(A) No alteration or demolition may be conducted at Historic Landmarks or Historic Districts, without first obtaining a certificate of appropriateness from the Commission.
(B) Application. Application for a certificate of appropriateness shall be filed with the Planning Division for processing. Applications for all alterations shall be accompanied by applicable fee and plans and specifications, including drawings that show the relationship of the alterations to surrounding historic features and properties. applications for demolitions shall also be accompanied by such plans and specifications for the proposed new construction including drawings that show the relationship of the work to surrounding historic features and properties and other necessary documents to support the request.
(C) Procedure.
(1) The Commission shall conduct a public meeting to consider each application for a certificate of appropriateness. said public meeting shall be conducted no less than ten days after notice of such meeting has been mailed to each property owner within 100 feet of the subject property and no later than 50 days from receipt of a completed application.
(2) The Commission shall determine whether to approve or deny issuance of the certificate based upon the request, the designation statement, and other relevant information, and its determination shall include findings supporting its decision.
(D) Findings. The Commission shall issue a certificate of appropriateness if it is determined that the following findings can be made with regards to the proposed alteration:
(1) It will not adversely affect any significant historical, cultural, architectural or aesthetic feature of the concerned property or of the Historic District in which it is located;
(2) The proposed change is consistent with or not incompatible with the architectural period of the building;
(3) The proposed change is compatible in architectural style with existing adjacent contributing structures in a Historic District;
(4) The scale, massing, proportions, materials, colors, textures, fenestration, decorative features and details proposed are consistent with the period and/or compatible with adjacent structures;
(5) It will remedy any condition determined to be imminently dangerous or unsafe by the fire department or the building division;
(6) In the case of demolition, a building permit has been issued for a replacement structure or project for the property involved; and
(7) In the case of demolition, the applicant has submitted evidence to the satisfaction of the Commission that a financial commitment has been obtained by the applicant to assure completion of such replacement structure or project.
(E) Exceptions. The Department shall review the following exceptions to the certificate of appropriateness requirement for non-contributors in Historic Districts, and review by the Commission is not required:
(1) The remodeling of and the single story additions to existing structures;
(2) Garages; and
(3) Guest houses.
(`83 Code, § 17.40.090) (Ord. 94-03 § 6, 1994; Ord. 95-01 § 2, 1995)