(a) No owner of a historic property shall by action(s) or willful neglect, fail to provide sufficient and reasonable care, maintenance and upkeep to ensure the property's perpetuation and to prevent its destruction by deterioration or demolition by neglect. Deterioration of a historic property due to action(s) or willful neglect by its owner does not create the basis for a finding of substantial economic hardship. Factors demonstrating willful neglect include the following:
(1) Duration of ownership,
(2) Physical condition of the historic property,
(3) Deterioration or loss of significant architectural features,
(4) Official Village correspondence with the owner in regard to maintenance and record of citations as a public nuisance in accordance with Chapter 1323 of the Greenhills Building Code.
(b) If it is determined by the Planning Commission a historic property is threatened with willful neglect, the Board may take any of the following actions:
(1) The Planning Commission may request updates on maintenance activity of historic properties from the Zoning Official related to all applicable provisions of Chapter 1323 of the Greenhills Building Code.
(2) The Planning Commission may request the Zoning Official to notify, in writing, the property owner(s), of the Board's finding of unlawful neglect of the property. The notice shall specify the minimum items of repair or maintenance necessary to correct or prevent further deterioration or demolition from neglect as well as a reasonable time period in which to complete those items of repair or maintenance. This provision shall be in addition to all applicable provisions of Chapter 1323 of the Greenhills Building Code.
(3) The Planning Commission may, on its own initiative, file a petition with the Village council requesting that the Village proceed to take action against any owner, who, in the opinion of the Planning Commission, is in violation of this Zoning Code.
(Ord. 2013-04-CD. Passed 4-2-13; Ord. 2020-04-CD. Passed 12-8-20.)