165.06 DESIGNATION OF HISTORIC DISTRICTS.
   (a)    Criteria for Historic Districts. The Landmarks Commission may designate any area within the City as a Historic District provided that at least fifty percent of the buildings and other structures within the area are at least seventy years old and the area meets at least one of the following criteria:
      (1)   Its character, interest or value as part of the development, heritage or cultural characteristics of the city, state or nation;
      (2)   Its location as a site of a significant historic event;
      (3)   Its identification with a person significant in our past;
      (4)   Its exemplification of the cultural, economic or social heritage of the city, state or nation;
      (5)   Its embodiment of distinguishing characteristics of a building type or architectural style;
      (6)   Its identification as the work of an architect or master builder whose work has influenced the city, state or nation; or
      (7)   Its potential to yield information important in prehistory or history (archaeology).
   (b)   Procedure for Designating New Historic Districts. Any action by the Commission designating an area as a new Historic District, shall be done in accordance with the following procedure:
      (1)   A nomination for Historic District designation may be made by the Commission members, by property owners located in a proposed district, or by any resident of the City. The nomination shall include rationale and historical data.
      (2)   After receiving the nomination, the Commission shall vote to accept or reject the nomination for study and evaluation.
      (3)   The Chair of the Commission shall appoint member(s) to prepare a documented report on the nominated district including a history, site maps, and eventual placement of plaques.
      (4)    The complete report shall be presented to the Commission.
      (5)   The Commission shall notify all property owners in the proposed district of the nomination and the owners' right to appear at a meeting to support or contest the proposed Historic District designation.
      (6)   The Commission shall, at a public meeting, receive evidentiary input from property owners on the issue of whether the proposed district should be designated as a Historic District, thereby subjecting it to the regulations of this chapter.
      (7)   The Commission shall request the Planning and Design Commission to provide a written statement concerning its recommendation as it relates to the master plan of the City.
      (8)   The Commission shall submit to Council its complete report on the nomination, including its recommendations, the Planning and Design Commission's statement, and the input of the property owners from the public meeting.
      (9)   After review of the Commission's report, the statement of the Planning and Design Commission, and the property owners' input, Council may designate by ordinance the nominated district as an official City Historic District. If so approved, the Commission shall thereafter notify the Building Commissioner, the Planning and Design Commission and all property owners within the new Historic District, of the designation of the District.
      (10)   Thereafter, the City shall place official Historic District plaques at appropriate locations of the public right-of-way near all entranceways to the new district and the Commission shall recognize the new district as a Historic District of the City subject to the provisions of this chapter.
   (c)    Procedure for Modifying Existing Districts. The Commission realizes the Historic District is not a static environment, but an ever changing and developing entity. From time to time, the Landmarks Commission may review changes in the Historic District that could add new qualifying properties or delete previously qualifying properties. The Landmarks Commission may alter the boundaries of any existing Historic District provided that at least fifty percent of the buildings and other structures within the new boundaries are at least seventy years old and the district has retained its historical significance. Any action by the Commission modifying the boundaries of an existing Historic District shall be done in accordance with the following procedure:
      (1)   A recommendation for modification of an existing Historic District may be made by the Commission members, by property owners located in or adjacent to the district, or by any resident of the City. The recommendation shall include rationale and historical data.
      (2)   After receiving the recommendation, the Commission shall vote to accept or reject the proposed modification for study and evaluation.
      (3)   The Chair of the Commission shall appoint member(s) to prepare a documented report on the changes in and around the district including history, site maps, survey results and any other information pertinent to the recommendation.
      (4)    The complete report shall be presented to the Commission.
      (5)   The Commission shall notify all property owners of properties to be added or deleted from the district, of the owners' right to appear at a meeting to support or contest the proposed modified district boundaries.
      (6)   The Commission shall, at a public meeting, receive evidentiary input from property owners on the issue of whether the proposed district should be modified.
      (7)   The Commission shall submit to Council its report and recommendation for the modified boundaries along with the input of the property owners from the public meeting.
      (8)   After review of the Commission's report and recommendation along with the input of property owners, Council may modify by ordinance the boundaries of any existing City Historic District. If so approved, the Commission shall thereafter notify the Building Commissioner and any property owners impacted by the modification of the District.
      (9)   Thereafter, the City shall review the placement of the official Historic District signage and make modifications as necessary to ensure they are properly located in the public right-of-way at all entranceways to the modified district.
(Ord. 2018-96. Passed 11-20-18.)