In addition to the powers and duties stated elsewhere, the Board shall take action necessary and appropriate to accomplish the purposes of this subchapter. These actions may include, but are not limited to the following:
(A) Conducting a survey of individual historic buildings and areas within a designated local historic district and preparing a plan for their preservation and rehabilitation; providing recognition to owners and tenants who maintain or rehabilitate their historic buildings with care and thus contribute to the preservation of the history of Fort Thomas;
(B) Soliciting public input for the purpose of collecting information to assist in making recommendations to the Planning Commission and Board of Council;
(C) Recommending to the Board of Council and the Planning Commission potential future designations of historic districts and individual landmarks;
(D) Adopting and making public rules for the transaction of its business and holding monthly public meetings and special meetings, when necessary; all meetings shall comply with KRS 61.805. The Board shall receive regular assistance in the performance of its responsibilities from the city staff.
(E) Adopting written guidelines, subject to approval by the Board of Council, for alterations to designated property and for undertaking new construction on designated property;
(F) Regulating alterations of the exterior part of a structure that is visible from any public right-of-way; regulating alterations of the interior part of a structure only to the extent that interior alterations may affect the integrity or appearance of the exterior, as determined by city staff; regulating demolitions and new construction/additions involving designated property regulating landscaping, including proposals for tree removal; lighting; signage and public streetscape areas: all within the Central Business District (CBD) zoning classification as identified in the zoning ordinance.
(G) The Board may seek expert advice by consulting with outside professionals in the field, as deemed necessary, before rendering any decisions.
(H) Working with and advising the federal, state, and county governments and other parts of city government;
(I) Advising and assisting property owners and other persons and groups including neighborhood organizations who are interested in architectural and/or historic preservation;
(J) Conducting educational programs including the preparation of publications and the placing of historical markers, including designating and maintaining records of all community-wide landmarks, as defined herein, on public and private property. The Board shall develop a process by which potential community-wide landmarks are nominated, evaluated and officially designated.
(K) Relationship to Zoning. The property and/or landmark in a local historic district shall be subject to the zoning ordinance, subdivision regulations, building code and other rules of its underlying zoning district. Where there is a conflict between the Board's official design guidelines and the zoning ordinance, subdivision regulations or building code, the higher (more stringent) standard shall govern.
(L) In accordance with the "Fort Thomas VA Homes Architectural Guidelines" and the "Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Rehabilitation of Historic Structures", regulating alterations of the exterior part of a structure that is visible to the public; regulating alterations of the interior part of a structure only to the extent that interior alterations may affect the integrity or appearance of the exterior; and regulating demolitions and new construction/additions involving designated property, abutting Alexander Circle and Cochran Avenue, which are owned by the Veteran's Administration as of July 2014. This includes both initial and subsequent rehabilitation and construction, and shall apply at such time that the VA no longer owns the real estate.
(Ord. O-2-02, passed 1-22-02; Am. Ord. O-26-02, passed 11-4-02; Am. Ord. O-11-2014, passed 8-4-14)