§ 18.18.202. Procedures for Nomination and Designation.

(a)

Nominations of Historic Resources and Historic Districts. Nominations shall be made to the historical resources commission on a form approved by it. Nominations may be submitted by the historical resources commission, owner of record for the nominated property, or the city council, however, nominations require owners' consent.

(b)

Notification of Nomination. The historical resources commission shall schedule a public hearing on the nomination within 30 days following receipt of a completed nomination in proper form. The historical resources commission shall give notice of the date, time, place, and purpose of the public hearing by regular mail to the owner of record and to the nominators, as well as to property owners within 300 feet of the nominated historic resource or district at least ten days prior to the date of the hearing. Notice shall also be published in a newsletter having general circulation in the City of Reno. The notice shall state the street address or approximate location if there is no street address of a nominated historic resource and the boundaries of a nominated historic district.

(c)

Public Hearing. Oral or written statements concerning the significance of the nominated historic resource or district shall be taken at the public hearing. The historical resources commission may present expert testimony or present its own evidence regarding the compliance of the nominated resource or district with the criteria for consideration of a nomination set forth in this chapter. The owner of any nominated historic resource or of any property within a nominated historic district shall be allowed reasonable opportunity to present evidence regarding significance and reasonable opportunity to have their questions answered by any expert witnesses. The hearing shall be closed upon completion of public comment.

(d)

Findings of Historical Resources Commission. The historical resources commission shall within 45 days from receipt of a completed nomination in proper form adopt findings that the nominated historic resource or historic district does or does not meet the criteria for designation contained in this chapter. The findings of the historical resources commission shall be filed with the city clerk within seven days following the historical resources commission's determination and shall contain the following information:

(1)

Explanation of the significance or lack of significance of the nominated historic resource or district;

(2)

Explanation of the integrity or lack of integrity of the nominated historic resource or historic district;

(3)

The significant exterior architectural features of the nominated historic resource that should be protected;

(4)

The types of construction, alteration, demolition, and removal that should be reviewed for appropriateness pursuant to the provisions of this chapter;

(5)

Designation as an historic resource or as an historic district will or will not create an economic hardship upon the owner of the property to be designated as an historic resource, or upon an owner of property within an historic district to be designated. Consideration of the economic effects of designation shall be in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.

In the event that, under the provisions of this chapter, it is necessary for the historical resources commission to prepare a plan to alleviate anticipated economic hardship, then the above time limit is automatically extended by 60 days, during which time the city council shall not consider any action regarding the subject property.

(e)

Notification of Determination. A notice of the findings of the historical resources commission shall be sent by regular mail to the owner of record of a nominated historic resource and to all property owners within a nominated historic and to the nominator within seven days following the historical resources commission's determination.

(f)

Appeal. A decision by the historical resources commission that the nominated historic resource or historic district does not meet the criteria for designation shall be a final decision. A recommendation by the historical resources commission that the nominated historic resource or historic district does meet the criteria for designation by the city council may be appealed to the city council by completing an appeal form and filing it with the city clerk within ten days of the date of the meeting at which the recommendation was made. Upon receipt of an appeal on the appropriate form accompanied by the service charge approved by the city council for appeals, the city clerk shall give notice by regular mail to the owner of record, the nominators and all property owners within 300 feet of the nominated historic resource or district at least ten days prior to the date of the public hearing. Said notice shall contain the date, time, place and purpose of the public hearing and the street address or approximate location of a nominated historic resource or district.

(g)

Action by City Council. The city council shall, within 60 days after receiving the recommendation that the nominated historic resource or district be designated or upon receipt of a written appeal, either reject the recommendation or appeal or designate the historic resource or historic district. The city clerk shall provide written notification of the action of the city council to the planning commission, the building inspector, the nominator, the appellant, and the owner(s) of record of the nominated historic resource or of all property within a nominated historic district. The planning commission, upon receipt of the notice from the city clerk that the city council has designated the property as an historic resource or historic district, shall initiate a zoning map amendment to add an historic or landmark overlay district to the property. Such a zoning map amendment shall follow the procedure established in Chapter 18.06.

(h)

Amendment or Rescission of Designation. Designation may be amended or rescinded upon petition to the historical resources commission, following the same procedure and according to the same criteria set forth herein for designation.

(Ord. No. 4313, § 1, 6-8-93)