(A)
The process for nominating buildings, sites, structures, objects and districts for designation as heritage landmarks shall be initiated by the Heritage Preservation Commission with the consent of the property owner. The Heritage Preservation Commission shall apply the following criteria for designation as heritage landmarks or heritage landmark districts:
(1) For a property to qualify for designation as a heritage landmark or heritage landmark district, it must be:
(a) At least 50 years old. A landmark may be exempted from this age standard if it is found to be exceptionally important in terms of other significant criteria in this section;
(b) Associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of Gaylord history;
(c) Associated with the lives of persons significant in our past;
(d) Embody the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction, or that possess high artistic values, or that represent a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction; or
(e) Have yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history; and
(f) A heritage landmark district must consist of two or more buildings, structures or sites meeting the criteria for landmark designation, and may also include other buildings, structures or sites which, although they may not qualify for individual landmark designation, contribute to the overall visual character of the area and to its architectural or historic significance.
(g) For heritage landmark districts, at least 50% of the owners of property within the district boundaries must consent to the landmark district designation, or the designation process shall be discontinued.
(2) Evaluation of significance shall apply the heritage landmark eligibility criteria within appropriate historic context.
(3) Evaluation results shall be made available to the public.
(B) After the Commission recommends designation as a landmark and before the City Council approves or disapproves the nomination application, no permit shall be issued for alteration, construction, removal or demolition of the proposed landmark unless a certificate of appropriateness is issued. However, if the City Council does not approve or disapprove the nomination application within 60 days of the Commission's recommendation, a certificate of appropriateness shall not be required after expiration of this 60 day period.
(C) The Commission shall forward its recommendations, together with its findings of significance and eligibility, and with the comments of the Planning Commission and of the State Historic Preservation Office, to the City Council. The City Council, upon the request of the Commission, may, by ordinance, designate a Heritage Landmark or Heritage Landmark District.
(D) No nomination application relating to the same property will be entertained by the Commission for six months following City Council disapproval.
(E) The City Administrator shall record with the Sibley County Recorder the legal description of all buildings, lands, or areas designated as Historic Resources by the Council, and shall send a copy to the building official.
(F) Properties listed on the Gaylord Register shall be recorded on official zoning records with an “HL” (for Heritage Landmark) designation. This designation shall not change or modify the underlying zone classification.
(G) Evaluation of properties within heritage landmark districts: individual properties within heritage landmark districts shall be classified as: Contributing/historic (contributes to the district in terms of design, historical association, and/or setting); contributing non-historic (a property less than 50 years old which complements and does not detract from the overall character of the district in terms of design, historical association, and/or setting); non-contributing (a property which detracts from the district in terms of design, style, building type, historical association, and/or setting).
(H) The owner of a heritage landmark or a contributing property with in a designated heritage landmark district shall keep the property in good repair.
(I) Removal of heritage landmark designation: under no circumstances shall the City Council remove the heritage landmark status. Properties shall not be removed from designated status except in cases where there has been a procedural or professional error in the designation process or where the property has been destroyed or radically altered.
(J) Designated heritage landmark sites. Pursuant to the procedures set forth in the this section the following parcels are designated as Heritage Landmark sites:
(1) Sibley County Courthouse and Sheriffs Residence and Jail (added 1988 to the National Register of Historic Places - #88003071) 400 Court Street and 319 Park Avenue, Gaylord.
(2) Gaylord City Park including picnic shelters, civic monuments, a WPA era bridge and culvert, roller rink and a 1940 band shell (added 2012 to the National Register of Historic Places) bounded by the lakeshore on the north and Park Avenue and Veteran's Drive on the south, Gaylord.
(Ord. 324, passed 11-4-2015; Am. Ord. 324, passed 10- 3-2018)