(A) Purpose.
(1) The county’s Historical Society and Preservation Commission recognizes that the historical heritage of the county is among its most valued and important assets. It is therefore the intent of the Society and Commission to establish a county register of historic buildings and sites.
(2) The purpose of the register is to identify and acknowledge historic buildings and sites lying within the boundaries of the county.
(Prior Code, § 7-2-1)
(B) Criteria for designation to register. Any building, structure, site or object may be designated to the historic building and site register if it meets the criteria outlined below.
(1) Location within county. It is located within the official boundaries of the county.
(2) Age. It is at least 50 years old.
(3) Historic integrity retained; waiver. It retains its historic integrity, in that there are no major alterations or additions that have obscured or destroyed the significant historic features.
(a) Major alterations that would destroy the historic integrity include, but are not limited to, changes in pitch of the main roof, enlargement or enclosure of windows on the principal facades, addition of upper stories or the removal of original upper stories, covering the exterior walls with non-historic materials, moving the resources from its original location to one that is dissimilar to the original and additions which significantly detract from or obscure the original form and appearance of the building when viewed from the public way.
(b) Any building, structure, site or object that does not meet the integrity requirements for listing on the historic buildings and sites register may, however, be listed after it is reviewed by both the Preservation Commission and County Commission if it is determined to be exceptionally significant and meets any of the following:
1. It is directly associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the history of the county;
2. It is directly associated with the lives of persons significant in the history of the county; or
3. It is constructed of a distinctive material indigenous to the county.
(4) Documented according to standards. It has been documented according to the state historic preservation office standards for intensive level surveys. The Preservation Commission may waive the requirement of a reconnaissance survey as part of the intensive level survey.
(5) Submission of survey, application. The intensive survey information along with an application form must be submitted to the Preservation Commission for its evaluation and approval for listing on the register.
(6) Owner approval. The owner of the building must approve the nomination to the historic register. A written statement to this effect must be submitted to the Preservation Commission, along with the nomination application.
(7) No limitations or restrictions; exception. There shall be no limitations or restrictions for those sites, objects, structures or buildings listed on the historic building and sites register. However, if major alterations or other changes are made after the listing, the Preservation Commission can reevaluate the property and remove it from the register.
(8) Notification of major alterations. After a property is included on the register, the Preservation Commission requests that if it is to receive major alterations or be demolished, that the Preservation Commission be notified and given one week to further document the property.
(9) Certificate awarded. Once a nominee is approved to be listed on the register, a certificate will be awarded to the owner of the nominee.
(10) Historic markers. The owner can, at his or her own expense, purchase an approved historic marker to be placed on the nominee for public view.
(11) Copy of register. A copy of the historic register will be kept at the office of the Historical Society and Preservation Commission for review by the public.
(12) Records maintained. The application and all other related documents will be kept on file at the office of the Preservation Commission. This information will be available to the public.
(Prior Code, § 7-2-2)
(C) Designation procedures.
(1) Nomination; required documents. Any individual, group or government agency may nominate and submit the required documents to the Preservation Commission for its consideration. The required documents include a completed nomination form, a completed intensive level survey and written consent from the owner or the nominee to be placed on the register.
(2) Review by Preservation Commission. The Preservation Commission will review and consider properly submitted nominations at its next scheduled meeting. The nomination will be included as part of the agenda. One week in advance, the Preservation Commission will notify the nominating party of the date, time and place of the meeting when the nomination will be considered.
(3) Action by Preservation Commission. The Preservation Commission will review the documentation for completeness, accuracy and compliance with the criteria for designation to the historic buildings and sites register. The Preservation Commission can either approve the nomination, deny the nomination or table it for further study and consideration.
(4) Recommendation for approval.
(a) If the nomination is approved, a letter of recommendation will be sent to the County Commission for its consideration and approval for listing the nominee on the historic register. It will be appointed the earliest available time on the County Commission’s meeting agenda. The nominating party will be notified of this meeting date and time.
(b) After review by the County Commission, the nomination will either be approved and returned to the Preservation Commission for listing on the local register or denied for noncompliance to the criteria for designation to the historic buildings and sites register. Written notification will be sent to the nominating party.
(5) Denial of nomination. If the Preservation Commission denied the nomination to the register, a written notification will be sent to the nominating party with an explanation as to its decision.
(6) Decision tabled. If the Preservation Commission tabled the nomination for further study, written notice will be sent to the nominating party. It will be reconsidered at the next scheduled meeting of the Preservation Commission, and the nominating party will be notified of the date, time and place.
(Prior Code, § 7-2-3)
(Ord. 134, passed 3-9-1992)