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City of Mendota, IL
LaSalle County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
A. 
Nominations for landmark designation shall be made to the Historic Preservation and Restoration Commission on a form provided by the Commission. A filing fee may be required.
B. 
The Commission shall, upon investigation as it deems necessary, make a preliminary determination as to whether a property, structure, or area possesses the integrity of design, workmanship, materials, location, setting and feeling and meets one or more of the following criteria:
(1) 
Significant value as part of the historic, heritage or cultural characteristics of the community, county, state or nation.
(2) 
Its identification with a person or persons who significantly contributed to the development of the community, county, state or country.
(3) 
Representative of the distinguishing characteristics of architecture inherently valuable for the study of a period, type, method of construction or use of indigenous materials.
(4) 
Notable work of a master builder, designer, architect or artist whose individual work has influenced the development of the community, county, state or country.
(5) 
Its unique location or singular physical characteristics that make it an established or familiar visual feature.
(6) 
Its character as a particularly fine or unique example of a utilitarian structure, including, but not limited to, farmhouses, gas stations, or other commercial structures, with a high level of integrity or architectural significance.
(7) 
Area that has yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important in history or prehistory.
C. 
A preliminary determination as to whether a property, structure, or area meets one or more of the foregoing criteria shall be made within 15 days of filing of a nomination with the Commission.
A. 
The Commission shall schedule a public hearing within 45 days after the filing of an application for landmark designation with the Secretary of the Commission.[1]
(1) 
Any person, group of persons or association, including, but not limited to, the Mendota Historic Preservation and Restoration Commission, may request an historic landmark designation for any structure, building or site within the boundaries of the City of Mendota which may have historic or architectural significance as defined by this chapter. The Secretary of the Commission shall supply, upon request, the applications forms. Completed forms shall be submitted to the Secretary, who shall forward the applications to the Commission for its consideration.
(2) 
Upon receipt of the application, the Secretary of the Commission shall schedule a public hearing, to be held within 45 days after preliminary approval of the application.
(3) 
Notice of the date, time, place and purpose of the public hearing shall be sent by mail to the owner(s) of record and to the nominator(s) as well as to the adjoining property owners, not less than 15 days nor more than 30 days prior to the date of the hearing. A public hearing notice also shall be published in a newspaper having general circulation in the City of Mendota. The notice shall state the location of the property and include a statement summarizing how the proposed landmark meets the criteria set forth in the criteria for landmark designation in § 177-10B above.
(4) 
During the public hearing, the Commission shall review and evaluate the application according to the criteria established by ordinance.
(5) 
If the Commission finds at the time that the application merits further consideration, then the Commission may table the request until its next regularly scheduled meeting.
(6) 
A certificate of appropriateness shall be required for alteration, construction, removal or demolition of a proposed landmark from the date when the nomination form is presented to the Commission until the final disposition of the request.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
B. 
A decision shall be made within 30 days following the date of the closing of the public hearing.
(1) 
Following the public hearing, the Secretary of the Commission shall prepare the Commission's evaluation, recommendation and all available information for submission to the City Council within 30 days.
(2) 
If the Commission decides that the landmark should be designated, it shall do so by a resolution passed by a simple majority of the Commission.
(3) 
The owner(s) of record shall be notified promptly by a letter containing information of the Commission's decision.
(4) 
A simple majority vote by the City Council is necessary for approval of a landmark designation. If the City Council approves the application for a designation, a notice will be sent to the property owner, the Secretary of the Commission, the Building Inspector, the City Clerk's office, and recorded with the County Recorder of Deeds. If the City Council denies the petition, no petitioner or applicant may refile with the Secretary of the Commission for 90 days.
(5) 
Buildings designated as historic landmarks shall be subject to issuance of certificates of appropriateness.
A. 
Nominations for historic preservation district designation shall be made to the Historic Preservation and Restoration Commission on a form provided by the Commission. A filing fee may be required.
B. 
The following criteria shall be utilized by the Commission in determining the designation of historic preservation districts:
(1) 
The historic preservation district contains one or more landmarks along with such other buildings, places or areas within its definable geographic boundaries which, while not of such historic significance to be designated as landmarks, nevertheless contribute to the overall visual characteristics of the landmark or landmarks located in such district;
(2) 
A significant number of structures meeting any of the standards of the landmark designation criteria in § 177-10B above;
(3) 
Establishing a sense of time and place unique to the City of Mendota; and/or
(4) 
Exemplifying or reflecting the cultural, social, economic, political or architectural history of the nation, the state or the City.
C. 
A preliminary determination as to whether a district or an area meets one or more of the foregoing criteria shall be made within 60 days of the filing of a nomination with the Commission.
A. 
Application.
(1) 
Any person, group of persons, or association, including, but not limited to, the Mendota Historic Preservation and Restoration Commission, may present to the Commission a petition requesting that a defined geographic area be designated as an historic preservation district. The Secretary of the Commission shall supply, upon request, the application forms. Completed forms shall be submitted to the Secretary of the Commission, who shall forward them to the Commission for its consideration.
(2) 
The petition shall contain the names of no less than 51% of the property owners. If lease holders with a five-year or longer leasehold interest are signatories to the petition, then the petition shall contain no less than 51% of the property owners and/or leaseholders.
(3) 
Upon receipt of the application, the Secretary of the Commission shall schedule a public hearing to be held within 30 days after preliminary approval of the application.
(4) 
Notice of date, time, place and purpose of the public hearing shall be sent by mail to the owner(s) of record and to the nominator(s) as well as to the adjoining property owners, not less than 15 days nor more than 30 days prior to the date of the hearing. A public notice also shall be published in a newspaper having general circulation in the City of Mendota. The notice shall state the location of the property and include a statement summarizing how the proposed landmark meets the criteria set forth in the criteria for historic designation in § 177-12B above.
(5) 
During the public hearing, the Commission shall review and evaluate the application according to the criteria established by ordinance.
(6) 
If the Commission finds at the time that the application merits further consideration, then the Commission may table the request until its next regularly scheduled meeting.
B. 
A decision shall be made within 30 days following the date of the closing of the public hearing.
(1) 
Following the public hearing, the Secretary of the Commission shall prepare the Commission's evaluation, recommendation and all available information for submission to the City Council within 30 days.
(2) 
If the Commission decides that the proposed historic preservation district should be designated, it shall do so by a resolution passed by a majority of the Commission.
(3) 
The owner(s) of record shall be notified promptly by a letter containing information of the Commission's decision.
(4) 
A simple majority vote by the City Council is necessary for approval of an historic preservation district designation. If the City Council approves the application for a designation, a notice will be sent to the property owner, the Secretary of the Commission, the Building Inspector, the City Clerk's office and recorded with the County Recorder of Deeds that the area has been designated as such and that buildings located within the boundaries of the historic preservation district shall be subject to issuance of a certificate of appropriateness. If the City Council denies the petition, no petitioner or applicant may refile with the Secretary of the Commission for 90 days.
Any person, group of persons or association may apply to the Mendota Historic Preservation and Restoration Commission for the designation of a landmark or historic preservation district. Applications for a nomination shall be filed with the Secretary of the Commission. Persons wishing guidance or advice prior to completing an application may contact the Secretary of the Commission. At a minimum, the application shall include the following:
A. 
For a landmark:
(1) 
The name and address of the property owner.
(2) 
The legal description and common street address of the property.
(3) 
A written statement describing the property and setting forth reasons in support of the proposed designation.
(4) 
Documentation that the property owner has been notified or consents to the application for designation.
(5) 
A list of significant exterior architectural features that should be protected.
(6) 
An overall site plan and photographs of the landmark. The plan shall also include a front, side and rear elevation drawing.
B. 
For an historic preservation district:
(1) 
The names and addresses of the property owners.
(2) 
A map delineating the boundaries of the area to be designated.
(3) 
A written statement describing the area and properties within the historic preservation district and setting forth reasons in support of the designation.
(4) 
A list of photographs of significant exterior architectural features of all properties in the district that should be protected.