All properties located within the Historic District boundaries must receive approval for many building alterations
before the work begins.
Suggested Procedure:
If you are planning on doing building alteration(s) that are listed as regulated HARB activities, you should:
- Obtain an "Application for Historic Architectural Review" from the zoning officer.
- Return your application to the zoning officer. Your application will be reviewed by HARB at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
- Once HARB reviews and make recommendations on your building alteration(s), the HARB recommendation is forwarded to Danville Borough Council.
Regulated HARB Activities:
Structural Changes
The Historic & Architectural Review Board (HARB) reviews requests for the following structural changes to all buildings within the Historic District:
- Changes to roof lines
- Changes in size, style, shape or number of doors, windows or other openings.
- Demolition of porches or appurtenant historic elements.
- Structural enlargement or demolition of principle or secondary buildings, or parts thereof.
- All new building construction in the Historic District
Non-Structural Changes
The Historic & Architectural Review Board (HARB) reviews requests for the following non-structural changes to all buildings within the Historic District:
- Changes in exterior surfaces materials
- Cleaning of masonry
The HARB reviews all applications for the above changes to all buildings within the Historic District and forwards their recommendations to Danville Borough Council. A property owner of building(s) within the Historic District cannot begin renovations until HARB reviews the proposed building alteration(s) and make a recommendation to Danville Borough Council. The Borough Council will then make a final decision based on information obtained from HARB. Danville Borough Council must then issue a "Certificate of Appropriateness" for the building alteration(s).
HARB Review Criteria
In determining the recommendation to be presented to the Borough Council concerning the issuing of a Certificate of Appropriateness, the Review Board (HARB) shall consider the following:
- The effect of the proposed change upon the general historic and architectural nature of the district.
- The building or structure should posses a high degree of integrity and quality with a minimum of non-architectural significant intrusions.
- The building or structure should a sense of cohesiveness through characteristics of architectural style, such as height, proportion, scale, rhythm and detail.
- The building or structure should possess a special character or special historic and aesthetic atmosphere which distinguishes it from the surrounding area.
- The building or structure should be readily definable by either manmade or natural boundaries with a major focal point or points within it
- The building or structure should be significant in the historical or cultural life of the borough, the commonwealth or nation.
- The Borough need not represent a particular architectural style and many in fact contain a wide variety of styles, provided that they are in harmonious relationship.