(A) Main Street Established as Commission. There is hereby created a Main Street Advisory Board which will serve as the Historic Preservation Commission (hereinafter referred to as the "Commission") for historic districts and landmarks, consisting of nine members. The members thereof shall be appointed by the City Council.
(B) Terms of appointment. The members shall serve a three-year term set forth in Article IV, Advisory Board, Section 4.01 of the Bylaws of the Mount Pleasant Main Street Program. Vacancies shall be filled for an unexpired term in the manner in which original appointments are required to be made. Any Commission member who misses three consecutive meetings except because of illness or disability shall forfeit his position and his replacement will be appointed by the City Council to fill the unexpired term.
(C) Qualifications. To the extent possible, the City Council shall appoint members to the Commission who have background in architecture, urban design, history, art, real estate planning and development, business/representative of business in designated area or other related professions. Each member appointed shall be considered upon his or her interest in the city, knowledge of the history of the community, education and interest in the historical and cultural preservation.
(D) Chairman of Commission. The Chairman of the Commission shall be the elected President of the Mount Pleasant Main Street Committee elected by a majority of the members in accordance of the Bylaws of the Mount Pleasant Main Street Program.
(E) Functions of Commission.
(1) The Commission shall act in an advisory capacity only, and shall have no power to bind the city by contract or otherwise. It shall be the function of the Commission to familiarize itself with the buildings, land, areas, and districts within the city which may be eligible for designation as historic landmarks and shall prepare a Historic Landmark Preservation Plan (hereinafter referred to as the "Preservation Plan") which shall:
(a) Identify and catalog buildings, land, areas and districts of historical, architectural, archaeological or cultural value along with statements of fact which verify their significance;
(b) Identify guidelines to be used in determination of whether to grant or deny certificates of appropriateness for proposed alterations to the exterior of a designated historic landmark;
(c) Formulate a program for private and public action which will state the role of various city agencies in the preservation of historic landmarks;
(d) Suggest sources of funds for preservation and restoration activities for all acquisitions, including federal, state, municipal, private and foundation sources; and
(e) Recommend incentives for preservation and adoption of policies.
(2) The Preservation Plan shall be presented to the City Council for inclusion in the Comprehensive Plan of the city.
(3) The Commission shall recommend to the City Council that certain buildings, land, areas and districts in the city be designated as historic landmarks. Each recommendation shall include:
(a) Those premises, lots or tracts to be designated;
(b) Any additional uses to be permitted in specific historic districts;
(c) Specific criteria for the required preservation of the exteriors of the premises within the designated district.
(4) If the Commission finds that certain buildings, land, areas or districts cannot be preserved without acquisition, the Commission may recommend to the City Council that the fee or a lesser interest in the property be acquired by gift or purchase, using funds available for preservation or restoration.
(5) Where there are conditions under which the required preservation of a historic landmark would cause undue hardship to the owner or owners, use changes may be recommended by the Commission. Such changes shall be in keeping with the spirit and intent of this subchapter.
(6) The Commission shall make reports at least annually to the City Council of the status of designated historic districts and landmarks and include such report in the minutes of the Commission.
(7) The Commission shall, with staff advice and support, determine a suitable emblem for marking buildings, structures, and sites within historic-districts and for designated landmarks, both public and private. This emblem shall be submitted for approval to the Texas Historical Commission and then recommended for approval to the City Council, along with a list of locations and sites and estimates as to cost, for approval by the City Council.
(8) The designation of a historic district or landmark may be amended or removed using the same procedure as provided in this subchapter for the original designation.
(Ord. 2013-14, passed 11-5-13)