A. 
The CHPC shall undertake an ongoing survey and research effort in the City to identify neighborhoods, areas, sites, structures, and objects that have historic, community, architectural, or aesthetic importance, interest, or value. As part of the survey, the Commission shall review and evaluate any prior surveys and studies by any unit of government or private organization, and compile appropriate descriptions, facts, and photographs.
B. 
The Commission shall identify potential landmarks and adopt procedures to nominate them in groups based upon the following criteria:
(1) 
The potential landmark is one identifiable neighborhood or district geographical area of the City.
(2) 
The potential landmarks associated with a particular person, event, or historical period.
(3) 
The potential landmarks of a particular architectural style or school, or of a particular architect, engineer, builder, designer, or craftsman.
(4) 
Such other criteria as may be adopted by the Commission to assure systematic survey and nomination of all potential landmarks within the City.
A. 
Nominations for landmark designation shall be made to the CHPC on a form provided by the Commission. A filing fee may be required.
B. 
The Commission shall, upon investigation as it deems necessary, make a preliminary determination as to whether a property, structure, or area possesses the integrity of design, workmanship, materials, location, setting, and feeling, and meets one or more of the following criteria:
(1) 
Significant value as part of the historic heritage or cultural characteristics of the community, county, state or nation.
(2) 
Identification with a person or persons who significantly contributed to the development of the community, county, state, or country.
(3) 
Representative of the distinguishing characteristics of architecture inherently valuable for the study of a period, type, method of construction, or use of indigenous materials.
(4) 
Notable work of a master builder, designer, architect, or artist, whose individual work has influenced the development of the community, county, state, or country.
(5) 
Unique location or singular physical characteristics that make it an established or familiar visual feature.
(6) 
Character as a particularly fine or unique example of a utilitarian structure, including, but not limited to, farmhouses, gas stations, or other commercial structures, with a high level of integrity or architectural significance.
(7) 
An area that has yielded or may be likely to yield, information important in history or prehistory.
C. 
A preliminary determination as to whether a property, structure, or area meets one or more of the foregoing criteria shall be made within 15 days of the filing of a nomination with the Commission.
A. 
The CHPC shall schedule a public hearing after the filing of an application to the City Council.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
(1) 
Any person, group of persons, or association, including, but not limited to, the Commission, may request a historic landmark designation by the City Council for any structure, building, or site, or part thereof, within the boundaries of the City, which may have historic or architectural significance as defined by this chapter. The City Clerk shall supply, upon request, the application forms. Completed forms shall be submitted to the City Council. Forms shall be forwarded to the Commission for its consideration and recommendation.
(2) 
Notice of date, time, place, and purpose of the public hearing shall be sent by mail to owners of record and to the nominators as well as to the adjoining property owners, not less than 15 days nor more than 30 days prior to the date of the hearing. A public notice also shall be published in a newspaper having general circulation in the City. The notice shall state the location of the property and summarize how the proposed landmark meets the criteria set forth in § 187-3.2 hereof.
(3) 
Upon receipt of the application, the Secretary of the Commission shall schedule a public hearing, to be held within 45 days after preliminary approval of the application.
(4) 
During the public hearing, the Commission shall review and evaluate the application according to the criteria established by this chapter.
(5) 
If the CHPC finds at the time that the application merits further consideration, then the Commission may table the request until its next regularly scheduled meeting.
(6) 
A certificate of appropriateness (COA) shall be required for alteration, construction, removal, or demolition of a proposed landmark, from the date when the nomination form is presented to the Commission until the final disposition of the request.
B. 
A decision shall be made within 30 days following the date of the closing of the public hearing.
(1) 
Following the public hearing, the Secretary of the Commission shall prepare the Commission's evaluation, recommendation, and all available information for submission to the City Council within 30 days.
(2) 
If the Commission decides that the landmark should be designated, it shall do so by a resolution passed by a majority of the Commission.
(3) 
The owners of record shall be notified promptly by a letter containing information of the Commission's decision.
(4) 
A simple majority vote by the City Council is necessary for approval of a landmark designation. If the City Council approves the application for a designation, a notice will be sent to the property owner, the CHPC, the Building Official, and the City Clerk, and recorded with the County Recorder of Deeds. If the City Council denies the petition, no petitioner or applicant can refile with the City Council for 90 days.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
(5) 
Buildings designated as historic landmarks shall be subject to issuance of certificates of appropriateness.