[Ord. No. 2019-02 § 4]
The demolition of a designated local landmark or a property within a designated historic district shall be prohibited unless, upon application for and approval of, the commission issues a certificate of economic hardship allowing said demolition. The owner(s) of record or the City may apply for a demolition permit for designated properties.
A. Demolition application process. Demolition applications shall be made to the office of construction code enforcement. The office of construction code enforcement shall forward all demolition permit requests for local landmarks and properties within designated historic districts to the commission secretary within two business days of their receipt. No demolition permits shall be issued for local landmarks or properties within designated historic districts prior to the commission, or the City Council upon appeal, issuing a certificate of economic hardship, excluding the circumstances described in Section
14.01.090 of this chapter.
B. Criteria for demolition request. The commission shall request and receive from the applicant all information it deems necessary to adequately consider the demolition of a designated property. This may include, but is not limited to, the following:
1. A report from a licensed engineer or architect with experience in rehabilitation as to the structural soundness of the building(s) on the property, their suitability for rehabilitation, and possible new uses for the property; and
2. The assessed value of the land and improvements thereon according to the two most recent assessments; and
3. The real estate taxes paid during the previous two years; and
4. All appraisals obtained by the owner or applicant in connection with his purchase, financing or ownership of the property; and
5. Any listing of the property for sale or rent, price asked and offers received, if any; and
6. All building, fire and housing code violations which have been listed on the property for the past two years; and
7. Any federal, state or local citation(s) which have determined the building to be a nuisance under applicable law; and
8. Estimated market value of the property after completion of the proposed demolition and after renovation of the existing property for reuse; and
9. If the property is income-producing;
a. Annual gross income from the property for the previous two years; and
b. Itemized operating and maintenance expenses for the previous two years; and
c. Annual cash flow, if any, for the previous two years; and
d. Proof that efforts have been made by the owner to obtain a reasonable return on his investment.
C. Notification of proposed demolition. The commission agenda shall be posted on the first floor City hall bulletin board used for such purposes no less than one business day prior to the scheduled time of the meeting and shall serve as notice to the general public of the pending meeting.
D. Commission review process. The commission shall review all the evidence and information submitted by the applicant and receive testimony from other interested parties. If the commission finds that the building substantially violates the City building, fire and/or housing codes or the property owner cannot obtain a reasonable economic return therefrom, then the commission shall issue the demolition permit. The commission shall act on each application within 60 days after the receipt of a complete application.
E. Notification of determination. The commission secretary shall notify the owner(s) of record by regular mail within 15 business days of the commission's decision. The office of construction code enforcement shall be notified within two business days of the commission's action. If the certificate of economic hardship is issued, the commission secretary shall inform the chief building official of said approval. If the certificate of economic hardship is denied, the chief building official shall be instructed to withhold the demolition permit pending possible appeal of the commission's determination.
Notified parties will be informed of their right to appeal the commission's decision.