Lions Club

130-1. Findings and purposes.

A. The Town Board of the Town of North Salem finds and declares a matter of public policy that is desirable and necessary to provide for the protection, enhancement, preservation and maintenance of structures, districts or sites of historical, cultural and architectural significance, to promote cultural and educational advantages, to safeguard aesthetic values, to foster civic pride and to advance the health, in order to secure economic and commercial benefits, safety and general welfare of the residents of the Town of North Salem. The continuing presence of said structures, districts or sites is an essential element of the character and identity of North Salem. Historic landmark structures from various periods in American architecture may be viewed in North Salem, with many of the structures in their original settings.

B. The Town Board further finds and declares that the threat of demolition, disrepair or decay of historic structures and sites, the threat of construction of structures of inappropriate or poor quality of design in the exterior appearances and the threat of changes made to the exterior appearances of existing structures in historic districts have impaired or may impair the desirability of the immediate area and -,eighbon'ng areas, have injured or may injure the stability and value of both improved and unimproved real property in such areas, have prevented or may prevent the most appropriate development of such areas and have threatened or threaten to destroy a proper relationship between the tangible value of property in such areas and the cost of municipal services provided therefor. Such developments threaten the economy and general welfare of the town. To avert such injury, there is a public necessity to secure for the people of North Salem the benefits of this chapter.

C. The purposes of this chapter are as follows:

(1) To protect and enhance the historical, architectural, cultural, geological and archaeological heritage which is found within the Town of North Salem and is illustrative of the growth, development and character of our nation, our state and our town.

(2) To recognize and ensure the preservation of those elements of the town's past which represent many and varied architectural and cultural achievements which cannot be duplicated or otherwise replaced.

(3) To promote the use, reuse and conservation of historic, architectural and cultural structures, sites and districts as a means of providing enjoyment and unique educational and physical evidence of North Salem's past.

(4) To protect and enhance the town's attractions to residents and visitors.

(5) To foster civic pride in those elements of the town's past which give North Salem its unique character, its sense of orientation and civic identity and which sets it apart from other communities.

(6) To stabilize and improve property values within the Town of North Salem by conserving and perpetuating the use and reuse of North Salem's historic, architectural and cultural s structures sites and districts.