In the event that any commission shall exercise authority to issue a certificate of appropriateness to regulate new construction, alteration, removal or demolition of buildings, sites or structures within an historic district or individually designated as an historic landmark, the commission shall have plenary power and authority to regulate such properties, according to the following provisions:
No private building, site or structure shall be erected, altered, restored, moved or demolished until after an application for a certificate of appropriateness as to exterior architectural features has been submitted to and approved by the commission, except as otherwise provided by the governing body in the ordinance or order establishing such commission or as provided by rules, regulations, policies, procedures and standards adopted and published by said commission. For the purposes of this article, "exterior architectural features" shall include such portion of the exterior of a structure as is open to view from a public street, way or place. Similarly, if earthworks of historical or archaeological importance exist in the historic district there shall be no excavating or moving of earth, rock or subsoil or any development upon or around earthworks without a certificate of appropriateness. The style, material, size and location of outdoor advertising signs and bill posters shall be under the control of such commission.
(1) The commission may request such plans, elevations, specifications, drawings, photographs and other information as may be reasonably deemed necessary by the commission to enable it to make a determination on the application for a certificate of appropriateness.