§ 21.56.020. Definitions.

For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them:

"Alteration" shall mean any exterior changes that would affect the historic, cultural or architectural significance of a designated site or structure, any portion of which is visible or intended to be visible from a public way including, but not limited to, construction, reconstruction, moving or demolition.

"Appurtenances and environmental settings" shall mean all that space of grounds and structures thereon which surrounds a designated site or structure and to which it related physically and/or visually. Appurtenances and environmental settings shall include, but not be limited to, walkways and driveways (whether paved or not), trees, landscape elements, waterways, open space, setbacks, parks, public spaces, and rocks.

"Certificate of approval" shall mean a certificate issued by the Historic Preservation Commission indicating its approval of plans for construction, alteration, reconstruction, rehabilitation, restoration, moving, or demolition of an individually designated landmark, site, or structure or of a site or structure within a designated historic district.

"Cultural" shall mean that which relates to the artistic, historic, intellectual, educational, archaeological, or architectural aspects of the City of Annapolis.

"Demolition" shall mean any act which destroys, in whole or in part, an individually designated landmark, site, or structure, or a site or structure within a designated historic district not including appurtenances and environmental settings.

"Demolition by neglect" shall mean any neglect of a designated landmark, site, or structure, or a site or structure within a designated historic district, not including any appurtenances and environmental settings, which results in deterioration of foundations, exterior walls, roofs, chimneys, doors, windows, or any other physical element regulated under Chapter 21.56 and which creates or permits to exist a hazardous or unsafe condition, or which will or could result in substantial or permanent damage, injury, or loss of or loss to foundations, exterior walls, roofs, chimneys, doors or windows, or any other physical element regulated under Chapter 21.56. A determination of demolition by neglect shall not depend on or otherwise take into consideration an owner's financial ability or inability to maintain or repair such landmark, site, or structure.

"Historic district" shall mean a significant concentration, linkage, or continuity of sites or structures united historically, architecturally, archaeologically, or culturally, by plan or physical development. An historic district shall include all property within its boundaries as defined and designated by the City Council.

"Exterior features" shall mean the architectural style, design, and general arrangement of the exterior of an historic structure, including the nature and texture of building material, and the type and style of all windows, doors, light fixtures, signs or similar items found on or related to the exterior of an historic structure.

"Landmark" shall mean any site or structure, designated by the City Council, that is of exceptional historic, cultural, archaeological, or architectural significance.

"Maintenance" shall mean work that does not alter the exterior fabric or features of a landmark, site or structure and has no material effect on the historical, archaeological, or architectural or cultural significance of the historical landmark, site or structure.

"New construction" shall mean construction which is characterized by the introduction of new elements, sites, buildings, or structures or additions to existing buildings and structures in historic districts.

"Preservation" shall mean actions taken to prevent or keep a structure from decay or degradation.

"Reconstruction" shall mean the process of reproducing, by new construction, the exact form and detail of a vanished structure, or part thereof, as it appeared at a specific period of time.

"Rehabilitation" shall mean the act or process of returning a property or building to usable condition through repair, alteration, and/or preservation of its features which are significant to its historical, architectural, and cultural values.

"Repair" shall mean the process of rehabilitation which warrants additional work beyond simple maintenance, repair, includes patching, piecing in, splicing, consolidating or otherwise, reinforcing materials according to recognized preservation methods.

"Restoration" shall mean the process of accurately recovering the form and details of a property as it appeared at a specific period of time by means of removal of later work and the replacement of work missing from that period.

"Site" shall mean the location of an event of historic significance or the location of a structure whether standing or ruined, which possesses historic, architectural, archaeological, or cultural significance.

"Structure" shall mean a combination of material to form a construction that is stable including, but not limited to, buildings, stadiums, reviewing stands, platforms, stagings, observation towers, radio towers, water tanks and towers, trestles, bridges, piers, paving, bulkheads, wharves, sheds, coal bins, shelters, fences, and display signs visible or intended to be visible from a public way. The term "structure" shall be construed as if followed by the words, "or part thereof."

(Ord. O-1-04 Revised (part), 2005)

(Ord. No. O-34-18, § I, 1-14-2019)