(A) Establishment. The Montgomery Landmarks Commission is created by Charter. This Commission shall be comprised of seven members, who shall be appointed by Council to serve three-year terms. The City Manager shall provide staff to the Commission, who will serve as liaisons between the Landmarks Commission and the Planning Commission. Members shall be residents of or owners of property in the City, with the exception of the professionals specified below, who may also be business owners or professionals working in the City. Members should have, to the highest extent possible, a recognized knowledge of and a known interest in historic preservation together with a determination to work for the overall improvement of the quality of the City's physical environment. It is recommended that one or more members of the Commission be preservation-related professional members from the fields of architecture, architectural history, history, archaeology, planning or a related discipline.
(B) Powers and Duties. The duties of the Landmarks Commission are as follows:
(1) To improve the quality of life in the City by striving to further and achieve the spirit and purpose of this Zoning Code;
(2) To act in an advisory role to other officials and departments of local government regarding the protection of local cultural properties;
(3) To review and make recommendations to the Planning Commission regarding development plans for proposed development within the Heritage Overlay District. The recommendation by the Landmarks Commission shall be weighed with other evidence presented to the Planning Commission during the development plan review process in determining whether or not the development plan conforms with the requirements for the district, the underlying district, and the guidelines for development within the City.
(4) To act as a liaison on behalf of the local government to individuals and organizations concerned with historic, architectural and archaeological preservation;
(5) To recommend to the City Planning Commission and City Council legislation that would serve to beautify, preserve, restore and develop the City or that would result in additions or revisions to this Zoning Code;
(6) To conduct or cause to be conducted a continuing survey of cultural resources in the community including all buildings, structures sites, objects, and areas of architectural, archaeological, historic or aesthetic interest according to survey guidelines established by the Ohio Historic Preservation Office;
(7) Based upon information available or presented to it, to make recommendations to the City Council for the designation of properties as landmarks;
(8) To review proposed National Register nominations for properties within its jurisdiction in accordance with Ohio Certified Local Government guidelines;
(9) To keep a current register of all listed properties and provide a current copy thereof. The register shall be located at the Montgomery City Building at 10101 Montgomery Road, Montgomery, Ohio, 45242 and shall be accessible to the public. All inventory material shall be recorded on Ohio Historic Inventory, Ohio Archaeological Inventory forms, and/or forms compatible with the Ohio Historical Preservation Office's computerized inventory and therefore compatible with the state-wide comprehensive preservation planning process. They shall be made available to the Ohio Historical Preservation Office. Listed properties and corresponding data shall be updated periodically to reflect changes, alterations and demolitions;
(10) To review and act upon all applications for certificates of approval as required by Chapter 150.12 and to establish criteria, rules and regulations not otherwise included in Chapter 150.12 for evaluating applications for certificates of approval submitted to it;
(11) To consider whether a certificate of approval may be issued without substantial detriment to the public welfare and without substantial derogation of the interest and purposes stated herein.
(12) To prepare an annual report documenting the Commission's activities, cases, decisions, special projects and membership that will be available for public inspection;
(13) To conduct or encourage members to attend educational sessions at least once a year pertaining to the function of the Commission or relating to specific historic or archaeological preservation issues; and
(14) To work for the continuing education of the residents of the City with respect to the architectural, historic and archaeological heritage of the City and historic and archaeological preservation issues and concerns;
(C) Meetings. The Landmarks Commission shall meet not less than once per month at regularly scheduled meetings. At the first meeting of February of each calendar year, the Commission shall organize and select a chairperson and vice-chair.
(Ord. 5-2005, passed 3-23-05)