(A) Within the HC Overlay it shall be the Planning Commission’s responsibility to act as an architectural review board. The Planning Commission through a Type III review shall review proposals to alter, move, renovate, demolish or change a use of any site, structure or object that has local, regional, statewide or national significance, as designated by the city’s comprehensive plan or as otherwise designated by the City Council.
(B) Application shall be made to the Commission by the property owner for the alteration, moving, renovation, demolition or change of use of any historical site; and before any permit can be issued, the following process shall occur.
(1) The applicant for a permit shall present information concerning the proposed action to the Planning Commission, upon which the Commission shall make findings and recommendations, which shall address the following:
(a) Whether historical significance will be substantially affected by the proposed change;
(b) Whether financial or other hardship to the owner in preserving the historical significance is outweighed by the public interest in preserving historic values;
(c) Whether the site, structure or object will maintain its historic significance;
(d) Whether the proposed action or change has any substantial economic, social, environmental or energy consequences on public and private interests involved; and
(e) Whether it has deteriorated or changed so as to become hazardous to public health, safety or welfare.
(2) If, upon due consideration of divisions (B)(1)(a) through (B)(1)(e) above, the Commission recommends preservation of the property, the Commission shall determine whether there are alternative ways in which historic values may be preserved. All permit review and approval actions, at the option of the Commission, may be tabled for a period of up to 90 days during which time the city will determine through a statewide public advertisement whether or not there is public or private interest in purchasing the property with the intent of rehabilitation, maintenance and protection of the property.
(3) If such interest is found, the Commission shall disapprove the application for a permit.
(4) If negotiations end without a change of ownership or no public or private interest in rehabilitating, maintaining or otherwise protecting the property is found, a renewed application for a permit shall be considered by the Commission without prejudice and the Commission shall approve, approve with conditions or deny the permit application based on applicable code criteria, including any state or federal regulations that apply.
(Ord. 1267, passed 1-3-2012)