1. To all historic resources that appear on the City’s adopted Hood River Cultural Resource Inventory as designated Historic Landmarks; and

2. To all properties in Historic Districts, designated either locally or nationally.

1. Provide for the identification, protection, enhancement, and use of historic landmarks/districts within the City that reflect special elements of the City’s architectural, archaeological, artistic, cultural, engineering, aesthetic, historical, political, social, and economic heritage;

2. Strengthen the economy of the City through the protection and enhancement of the City’s historic landmarks/districts;

3. Encourage public education, understanding, and appreciation of the City’s history and culture;

4. Foster community and neighborhood pride and sense of identity based on recognition and use of historic landmarks/districts;

5. Protect and enhance the City’s historic landmarks/districts for enjoyment and use by both residents and visitors;

6. Promote the continual use of historic landmarks, individually or within a district, without detrimentally affecting their significance; and

7. Carry out the provisions of the State’s Land Use Planning Goal 5.

1. The term of each member of the Landmarks Board shall be three (3) years, with the exception of the initial appointment of the full Landmarks Board, which shall be as follows:

2. Members may be reappointed or removed at the discretion of the City Council.

3. A vacancy on the Board shall be filled by the City Council for the unexpired term.

4. The Landmarks Board (by majority vote), at its first meeting shall elect a chairperson and a vice chairperson. The officers shall serve for terms of one (1) year.

1. Maintain the Hood River Cultural Resource Inventory, hereinafter referred to as the Inventory;

2. Recommend to the City Council the designation of historic landmarks or districts that meet the criteria for designation as contained in Designation of Historic Landmarks or Districts section of this chapter;

3. Protect historic landmarks or districts through the review, and approval or disapproval of alterations in accordance with the review criteria established for alterations;

4. Review and render decisions on all proposed new construction on all parcels within a designated historic district or on parcel(s) that a historic landmark is located;

5. Review and render decisions on all proposed demolition’s within a designated historic district or on properties that a historic landmark is located;

6. Provide a forum for public participation in matters and issues related to historic preservation in the community;

7. Review proposed activities by the City, the County, the Port of Hood River, or other agencies, businesses, or developers that may detrimentally affect historic landmarks/districts and advise the planning staff, Planning Commission, and City Council regarding these matters;

8. Perform other activities relating to historic landmarks/districts and historic resources including, but not limited to:

9. Establish and adopt rules and policies for conducting the business of the Landmarks Board.

A. Purpose. The designation of historic landmarks/districts allows the City to formally recognize and protect historic landmarks/districts. Designated historic landmarks/districts identify geographic areas, corridors, ensembles, buildings, portions of buildings, sites, landscape features, cemeteries, bridges, signs, plaques, archaeological sites, or other objects of historical and/or architectural significance, locally, regionally, or nationally. The regulations that apply to designated landmarks/districts provide a means to review proposed changes and encourage the preservation of the historic landmark/district.

B. Initiation. The process for designating historic landmarks or districts may be initiated by the Landmarks Board, Planning Commission, the City Council, recognized neighborhood groups, interested persons, or property owners, or their authorized agents, who submit a complete application for designation.

C. Procedure. Requests for designation of historic landmarks or districts are reviewed initially by the Landmarks Board. The Landmarks Board makes recommendations for designations to the City Council. The City Council shall conduct a quasi judicial hearing in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 17.09 of the Hood River Municipal Code taking into consideration the recommendations of the Landmarks Board and public testimony.

D. Application. An application for designation shall be prepared and filed with the Planning Department, using forms prescribed by the Planning Director. The Planning Director shall fix a date and time for a public hearing before the City Council.

E. Review Criteria. The Landmarks Board shall review all applications for historic landmark or district designations and shall make its recommendation on the basis of the following criteria (at least one (1) section or sub-section of the following criteria must apply to the proposed historic landmark or district):

F. Recommendation by the Landmarks Board. After the historic resource has been evaluated according to the review criteria set forth in Section 17.14.080(5), the Landmarks Board shall recommend designation of a historic resource, district, or designation with conditions, or denial of designation, it shall make specific findings based on the review criteria, and the goals and policies of the Comprehensive Plan. The Landmarks Board shall submit its recommendation specifying the findings and forward these to the applicant at least ten (10) days prior to the public hearing and review by the City Council. If the Landmarks Board acts to reject a proposed designation, no further action shall be taken unless an appeal of the Landmarks Board’s action is filed with the City Council.

G. City Council Decision. The City Council shall conduct a public hearing to consider the proposed designation and recommendations of the Landmarks Board. Following the public hearing, the City Council shall approve, approve with conditions, or deny the proposed designation. Written notice of the decision of the City Council shall be sent to the applicant and property owner by the Planning Director within 30 days of the date of the decision.

A. Purpose. Periodically, it may be necessary to remove the designation of an historic landmark. Removal is an effort to reflect changing conditions, community values, or needs.

B. Initiation. The process of removing a historic landmark/district from the inventory may be initiated by the Planning Commission, City Council, the Landmarks Board, the property owner, or by any other interested person.

C. Procedure. Review of a request for removal of designation is heard by the Landmarks Board who is the final review body unless an appeal is filed. The Landmarks Board shall conduct a quasi judicial hearing in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 17.09 of the Hood River Municipal Code taking into consideration the review criteria and public testimony.

D. Application. An application for removal for a historic landmark/district designation shall be prepared and filed with the Planning Department, using forms prescribed by the Planning Director. The Planning Director shall fix a date and time for a public hearing before the Landmarks Board.

E. Review Criteria. The Landmarks Board shall evaluate the request for removal of the historic landmark/district designation based upon findings that removal of the historic designation will not adversely impact properties in the surrounding area or integrity of the historic district or of another historic landmark on the same parcel. In order to approve an application, it must be found that at least one (1) of the following has occurred since the site was listed as a historic landmark/district:

F. Exceptions. The Planning Director shall delete any demolished or removed historic landmark/district from the official Inventory through an administrative review if the property is damaged in excess of seventy percent (70%) of its previous value due to vandalism, fire, flood, wind, earthquake, or other natural disasters.

A. Purpose. The purpose of reviewing alterations to historic landmarks or landmark within a district is to encourage the preservation of characteristics that led to designation as a historic landmark.

B. Initiation. The process for applying for altering a historic landmark or landmark within a district may be initiated by the property owner or authorized agent upon submittal of a complete application.

C. Alterations. Review is required for all EXTERIOR alterations or additions to designated landmarks, individually or within historic districts, with the exception of alterations classified as “minor alterations.” The Planning Director, who may consult with the Landmarks Board, shall approve minor alterations through an Administrative action. The following are considered “minor” alterations:

D. Exemptions from Review. The general and ongoing responsibility of the property owner to care for, repair, and replace with like materials may be done without formal review by the Landmarks Board. Nothing in this ordinance shall be construed to prevent the ordinary maintenance or repair of any exterior architectural feature which does not involve a change in design, or appearance, of such feature of which the building official shall determine is required for public safety due to an unsafe or dangerous condition. Normal maintenance may include, but not be limited to:

E. Procedure. Review of a request for an EXTERIOR alteration is heard by the Landmarks Board who is the final review body unless an appeal is filed. The Landmarks Board shall conduct a quasi judicial hearing in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 17.09 of the Hood River Municipal Code taking into consideration the review criteria and public testimony.

F. Application. An application for alteration provided by the Planning Director shall be prepared by the property owner or authorized agent and submitted to the Planning Department for review. If the application is incomplete, the Planning Director shall notify the applicant within seven (7) days and state what information is needed to make the application complete. The applicant shall have ten (10) days in which to submit additional material. The completed application and attachments are forwarded to the Landmarks Board for review.

G. Review Criteria. The Landmarks Board must find that either criteria number one (1) or number two (2) below has been met in order to approve an alteration request.

H. Conditions of Approval. The Landmarks Board shall approve, conditionally approve, or deny the request. Conditions may be attached which are appropriate for the protection and/or preservation of the historic or architectural integrity of the district or historic landmark. All conditions must relate to review criteria.

I. Decision. A decision by the Landmarks Board under this section shall be supported by written findings and shall be forwarded within seven (7) days of the decision to the property owner.

A. Purpose. The purpose of reviewing the EXTERIOR design of new construction is to ensure that new construction is compatible with the character of the district or designated historic landmark located on the same parcel.

B. Initiation. The process for applying for new construction may be initiated by the property owner or authorized agent, upon submittal of a complete application.

C. New Construction. Review is required for any new construction, which occurs on the same parcel as a designated historic landmark, or on any parcel in a designated district.

D. Procedure. A request to construct a new structure shall be referred to the Landmarks Board who is the final review body unless an appeal is filed. The Landmarks Board shall conduct a quasi judicial hearing in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 17.09 of the Hood River Municipal Code taking into consideration the review criteria and public testimony.

E. Application. An application for new construction shall be prepared and filed with the Planning Department, using forms prescribed by the Planning Director. The Planning Director shall fix a date and time for a public hearing before the Landmarks Board.

F. Relationships to Other Planning Review. Projects, which require a historic review, may also require other land use reviews. If other reviews are required, the review procedure may be handled concurrently.

G. Review Criteria. In reviewing the request, the Landmarks Board shall consider the following criteria:

H. Conditions of Approval. In approving applications for new construction, the Landmarks Board may attach conditions that are appropriate for the preservation of the historic or architectural integrity of the historic landmark/district. All conditions must relate to review criteria.

I. Decision. All decisions by the Landmarks Board under this section to approve, approve with conditions, or deny construction shall be supported by written findings and shall be forwarded to the property owner within seven (7) days of the decision.

A. Purpose. The purpose of reviewing requests for demolition or moving a historic landmark is to explore all possible alternatives for preservation. Demolition of historic landmarks is an extreme and final measure.

B. Initiation. Demolition or moving designated historic landmarks or demolition within a historic district may be initiated by affected property owners or their authorized agent who submit a complete application.

C. Demolition or Moving. A permit is required to move, demolish, or cause to be demolished any structure listed as a historic landmark or in a district.

D. Procedure. All requests for demolition or moving a historic landmark shall be reviewed by the Landmarks Board. The Landmarks Board shall conduct a quasi judicial hearing in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 17.09 of the Hood River Municipal Code taking into consideration the review criteria and public testimony.

E. Application. An application shall be made to the Planning Department using forms prescribed by the Planning Director. The Planning Director shall fix a date for a public hearing.

F. Review Criteria. In considering a proposal for demolition or relocation of a historic landmark, individually or within a district, the Landmarks Board shall have the authority to allow the demolition or relocation, allow partial demolition or relocation, or delay approval for an initial period not to exceed ninety (90) days from the date of the Board’s initial public hearing. If the Board acts to approve the request, in whole or in part, issuance of a permit and the commencement of the work shall be delayed for twenty (20) days after the Board’s approval to allow for the filing of appeals. In determining whether a demolition or moving permit shall be issued, the Landmarks Board shall consider the following:

G. Decisions. The Landmarks Board shall make decision within ten (10) days following the completion of the public hearing. For applications for demolition, the Landmarks Board may approve, approve with conditions, or invoke a stay of demolition. If the Landmark Board determines that a stay of demolition is appropriate, the City Council shall be promptly notified. If the City Council agrees that a stay of demolition is appropriate, the Hood River City Council shall apply to the Hood River County Circuit Court for a mandatory injunction prohibiting demolition. The length of stay shall be no more than ninety (90) days from the date of the public hearing. During the period, the Landmarks Board shall attempt to determine if public or private acquisition and preservation is feasible, or alternatives are possible that could be carried out to prevent demolition or removal of the historic landmark, individually or within a district.

H. Exemptions. The Planning Department shall issue a permit for moving or demolition if any of the following conditions exist:

Chart “A” – Secretary of Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. The following standards are to be applied to rehabilitation projects in a reasonable manner, taking into consideration economic and technical feasibility.