§ 146-5. Powers and duties of the historic preservation board.

(a)

In addition to the powers and duties stated in Pinellas County Code section 38-146(c), the historic preservation board shall take action necessary and appropriate to accomplish the purposes of this chapter. These actions may include, but are not limited to:

(1)

Continuing to survey and inventory historic buildings and areas and archaeological sites and to plan for their preservation;

(2)

Recommending the designation of historic districts, individual landmarks and landmark sites to the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners;

(3)

Nominating and reviewing historic resources for listing on the National Register;

(4)

Reviewing and acting on certificate of appropriateness applications for alterations, demolitions, relocations, and new construction to designated properties in a historic district, landmark and landmark site;

(5)

Recommending specific design review criteria for designated properties and districts;

(6)

Working with and advising the federal, state and municipal governments and other departments or commissions of municipal government;

(7)

Advising and assisting property owners and other persons and groups including neighborhood organizations who are interested in historic preservation;

(8)

Initiating plans for the preservation and rehabilitation of individual historic buildings; and

(9)

Undertaking educational programs including the preparation of publications and placing of historic markers and perform any other functions, duties, and responsibilities assigned to it by the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners or by general or special law.

(b)

The historic preservation board shall conduct at least four public meetings a year to consider historic preservation issues. The historic preservation board shall provide recording minutes of each meeting. The historic preservation board shall prepare and keep on file available for public inspection a written annual report of its historic preservation activities, cases, decisions, qualifications of members and other historic preservation work.

(c)

The county planning department is designated by the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners as the staff to the historic preservation board, as specified in section 146-2, and as the department with the general responsibility for the conduct of the countywide historic preservation program. Other county staff members may be asked to assist the historic preservation board by providing technical advice or helping in the administration of this section.

(d)

The historic preservation board shall review all nominations to the National Register of Historic Places located in the unincorporated area and all nominations involving county-owned property located in a municipality, following the regulations of the state historic preservation office. The historic preservation board shall conduct a public meeting to consider a nomination and shall publish and mail notice of the public meeting to interested individuals or organizations. When determined necessary by the historic preservation board, the board shall seek outside professional opinion before evaluating the nomination. The historic preservation board shall forward its recommendation by letter to the state historic preservation officer. When a property owner objects to having their property nominated to the National Register, a notarized written statement must be submitted to the historic preservation board before the nomination is considered. The historic preservation board may then continue its review, forwarding its recommendation to the state historic preservation officer noting owner's objection or it may cease any further review and notify the state historic preservation officer of the property owner's objection to the proposed listing.

(Ord. No. 12-33, § 5, 7-24-12)