A. Subject To Review: Demolition of the following buildings or structures shall be subject to demolition review:
1. Any building or structure that is fifty (50) years old or older.
2. Any building, structure, object or site, either contributing or non-contributing, that is located in a Register of Historic Places - listed district or a locally designated historic district.
3. Any building, structure, object or site individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places or designated as a local landmark.
B. Forward Application: The building official shall, upon receipt of an application for a permit to demolish a building, structure, object, or site meeting the terms of subsection A of this section, immediately forward said application to the Development Services Director, or designee.
C. Determination: Within fifteen (15) business days, during the time and place of a public meeting, the Historic Preservation Commission shall determine if the building, structure, object, or site subject to demolition is historically significant. The fifteen (15) business days shall begin on the date the application is received.
D. Placing A Hold: If the building, structure, object or site is determined to be historically significant, the Historic Preservation Commission may place a hold of up to, but no more than sixty (60) calendar days, on the issuance of the demolition permit. During this hold, which begins the following calendar day after the hold is placed, the Historic Preservation Commission shall work with the property owner to explore the following alternatives to determine if any are feasible:
1. Designation as a local historic landmark.
2. Rehabilitation utilizing State or Federal tax incentives.
3. Adaptation of the building or structure to a new use or incorporating the building or structure into redevelopment plans.
4. Finding a new owner who is interested in preserving or rehabilitating the building or structure.
5. Moving the building or structure to an alternative location.
6. Salvaging building materials.
7. Additional documentation of the building or structure prior to the issuance of a demolition permit.
E. Criteria: If the Historic Preservation Commission places a hold, the Historic Preservation Commission shall indicate which criteria per section 2-12-4 of this chapter makes the building or structure historically significant (as defined in said section 2-12-4 of this chapter) as part of the permanent minute record of the Historic Preservation Commission.
F. Notify Building Official: The Development Services Director or designee shall notify the building official of the determination of historic significance by the Historic Preservation Commission and in the event a hold is placed, indicate what date the hold expires.
G. Notice: The Development Services Director or designee shall place notice of any hold on the Historic Preservation Commission webpage.
H. Action To Structures During Hold Period:
1. During the hold, no permit for demolition of any building, structure, object or site on the tax assessment parcel which has any building, structure, object or site subject to a hold shall be granted.
2. During the hold, no permit for the erection of a new building, structure, or object on the tax assessment parcel which has any building or structure subject to a hold shall be granted.
I. Expiration Or Release Of A Hold: Upon meeting the above requirements, or upon a determination by the Historic Preservation Commission at a public meeting that a hold may be released prior to the expiration of the hold, or upon expiration of the 60-day hold period, the owner of the subject property may resume the demolition permit process.
J. Approval Of Redevelopment Plan Required: Any building, structure, object or site determined to be historically significant, or that is located within a locally designated historic district or historic site, or that is located within a National Register of Historic Places - listed district, or that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places shall not be granted a demolition permit until plans for use or development of the site after demolition have been filed with the City of Mason City and have been found to comply with all laws pertaining to the issuance of a City-required permit. All approvals necessary for the issuance of a development permit must be granted and any appeals shall be concluded, prior to the issuance of a demolition permit.
K. Exceptions From Demolition Review: Any building, structure, object or site, or portion thereof, which is determined by the Mason City building official to be an imminent threat to the health or safety of the public and is ordered demolished by the Mason City building official shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter. (Ord. 18-10, 11-6-2018)