(a) In considering the designation of any area, place, site, building, structure, object or work of art in the City as a Historic District or a Listed Property, the Commission and City Council shall apply the following criteria with respect to the property. The property must be at least forty (40) years old and must meet one (1) or more of the following criteria:
(1) It has character, interest or value as part of the heritage or cultural development of the City, the State or the United States.
(2) Its location is the site of a significant historic event.
(3) It is identified with a person or persons who significantly contributed to the culture and development of the City, the State or the United States.
(4) It exemplifies the cultural, economic, social, archaeological, or historic heritage of the City.
(5) It portrays the environment of a group of people in an era of history characterized by a distinctive architectural style.
(6) It embodies distinguishing characteristics of an architectural type or specimen.
(7) It is identified as the work of an architect, landscape architect or notable builder whose individual work has influenced the development of the City, the State or the United States.
(8) It embodies elements of architectural design, detail, materials or craftsmanship which represent architecture of significant character.
(9) Its unique location or singular physical characteristics represent an established and familiar visual feature of a neighborhood, community or the City.
(10) It has yielded or is likely to yield information important to the understanding of prehistory or history.
(11) In addition to meeting at least one (1) of the above criteria, the area within proposed Historic District boundaries must have an internal historic cohesiveness in the sense of a shared common history of its inhabitants, historical development according to a master plan, or a shared architectural style or design or a body of architecture illustrating the evolution of architectural styles over a period of time.
(b) The Commission shall notify the owner, by mail, of any proposal to list his or her property or to designate a Historic District, which encompasses his or her property.
(c) Upon receipt of the owner's consent to the listing on the local register, the Historic Landmarks Commission shall make a recommendation concerning the designation of the property to the Planning Commission. After receipt of the Historic Landmarks Commission's recommendation, the Planning Commission shall make a recommendation concerning the designation of the property to City Council. After receipt of the Planning Commission's recommendation, City Council shall consider such recommendation and vote on the designation of the area, place, site, building, structure, object or work of art as a Historic District or a Listed Property.
(d) If the owner of individual properties refuses or declines to give his or her written consent to a proposed listing and the Commission feels it is of considerable importance to the community that the property be listed, then the following procedure shall be followed, which shall also be the procedure followed in the designation of all Historic Districts:
(1) The Commission shall transmit to City Council and the Planning Commission its recommendations, in writing, for the creation of a Historic District or the listing of any individual property.
(2) The Planning Commission shall hold a public hearing on the proposed designation or listing following the procedures established in Section 1270.04 of this Zoning Code.
(3) After receiving recommendations concerning the proposed designation or listing from the Historic Landmarks Commission and the Planning Commission, and before making a decision on the designation or listing, City Council shall hold a public hearing on the issue following the procedures established in Sections 1285.07 and 1285.08 of this Zoning Code. City Council shall give due consideration to recommendations of the Historic Landmarks Commission and the Planning Commission, as well as such views as are expressed by persons participating in the hearings before such Commissions, in making its determination with respect to the proposed designation. City Council must act on the proposed designation within forty-five (45) days after the public hearing. City Council may designate a Listed Property or a Historic District at any regular or special meeting of City Council.
(4) If City Council approves the listing of a property or designation of a Historic District, the Commission shall notify the owner of such decision. If the proposed designation is disapproved by City Council, the Commission may, after a period of sixty (60) days, resubmit the proposal to City Council for reconsideration.
(Ord. 25-2006. Passed 3-7-06.)