The following procedure shall be used for the preliminary determination regarding the designation of historic districts:
(A) Any person, groups of persons, or association, including but not limited to, the Pittsfield Historic Preservation Advisory Committee, may present to the Committee a petition requesting that a defined geographic area be designated as an historic district. The Planning Department shall supply, upon request, the application forms. Completed forms shall be submitted to the Planning Department which shall forward them to the Committee for their consideration;
(B) The petition shall contain the names of no less than 51% of the property owners. Or, if lease holders, with a five year or longer leasehold interest, are signatories to the petition then the petition shall contain no less than 51% of the property owners and/or leaseholders;
(C) 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 notice also 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 Subsection B under Criteria for Historic Designation;
(D) Upon receipt of the application, the Secretary of the Committee shall schedule a public hearing to be held within 30 days from after preliminary approval of application;
(E) During the public hearing the Committee shall review and evaluate the application according to the criteria established by ordinance;
(F) 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 regular scheduled meeting.
(G) Within 30 days following the public hearing, the Committee shall make a final decision on designation and prepare the Committee’s evaluation, recommendation, and all available information for submission to the Pittsfield City Council.
(1) If the Committee decides that the proposed historic district should be designated, it shall do so by a resolution passed by a majority of the Committee.
(2) The owner(s) of record shall be notified promptly by a letter containing information of the Committee’s decision.
(3) A simple majority vote by the City Council is necessary for approval of historic preservation designation. If the 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 that the area has been designated as such and that buildings located within the boundaries of the historic district shall be subject to issuance of certificate of appropriateness. If the City Council denies the petition, no petitioner can file for 90 days to the Secretary of the Committee.
(Am. Ord. 1532, passed 2-3-15)