§ 8-201. Definitions.

The following words, terms, and phrases, when used in this article shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Alteration means work that changes the detail of a resource but does not change its basic size or shape.

Certificate of appropriateness means the written approval of a permit application for work that is appropriate and that does not adversely affect a resource.

Commission means the city historic district commission created by the city pursuant to PA 169 of 1970 as amended.

Committee means a historic district study committee appointed by the city council.

Demolition means the razing or destruction, whether entirely or in part, of a resource and includes, but is not limited to, demolition by neglect.

Demolition by neglect means neglect in maintaining, repairing, or securing a resource that results in deterioration of an exterior feature of the resource or the loss of structural integrity of the resource.

Denial means the written rejection of a permit application for work that is inappropriate and that adversely affects a resource.

Department means the department of history, arts and libraries.

Fire alarm system means a system designed to detect and annunciate the presence of fire or byproducts of fire. Fire alarm system includes smoke alarms.

Historic district means an area, or group of areas not necessarily having contiguous boundaries, that contains one (1) resource or a group of resources that are related by history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, or culture.

Historic preservation means the identification, evaluation, establishment, and protection of resources significant in history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, or culture.

Historic resource means a publicly or privately owned building, structure, site, object, feature, or open space that is significant in the history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, or culture of the city, county, state or the United States.

Notice to proceed means the written permission to issue a permit for work that is inappropriate and that adversely affects a resource, pursuant to a finding under Section 399.205(6) of Public Act 169 of 1970, as amended.

Open space means undeveloped land, a naturally landscaped area, or a formal or manmade landscaped area that provides a connective link or a buffer between other resources.

Ordinary maintenance means keeping a resource unimpaired and in good condition through ongoing minor intervention, undertaken from time to time, in its exterior condition. Ordinary maintenance does not change the external appearance of the resource except through the elimination of the usual and expected effects of weathering. Ordinary maintenance does not constitute work for the purposes of this article.

Proposed historic district means an area, or group of areas not necessarily having contiguous boundaries, that has delineated boundaries and that is under review by a committee or a standing committee for the purpose of making a recommendation as to whether it should be established as a historic district or added to an established historic district.

Repair means to restore a decayed or damaged resource to a good or sound condition by any process. A repair that changes the external appearance of a resource constitutes work for purposes of this act.

Resource means one (1) or more publicly or privately owned historic or non-historic buildings, structures, sites, objects, features, or open spaces located within a historic district.

Smoke alarm means a single-station or multiple-station alarm responsive to smoke and not connected to a system. As used in this subdivision, a "single-station alarm" means an assembly incorporation a detector, the control equipment, and the alarm sounding device into a single unit, operated from a power supply either in the unit or obtained at the point of installation. "Multiple-station alarm" means two (2) or more single-station alarms that are capable of interconnection such that actuation of one (1) alarm causes all integrated separate audible alarms to operate.

Work means construction, addition, alteration, repair, moving, excavation, or demolition. The definition of work specifically excludes painting and ordinary maintenance.

(Ord. No. 598, § 1, 9-5-00; Ord. No. 717, § 2, 8-2-10)