Historic Preservation Commission

Meetings

• 2023 Meeting Schedule (PDF)

Agendas & Minutes

Agendas are available prior to the meetings. Minutes are available following approval.

View the Agenda, Minutes and Commissioner Packets.

About

The Historic Preservation Commission is comprised of seven members. A quorum of four members is necessary, in order to conduct business. Any decision of the Historic Preservation Commission shall be based on an affirmative vote of those members voting.

Applications, Schedules and Maps

• Historic Preservation Commission - Certificate of Appropriateness Application (PDF)
• Historic Preservation Commission - Landmark and District Designation Application (PDF)
• Historic Districts Map (PDF)
• Historic District and Landmark Design Guidelines (PDF)
• Historic Preservation Commission Brochure (PDF)

Jurisdiction

The Historic Preservation Commission is responsible for the following duties:

• Recommend to the City Council the designation of landmarks and historical districts within the corporate limits of the city in accordance with the procedures and standards hereinafter set forth.
• Issue, modify or deny certificates of appropriateness and economic hardship in accordance with the procedures and criteria hereinafter set forth.
• Adopt rules and regulations, including such guidelines as may be deemed necessary for the review of applications for certificates of appropriateness.
• Keep a register of all property and improvements which have been designated for preservation under articles I through IV of this chapter. This register shall include the information required of each designation along with the appropriate maps.
• Retain, upon approval by the City Council, such specialists as may be required from time to time.
• Engage in mutual cooperation with other City Departments and commissions on matters affecting the property and improvements which have been designated for preservation.
• Make suggestions and recommendations relative to the nomination of designated property and improvements to state and national registers.
• Perform any and all functions which will foster the marking and maintenance of designated property and improvements in accordance with the respect to which they are entitled and as will aid the public in visiting such areas with convenience and in appropriate surroundings.
• Recommend the city's acquisition by donation, purchase or eminent domain of a fee or lesser interest in designated property and improvements, including, but not limited to, easements, covenants and leasehold interests; and to reconstruct, recommend, on maintenance, operation or transfer of such property so acquired, all in accordance with the purposes, procedures and standards set forth in articles I through IV of this chapter.
• Induce by contract or other consideration the creation of covenants or restrictions binding on land.
• Receive funds from federal, state and private sources for deposit in a separate account of the city to be referred to as the preservation fund, which funds shall only be loaned or expended by the commission with approval of the City Council for such purposes as are set forth in articles I through IV of this chapter; and if the Commission shall be dissolved, then any amounts remaining in such fund shall be applied by the city council to further the purposes of articles I through IV of this chapter.
• Recommend the city's acquisition by donation, purchase or eminent domain of a fee or lesser interest in property which is within the public view and adjacent to or immediately surrounding designated property and improvements, the alteration, clearance or maintenance of which is important for the proper preservation and use of the designated property and improvements.
• Prepare and publish maps, brochures and other description material about the city's landmarks and historic districts.
• Cooperate with and enlist the assistance of persons, organizations, corporations, foundations, public agencies and other governmental agencies and not-for-profit organizations in matters involving historic preservation, renovation, rehabilitation and reuse.
• Adopt, publish and make available bylaws for the conduct of commission meetings not inconsistent with the Administrative Review Law (735 ILCS 5/3-101 et seq.).
• Make recommendations to the City Council, pursuant to procedures prescribed hereunder, relative to the exercise of eminent domain powers.
• Certify articles I through IV of this chapter with the office of preservation services of the state department of conservation and with the secretary of the United States Department of the Interior so as to qualify historic structures under articles I through IV of this chapter as certified historic structures pursuant to section 46 of the Internal Revenue Code.
• Identify and certify for historic preservation purposes such organization or organizations to which fee titles or lesser interests in property may be granted by recommendation of the commission.
• Act as conservator of and, therefore, sue on behalf of any landmark or historic district when it appears to the commission that the interest of the public in the landmark or historic district is in need of protection through the exercise of litigation.

Staff Liaison

Leah Allison

Email Leah Allison