A. 
Any person, group of persons or association, or the Historic Preservation Committee (hereinafter referred to as the "Committee"), on its own initiative, may propose landmark designation for any improvement or site which is located within the corporate limits of the Village and which may have historic significance as set forth in the criteria for evaluation. The application for landmark designation (hereinafter referred to as the "application") shall be in writing and shall contain such information and be in such form as the Committee shall prescribe. Criteria and application format required shall be supplied the Committee and made available through the Village Clerk's office.
B. 
The application shall be filed with the Village Clerk. Within five working days of filing, the Village Clerk shall transmit the application to the Committee for review and public hearing.
C. 
Within 30 days after filing of the application, the Committee shall contact the property owner (if the application was made by a party other than the property owner) to provide a copy of the application and request a response from the owner in writing as to whether or not the property owner consents or objects to such a designation.
D. 
Within in 60 days after filing of the application, the Committee shall hold a public hearing on the question of the proposed landmark designation.
E. 
Prior to the public hearing on the application, the Committee shall review the application and any additional documentation on the site or site improvement proposed for landmark designation and make a report containing preliminary findings on the historic, architectural and aesthetic significance of the proposed site or proposed site improvement.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 100, General Provisions, Art. I)]
F. 
Notice of the public hearing shall be not less than seven days or more than 30 days in advance of the date of the hearing. The notice shall identify the applicant, property owner(s); property affected and shall describe the proposed landmark designation. The applicant shall provide a list to the Village Clerk of the owner(s) of such property and the owner(s) of record of all the properties situated within 200 feet of the property that is the subject of the public hearing and the Village Clerk shall mail to said owners a written notice of the public hearing not less than five days prior to the hearing.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 100, General Provisions, Art. I)]
G. 
The public hearing shall be conducted by the Committee and a record of the proceedings shall be preserved by the Committee.
H. 
The Committee shall make written findings of fact and recommendations and submit them to the Village Board within 15 days of the public hearing.
I. 
Applications for local landmark designation which do not have the consent of the property owner shall require a 3/4 majority vote of the Committee to recommend approval to the Village Board.
J. 
Within 60 days of the filing of the application, the Village Board shall grant or deny the application for landmark designation. If the Village Board approves the application, the Village Clerk will send a notice to the property owner and the applicant and a copy of the ordinance or resolution effectuating the designation shall be recorded with the County Recorder of Deeds, the County Clerk, and the Township Assessor. Application for local landmark designation which does not have the property owner's consent shall require a 3/4 majority vote of the Village Board for passage.
K. 
The person, group of persons or association submitting the application, excluding the Committee, when acting on its own initiative, shall bear all costs of and pay all fees required in connection with said application. Fees may be set by ordinance enacted by the Village Board if they so desire.
L. 
During the period beginning with the filing of an application for landmark designation and ending with the final action of the Village Board granting or denying said application, no exterior architectural feature of any property or improvement or any site which is the subject of an application may undergo alteration, construction, demolition, or removal would be subject to the issuance of a certificate of appropriateness after designation. Nothing in this subsection shall operate to bar ordinary repair and maintenance or any work that is necessary to prevent or correct an imminently dangerous or hazardous condition.
M. 
Landmarks shall be designated by ordinance. Once a property or an improvement has been designated as a landmark, no exterior architectural feature of said designated landmark may undergo alteration, construction, demolition, or removal without the issuance of a certificate of appropriateness under the provisions of this chapter. Nothing in this subsection shall operate to bar ordinary repair and maintenance or any work that is necessary to prevent or correct an imminently dangerous or hazardous condition.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 100, General Provisions, Art. I)]
N. 
In the event that an application is denied by the Village Board, or the application is withdrawn after a public hearing, no application of the same property or improvement shall be made within 12 months of the date of the denial or withdrawal.
The Committee shall not recommend nor shall the Village Board grant a designation of a landmark unless it shall make findings based upon the evidence presented to it in each specific case that the proposed landmark meets the following requirements:
A. 
That it is located within the corporate boundaries of the Village; and
B. 
That one or more of the following conditions exists:
(1) 
That it is associated with an important person or with important events in national, state or local history;
(2) 
That it is representative of the distinguishing characteristics of an architectural type inherently valuable for a study of a period, style, method of construction or use of indigenous materials or craftsmanship;
(3) 
That it is associated with a notable work of a master builder, designer, architect or artist whose individual genius influenced an era;
(4) 
That it possesses significant value as part of the historical, cultural, artistic, social, ethnic, or other heritage of the nation, state, county or community;
(5) 
That the proposed landmark is of historic, architectural, or cultural significance which is threatened with demolition by public or private action;
(6) 
That the proposed landmark's unique location or singular physical characteristics makes it an established or familiar visual feature in the community; and
C. 
That it possesses integrity of design, materials, workmanship, setting, location, and/or association; and
D. 
That it embodies such other qualities and characteristics as in the judgment of the Committee should be considered for the designation of a landmark.