The Common Council, in order to preserve and
protect places, sites, buildings, structures, works of art and other
objects having a special character or special historic or aesthetic
interest or value, does deem it in the best interest of the City of
Albany that there hereby be established an Historic Resources Commission,
with the powers and duties described herein.
The Historic Resources Commission shall administer
the provisions of this article so as to:
A. Regulate the appearance, style and components of new
construction in historic districts and of additions or alterations
to landmarks or to existing structures which are visible from the
public right-of-way within designated historic districts and adjacent
areas.
B. Protect, preserve and enhance those places, sites,
buildings, structures, objects and significant public interiors which
are of special character or interest to the City of Albany.
D. Foster civic pride in the accomplishments of the past.
E. Protect and enhance the attractiveness of the City
of Albany to visitors and the support and stimulus to the economy
thereby provided.
F. Foster harmonious, orderly and compatible physical
development within the City of Albany.
G. Safeguard and preserve the historic, cultural, architectural
and archaeological heritage of the City of Albany.
In the event that the Commission is not the
lead agency for the environmental review process, the opinion of the
Commission, as an involved agency, shall be sought for all applications
under this article.
[Added 3-1-2021 by L.L. No. 6-2021]
A. The Commission shall review orders for emergency actions relating to landmarks or property within historic districts after receiving notification pursuant to §
133-55 of this Code.
B. The Commission, in consultation with the Department of Buildings and Regulatory Compliance, shall prepare and submit an annual report to the Mayor and Common Council on or before August 1 of each year concerning emergency actions pursuant to §
133-55 of this Code relating to landmarks or property within historic districts. Such report shall include, but need not be limited to, the following:
[Amended 7-7-2022 by L.L. No. 6-2022 (D-2022)]
(1) The number and locations of emergency actions undertaken in the previous
calendar year, including maps depicting locations within each historic
district and the City as a whole;
(2) A description of the architectural and historic merit of landmarks
or property within an historic district subject to an emergency action
in the previous calendar year, the causes or factors contributing
to such actions, and the effects of such action on surrounding buildings
or structures;
(3) Recommendations, if any, to identify and encourage the stabilization
of landmarks and property within historic districts, in order to prevent
emergency actions.
If any clause, sentence, paragraph, section
or part of this article shall be adjudged by any court of competent
jurisdiction to be invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair
or invalidate the remainder thereof but shall be confined in its operation
to the clause, sentence, paragraph, section or part thereof directly
involved in the controversy in which such judgment shall have been
rendered.