(A) Recommendations and designations. The City Council shall designate historic preservation districts and individual landmarks, either from its own initiative, from the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission, or upon application of the owners of historic property. These designations shall be made by ordinance.
(B) Public hearing and notice. To begin the designation process, the City Council shall assemble or cause to be assembled information about the district or property being considered for designation and shall schedule a public hearing on the proposed designation. Advertised notice of the hearing shall be given, including conspicuous posting in the proposed district or on the lot of the proposed landmark for 15 consecutive days immediately prior to the hearing. At least 15 days prior to the public hearing, written notice shall be given by certified mail to the owners of property under consideration and the owners of all adjoining property. Written notice shall be considered sufficient when it is mailed to person listed on the tax rolls of the city.
(C) Criteria for designation. A historic preservation district or landmark shall qualify for designation when it meets one or more of the following criteria which shall be a part of that information assembled or caused to be assembled by the City Council for the property under consideration:
(1) Its character as an established and geographically definable residential neighborhood, united by culture, architectural styles, or physical plan and development;
(2) Its character as a geographically definable area possessing a significant concentration of buildings or structures united by past events or by its plan or physical development;
(3) Its value as a reminder of the culture or archeological heritage of the city, state, or nation;
(4) Its location as a site of a significant local, state, or national event;
(5) Its identification with a person or persons who significantly contributed to the development of the city, state, or nation;
(6) Its identification as the work of a master builder, designer, or architect whose work has influenced the development of the city, state, or nation;
(7) Its value as a building that is recognized for the quality of its architecture and that retains sufficient elements showing its architectural significance; or
(8) Its distinguishing characteristics of an architectural style valuable for the study of a period, method of construction, or use of indigenous materials.
(D) Review by the Planning and Zoning Commission. Following the public hearing and prior to action by the City Council, the proposal shall be forwarded to the Planning and Zoning Commission for its comments concerning the appropriateness of the designation proposed. That body shall make its recommendations to the City Council within 45 days of receipt of the proposal.
(E) Action by City Council. A decision shall be made by the City Council within 60 days of receipt of the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission.
(F) Notification of designation decision. The City Council shall cause the decision of the City Council to be made known to each owner of property in question and shall arrange for the filing in the County Clerk’s office of the designation of a property as a landmark or as part of a historic preservation district. The Council shall also cause said landmark or historic preservation district to be so noted on the zoning map of the city and to be a part of the comprehensive plan.
(G) Amendment or rescission of a designation. The amendment or rescission of any designation shall be accomplished through the same steps as were followed in the original designation.
(Prior Code, § 155.03) (Ord. 97.12-1, passed 12-22-1997)