§ 21-61. Regulations for historic sites.

(a)

The purpose of this section is to establish criteria for identifying structures and sites of historical significance in the City, and to establish minimum procedures to preserve them. All properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places and/or the Florida Master Site File of Historic Places shall be presumed to meet the above criteria, and shall be classified as designated historic sites. The City commission, after receiving recommendation(s) from the planning commission, may designate historic sites based on the following criteria:

(1)

The site or structure is associated with events that are significant to local, State, or national history; or the site or structure embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction, or represents the work of a master, or possesses high artistic values, or represents a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction;

(2)

The property is one that, by its location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association adds to the City's sense of time and place and historical development;

(3)

The property's design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association have not been so altered that the overall integrity of the site has been irretrievably lost; and

(4)

The structure or site is more than fifty (50) years old. Structures or sites less than fifty (50) years old may be designated, if there is a strong justification concerning its architectural merit, or the historical attributes of the structure or site are considered to be especially valuable.

The planning director may issue an official certificate of historic significance to the owners of designated historic sites, and is authorized to issue and place official signs at such locations. Structures and buildings classified as designated historic sites shall be entitled to modified enforcement of the 1994 Standard Building Code, as provided in Chapter 34, section 3401.5 and as amended, which is published by the Southern Standard Building Code Congress International, Inc.

(b)

No demolition, alteration, or relocation of a historic structure shall be permitted, except as provided below:

(1)

Work that does not require a construction permit and that is done to repair damage or prevent deterioration or decay of a structure, or any part thereof, shall be conducted so as to restore the structure to a condition equal to or as nearly so to its condition prior to the damage, deterioration, or decay;

(2)

Activity approved by the planning director that restores the structure's original appearance, or a reasonable approximation.

(3)

Nothing in this section shall prevent the City from exercising its responsibility to inspect and condemn any dilapidated historic structure that presents a nuisance or danger to public health and safety.

(c)

All new construction within a designated historic site shall be reviewed by the planning commission and approved by the City Commission. New structures, parking lots, drainage facilities, and other facilities shall be depicted on a site plan that shall be submitted to the planning director prior to review by the planning commission. All site alterations shall be consistent with the approved site plan.

In approving new structures or facilities on a historic site, the City Commission shall determine that the proposal will not hinder the use or enjoyment of the historic site or surrounding historic properties. Also, the commission shall find that the new site feature(s) would be hidden from view to the greatest extent possible and/or are appropriate and compatible with the balance of the site and adjacent historic sites. The commission may place any conditions on an approval that it determines are necessary to protect the integrity of the historic site or area.

(Ord. No. O-00-09, Art. 2 (2.03.01), 4-24-00)