§ 62-146. Mitigation of adverse impacts.

The historic preservation board shall not approve any application for a certificate to excavate that does not provide for the mitigation of adverse impacts on a designated historic resource with archaeological significance. Upon receipt of a complete application, the board shall review the proposed project to determine the type of archaeological work that is necessary to mitigate the adverse impact of the proposed earth-disturbing activity on the affected archaeological resource. After receiving a complete application, a decision shall be made by the board as to the type of mitigation method appropriate for the project. The board shall select one or more of the following alternatives:

(1)

Site monitoring. This method includes the visual inspection of a property by the historic preservation officer and/or a professional archaeologist for evidence of artifacts or structural remains unearthed during the development process or earth-disturbing activity. If significant archaeological deposits are unearthed during project-related activity, work may be halted by the board, with the recommendation for such action from the historic preservation officer or a professional archaeologist, for a period not to exceed 180 days from the date of the filing of the application. This time delay may be used to conduct any necessary archaeological work. At the end of the delay, the applicant will be allowed to continue the project as planned.

(2)

Subsurface testing. This method includes limited sampling prior to the development process. Work of this nature must be conducted and/or supervised by a professional archaeologist. In situations where additional effort is warranted, the board may request the applicant to conduct full-scale excavation and/or in-situ preservation.

(3)

Full-scale excavation. If the area to be adversely impacted by the proposed project contains significant archaeological deposits as determined through documentary records and/or subsurface testing, a full-scale excavation may be warranted. This action requires a team supervised by a professional archaeologist. The time required for excavation will depend on the type and size of site, extent of soil disturbance, definition of the site made during the excavation, and weather conditions, but shall not exceed 365 days in duration.

(4)

In-situ preservation. This method should be utilized, if feasible, as an alternative for full-scale excavation in projects that involve significant archaeological deposits. In-situ preservation is defined as maintaining the archaeological site in an undisturbed state at its present location such as through an easement, preserve, passive park or designated open space area, or by sealing the site under pavement and/or fill. Specific boundaries are identified and all development activity and earth-disturbing activity occurs outside of the identified boundaries.

(Ord. No. 91-34, § VIII, 12-19-91)