Any person may request the designation of a landmark, landmark site or historic district by submitting to the Landmarks Preservation Commission an application for such designation on a form furnished by the Landmarks Preservation Commission. The Landmarks Preservation Commission may initiate proceedings for the designation of a landmark, landmark site or historic district.
A.
Designation of an individual landmark or historic district may be proposed by the Commission, by the owner of the property or by any resident of the City.
B.
In the event the Landmarks Preservation Commission decides to entertain an application for designation, notice that such application is being entertained by the Commission shall be given by the applicant or, if the Commission has initiated designation proceedings on its own, notice of such shall be given by the Commission to the owner of the parcel on which the proposed landmark is located or owners of parcels located within the proposed historic district. Notice shall be given by certified mail, return receipt requested. Notice shall also be given to the owners of all property located contiguous with the exterior boundary lines of the subject parcel(s) by first-class mail.
C.
Said owner or owners shall have the right to be heard by the Landmarks Preservation Commission prior to final action on the application by the Commission. The Commission may also, at its discretion, call a public hearing to receive comments concerning the subject application. Notice of such hearing shall appear at least once in the newspaper designated for legal notices in the City not less than five days prior to said hearing.
In accordance with regulations provided for in this article, the Commission shall either recommend approval or disapproval of an application for landmark designation or for designation of an historic district, and approve or deny any other application provided for in this chapter, within 30 days after completion of all proceedings before the Commission. Any recommendation for approval of a landmark or historic district designation application may include modifications the Commission considers appropriate and beneficial to the purposes of this article. The Commission's recommendation shall immediately be filed with the City Council and notice of such recommendation shall be mailed by the City Clerk to the owners of the subject property, the City Planning Board and the Zoning Board of Appeals.
If the Landmarks Preservation Commission recommends disapproval of any application for landmark or historic district designation, the proceedings regarding the proposed historic district, landmark or landmark site shall terminate. No application shall be renewed for a period of one year from the date of initial filing. The Commission's recommendation shall immediately be filed with the City Council and notice of such recommendation shall be mailed by the City Clerk to the owners of the subject property, the City Planning Board and the Zoning Board of Appeals.
A.
Time limit for Council action; vote required. If the Landmark Preservation Commission recommends the approval for an historic district, landmark or landmark site designation, the City Council shall, within 60 days of said recommendation, call a public hearing to consider approval of the application. Such hearing shall be advertised at least once in the newspaper designated for publication of legal notices not less than five days' prior to such hearing, and notice thereof shall be served by mail, postmarked at least 14 days prior to the day of the public hearing, upon the owner or owners of the proposed landmark or landmark site or the owners of the properties within the proposed historic district as shown by the current tax rolls of the City and upon the owner or owners of all property located within 500 feet of the exterior boundary lines of the subject place, site, structure or historic district. The City Council shall act to approve or disapprove the designation within 45 days of the closing of the public hearing. A vote of at least four members of the City Council shall be necessary to designate an historic district, landmark or landmark site.
B.
Criteria to be used to review application for landmark or historic district designation. The City Council shall utilize the same criteria applicable to the Landmarks Preservation Commission set forth in § 180-11 when determining whether to grant an historic district, landmark or landmark site designation.
When the City Council approves or disapproves an historic district, landmark or landmark site application, the Director of the Building Department, the Landmarks Preservation Commission and the owner or owners of the subject property shall be notified in writing by the City Clerk. If the City Council approves an application, the City Clerk shall also notify the City Assessor.