The Commission shall have the following powers and duties:
(A) Review properties nominated for designation as a heritage landmark or heritage landmark district, and make recommendations to the City Council regarding historic designations.
(B) Review and provide comments and recommendations on nominations of properties to the National Register of Historic Places.
(C) Review and issue a certificate of appropriateness, when appropriate, on any application for alterations, moving or demolishing a designated heritage landmark or contributing property or noncontributing property in a heritage landmark district.
(D) Conduct surveys and maintain a roster of historic resources which shall include a description of the characteristics of the resources which justified its designation, and a description of the particular features that should be preserved, and shall include the location and boundaries of the resource.
(E) Review and comment to City Council on land use, housing, and redevelopment, municipal improvement and other types of planning and programs undertaken by any agency of city, county or state governments, as they relate to historic resources in the City of Gaylord.
(F) Work for the continuing education of the citizens of the City of Gaylord with respect to the civic and architectural heritage of the city.
(G) Act in a resource and advisory capacity to owners of historic resources regarding their preservation, restoration, and rehabilitation.
(H) May make recommendations to City Council on the acceptance of grants and gifts given for heritage preservation purposes.
(I) May review and make recommendations to City Council on proposed amendments to the zoning ordinance as it relates to historic resources or heritage landmark districts.
(J) Make recommendations to City Council on proposed amendments to this subchapter.
(K) Prepare an annual report by October 31 for the submission to City Council and the Minnesota State Historic Preservation Office concerning the work of the Commission during the preceding year.
(L) Be informed about and provide information to the public and city staff on the use of various Federal, state, local and private funding sources available to promote landmark preservation and other incentives for preservation of heritage landmarks, including legislation, regulations and codes which encourage the use and adaptive re-use of heritage landmarks.
(M) May make recommendation to City Council that designated properties or historic resources be acquired by purchase, gift or by eminent domain.
(N) Due to peculiar conditions of design and construction in historic neighborhoods, it may be in the public interest to retain a neighborhood's historic appearance by making variances to normal requirements. Where it is deemed that such variances will not adversely affect neighboring properties, the commission shall recommend to the planning and zoning commission that such variance to standard requirements be made.
(O) Due to peculiar conditions of design and construction of historic buildings it may be in the public interest to retain the economic viability of a historic building by making exceptions to normal requirements. Where it is deemed that such exceptions will be no more hazardous based on life safety, fire safety and sanitation than the existing building, the Commission shall recommend to the building official that such exceptions to standard requirements be made.
(Ord. 324, passed 11-4-2015; Am. Ord. 324, passed 10- 3-2018)
