(a) No permission for the construction, erection, alteration, painting, signing or re-signing, removal, moving or demolition of any structure or building in the Downtown Historic District, or for the alteration, removal, painting, signing or resigning, moving or demolition of any historic landmark, shall be issued where such action will affect the exterior architectural features of any such structure or building, unless and until a certificate of appropriateness has been issued by the Architectural and Historic Board of Review. The building owner and/or contractor must apply to the Board for such certificate for referral at its next regular meeting. Application shall be made at least twenty days prior to such meeting and shall include all related plans and specifications. Applications may be secured from the office of the Mayor's Secretary.
(b) At the first regular or special meeting of the Board after receipt of the application for the certificate of appropriateness, along with any related materials for any such proposed construction, erection, alteration, painting, signing or re-signing, removal, moving or demolition, the Board shall consider the application and determine whether or not to approve the same. If the application is approved, the Board shall submit, within thirty days, a certificate of appropriateness to the owner and/or contractor for the requested construction, erection, alteration, painting, signing or resigning, removal, moving or demolition. The Board shall notify the applicant of the date and time his or her application will be considered.
(c) In determining whether or not a certificate of appropriateness will be issued, the Board shall consider whether or not the proposed change will affect adversely or destroy any significant historic or architectural feature of the structure, whether or not it is inappropriate or inconsistent with the spirit and purpose of this chapter and whether or not it will affect adversely or destroy the general historic and architectural significance of the District. The Board shall also examine any other consideration specifically listed and adopted by Council. With respect to any proposed demolition, the Board shall determine whether or not preservation is economically feasible for the applicant, and shall issue a certificate of appropriateness if failure to do so would deprive the applicant of the reasonable use of the land or building involved. If, at the next regular meeting of the Board, the Board recommends that the certificate of appropriateness not be issued, it shall advise the applicant of any change necessary to secure the approval of the Board and shall withhold denial of the certificate of appropriateness for a period not to exceed twenty days in order that the applicant may adopt such proposed change.
(d) After the subsequent alterations, if any, in the plans and/or specifications as provided, the Board shall submit, in writing, its recommendations to the owner and/or contractor and, if then approved, shall issue the certificate of appropriateness to authorize the construction, erection, alteration, painting, signing or re-signing, removal, moving or demolition. The written report shall include the location of the proposed work, the exterior changes contemplated, the findings of the Board and/or its recommendations as to the grant or refusal of the certificate of appropriateness.
(e) Denial by the Board of a certificate of appropriateness may be appealed by the applicant to the Board of Building Appeals in accordance with Section 146.10.
(Ord. 1316. Passed 8-25-88.)