Authority for the HI District. The HI District is established in accordance with the provisions of RSA 674:46, Authority Granted.

(c)

Certificate of Approval Required in the HI District. Within the HI District, no construction or activity shall occur which will affect the exterior appearance of a building, structure, or site, and that is or will be visible from a street or limited access highway, unless a Certificate of Approval shall have been issued therefor by the Heritage Commission in accordance with the procedures specified in Section 28-9-5, Decisions by the Heritage Commission, of this ordinance. Activities which require a Certificate of Approval include the following:

(1)

The erection, construction, alteration, reconstruction, restoration, relocation, sandblasting, abrasive cleaning, siding, or demolition of a building or structure;

(2)

The erection, alteration, or removal of any exterior feature of a building or structure;

(3)

The erection, construction, alteration, reconstruction, restoration, relocation, or removal of any stone wall, fence, granite work, walkway, pavement, exterior lighting fixture, or sign; and

(4)

Any site work including excavation, grading, or paving, or the removal of any significant tree.

(d)

Activities Exempt from a Certificate of Approval in the HI District. The following activities are exempt from the requirement for the issuance of a Certificate of Approval by the Heritage Commission:

(1)

The ordinary maintenance and repair of a building or structure provided that there is no change in the design, dimensions, materials, or appearance of the architectural features of the building or structure;

(2)

The painting or repainting of a building or structure including changes in color;

(3)

The construction of accessory structures provided that no accessory structure has a gross floor area in excess of one hundred twenty (120) square feet; and

(4)

Interior alterations of a building or structure to the extent that such alterations are not visible from the exterior of the building or structure.

(e)

Notification of Other Applications in the HI District. Whenever an application or appeal to the Zoning Board of Adjustment, the Planning Board, or the Technical Review Committee directly concerns or involves a property within the HI District, notification of said application or appeal, including the date of any hearing thereon, shall be given to all owners of property in the HI District by first class mail at least ten (10) days before the date of the meeting at which the Board or Committee will consider the application or appeal. For parcels added to the HI District after the date of adoption of this ordinance, the notification for an application or appeal related to such parcel shall be limited to owners of property within the HI District that are within three hundred (300) feet of the exterior boundary of the parcel.