§ 21.12. Intent and purpose.
(a)
The intent of this Chapter is to promote historic and architectural preservation in the City. The City seeks to protect, enhance, and perpetuate those historical and architecturally significant structures, buildings, sites, objects and areas valued by the City and its residents that are significant to the City's history, culture, and architecture, preserving the community character, encouraging respect for past and providing a historical context for the City.
(b)
The purpose of this Chapter is to:
(1)
Foster civic pride in the beauty and accomplishments of the past as represented in the City's landmarks and historic districts;
(2)
Preserve, promote, maintain and enhance the City's historic and architecturally significant resources and character as a community comprised principally of well-maintained single-family residential neighborhoods, cultural and educational institutions and thriving business areas oriented to serve the day-to-day needs of local residents;
(3)
Foster and encourage preservation, restoration and rehabilitation of areas, properties, structures and sites thereby preventing future blight and deterioration;
(4)
Protect and enhance the attractiveness of the City to homeowners, home buyers, tourists, visitors, businesses, and shoppers, and the support and promotion of business, commerce, industry, cultural activities, education and tourism, thereby providing economic benefits to the City, its residents, institutions and businesses;
(5)
Maintain and improve property values in the City;
(6)
Protect, preserve, and enhance the City's aesthetic appearance and character;
(7)
Encourage the designation of landmark status upon structures, buildings, properties, sites, objects and areas on a local, state, and national level while recognizing the property rights of the owners of historic and architecturally significant properties, structures, buildings, sites and objects;
(8)
Educate the general public as to the significance of historic preservation;
(9)
Continue the preparation of surveys and studies of the City's historical and architectural resources and maintain and update a register of areas, properties, structures, buildings, sites, objects and areas that may be worthy of landmark designation; and
(10)
Encourage public participation in identifying and preserving historical and architectural resources through public hearings on proposed designations, applications for changes to historic properties, buildings, sites, structures, and applications for changes to same due to economic hardships.
(Ord. 18-2006 § 2 (part))