The Commission shall have the following powers and authorities:
A. To conduct an ongoing survey of McHenry County, to identify buildings, structures, areas, sites and landscapes that are of historic, archeological, architectural or scenic significance, and therefore potential landmarks or preservation districts;
B. To hold public hearings and recommend to the McHenry County Board the designation of landmarks or preservation districts identified in the survey;
C. To compile information concerning and prepare descriptions of the landmarks or preservation districts identified and recommended for designation and the characteristics that meet the standards for designation;
D. To prepare, keep current and publish a map or maps showing the locations and exact boundaries of proposed and designated landmarks and preservation districts, and, if the Commission so chooses, the locations and boundaries of designated Illinois State or Federal landmarks or districts;
E. To keep a register of all designated landmarks and preservation districts;
F. To establish an appropriate system of markers or plaques for all designated landmarks and preservation districts, and for streets, roads, trails and highways leading from one landmark or preservation district to another and to confer recognition upon the owners of landmarks or property within preservation districts by means of certificates, plaques or markers;
G. To nominate landmarks and preservation districts to any Illinois State or Federal registers of historic places;
H. To advise and assist owners of landmarks and property within preservation districts on physical and financial aspects of preservation, renovation, rehabilitation and reuse, and on procedures for inclusion on any state or federal register of historic places;
I. To inform and educate the citizens of the county concerning the historic, archaeological, architectural or scenic heritage of the county by publishing appropriate maps, newsletters, brochures and pamphlets, and by holding programs and seminars;
J. To develop specific criteria and guidelines for the proper alteration, construction, demolition or removal of landmarks, or of property within preservation districts;
K. To hold public hearings and to review applications for construction, alteration, removal or demolition affecting landmarks or property within preservation districts and issue or deny “certificates of appropriateness” for such actions;
L. To consider applications for “certificates of economic hardship” that would allow the performance of work for which a “certificate of appropriateness” has been denied;
M. To review proposed amendments to zoning regulations, applications for special uses or applications for zoning variations that affect any landmark or preservation district. Proposed zoning amendments, applications for special use or zoning variations that affect any landmark or preservation district as defined in this chapter shall be transmitted to the Commission for review and comment prior to the date of the hearing by the McHenry County Zoning Board of Appeals;
N. To administer on behalf of the McHenry County Board any property, or full or partial interest in real property, including a conservation right, which the county may have or accept as a gift or otherwise, upon designation by the McHenry County Board;
O. To accept and administer, on behalf of the McHenry County Board, gifts, grants, money or other personal property as may be appropriate for the purposes of this chapter upon approval of acceptance by the McHenry County Board. Such money may be expended for publishing maps and brochures, for hiring staff or consultants or performing otherwise appropriate functions for the purpose of carrying out the duties and powers of the Commission and the purposes of this chapter;
P. To administer any system established by the McHenry County Board for the transfer of developments rights;
Q. To call upon available county agencies and staff as well as other experts for technical advice;
R. To retain specialists or consultants, or to appoint citizen, neighborhood or area advisory committees, as required from time to time;
S. To testify before all boards and commissions including the McHenry County Regional Planning Commission and the McHenry County Zoning Board of Appeals, on any matter affecting potential or designated landmarks or preservation districts;
T. To periodically review any county comprehensive plan and to develop a preservation component in any comprehensive plan of the McHenry County Regional Planning Commission and to recommend to the McHenry County Board;
U. To periodically consult the McHenry County Zoning Enforcement Officer, review the McHenry County Zoning Ordinance and building codes and to recommend to the McHenry County Regional Planning Commission and the McHenry County Board any amendments appropriate for the protection and continued use of landmarks or property within preservation districts;
V. To advise and/or testify on county behalf for Federal and Illinois State projects requiring cultural impact surveys;
W. To periodically monitor designated landmarks and preservation districts for demolition by neglect; and
X. To undertake any other action or activity necessary or appropriate to the implementation of the purposes of this chapter.
(Ord. O-9110-1200-49, Art. 2, § 2, passed 10-15-1991)