The Commission may designate historic resources to the Local Landmark Register as a means of providing recognition of their significance and providing incentives and guidelines for their preservation. The Local Landmark Register is maintained by the Historic Preservation Officer and shall be available to the public.
(A) Historic resources within the corporate boundaries of the city and listed in the National Register, including all National Register-listed historic districts in their entirety may be listed in the Local Landmark Register using the procedures outlined in division (C) of this section, but need not be documented as outlined in divisions (B)(2) through (4) of this section. In such cases, the National Register nomination shall serve as the Record of Designation. As Historic Resources of Statewide Significance, all National Register-listed properties, including individual properties in recognized National Register-listed historic districts are subject to the regulations in § 156.10(E), pursuant to Oregon state law.
(B) Criteria for designating historic resources to the Local Landmark Register. Any building, structure, object, site, or district may be designated to the Local Landmark Register if it meets all the Criteria of division (A) of this section or all of the criteria listed below:
(1) The property is located within the boundaries of the City of Union;
(2) The property is over 50 years of age or of exceptional importance, or in the case of a district, the majority of the properties are over 50 years old or have exceptional significance;
(3) The property possesses sufficient historic integrity, in that there are no major alterations or additions that have obscured or destroyed the significant historic features. Major alterations that may destroy the historic integrity include, but are not limited to, changes in pitch of the main roof, enlargement or enclosure of windows on principal facades, addition of upper stories or the removal of original upper stories, covering the exterior walls with non-historic materials, moving the resource from its original location to one that is dissimilar to the original, additions which significantly detract from or obscure the form and appearance of the historic resource when viewed from the public right-of-way;
(4) The property has historic significance as demonstrated by meeting at least one of the following criteria:
(a) Association with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history;
(b) Association with the lives or persons significant in our past;
(c) Embody the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction or that represent the work of a master, or that possess high artistic values, or that represent a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction; and/or
(d) Have yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history.
(C) Nomination procedure. Any person, group, or government agency may nominate a property for listing in the Local Landmark Register. The nomination procedures are as follows:
(1) There is no fee associated with nominating a historic resource to the Landmark Register.
(2) The nomination for a historic resource to the Local Landmark Register must include a description of the boundaries of the proposed nominated area and the structures, objects, and sites contained therein, and a statement explaining how the historic resource(s) meet(s) the criteria under division (B) of this section. The Historic Preservation Officer may establish additional standards for a complete application.
(3) Prior to setting the proposed nomination on the agenda for the next Commission meeting, the Historic Preservation Officer shall inform property owners in writing of the nomination process pursuant to local and state law. To be listed in the Local Landmark Register, the property’s legal owner(s) shall provide to the city a written statement acknowledging that the owner understands the nomination process and the results of such a designation, and wishes to have their property listed in the Local Landmark Register. Within locally designated historic districts a boundary may be established, but only those that submit a statement as described above will be listed in the Local Landmark Register. In cases where multiple persons or entities own a single property, a simple majority of the property owners must submit a written statement. The city may not object to the listing of a historic resource in city ownership. This provision does not apply to individual historic resources and historic districts listed in the National Register.
(4) Upon acceptance of a complete application and receipt of written owner consent, the Historic Preservation Officer shall schedule a public hearing before the Commission pursuant to applicable state and local laws.
(5) The Commission shall review the documentation for completeness, accuracy, and compliance with the “Criteria for Designating Historic Resources to the Local Landmark Register” of this section. The Commission may make a recommendation to approve, deny, or table the application pending further testimony, or to allow for the petitioner to provide additional information as requested by the Commission. The Commission shall develop written findings to support its decisions.
(6) Applications approved or denied by the Commission shall be final, but can be appealed to the City Council within 60 days for the final decision.
(7) Upon final approval by the Historic Preservation Committee, the Historic Preservation Officer shall prepare a Record of Designation that includes the original nomination materials, and any testimony or additional materials considered during the nomination process that establishes the eligibility of the historic resource for listing in the Local Landmark Register. Applicant may appeal a final decision by the Historic Preservation Committee within 60 days of the decision.
(8) Historic resources designated as landmarks shall be noticed as such in “Union Historic District” and the National Register of Historic Places. The designation shall apply to the entirety of the recognized Landmark as described in the Record of Designation regardless of future property division or ownership.
(9) A Record of Designation may be amended through the process described in division (C) of this section. The Historic Preservation Officer may administratively add additional materials gathered under the provisions of § 156.08 to keep the record current or elaborate on established facts in the Record of Designation. Notice of such an action shall be provided to the Commission at their next regular meeting.
(D) Results of listing in Local Landmark Register. Historic resources listed in the Local Landmark Register receive the following benefits:
(1) All uses and restrictions established by the underlying zoning, existing conditional use permits, and other applicable design standards shall remain in effect unless changed through due process.
(3) Union Planning Commission shall consider granting zoning variances and/or conditional use permits in order to encourage the productive use and preservation of landmarks.
(4) The local Building Official shall consider waiving certain code requirements in accordance with the existing state building code.
(5) Property owners of landmarks may seek technical or financial assistance from the Commission in applying for grants or tax incentives for rehabilitating their properties as resources and funds are available.
(6) Property owners of landmarks are eligible to receive city-funded grants and loans to assist with the preservation of their buildings as resources and funds are available.
(Ord. 526, passed 6-11-2012)