The following steps shall apply to the designation of individual properties and Historic Districts:
(a) Prior to designation of an historic landmark or Historic District, the Commission shall make a report on the historical, cultural, architectural significance of each building, structure, site and district proposed for designation based on the standards contained in Section 141.14(a)(1). The Commission shall submit its report, including maps and photographs as necessary, to the West Virginia Department of Archives and History. In the case of a report for a proposed Historic District, the Commission shall submit with the report a map showing the boundaries of the proposed district. The Department of Archives and History may prepare written comments within forty-five days on the report.
(b) Council shall hold a public hearing on the proposed designation of the historic property or Historic District and any proposed regulations and requirements for the historic property or district. Notice of the hearing shall be published at least two times in the principal newspaper of general circulation in the City. Written notice of the hearing shall be mailed by certified mail with signed return receipt required by the Commission to all owners and occupants of such properties. All the notices shall be published or mailed not less than ten or more than twenty days prior to the date set for the public hearing.
(c) Unless the owner of a proposed individual landmark building or fifty percent (50%) of the ownership interest in a proposed district objects to such designation or regulations and requirements within thirty days following the public hearing, Council may designate the property or properties as historic, and approve, amend or reject the proposed regulations or requirements.
(d) Within thirty days following such designation or approval, the owners and occupants of each designated historic property shall be given written notification of the designation and approval by Council, which notice shall apprise the owners and occupants of the necessity of obtaining a certificate of appropriateness prior to undertaking any material change in the exterior appearance of the historic landmark or of the property in the Historic District.
(e) Any historic landmark or district designated by the City shall be shown on the official zoning map of the City in order to provide notice of the designation in addition to other notification requirements of this article.
(f) The steps in this section shall apply to any proposed enlargement of a Historic District, and the report and public hearing requirements shall apply to the removal of a designation or to the reduction in size of a Historic District.