Historic Preservation Ordinance
Section 13.62,
Green Bay Municipal Code
13.62 HISTORIC PRESERVATION. (Cr. GO 53-95)
(1) PURPOSE AND INTENT. It is hereby declared a matter of public policy that the protection, enhancement, perpetuation, and use of improvements or sites of special character or special architectural or historic interest or value is a public necessity and is required in the interest of the health, prosperity, safety, and welfare of the people. The purpose of this section is to:
(a) Effect and accomplish the protection, enhancement, and perpetuation of such improvements, sites, and districts which represent or reflect elements of the City's cultural, social, economic, political, and architectural history.
(b) Safeguard the City's historic and cultural heritage, as embodied and reflected in such historic structures, sites, and districts.
(c) Foster civic pride in the notable accomplishments of the past.
(d) Stabilize and improve property values.
(e) Protect and enhance the City's attractions to residents, tourists, and visitors and serve as a support and stimulus to business and industry.
(f) Improve and enhance the visual and aesthetic character of the City.
(g) Educate the public regarding the need and desirability of a City historic preservation program and its enhancement of the quality of life.
(2) DEFINITIONS.
(a) Commission. The Historic Preservation Commission created under this section.
(b) Historic District. An area designated by the Common Council, on recommendation of the Commission, that contains two or more historic structures or sites. The Astor Historic District and the Oakland-Dousman Historic District are already established historic districts for purposes of this ordinance.
(c) Historic Site. Any parcel of land of historic significance due to a substantial value in tracing the history or prehistory of man, or upon which a historic event has occurred, and which has been designated as a historic site under this section.
(d) Historic Structure. Any improvement which has a special character or special historic interest or value as part of the development, heritage, or cultural characteristics of the City, state, or nation and which has been designated as a historic structure pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. The Brown County Courthouse; 100 S. Jefferson Street; the Joel S. Fisk house, 123 N. Oakland Avenue; Hazelwood, 1008 S. Monroe Avenue; and Kellogg Public Library and Neville Public Museum, 125 S. Jefferson Street; are already historic structures for purposes of this ordinance.
(3) HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION COMPOSITION. A Historic Preservation Commission is hereby created, consisting of seven members. Of the membership, if available in the community, one shall be a registered architect, one shall be a historian, one shall be a licensed real estate broker, one shall be an alderman, and three shall be citizen members. Each member shall have, to the highest extent practicable, a known interest in historic preservation. The Mayor shall appoint the commissioners, subject to confirmation by the Common Council. Of the initial members so appointed, two shall serve a term of one year, two shall serve a term of two years, and three shall serve a term of three years. Thereafter, the term for each member shall be three years.
(4) HISTORIC STRUCTURE, HISTORIC SITE, AND HISTORIC DISTRICT DESIGNATION CRITERIA.
(a) For purposes of this ordinance, a historic structure, historic site, or historic district designation may be placed on any site, natural or improved, including any building, improvement, or structure located thereon, or any area of particular historic, architectural, archeological, or cultural significance to the City, such as historic structures, sites, or districts which:
1. Exemplify or reflect the broad cultural, political, economic, or social history of the nation, state, or community; or
2. Are identified with historic personages or with important events in national, state, or local history; or
3. Embody the distinguishing characteristics of an architectural type or specimen inherently valuable for a study of a period, style, method of construction, or of indigenous materials or craftsmanship; or
4. Are representative of the notable work of a master builder, designer, or architect who influenced his age; or
5. Have yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important to prehistory or history.
(b) The Commission may adopt specific operating guidelines for historic structure, historic site, and historic district designation.
(5) POWERS AND DUTIES.
(a) The authority and activities of the Commission shall be advisory, and it shall act in a cooperative capacity and rely upon voluntary compliance.
(b) The basic function of the Commission shall be the development of public support and the location and identification of historic sites, historic structures, and historic districts.
(c) The duties of the Commission shall be to:
1. Develop appropriate criteria and standards for identifying and evaluating neighborhoods, areas, places, structures, and improvements within the City which have distinctive character of special historic, aesthetic, architectural, archaeological, or cultural interest or value, and might be classified as historic sites, structures, or districts.
2. Conduct studies and surveys of neighborhoods, areas, places, structures, and improvements within the City for the purpose of determining those of a distinctive character or special historic, aesthetic, architectural, archaeological, or cultural interest or value, and of compiling appropriate descriptions, facts, lists, and files.
3. Promote public education, interest, and support for the preservation and enhancement of such historic sites, structures, or districts.
4. Cooperate with and advise the Common Council and other agencies and departments of government with regard to such matters as may be appropriate with respect to historic sites, structures, or districts.
5. Cooperate with and enlist assistance from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the State Historical Society, the County Historical Society, and other agencies, groups, or individuals active in the field of historic and cultural preservation.
6. Work on a voluntary basis with the owners of historic sites and structures advising them on the benefits, problems, and techniques of preservation and encouraging their participation in preservation activities.
7. Designate, with the approval of the Common Council, those neighborhoods, areas, places, structures, and improvements of special historic,aesthetic, architectural, archeological, or cultural significance as historic sites, structures, or districts of the City and to nominate those neighborhoods, areas, places, structures, and improvements of special historic, aesthetic, architectural, archeological, or cultural significance to the National Register of Historic Places if appropriate.