7.80.010 Purpose. The purpose of the Historic Overlay is to encourage the preservation and rehabilitation of those buildings, structures and sites that provide the citizenry a sense of history; to safeguard the City’s heritage as embodied in such resources and to protect and enhance the City’s attractiveness for residents and visitors.

7.80.020 Applicability.

A. The Historic Overlay applies to the properties designated as Historic Areas, Sites and Structures in the Columbia City Comprehensive Plan. Permits for exterior remodeling or demolition of these properties shall not be issued until the procedures of this section have been met.  [Amended by Ordinance No. 03-589-O 9/18/03]

B. In addition to reviewing applications for exterior alterations, the Planning Commission may:

1. Investigate and report to the City Council on the use of various federal, state, local, or private funding sources and mechanisms available to promote cultural resource preservation in the city.

2. Work to assist those property owners seeking to have their properties listed on the National Register.

3. Recommend to the City Council that the City's portion of the building permit fee be waived for those remodels that emphasize the preservation of the structure.

4. Evaluate historic resources under the State Goal No. 5 process and take the appropriate steps based on the outcome of that evaluation when additional historic resource inventories become available.

7.80.030 Exterior Remodeling. Remodeling applications shall be subject to the review process to determine if the proposed work would destroy or adversely affect a significantly historic architectural feature. To make this determination, the Planning Commission shall utilize the following guidelines:

A. The removal or alteration of any historical material or distinctive architectural feature shall be avoided where structurally possible;

B. Distinctive stylistic features or examples of skilled craftsmanship shall be treated with sensitivity.

C. When deteriorating architectural features need replacement, the new material should match the material being replaced in composition, design, texture, and other visual qualities;

D. Contemporary design for alterations and additions to existing properties may be permitted when such alterations and additions do not destroy significant historical and architectural features;

E. New additions or alterations to structures shall be done in such a manner that if additions or alterations were to be removed in the future, the essential form and integrity of the structure would be unimpaired.

F. Alterations that correct structural deterioration, when such problems will cause continuing deterioration and will shorten the life of the structure, shall take precedence over the maintenance of historical and architectural assets;

G. The removal of architectural features such as cornices, brackets, shutters, railings, and doorway pediments shall be prohibited;

H. Changing the essential character of the roof shape or adding new material that differs to such an extent from the old in composition, shape, and texture that the appearance of the building is altered shall be prohibited.

I. Improving the thermal performance of existing windows and doors through adding or replacing weather stripping and adding storm windows that are compatible with the character of the building may be permitted.

7.80.040 Maintenance and Repair. Nothing in this Chapter shall be construed to prevent the ordinary maintenance or repair of any exterior architectural feature in or on any property in the Historic Overlay that does not involve a change in design, material, or external appearance thereof; nor does this section prevent the construction, alteration, demolition, or removal of any such feature when the building official certifies to the City Administrator that such action is required for the public safety due to an unsafe or dangerous condition.

7.80.050 Demolition. If a demolition permit for a structure in the historic resources zone is submitted, the city shall institute a 180-day waiting period before the demolition permit can be issued. Upon receiving a demolition request, the city shall immediately notify the State Historic Preservation Office and the County Historic Society and place a public notice in the local newspaper describing the proposed demolition. During this time the city and any interested civic group will investigate possible methods to purchase and save the structure or site. If an appropriate plan is developed, the demolition permit shall not be issued until the plan has been carried out; in no case shall a demolition permit be withheld for more than one year. If no plan to save the structure or site is developed within 180 days, the demolition permit shall be issued.

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