(A) The Committee shall schedule a public hearing within 60 days after the filing of an application to the Planning Department.
(1) Any person, group of persons, or association, including, but not limited to, the Pittsfield Historic Preservation Advisory Committee, may request a historic landmark designation for any structure, building, or site within the boundaries of the city which may have historic or architectural significance as defined by the Ordinance. The Planning Department shall supply, upon request, the application forms. Completed forms shall be submitted to the Planning Department which shall be forwarded to the Committee for their consideration.
(2) Notice of date, time, place, and purpose of the public hearing shall be sent by mail to owner(s) of record and to the nominator(s) as well as to the adjoining property owners, not less than 15 nor more than 30 days prior to the date of the hearing. A public hearing notice shall be published in a newspaper having general circulation in the city. The notice shall state the location of the property and a statement summarizing how the proposed landmark meets the criteria set forth in § 157.06(B).
(3) Upon receipt of the application, the Secretary of the Committee shall schedule a public hearing, to be held within 45 days after preliminary approval of application.
(4) During the public hearing, the Committee shall review and evaluate the application according to the criteria established by the ordinance.
(5) If the Pittsfield Historic Preservation Advisory Committee finds at the time that the application merits further consideration, then the Committee may table the request until its next regularly scheduled meeting.
(6) A certificate of appropriateness shall be required for alteration, construction, removal, or demolition of a proposed landmark from the date when the nomination form is presented to the Committee until the final disposition of the request.
(B) A decision shall be made within 30 days following the date of the closing of the public hearing.
(1) Following the public hearing, the Secretary of the Committee shall prepare the Committee’s evaluation, recommendation and all available information for submission to the Pittsfield City Council within 30 days.
(2) If the Committee decides that the landmark should be designated, it shall do so by a resolution passed by a majority of the Committee.
(3) The owner(s) of record shall be notified promptly by a letter containing information of the Commission’s decision.
(4) A simple majority vote by the Pittsfield City Council is necessary for approval of a landmark designation. If the Pittsfield City Council approves the application for a designation, a notice will be sent to the property owner, the Planning Department, the City Building Inspector, the City Clerk’s office, and recorded with the Pike County Recorder of Deeds. If the Pittsfield City Council denies the petition, no petitioner or applicant can file for 90 days to the Secretary of the Committee.
(5) Buildings designated as historic landmarks shall be subject to issuance of certificates of appropriateness.
(Am. Ord. 1532, passed 2-3-15)