The Columbia Heritage and Preservation Commission (hereinafter
referred to as the "Commission" or the "CHPC") shall consist of nine
voting members, residents of the City of Columbia, Illinois, or persons
owning real property located in the City of Columbia, Illinois, appointed
by the Mayor with the approval of the City Council. The residency
requirement may be waived for not more than three members who, in
the opinion of the Mayor and the City Council, possess special knowledge
or expertise in historic preservation or local history.
The members of the CHPC shall be appointed on the basis of expertise,
experience, or interest in the areas of architectural history, building
construction or engineering, finance, historical and architectural
preservation, neighborhood organization, or real estate (especially
as same pertains to historic districts in the City). All members shall
be provided with Columbia Historical Society memberships; however,
two members shall be members of the Columbia Historical Society selected
by said Columbia Historical Society to represent the Society on the
CHPC and the remaining seven members shall be from the community at
large (that is to say, not appointed to the Commission to represent
any other special interest group, association, board, commission or
society).
Members of the CHPC shall be appointed for terms of two years.
Of those members first taking office, four shall be appointed for
one year and five for two years. Alternate members may be appointed
to serve in the absence of or disqualification of the regular members.
Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term only. Appointments
of alternates or to fill vacancies shall be by the Mayor with the
approval of the City Council. Members shall serve without compensation.
The CHPC shall have the following powers and duties:
A. To adopt its own procedural regulations.
B. To conduct an ongoing survey to identify historically and architecturally
significant properties, structures, and areas in the City.
C. To investigate and recommend to the City Council the adoption of
ordinances designating properties or structures having special historic,
community, or architectural value as landmarks.
D. To investigate and recommend to the City Council the adoption of
ordinances designating areas having special historic, community, or
architectural value as historic districts.
E. To keep a register of all properties and structures that have been
designated as landmarks or historic districts, including all information
required for each designation.
F. To determine an appropriate system of markers and make recommendations
for the design and implementation of specific markings of the streets
and routes leading from one landmark or historic district to another.
G. To advise owners of landmarks and property or structures within historic
districts on physical and financial aspects of preservation, renovation,
rehabilitation, and reuse, and on procedures for inclusion on the
state or national register of historic places.
H. To inform and educate the citizens concerning the historic and architectural
heritage of the City by publishing appropriate maps, newsletters,
brochures, and pamphlets, and by holding programs and seminars.
I. To hold public hearings and to review applications for construction,
alteration, removal, or demolition affecting proposed or designated
landmarks or structures or historic districts, and issue or deny certificates
of appropriateness for such actions. Applicants shall be required
to submit plans, drawings, elevations, specifications, and other information
as may be necessary to make decisions.
J. To develop specific guidelines for the alteration, demolition, construction,
or removal of landmarks or property and structures within historic
districts.
K. To review proposed zoning amendments and applications for special
use permits or variances that affect proposed or designated landmarks
and historic districts. Such review shall be made prior to the date
of the hearing by the City Plan Commission or the Zoning Board of
Appeals.
L. To administer on behalf of the City any property or full or partial
interest in real property, including a conservation right as that
term is used in 765 ILCS 120/1 et seq., which the City may have or
accept as a gift or otherwise, upon designation by the City Council.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
M. To accept and administer on behalf of the City, upon designation
by the City Council, such gifts, grants, and money as may be appropriate
for the purpose of this chapter.
N. To call upon available City staff members as well as other experts
for technical advice.
O. To testify before all boards and commissions, including the City
Plan Commission and the Zoning Board of Appeals, on any matter affecting
historically and architecturally significant property and landmarks.
P. To periodically review the City Zoning Code and to recommend to the
City Plan Commission and the City Council any amendments appropriate
for the protection and continued use of landmarks or property and
structures within historic districts.
Q. To recommend that the Mayor certify this chapter with the Illinois
Historic Preservation Agency and with the Secretary of the United
States Department of the Interior, in order to qualify historic structures
under the federal Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981, Sections 212
and 214, and under the Illinois Revenue Act of 1939, as amended.
R. To maintain a registry of historic sites.