A. Certificate Of Appropriateness:
1. Any alteration, construction or demolition work on property within a designated district that is subject to the design standards for the district in which it is located, shall be issued a certificate of appropriateness by the preservation commission prior to the work commencing. No zoning certificate or building permit shall be issued for property within a designated district until the certificate of appropriateness has been issued to the applicant, who shall be the property owner or owner's agent, or until the executive secretary determines that the proposed work is not subject to the applicable design standards. A certificate of appropriateness shall be valid for a period of one year from the date of issuance. The executive secretary shall regularly submit to the commission a list of all zoning certificates and building permits that have been issued for property within each designated district for which an application for a certificate of appropriateness was not required. The executive secretary shall be responsible for notifying property owners within designated districts of the need to submit an application for a certificate of appropriateness for work subject to applicable design standards, but for which a zoning certificate and/or building permit is not required.
2. When a demolition permit application is filed with the building and neighborhood services division, the inspector supervisor or his designee shall consult with city records and the executive secretary to determine if the building to be demolished has been: a) designated by the city council as being a landmark district, in a historic district, or in a neighborhood preservation district pursuant to section 15.2.5.2 of this chapter, b) nominated for designation as such a district and subject to provisions of subsection 15.2.5.2B of this chapter, or c) listed by the city council on an inventory of potential places to be considered for designation as a landmark district or part of a historic district. Should the building be found to fit one of these instances, the executive secretary shall notify the certificate of appropriateness committee of the need to review the application and a sixty (60) day stay of demolition shall go into effect.
3. When circumstances exist that pose an imminent threat to the health, safety or welfare of the public, the city council may authorize by formal resolution the alteration, construction or demolition of property within a designated district without a certificate of appropriateness. Prior to the city council taking action, it shall be provided with a written report from an Illinois licensed structural engineer or architect or the city's building inspector. The report shall describe the condition of the structure and identify factors which may constitute an imminent threat to the health, safety or welfare of the public. When possible, notice of such potential council action shall be sent to the preservation commission members. Whenever possible, measures shall be taken to preserve the architecturally and historically significant features associated with the property.
B. Application For Certificate Of Appropriateness: A certificate of appropriateness is required for any modification of a designated structure or for any construction in a designated historic district. See section 15.6.11 of this title. (Ord. 2013-20)