(A) Notice of nomination. Within five working days following a determination by the Quincy Preservation Commission that a Historic District or Landmark merits further consideration, the Secretary shall notify the property owners of the nomination. Notice to property owners within Historic Districts shall be by regular mail. Notice to the property owner of a Landmark shall be by certified mail and shall include an owner consent form.
(B) Standards and incentives. The Quincy Preservation Commission shall adopt procedural regulations for establishing a subcommittee to meet with property owners following notice of nomination to discuss specific standards and incentives. Within the notice of nomination, the Quincy Preservation Commission shall extend an invitation to each property owner to attend a meeting to discuss possible standards and incentives, including economic incentives, for the proposed district. Following the meeting with the property owners, the subcommittee shall make recommendations to the full Quincy Preservation Commission concerning specific standards and incentives. These standards and incentives will be presented at the public hearing required by division (C) below.
(C) Public hearing on Historic District designation. The public hearing on an application for a Historic District shall be scheduled by the Secretary no sooner than 15 days and no later than 63 days after nomination. The Secretary shall so notify the property owners by regular mail, and inform them of the date, time and location of the public hearing. The purpose of the hearing is to explain to the general public and to the property owners the purpose and effect of designation; to explain and take testimony concerning the criteria for designation; to explain the review process for any alteration, construction, demolition or removal affecting the exterior architectural appearance; to present and discuss any specific standard, for review of exterior alterations; to discuss economic incentives that would be available from local, state, federal or private sources; and to hear testimony from any interested party concerning the proposed designation.
(D) Owner consent to Historic District designation. The Quincy Preservation Commission shall make every effort to obtain owner consent for designation of proposed Historic Districts. Owner consent shall be indicated on a form prepared by the Quincy Preservation Commission. Within five working days following the public hearing an owner consent form shall be sent by certified mail to all property owners within the proposed Historic District who did not receive a form at the public hearing. The owner may approve or disapprove the proposed designation on the owner consent form to the Secretary. If the property owner does not respond in 20 days from the date the consent form is mailed, the Quincy Preservation Commission shall make every reasonable effort to contact the property owner by telephone or in person. All owner consent votes will be counted within 30 days from the date the consent forms are mailed. In order for the Quincy Preservation Commission to recommend a Historic District to the Quincy City Council for designation, 66.6666667% of all the property owners who respond must vote affirmatively.
(E) Public hearing on Landmark designation. A public hearing as set forth in division (C) above of this section covering Historic Districts shall also be held for a nominated Landmark. The purpose of the public hearing shall be the same as stated in division (C) above, and, in addition to determine if the Quincy Preservation Commission should recommend the designation of the proposed Landmark to the City Council over the owner’s objection.
(F) Owner consent to Landmark designation. The owner may approve or disapprove the proposed designation on the owner consent form which may be returned to the Secretary at any time prior to 20 days following a public hearing. Failure to respond will be considered a disapproval.
(G) Certified mail. The Quincy Preservation Commission will pay for the cost of certified mail for sending owner consent forms as set forth in this subchapter. The applicant shall be responsible for providing a correct list of names and addresses of the property owners of a nominated Landmark or Historic District and shall assist the Quincy Preservation Commission staff in preparing the owner consent mailing.
(H) Public notification. Notice of the date, time, place and purpose of the public hearing required by either divisions (C) or (E) above shall also be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the city stating the legal description and common street address of the property in the case of a proposed Landmark, and the boundaries of a proposed Historic District. The notice shall appear no less than five days and no more ten days prior to the scheduled date of the hearing.
(I) Decision of the Quincy Preservation Commission. The Quincy Preservation Commission shall recommend or not recommend to the Quincy City Council that a Landmark or Historic District be officially designated. The action shall occur no sooner than 30 days and no later than 45 days after the public hearing held pursuant to divisions (C) or (E) above. Within ten working days following the decision of the Quincy Preservation Commission, the Secretary shall notify the applicant and the property owners of the decision by regular mail.
(J) Report to the Quincy City Council. The Quincy Preservation Commission shall send a written report to the Quincy City Council within 60 days following its decision. The report shall summarize the reasons for the Quincy Preservation Commission’s decision. In the event of a decision to recommend designation, the report shall be accompanied by a proposed designation ordinance that shall include a list of the significant exterior historical or architectural features, and specific standards for the review of exterior alterations recommended by the Quincy Preservation Commission, any local economic incentives recommended by the Quincy Preservation Commission, and the types of alterations not requiring a building permit that shall require a certificate of appropriateness pursuant to § 162.190.
(K) Quincy City Council designation by ordinance. The Quincy City Council shall review the report and recommendation of the Quincy Preservation Commission and either accept or reject the recommendation. Designation of a Landmark or Historic District shall be by ordinance. The ordinance shall contain the following information: the legal description and common street address of a designated Landmark; a description of the boundaries of a designated Historic District; a list of the significant historical or architectural features of any designated Landmark or of properties within a designated Historic District for which protection is to be provided; a list of the types of alterations, constructions, demolitions or removals affecting significant historical or architectural features, other than those requiring a building permit or demolition permit, for which a certificate of appropriateness shall be required; specific standards for the review of actions affecting the exterior architectural appearance; and any local economic incentives determined necessary by the City Council.
(L) Notification of Quincy City Council action. The Secretary shall send by regular mail a copy of the resolution or ordinance passed by the City Council to the applicant and to the property owner(s) within 20 working days following the City Council action.
(M) Maintenance of records. The Quincy Preservation Commission shall maintain a book containing the legal description of each Landmark and the boundaries of a Historic District designated by ordinance; the book shall be located in the Recorder of Deeds Office for the county and in the office where the official zoning map of the city is kept.
(1980 Code, § 29.1009) (Ord. 9100, passed 1-22-2007)