As a matter of public policy the city council aims to preserve, enhance, and perpetuate those aspects of the city having historical, cultural, architectural and archaeological merit. Such preservation promotes and protects the economic, cultural, educational and general welfare of the public. More specifically, the purpose of this article is:
(1) 
To preserve, protect, and enhance historically, culturally, architecturally, and archaeologically significant sites and structures which represent the unique character of the city and serve as reminders of the city’s historical, cultural, architectural, and archaeological heritage;
(2) 
To promote the economic prosperity and welfare of the community by conserving the value of historic sites and encouraging the most appropriate use of such property within the city;
(3) 
To foster civic pride in the accomplishments of the past;
(4) 
To provide a review process for the appropriate preservation and development of important historical, cultural, architectural, and archaeological resources;
(5) 
To ensure the harmonious, orderly, and efficient growth and development of the city;
(6) 
To protect and enhance the city’s attractiveness to visitors and the support and stimulus to the economy thereby provided;
(7) 
To maintain a generally harmonious appearance of both historic and modern structures through the use of complementary scale, form, color, proportion, texture, and material;
(8) 
To encourage stabilization, restoration and improvements of such properties and their values.
(1990 Code, sec. 12-1)
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Alteration.
Any change to the exterior of a historic landmark, building, object, structure or site within a designated district. For buildings, objects, sites or structures, alteration shall include, but is not limited to, the changing of roofing or siding materials; changing, eliminating, or adding doors, door frames, windows, window frames, shutters, fences, railings, porches, balconies, signs, or other ornamentation; painting previously unpainted surfaces; removing paint; or the changing of paint color.
Building.
A building, such as a house, barn, church, hotel, or similar construction, that is created to shelter any form of human activity. “Building” may also be used to refer to a historically and functionally related unit, such as a courthouse and jail or a house and barn.
Demolition.
The intentional destruction of any building, structure, object or site designated a historic landmark or located within a historic district.
Family.
The immediate family and their lineal descendants.
Historic district.
As designated by the city council, an area that possesses a significant concentration, linkage, or continuity of buildings, structures, objects or sites united historically or aesthetically by plan or physical development. A “historic district” has outstanding historical, cultural, architectural, or archaeological significance in the state, nation, region or community.
Historic landmark.
As designated by the city council, a building, structure, object or site which has outstanding historical, cultural, architectural, or archaeological significance in the state, nation, region or community. The designation “historic landmark” recognizes that the accessory buildings, fences or other appurtenances at the site are equally and vitally important to the preservation of the property.
New construction.
Any building, object, or structure which is relocated, assembled, produced or erected that alters the appearance of a property, including the replacement of a building or structure or a portion thereof that has been removed or destroyed.
Object.
Means, and is used to distinguish from buildings and structures, those constructions that are primarily artistic in nature or are relatively small in scale and simply constructed. Although it may be, by nature or design, movable, an object is associated with a specific setting or environment, such as statuary in a designed landscape.
Ordinary repair and maintenance.
An in-kind replacement of materials located on the external portion of a building or structure. Ordinary repair and maintenance does not involve a change in design, material, or outward appearance. The replacement of a sign, building, object or structure in its entirety does not constitute ordinary repair and maintenance.
Permanent sign.
A sign erected for more than sixty (60) days.
Property.
Buildings, structures, objects and sites.
Rehabilitation.
The act or process of returning a building, object, or structure to a state of utility through repair or alteration which makes possible an efficient contemporary use while preserving those portions or features of the property which are significant to its historical, cultural or architectural values.
Restoration.
The act or process of accurately recovering the form and details of a building, object or structure and its setting as it appeared at a particular period of time by the removal of later work or by the replacement of missing earlier work.
Sign.
Any letters, figures, symbols, trademarks, or devices designed to inform people or attract the attention of persons or [sic] to an individual, firm, profession, business, commodity or service, and which is recognizable from any public right-of-way.
Site.
The location of a significant event, a prehistoric or historic occupation or activity, or a building or structure, whether standing, ruined, or vanished, where the location itself possesses historical, cultural, or archeological value regardless of the value of any existing structure.
Structure.
Means, and is used to distinguish from buildings, those functional constructions made usually for purposes other than creating shelter for human activity.
(1990 Code, sec. 12-2)
Any person or entity violating any provision of this article shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be punished as prescribed in section 1.01.009 of this code.
(1990 Code, sec. 12-3)
(a) 
Generally.
Nothing contained in this section or in the designation of property as being in a historic district or a historic landmark shall affect the present legal use of property. Use classifications as to all property which may be included in a historic district or historic landmark shall continue to be governed by the city’s general zoning provisions, this section and this article, and the procedures therein established. In no case, however, shall any use be permitted which requires the demolition, razing, remodeling, or alteration of any buildings or structures in such a historic district or historic landmark so as to adversely affect the character of the district or historic landmark, except upon compliance with the terms of this section. For purposes of clarity in the zoning designation of property, all zoning maps shall reflect [property] in historic districts or historic landmarks by the inclusion of the word “historic” as a prefix to its use designation as specified in accordance with consideration as prohibiting a property owner from continuing to use property for a nonconforming use.
(b) 
Permitted uses.
All uses shall be consistent with and in maintaining the nature and integrity of the historic district. The city administrator, in consultation with the historic district board of review and the city council, shall interpret any request for a new use under this article.
(c) 
Prohibited uses.
(1) 
Any use which is objectionable by reason of emission of odor, dust, smoke, gas, vibration or noises which may impose a hazard to health or property.
(2) 
Uses listed in section 14.02.154(c)(26), (28), (29), and (31) and section 14.02.155(c)(4), (10), (14), (20) and (21).
(1990 Code, sec. 12-4)