(A) Reports.
(1) The Commission shall ensure that an updated list of all areas, places, buildings, structures, lands, districts or other objects which have been designated as heritage preservation sites as well as an updated catalogue of all known publications, articles, books, pamphlets, policies or other materials having a direct bearing on the heritage preservation program for the city are prepared, compiled and made reasonably available by city staff at City Hall.
(2) The City Council, upon request of the Commission, may direct city staff to prepare studies which catalog areas, places, buildings, structures, lands, districts or other objects to be considered for designation as heritage preservation sites.
(B) Criteria. All heritage preservation sites previously designated by the city shall continue their designation under this chapter unless the Commission specifically finds that any such site does not meet the designation criteria provided in this division (B):
(1) Its character, interest or value as part of the development, heritage or cultural characteristics of the city, state or the United States;
(2) Its location as a site of a significant historic event;
(3) Its identification with a person or persons who significantly contributed to the culture and development of the city;
(4) Its embodiment of distinguishing characteristics of an architectural style, period, form or treatment;
(5) Its identification as work of an architectural or master builder whose individual work has influenced the development of the city;
(6) Its embodiment of elements of architectural design, detail, materials or craftsmanship which represent a significant architectural innovation; and
(7) Its unique location, scale or other physical characteristic representing an established and familiar visual feature of a neighborhood, a district, the community or the city.
(C) Proposed program for preservation. For each heritage preservation site recommended to the City Council, a proposed program for rehabilitation and preservation shall be created. The United States Secretary of the Interior Standards for Rehabilitation, as listed in § 1301.05(C) of this chapter, shall be among the standards used to create such programs.
(D) Hearings. Prior to the Commission recommending to the City Council any area, place, building, structure, land, district or other object for designation as a heritage preservation site, the Commission shall hold a public hearing and seek the recommendations of all concerned citizens. Prior to such hearing, the Commission shall cause to be published in the city’s official newspaper a notice of the hearing at least ten days prior to the date of the hearing, and notice of the hearing shall be mailed at least ten days before the day of the hearing to all owners of record of the property or properties proposed to be designated as a heritage preservation site and to all owners of property situated wholly or partly within 350 feet of the heritage preservation site. The Commission may make such modifications concerning the proposed designation as it deems necessary in consideration of the comments of the citizens.
(E) Findings and recommendations. The Commission shall determine if a proposed site is eligible for designation as a heritage preservation site as determined by the criteria specified in division (B) above. In accordance with M.S. § 471.193, as it may be amended from time to time, the Commission shall send to the State Historical Society/State Historic Preservation Office any proposed designation of a heritage preservation site, including boundaries, and the proposed program for the preservation of the heritage preservation site. The Commission may make such modifications concerning the proposed designation as it deems necessary in consideration of the comments of the State Historical Society/State Historic Preservation Office.
(F) Planning Commission review. If the Commission recommends that the proposed site be designated as a heritage preservation site, the Commission shall transmit to the city’s Planning Commission its recommendation, including boundaries, and the proposed program for the preservation of the heritage preservation site. The Commission shall request from the city’s Planning Commission its comments on the proposed designation as a heritage preservation site relative to the city’s Zoning Code and Comprehensive Plan of the city and any other valid city planning considerations relevant to the proposed designation. The City Planning Commission’s comments shall become part of the official record concerning the proposed designation and shall be submitted by the Heritage Preservation Commission along with its recommendation concerning the proposed designation to the City Council. The Heritage Preservation Commission may make such modifications concerning the proposed designation as it deems necessary in consideration of the comments of the city’s Planning Commission.
(G) Council designation hearings. The City Council, upon the request of the Commission, may designate, by ordinance, a heritage preservation site. Such an ordinance shall require a two-thirds’ vote of all members of the City Council to be effective.
(H) Council approval. The Commission shall make no application to the National Register or to the state for the designation of a historic property or district without the consent of the City Council.
(I) Identification plaque. Those buildings or structures having been designated as historic preservation sites by the City Council may be awarded a numbered plaque to be displayed on the exterior of the site in full public view with the owner’s consent. The plaque is to remain the property of the city and shall be removed by request of the Commission should the site be so altered as to destroy the historic integrity of the site.
(J) Designated heritage preservation sites. Pursuant to the procedures set forth in this section, the following parcels are designated as heritage preservation sites:
(1) 1879 Courthouse/Henderson Community Building;
(2) Poehler residence/Sibley County Historical Society
(3) North 5th Street Municipal Power Plant/City Civil Defense Building;
(4) Saint Jude’s Church/Public Library; and
(5) Joseph R. Brown Historic Home at South Fifth Street.