The Preservation Review Commission shall have the power to make recommendations regarding the proposed demolition of designated landmarks or historic structures, including public demolition procedures initiated through statutory "nuisance abatement" processes, as well as other public or privately initiated demolition processes. No permit to demolish all or part of such landmarks or structures shall be granted by the Building Official nor shall an abatement order be implemented, except as follows:
A. Except as otherwise provided, no person, including an agent of the City in charge of a landmark or historic site improvement in a historic district shall be granted a permit or permission to demolish, partially or in total, such property without the written approval of the Preservation Review Commission;
B. Upon the filing of an application with the Preservation Review Commission, the commission shall determine whether the proposed change would destroy or adversely affect the historical features of the landmark, historic site, or historic district property;
C. If the Preservation Review Commission determines that the landmark, historic site, or property within a historic district would be adversely affected by the proposed change, it may withhold its consent of the granting of permission or of the permit. The commission shall make its decision within thirty (30) days after the filing of the application and shall state in writing the reasons for withholding consent, mailing same to the applicant; and
D. If the Preservation Review Commission refuses to grant permission or approve issuance of a permit for demolition, it shall cooperate with the applicant to arrive at a mutually agreeable plan to avoid demolition, maintain historic integrity, and achieve the applicant's objectives. If no plan is greed upon within six (6) months of the filing of the application, the Building Official may issue the permit to demolish the subject property or the City agent may proceed without the approval of the commission.
(Code 1991, § 8-505)