(A) The commission shall be responsible for identifying local buildings and structures as having historic or architectural significance and for recommending to the Board those buildings and structures deemed eligible for Village, State or national landmark designation.
(B) The commission shall consider the following criteria in determining eligibility of a building or structure for landmark designation:
1. Its significant value as part of the historical, cultural, artistic, social, architectural or other heritage of the Village, or State of Illinois, or Nation.
2. Its association with an important person or event in the history of the village, or state of Illinois, or nation.
3. Its association or representation as a notable work of a significant or influential master builder, designer, architect or artist.
4. Its representation of the distinguishing characteristics of an architectural type inherently valuable for the study of a period, style, craftsmanship, method of construction or use of indigenous materials.
5. Its identity as an established and familiar visual feature in the village owing to its unique location or physical characteristics.
6. Its identity with other similar architecturally designed buildings having a significant influence on a particular era or period of construction representative of the character of the village.
(C) The following procedures shall apply to landmark designations:
1. Application: An application seeking landmark designation for a building or structure in the village shall be filed with the commission on forms to be furnished by said commission. The applicant may be any person, group of persons or association, including the village or the historical commission. The application shall include the following:
(a) The name and address of the applicant, and, if different, the owner of the property proposed for designation, and in the case where title is held by a land trustee, the name and address of the beneficial owner or owners shall be included.
(b) The legal description, common street address and permanent tax index number of the proposed property.
(c) A plat of survey or other map delineating the boundaries and location of the proposed property.
(d) A color photograph, minimum five inch by seven inch (5"x7") in size, of the proposed property as it appears from the public street upon which the property fronts.
(e) A written statement describing the proposed property, the date of its construction, the name of the architect (if applicable to the designation criteria), the reasons supporting the request for designation, and whether or not the property has been listed as a historic structure or landmark by state or national authorities.
(f) An indication of the owner's position with respect to the proposed designation.
(g) Such other information as may be required by the commission. (Ord. 1971, 12-2-1991; amd. Ord. 2550, 12-19-2005)
2. Preliminary Review: Upon receipt of an application for landmark designation, the commission shall schedule a preliminary review to be held at its next regular meeting and shall notify the applicant and the property owner, in writing, of the date, time and place of such review. Additional notice, together with copies of the application, shall be forwarded by the commission to the village manager, the village planner or his or her designee, the Riverside historical commission and the Riverside planning and zoning commission with the request for a review and report to the commission on any matters affecting the subject property or the surrounding area. (Ord. 2550, 12-19-2005; amd. Ord. 2561, 3-20-2006; Ord. 2843, 12-19-2013; Ord. 2846, 1-16-2014)
At the preliminary review, the commission shall consider the application and decide whether it has merit. If at least four (4) members of said commission determine that the application has merit, it shall be referred for public hearing; if not, then said commission shall issue to the applicant and the property owner a formal written denial of the application, stating the reasons therefor, which shall constitute the final administrative decision. Should the commission decide that additional information or time to complete its review of the application would be helpful, the preliminary review may be continued to a subsequent meeting or meetings until a determination as to merit has been made. (Ord. 2550, 12-19-2005; amd. Ord. 2561, 3-20-2006; Ord. 2846, 1-16-2014)
3. Public Hearing: Where the commission has determined that an application merits further consideration, it shall schedule and hold a public hearing thereon within thirty (30) days following said determination. (Ord. 1971, 12-2-1991; amd. Ord. 2550, 12-19-2005)
The commission shall notify the applicant and owner of the subject property, in writing, as to the date, time, place and purpose of the public hearing not less than fifteen (15) days prior to said hearing, by certified mail, properly addressed as shown on the application or on the tax assessor's rolls, or on the village water billing records. Failure to send such notice where no address appears on the tax assessor's rolls or water billing records shall not invalidate the proceedings of the commission. Additional notices shall be delivered within the same time period to the village manager, village planner or his or her designee, historical commission and planning and zoning commission at the village offices in the village hall, Riverside, Illinois. (Ord. 1971, 12-2-1991; amd. Ord. 2550, 12-19-2005; Ord. 2843, 12-19-2013; Ord. 2846, 1-16-2014)
The commission shall also cause to be published a notice, not more than thirty (30) or less than fifteen (15) days prior to said hearing, in a newspaper published and of general circulation within the village, describing the property proposed for designation and setting forth the date, time, place and purpose of the hearing. A copy of such notice shall also be posted in the bulletin board area of the village hall at least forty eight (48) hours before said public hearing.
At the hearing the applicant shall submit all information required with the application, together with photographic exhibits demonstrating the significant improvements or elements on the property upon which the proposed designation is based, and such other information as may be required by the commission. The commission may present testimony or documentary evidence of its own to establish a record regarding the historic or architectural importance of the proposed property, and may also solicit expert testimony regarding the same. The owner of the property proposed for designation shall be afforded a reasonable opportunity to present testimony or documentary evidence regarding the historic and architectural importance, or lack thereof, of the property and shall have the right to be represented by counsel and to cross examine other witnesses presented at the hearing. Any interested party may also comment or present testimony or documentary evidence at the hearing regarding the proposed designation.
A record of the proceedings shall be made and kept and the commission may continue the hearing from time to time without further notice. (Ord. 1971, 12-2-1991; amd. Ord. 2550, 12-19-2005)
4. Report And Recommendation: The commission shall review and evaluate all information received at the public hearing according to the applicable criteria set forth in this section and shall submit to the board, at the office of the village manager, its written report and recommendation to grant or deny the proposed designation within sixty (60) days after completion of the public hearing. An affirmative vote of four (4) members of the commission shall be required to recommend a grant of such designation. Copies of said report and recommendation shall be mailed, by regular mail, or delivered to the same parties who are designated in this section to receive notice of the hearing. (Ord. 2086, 9-19-1994; amd. Ord. 2550, 12-19-2005; Ord. 2846, 1-16-2014)
5. Decision: The board shall act to accept or reject the report and recommendation of the commission as to a proposed landmark designation within thirty (30) days after receipt thereof in the office of the village manager. Where the decision of the board is to grant landmark designation to a proposed building or structure, the board will adopt an ordinance to accomplish such designation. Where the decision of the board is to deny the requested landmark designation, written notice of such denial shall be forwarded by the village clerk to the applicant and the owner, by regular mail within ten (10) days following board action. The decision by the board shall constitute the final administrative decision on the proposed landmark request. No further application relating to the same property may be filed during a period of twenty four (24) months following a denial by the board.
6. Recording Designation: Where a building or structure has been designated as a local historic landmark by the board, a certified copy of the designation ordinance shall be recorded with the Cook County recorder of deeds or filed with the registrar of torrens titles of Cook County, where applicable.
7. Rescinding Designation: A designation granted by the board may be amended or rescinded by the same procedure and in accordance with the same criteria provided herein for the original designation.
8. Preservation Status: Every building or structure designated as a local historic landmark pursuant to the criteria and procedures set forth in this section shall be added to section 11-1-5, appendix D of this chapter and accorded preservation protection as provided by section 11-1-3-4 of this chapter. (Ord. 1971, 12-2-1991; amd. Ord. 2550, 12-19-2005; Ord. 3084, 4-15-2020)