The Commission may recommend to the McHenry County Board the designation of landmarks, upon written proof of owner notification, and preservation districts, upon written proof of notification of all property owners whose property is located within the boundaries of the proposed district, after a thorough investigation results in a determination that a property, structure or alteration, or area so recommended meets one or more of the following criteria:
A. It has character, interest or value which is part of the development, heritage or cultural characteristics of a local community, the county of McHenry, State of Illinois, or the Nation;
B. Its location is a site of a significant local, county, state or national event;
C. It is identified with a person or persons who significantly contributed to the development of the local community, County of McHenry, State of Illinois, or the Nation;
D. It embodies distinguishing characteristics of an architectural style valuable for the study of a period, type, method of construction, or use of indigenous materials;
E. It is identified with the work of a master builder, designer, architect or landscape architect whose individual work has influenced the development of the local area, County of McHenry, State of Illinois, or the Nation;
F. It embodies elements of design, detailing, materials or craftsmanship that render it architecturally significant;
G. It embodies design elements that make it structurally or architecturally innovative;
H. It has a unique location or singular physical characteristics that make it an established or familiar visual feature;
I. It has character which is a particularly fine or unique example of a utilitarian structure, including, but not limited to farmhouses, gas stations, or other commercial structures, with a high level of integrity or architectural significance;
J. It establishes a sense of time and place unique to a community and/or the County of McHenry;
K. It is suitable for preservation or restoration;
L. It is included in the National Register of Historic Places and/or the Illinois Register of Historic Places;
M. It has yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important to pre-history or other areas of archaeological significance;
N. It is an exceptional example of a historic or vernacular style or one of few remaining in the County of McHenry.
(Ord. O-9110-1200-49, Art. 3, § 4, passed 10-15-1991)