[Ord. No. 4, 2-3-2021]
It is hereby declared as a matter of public policy that the
protection, enhancement, and perpetuation of landmarks and historic
districts is necessary to promote the economic, cultural, educational,
and general welfare of the public. Inasmuch as the identity of a people
is founded on its past, and inasmuch as the City has many significant
historic, architectural, and cultural resources which constitute its
heritage, this act is intended to:
(a) Protect and enhance the landmarks and historic districts which represent
distinctive elements of the City’s historic, architectural,
and cultural heritage.
(b) Foster civic pride in the accomplishments of the past.
(c) Protect and enhance the City’s attractiveness to visitors and
the support and stimulus to the economy thereby provided.
(d) Ensure the harmonious, orderly, and efficient growth and development
of the City.
[Ord. No. 4, 2-3-2021]
There is hereby created a commission to be known as the “Scenic
and Historic Preservation Commission.”
(a) Membership.
(1)
The Commission shall consist of five members to be appointed,
to the extent available in the community, by the Mayor as follows:
a.
At least one shall be an architect.
b.
At least one shall be selected from a list of nominees provided
by the Oneida County Historical Society.
c.
At least one shall be a resident of a historic district.
d.
At least one shall be selected from a list of nominees provided
by the Landmarks Society of Greater Utica.
e.
At least one shall have demonstrated significant interest in
and commitment to the field of historic preservation evidenced either
by involvement in a local historic preservation group, employment,
or volunteer activity in the field of historic preservation, or other
serious interest in the field.
(2)
All members shall have a known interest in historic preservation
and architectural development within the City.
(b) One member of the Commission shall be appointed for a term of one
year, one member of the Commission shall be appointed for a term of
two years, one member for a term of three years, one member for a
term of four years and one member of the Commission shall be appointed
for a term of five years. All subsequent appointments shall be for
a full five-year term.
(c) Commission members may serve no more than two consecutive five-year
terms.
(d) Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term only and members
may be removed for cause by the Mayor upon written charges and after
a public hearing.
(e) There shall be a Chair and Vice Chair of the Commission who will
be elected by and from the members of the Commission.
(f) The powers of the Commission shall include:
(1)
Utilization of staff and professional consultants as necessary
to carry out the duties of the Commission.
(2)
Promulgation of rules and regulations as necessary for the conduct
of its business.
(3)
Adoption of criteria for the identification of significant historic,
architectural, and cultural landmarks and for the delineation of historic
districts.
(4)
Conduct of surveys of significant historic, architectural, and
cultural landmarks and historic districts within the City.
(5)
Designation of identified structures or resources as landmarks
and historic districts.
(6)
Adoption of criteria for use in reviewing proposed building
alterations.
(7)
Acceptance on behalf of the City government of the donation
of facade easements and development rights, and the making of recommendations
to the City government concerning the acquisition of facade easements
or other interests in real property as necessary to carry out the
purposes of this chapter.
(8)
Increasing public awareness of the value of historic, cultural,
and architectural preservation by developing and participating in
public education programs.
(9)
Making recommendations to City government concerning the utilization
of state, federal, or private funds to promote the preservation of
landmarks and historic districts within the City.
(10)
Recommending acquisition of a landmark structure by the City
government where its preservation is essential to the purposes of
this act and where private preservation is not feasible.
(11)
Approval or disapproval of applications for certificates of
appropriateness pursuant to this Division.
(g) The Commission shall meet at least monthly, but meetings may be held
at any time on the written request of any two of the Commission members
or on the call of the Chair or the Mayor.
(h) Planning Board coordination. The Scenic and Historic Board is responsible
for coordinating with the Planning Board when projects that are located
within the Scenic and Historic Preservation District are subject to
site plan review.
(i) A quorum for the transaction of business shall consist of three of
the Commission’s members, but not less than a majority of the
full authorized membership may grant or deny a certificate of appropriateness.