(A) The city shall maintain a Historic Landmarks Register of individually designated historic properties and multiple property historic districts.
(B) (1) The City Council, upon request of the Historic Preservation Commission, may, by ordinance, designate a historic landmark or historic district. Prior to such designation, the Historic Preservation Commission shall hold a public hearing, notice of which shall have been published in a newspaper of general circulation within the city at least ten days prior to the date of the hearing. Notice of the hearing shall also be mailed to all owners of the property that is proposed to be designated.
(2) Voluntary designation of a single historic property would require no notification or public hearing. Involuntary designation of a single historic property would require notification to the property owners by certified mail and a public hearing.
(C) In considering the designation of any historic landmark or historic district, the Historic Preservation Commission shall apply the following criteria with respect to eligibility:
(1) Its association with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of the history of Fort Madison, the State of Iowa or the United States;
(2) Its association with the lives of historically significant persons;
(3) Its embodiment of the distinctive characteristics of a type, period or method of construction, or that represent the work of a master, or that possess high artistic values, or that represent a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction;
(4) Its research value, or potential research value, in the study of pre-history or history; and
(5) Its unique location or singular physical appearance representing an established and familiar visual feature of the city or one of its neighborhoods.
(D) When the Historic Preservation Commission determines that a property is eligible for listing in the City Historic Landmarks Register, it may issue a finding of significance and eligibility, which the commission shall transmit to the City Council.
(E) The City Clerk shall record with the County Recorder of Deeds the legal description of all properties listed in the City Historic Landmarks Register by the City Council, and shall transmit a copy of said legal description to the City Zoning Administrator.
(Ord. D-047, passed 11-21-2017)