A. The purpose of this Article is to promote the protection, enhancement, perpetuation, and use of improvements of special character or historical interest or value in the interest of the health, prosperity, safety, and welfare of the people of the Village by:
1. Providing a mechanism to identify and preserve the historic and architectural characteristics of Hampshire, which represents elements of the Village's cultural, social, economic, political and architectural history.
2. To promote civic pride in the beauty and noble accomplishments of the past as represented in Hampshire's landmarks and historic districts.
3. Stabilizing and improving the economic vitality and value of Hampshire's landmarks and historic areas.
4. Protecting and enhancing the attractiveness of the Village to have buyers, visitors and shoppers and thereby supporting business, commerce, industry, and providing economic benefit to the Village.
5. Fostering and encouraging preservation, restoration of structures, areas, and neighborhoods and thereby preventing future urban blight. (Ord. 00-01, 2-17-2000)
A. Creation: There is hereby created an Historic Preservation Commission in the Village.
B. Members: The Commission shall consist of five (5) members, three (3) of whom must be residents of the Village, appointed by the Mayor and approved by the Village Council.
1. One of the members shall be a member of the Hampshire Main Street Design Committee.
2. The remaining members shall be appointed on the basis of expertise, experience or interest in the area of architectural history, building construction or engineering, historical and architectural preservation, neighborhood organizing or real estate.
C. Terms Of Office: Members of the Commission shall be appointed for terms of three (3) years. Of those members first taking office, one shall be appointed for one year, two (2) for two (2) years, and two (2) for three (3) years. No member shall serve more than two (2) successive three (3) year terms. Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term only. Members shall serve without compensation.
D. Officers: Officers shall consist of a chairman, vice chairman, and a secretary elected by the Preservation Commission. Officers shall serve a term of one year; no member shall serve in any one office for more than two (2) consecutive years.
1. The chairman shall preside over meetings.
2. In the absence of the chairman, the vice chairman shall perform the duties of the chairman.
3. If both are absent, those present shall elect a temporary chairman.
4. The secretary to the Preservation Commission shall have the following duties:
a. Take minutes of each Preservation Commission meeting.
b. Be responsible for publication and distribution of copies of the minutes, reports, and decisions of the Preservation Commission to the members of the Preservation Commission.
c. Give notice as provided herein or by law for all public hearings conducted by the Preservation Commission.
d. Advise the Mayor of vacancies on the Preservation Commission and expiring terms of members; and
e. Prepare and submit to the Village Council a complete record of the proceedings before the Preservation Commission on any matter requiring Council consideration.
E. Meetings: Meetings shall be held at regularly scheduled times to be established by resolution of the Commission at the beginning of each calendar year or at any time upon the call of the chairman. There shall be a minimum of four (4) meetings per year.
1. At all meetings, a quorum shall consist of a majority of the members. All decisions or actions of the Historic Preservation Commission shall be made by a majority vote of those members present and voting at any meeting where a quorum exists.
2. All meetings of the Preservation Commission shall be open to the public. The Preservation Commission shall keep minutes of its proceedings, showing the vote, indicating such fact, and shall keep records of its other official actions, all of which shall be immediately filed in the office of the Village Clerk and shall be a public record.
F. Powers And Duties: The Commission shall have the following powers and duties:
1. To adopt its own procedural regulations.
2. To conduct an ongoing survey to identify historically and architecturally significant properties, structures and areas.
3. To recommend to the Village Board of Trustees procedures to protect properties or structures having special historic, community, or architectural value.
4. To determine an appropriate system of markers and make recommendations for the design and implementation of specific markings of properties or structures which have special historic, community, or architectural value.
5. To advise property owners on physical and financial aspects of preservation, renovation, rehabilitation, and reuse, and on procedures for inclusion on the County, State or National Register of Historic Places.
6. To inform and educate the citizens of Hampshire concerning the historic and architectural heritage of the Village by publishing appropriate maps, newsletters, brochures, and pamphlets, and by holding programs and seminars.
7. To accept and administer on behalf of the Village, upon the specific designation of the corporate authorities, such gifts, grants and money as may be appropriate.
8. To testify before all boards and commissions, including the Village Planning and Zoning Commission, on any matter affecting historically and architecturally significant properties.
9. To periodically review the Hampshire Zoning Ordinance and to recommend to the Village Planning and Zoning Commission and the Village Board any amendments appropriate for the protection and continued use of historically or architecturally significant properties.
G. Survey And Research: The Historic Preservation Commission shall undertake an ongoing survey and research effort in the Village to identify neighborhoods, areas, sites, structures, and objects that have historic, community, architectural, or aesthetic importance, interest, or value. The Historic Preservation Commission shall consider the following criteria:
1. Architecturally or historically significant properties in one identifiable neighborhood or distinct geographical area of the Village.
2. Association with a particular person, event, or historical period.
3. Representation of a particular architectural style or school, or of a particular architect, engineer, builder, designer or craftsman.
4. Such other criteria as may be adopted by the Preservation Commission to assure systematic survey of all significant properties within the Village. (Ord. 00-01, 2-17-2000; amd. Ord. 21-15, 4-15-2021)