Historical Commission

Overview

Powers and Duties

 § 139-163. Powers and duties of the Historical Commission as identified in the Willistown Township Code under Chapter 139 Article XXIX, Historic Preservation, are as follows: Functions and duties. In accordance with the purposes of this article, the Commission shall have the following functions and duties: (1) Maintain a system for the survey, inventory and photographic documentation of historic buildings, sites, structures, objects and districts in Willistown. (2) Conduct research on and nominate significant resources to the National Register of Historic Places and any other appropriate lists or programs, including the Act 167 District process administered by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Bureau for Historic Preservation, in Harrisburg. (3) Advise the Zoning Officer and Board of Supervisors on the issuance of demolition permits for historic resources, as set forth in § 139-164. (4) Review and comment on subdivision or land development applications that affect historic resources, in accordance with the requirements and procedures of the Willistown Code of Ordinances, including the Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 139), the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance (Chapter 123) and the Environmental Protection Ordinance (Chapter 73). (5) Make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors concerning revisions, updates or corrections to the Historic Resources Inventory. (6) Maintain an updated list that clearly identifies buildings, sites, structures, objects and districts and their respective classifications on the Historic Resources Inventory. (7) Advise the Board of Supervisors or Zoning Hearing Board on all requests for conditional uses, special exceptions, or variances affecting historic resources. (8) Function as an Historical Architectural Review Board (HARB) Subcommittee for historic districts in Willistown, which may be certified by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission in accordance with Pennsylvania Act 167. (9) Review of applications for the rehabilitation, enlargement or alteration of historic resources for compliance with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation and Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings as required herein. [Amended 12-17-2001 by Ord. No. 6-2001] (10) Photographically document ongoing changes to the physical landscape throughout the Township.Perform any other lawful activities which shall be deemed necessary to further the purpose of this article.

Establishment and Membership

Establishment and membership. There shall be an historical commission which shall consist of seven members (and up to nine members) who shall be appointed by the Board of Supervisors. The membership of the Commission shall include individuals who have an interest in history, archeology or historic preservation and should include a Pennsylvania-registered architect, a licensed realtor and an individual with professional expertise or training in historic preservation and architecture. A majority of members must be Township residents and, with the exception of those with professional expertise, membership preference shall be given to Township residents. Each Commission member shall serve for a term of five years, which shall be so fixed that no more than two terms shall expire each year. The Commission shall notify the Board of Supervisors of any vacancies in the Commission, and the Board shall act within 90 days to fill those vacancies. Appointments to fill vacancies for unexpired terms shall be only for the unexpired portion of the term. Members shall serve without pay, but shall be reimbursed for any personal expenditures in the conduct of Commission business when authorized by the Board of Supervisors.