§ 12-163. 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 details 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 Cadillac Historic Districts Commission created by section 12-167 pursuant to the local historic districts act, Public Act No. 169 of 1970 (MCL 399.201 et seq.).

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.

Historic district means an area, or group of areas not necessarily having contiguous boundaries, that contains one resource or a group of resources that are related by history, architecture, archeology, engineering or culture. The Courthouse Hill Historic District shall initially include the parcels reflected on appendix A, on file in the office of the city clerk. The Cobbs and Mitchell Historic Building District shall initially include the parcel identified in section 12-166(b) of this article.

Historic preservation means the identification, evaluation, establishment and protection of resources significant in history, architecture, archeology, 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, archeology, engineering or culture of the city, the 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 12-174.

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. 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 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.

Rehabilitation is defined as the act or process of making possible a compatible use for a property through repair, alterations and additions while preserving those portions or features which convey its historical, cultural or architectural values, or as defined in the Secretary of the Interior's Guidelines, as amended, and hereby adopted by reference thereto.

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 Public Act No. 169 of 1970 (MCL 399.201 et seq.).

Resource means one or more publicly or privately owned historic or nonhistoric buildings, structures, sites, objects, features or open spaces located within the historic district.

Work means construction, addition, alteration, repair, moving, excavation or demolition.

(Prior Code, § 5.600; Ord. No. 2005-06, 4-18-2005; Ord. No. 2011-05, § 3, 6-20-2011)

State law reference

Similar definitions, MCL 399.201a.