The Commission shall have the following powers and duties:
A. To adopt its own procedural regulations and bylaws consistent with applicable law.
B. To conduct an ongoing survey to identify properties, improvements and areas that have historic, architectural, or community interest.
C. To investigate, hold public hearings and recommend to the City Council the adoption of ordinances designating certain properties, improvements and areas having special historic, architectural or community value as historic districts, landmarks and neighborhood preservation districts. The recommendation shall also include specific design standards for the proposed historic district, landmark, or neighborhood preservation district that have been developed after consultation with owners and occupants of the proposed designated district.
D. To keep a register of all property and improvements which have been designated for preservation under this title, including all information required for each designation.
E. To review applications for alteration, construction, and demolition affecting property(ies) formally under consideration for designation or designated historic districts, landmarks and neighborhood preservation districts; and to issue, deny or modify certificates of appropriateness, for such actions. Applicants may be required to submit plans, drawings, elevations, specifications and other information as may be necessary.
F. To consider applications for certificates of economic hardship that would allow the performance of work for which a certificate of appropriateness has been denied.
G. To advise and assist owners of property or structures within designated districts on physical and financial aspects of preservation, renovation, rehabilitation and reuse, and/or procedures for inclusion on the state and/or the national register of historic places.
H. To recommend to the City Council the nomination of landmarks and historic districts to state and national registers.
I. To determine an appropriate system of markers for designated landmarks and buildings or structures within districts consistent with other provisions of this code.
J. To inform and educate the citizens of Carbondale concerning the historic and architectural heritage of the city.
K. To review proposed zoning map amendments, applications for special uses or application for zoning variances that affect designated districts. The executive secretary shall send notice to all Preservation Commission members, in the same manner as nearby property owners are notified, of hearings before the Planning Commission or Zoning Board of Appeals.
L. To testify before all city boards and commissions, including the Planning Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals and Building Board of Appeals on matters affecting any designated district and on matters affecting historically or architecturally significant property, structures or areas.
M. To periodically review the city zoning ordinance and to recommend to the Planning Commission and the City Council any amendments appropriate for the protection and continued use of property or structures within designated districts.
N. To advise the City Council on the use of such gifts, grants, property interest or money as may be designated by the grantor for the purposes of preservation.
O. To confer recognition upon the owners of property or structures within designated districts by means of certificates, plaques, markers or other means.
P. To undertake such other action or activity relative to preservation in the community as may be authorized by the City Council. (Ord. 2013-20; Ord. 2020-51)