(a) Purpose. The purpose of this designation procedure is to provide a clear method by which certain sites, buildings, and larger districts are considered for formal designation as a Landmark or Landmark District within the City of Wooster, subject to elevate review to ensure that the sites, buildings, or districts retain their historic significance.
(b) Landmark and Landmark District Designation Procedure . The review procedure for the designation of a Landmark or Landmark District shall be as established in this section.
(1) Step 1 - Nomination. Any area, property, structure, landscape, site element or object in the City may be nominated for Landmark or Landmark District designation by any of the following with written consent from all property owners specified in the nomination:
A. The owner of any property included in the nomination;
B. One or more Design and Review Board members;
C. One or more City Council members;
D. The City Administrator; or
E. An organization or individual with a stated interest.
(2) Step 2 - Consideration. In determining whether or not a nomination should be designated a Landmark or Landmark District, the Design and Review Board and City Council shall consider the following criteria:
A. Its character, interest or value as part of the development, heritage, archeological, or cultural characteristics of the City of Wooster, State of Ohio, or the United States;
B. Its location as a site of a significant historic event;
C. Its identification with a person or persons who significantly contributed to the culture and development of the City;
D. Its exemplification of the cultural, economic, social or historic heritage of the City;
E. Its portrayal of the environment of a group of people in an era of history characterized by a distinctive architectural style;
F. Its embodiment of a distinguishing characteristic of an architectural type or specimen;
G. Its identification as the work of an architect or master builder whose individual work has influenced the development of the City;
H. Its embodiment of elements of architectural design, detail, materials or craftsmanship which represent a significant architectural innovation;
I. Its relationship to other distinctive areas which are eligible for preservation according to a plan based on a historic, cultural or architectural motif;
J. Its unique location or singular physical characteristic representing an established and familiar visual feature of a neighborhood, community or the City; and
K. Such other individual characteristics as shall be relevant to its designation as a Landmark or Landmark District.
(3) Step 3 - Design and Review Board Review and Recommendation.
A. Within 60 days after the application is determined to be complete, the Design and Review Board shall hold a public hearing on the nomination to designate a Landmark or Landmark District.
C. Within 60 days of the close of the public hearing, the Design and Review Board shall make a recommendation to City Council on the nomination. In making its recommendation, the Design and Review may recommend approval, approval with some modification, or denial of the application. If the Design and Review Board fails to make a recommendation within the established timeframe, the application will move forward to Section 1105.09(b)(4) with a recommendation of denial.
(4) Step 4 - City Council Review and Decision.
A. Within 45 days after the Design and Review Board makes a recommendation (Step 3), the application shall be placed on City Council's agenda and City Council shall set a time for a public hearing on the proposed designation of a Landmark or Landmark District.
C. At the conclusion of the public hearing, City Council shall make a decision to approve the recommendation of the Design and Review Board, approve the recommendation of the Design and Review Board with modifications, or deny the recommendation of the Design and Review Board.
D. A majority vote of the full membership of City Council shall be necessary for the adoption of a Landmark or Landmark District.
E. If the recommendation for a nominated Landmark or Landmark District is not adopted by City Council within 120 days after the most recent recommendation from the Design and Board, such proposed recommendation shall be deemed to have been defeated and denied.
(Ord. 2018-009. Passed 5-7-18.)