The City Council may designate certain landmarks, district, areas, buildings, or structures in the City of Pittsburg, as historical districts or landmarks and define, amend and delineate the boundaries thereof. The suffix “H” shall indicate the zoning designation of those areas, sites, districts, buildings or structures as may be designated as historical districts or landmarks. Such designation shall be in addition to any other use designation established by City Zoning Ordinances. All zoning maps shall reflect the historical landmark or district by the letter “H” as a suffix to the use designated.

In determining the historical district or landmark, the City Council shall consider one or more of the following:

There is hereby created a committee to be known as the Main Street Committee, to be composed of not less than ten (10) members appointed by the City Council.

The Main Street Committee is authorized and empowered to carry out the purpose of the Pittsburg Main Street Program, to wit;

The Main Street Committee shall be composed of at least 10 persons as the City Council may designate. Each member appointed shall be considered upon his or her interest in the City, knowledge of the history of the community, education and interest in the historical and cultural preservation and development of the City as exemplified by his or her background in the areas of history, art, architecture, real estate, retail merchandising, or government.

Each member appointed to the Main Street Committee shall serve for a term of two (2) years except that the initial members appointed shall serve on staggered terms as follows: Five members shall serve one year, five members shall serve two years; any and all other initial members and those appointed thereafter shall serve for a 2-year term. The City Council shall determine the terms of the first appointed members based upon the above appointment schedule.

The members of the Main Street Committee shall elect among themselves a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, and Secretary each year on the anniversary date of their appointment.

A majority of members shall constitute a quorum.

It shall be unlawful for any person or entity to erect a structure or make any external alterations or external repairs of any substantial* nature (to include such as color changes and sign erection) in any manner whatsoever, to any area, district, site, building or structure within the confines of a designated zoned historical site or district without first obtaining a permit as provided herein.

*(Substantial means that which would alter the architectural appearance and basic architectural design of any building, structure, site, area, or district within the Historical District.)

Applicants for permits under the Ordinance must file with the City Secretary, or the City Secretary’s designated agent, an application in writing which shall give the following information:

Upon receipt of the application for a permit under this Ordinance, the City Secretary or designated agent shall determine the compliance thereof with other City building codes, restrictions, and Ordinances and within 48 hours from time of receipt refer the same to the Chairman or Coordinator of the Main Street Committee if otherwise in compliance with City Building codes, restrictions and Ordinances.

Incomplete or applications not in compliance with City building codes, restrictions and ordinances shall be returned to the applicant for completion and compliance.

Upon receipt of the application by the Chairman or Coordinator of the Main Street Committee, either one or both, shall cause a meeting of the Main Street Committee to be held within 5 (five) business days. The Main Street Committee shall investigate and approve or disapprove the application by majority vote and return to the City Secretary, or designated agent within 3 (three) business days, upon approval of the application, the City Secretary or designated agent, shall issue a building permit authorizing the external alterations or repairs within 3 (three) business days from time of notice and receipt of approval.

Any applicant may, upon having an application disapproved, appeal the same to the City Council at any regular or special meeting of the City Council. The City Council shall review the application and approve or disapprove the same and such finding and ruling of the City Council shall be binding upon all parties.

Any owner seeking demolition of a historic landmark within a historic district shall submit an application to the City Building Inspector. As soon as the application is complete, the building inspector shall immediately forward the application to the Chairman or Coordinator of the Main Street Committee. The following information must be supplied by the applicant before the application is complete:

This paragraph is applicable to designated historic landmarks that received their designation after April 1, 1986. If the committee recommends that the structure not be demolished, the City Council shall order suspension of the issuance of the demolition permit for a period of 60 days or less from the date the application was complete. The committee may request the City Council to extend or shorten the suspension period. If, after notice to the applicant and public hearing, the city Council determines that there are reasonable grounds for preservation, it may extend the suspension period not to exceed 120 days from the date the application was completed. During the period of suspension, no action may be taken to demolish the structure. If the City Council takes no action within 120 days from the date of filing of the application, the building official shall issue a demolition permit. The delay imposed by the City Council may be shortened on a motion of the City Council.

Any person or entity may request a historical zoning designation for property owned by such person or entity by applying in triplicate therefor to the City Secretary or designated agent stating the following:

Upon receipt of such application the City Secretary shall submit one copy of such application to the City Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman and the Main Street Committee Chairman who shall present and review the application in a joint session of the City Planning and Zoning Commission and the Main Street Committee at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the City Planning and Zoning Commission. A majority vote of the members of both the City Planning and Zoning Commission and Main Street Committee, combined, shall confirm or reject such application. Upon confirmation, the applicant shall present the historical zoning designation ordinance to the City Council for approval following the procedure set forth therefor under other City Zoning Ordinance requirements. Should such application be rejected, applicant may appeal the same to the City Council as heretofore set forth in Section 3(6) hereof.

The City Council may, in cooperation with the Main Street Committee, designate any property within the City limits as a historical site or district if within the discretion of the City Council such property is deemed to have historical, cultural, archaeological or education value which reflects the heritage of the community.