The Commission may, on its own motion, designate
a building, structure, or site as a landmark or landmark site, in
accordance with the procedures set forth in this article.
Prior to designation of a building, structure, or site as a landmark by the Commission, the Commission shall notify the owner of the property by registered mail, return receipt requested, that such designation is contemplated and enclose with such notice a copy of this chapter. Such notice shall specifically reference this Article
IV and shall request the owner to indicate consent to such designation by signing and returning the form of consent enclosed with the notice. Such notice shall further indicate that if the owner objects to such designation or desires further information, the owner should return the form enclosed with the notice, which requests a meeting of the Commission with the owner of the proposed landmark or his representative, within 30 days from receipt of such notice.
In determining whether to approve or disapprove
a proposed designation, the Commission shall consider only the exterior
features of the building or structure which are visible from a public
street, other rights-of-way, or parks, and shall have no jurisdiction
to consider changes to interior walls, arrangements, structures or
spaces or other changes that are not visible from a public street,
right-of-way or park unless they are open to the public.
Except as provided in Article
VIII, no obligation or responsibility shall be created or imposed on the owner of a designated landmark as a result of such designation, nor shall a landmark designation in any way restrict the use, development or modification of the premises by the owner.
Nothing contained in this article shall be construed
to prevent the ordinary maintenance and repair of any exterior architectural
feature on premises designated as a landmark which does not involve
a significant change in design, material or the outward appearance
thereof.