<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<baltimore-city-law heading="Subtitle 3 – Designation of Preservation Districts and Conservation Districts">
  <section prefix="§" num="3-1" heading="Ordinance and findings required.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="Ordinance required.">An ordinance of the Mayor and City Council is required to:<para num="(1)">designate any area as a Historical and Architectural Preservation District;</para>
      <para num="(2)">designate any area as a Historical Conservation District;</para>
      <para num="(3)">modify the boundary lines of an existing Historical and Architectural Preservation District; or</para>
      <para num="(4)">modify the boundary lines of an existing Historical Conservation District.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Findings of fact.">The ordinance must be supported by written findings of fact that the proposed Preservation District or Conservation District and its boundaries will comply with:<para num="(1)">the requirements for Local Government Certification under the National Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C., Chapter 1A, Subchapter II);</para>
      <para num="(2)">the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Identification and Registration; and</para>
      <para num="(3)">the Commission’s own Historic Preservation Procedures and Guidelines.</para>
    </para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 1, §40(j)(1), (4)</annotation>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">2000, art. 6, §3-1(a), (b), (d)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 64-229</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 67-939</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 76-022</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 99-547</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 04-672</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 15-408</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" />
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="3-2" heading="Initial study and proposal by CHAP.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="In general.">After undertaking a full and proper study, the Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation may propose as a Historical and Architectural Preservation District or as a Historical Conservation District any area in Baltimore City within which are located structures that have historical or architectural value, the preservation of which is considered to be for the educational, cultural, economic, and general welfare of the public.</para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Historical Conservation District">For a Historical Conservation District, the study shall include consideration of those alterations in which CHAP has design review authority pursuant to City Code &lt;cite data-path="|6|8"&gt;Article 6, Subtitle 8 {“Alterations, etc., to or Affecting Properties”}&lt;/cite&gt;.</para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 1, §40(j)(1)</annotation>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">2000, art. 6, §3-1(a)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 64-229</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 67-939</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 76-022</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 99-547</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 07-550</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 15-408</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" />
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="3-3" heading="CHAP to prepare proposed ordinance and findings.">
    <text>In support of its proposed designation of an area, the Commission must:</text>
    <para num="(1)">prepare a proposed ordinance that sets forth the boundary lines of the area being proposed for designation;</para>
    <para num="(2)">prepare and adopt written findings of fact that include, at a minimum, the specific findings required by &lt;cite data-path="|6|§3-1|(b)"&gt;§ 3-1(b) {“Ordinance ... required: Findings of fact”} of this subtitle&lt;/cite&gt;; and</para>
    <para num="(3)">request that its proposed ordinance and accompanying findings of fact be introduced into the City Council for appropriate action.</para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 1, §40(j)(2)</annotation>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">2000, art. 6, §3-1(b)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 64-229</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 67-939</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 99-547</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 15-408</annotation>
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="3-4" reserved="true" />
  <section prefix="§" num="3-5" heading="Council action – Agency referrals.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="Required referrals.">
      <para num="(1)">The provisions of this subsection apply to an ordinance proposing any of the following:<para num="(i)">designating a Historical and Architectural Preservation District or Historical Conservation District;</para>
        <para num="(ii)">modifying the boundaries of an existing Historical and Architectural Preservation District or Historical Conservation District.</para>
      </para>
      <para num="(2)">An ordinance proposing one of the actions listed in paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be referred by the City Council to the following for a written report and recommendation:<para num="(i)">the Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation;</para>
        <para num="(ii)">the Planning Commission; and</para>
        <para num="(iii)">any other agency that the Council President designates.</para>
      </para>
    </para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Reports, etc., prerequisite to second reading.">The City Council may not place the bill on the Council’s second reading calendar until the Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation and the Planning Commission:<para num="(1)">submit their reports and recommendations to the Council; or</para>
      <para num="(2)">fail to do so within 100 days of the referral.</para>
    </para>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 15-408</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" />
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="3-6" heading="Council action – Public notice and hearing.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="Hearing required.">The City Council may not place the bill on its second reading calendar until the Council committee to which the bill is assigned has conducted a public hearing at which parties in interest and the general public are afforded an opportunity to be heard on the bill.</para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Notice required.">Notice of the hearing must be given as follows:<para num="(1)">by posting in conspicuous places, as the Department of Planning designates, within and around the following, as the case may be:<para num="(i)">the perimeter of the proposed new District; or</para>
        <para num="(ii)">the perimeter of any area proposed to be added to or removed from an existing district; and</para>
      </para>
      <para num="(2)">by first-class mail to each person who appears on the tax records of the City as an owner of property within the following, as the case may be:<para num="(i)">the perimeter of the proposed new District; or</para>
        <para num="(ii)">the perimeter of any area proposed to be added to or removed from an existing District.</para>
      </para>
    </para>
    <para num="(c)" heading="Contents of notice.">The notice must include:<para num="(1)">the identifying number of the bill to be heard;</para>
      <para num="(2)">the name and address of the person requesting the bill;</para>
      <para num="(3)">the date, time, place, and purpose of the public hearing; and</para>
      <para num="(4)">a drawing or description of the boundaries of the area affected by the proposed bill.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(d)" heading="Timing of notice.">The notice must be posted and mailed at least 30 days before the public hearing.</para>
    <para num="(e)" heading="Number and manner of posted notices.">The number of posted notices and the manner of their posting are as follows:<para num="(1)">at least 2 or more signs are required, as the Department of Planning designates;</para>
      <para num="(2)">for a notice applicable only to an individual property, at least 1 sign must be visible from each of the property’s street frontages;</para>
      <para num="(3)">each sign must be posted at a prominent location, near the sidewalk or public right-of-way, so that it is visible to passing pedestrians and motorists;</para>
      <para num="(4)">a window-mounted sign must be mounted inside the window glass and placed so that it is clearly visible to passing pedestrians and motorists; and</para>
      <para num="(5)">each sign must be at least 3 feet by 4 feet in size.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(f)" heading="Responsibility for notice.">The notices required by this section are the responsibility of the following:<para num="(1)">for a bill requested by the Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation, the notices must be given by and at the expense of the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore;</para>
      <para num="(2)">for a bill requested by or on behalf of a property owner to include that property in or remove that property from an existing District, the notices must be given by and at the expense of the requester; and</para>
      <para num="(3)">in all other cases, the notices must be given by and at the expense of the City Council.</para>
    </para>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">City Code, 1976/83, art. 1, §40(j)(3)</annotation>
    <annotation type="Prior Codifications">2000, art. 6, §3-1(c)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 64-229</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 67-939</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 76-022</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 99-547</annotation>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 15-408</annotation>
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="3-7" heading="Council action – Disposition.">
    <text>Subject to the requirements of &lt;cite data-path="|6|§3-8"&gt;§ 3-8 {“Council action – Amendments”}&lt;/cite&gt; and &lt;cite data-path="|6|§3-9"&gt;§ 3-9 {“Council action – Limitations”} of this subtitle&lt;/cite&gt;, the City Council may:</text>
    <para num="(1)">adopt, reject, or modify an ordinance proposed to designate:<para num="(i)">a Historical and Architectural Preservation District; or</para>
      <para num="(ii)">a Historical Conservation District; and</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(2)">as necessary or appropriate from time to time, adopt an ordinance to modify the boundary lines of an existing District.</para>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 15-408</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" />
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="3-8" heading="Council action – Amendments.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="Scope of section.">This section applies to any bill that:<para num="(1)">proposes to designate a new Preservation District or Conservation District or modify the boundaries of an existing Preservation District or Conservation District; and</para>
      <para num="(2)">that has a proposed amendment to add to or remove from a new or existing District any property that was not within the perimeter of the area described in the notice given under &lt;cite data-path="|6|§3-6"&gt;§ 3-6 {“Council action - Public notice and hearing”} of this subtitle&lt;/cite&gt;.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="New notice and hearing required.">Before an amendment described in subsection (a) of this section may be adopted:<para num="(1)">another public hearing must be held on the amendment; and</para>
      <para num="(2)">the requirements of this subtitle for notice and for agency reports apply to the additional hearing.</para>
    </para>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 15-408</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" />
  </section>
  <section prefix="§" num="3-9" heading="Council action – Limitations.">
    <para num="(a)" heading="Scope of section.">This section applies to any of the following actions by the City Council:<para num="(1)">any modification to the boundary lines set forth in an ordinance proposed by the Commission under &lt;cite data-path="|6|§3-3"&gt;§ 3-3 {“CHAP to prepare proposed ordinance and findings”} of this subtitle&lt;/cite&gt;; or</para>
      <para num="(2)">unless by and in accordance with an ordinance initiated at the request of the Commission under this subtitle:<para num="(i)">any initial designation of an area as:<para num="(i)">a Historical and Architectural Preservation District; or</para>
          <para num="(ii)">a Historical Conservation District; or</para>
        </para>
        <para num="(ii)">any modification to the boundary lines of an existing:<para num="(i)">Historical and Architectural Preservation District; or</para>
          <para num="(ii)">Historical Conservation District.</para>
        </para>
      </para>
    </para>
    <para num="(b)" heading="Referral to CHAP.">The City Council may not take any action described in subsection (a) of this section without first referring that action to the Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation for:<para num="(1)">the Commission’s written report and recommendations; and</para>
      <para num="(2)">the Commission’s findings of fact affirming, at a minimum, that the proposed action will not adversely affect the District’s compliance with the requirements, standards, procedures, and guidelines specified in &lt;cite data-path="|6|§3-1|(b)"&gt;§ 3-1(b) {“Ordinance ... required: Findings of fact”} of this subtitle&lt;/cite&gt;.</para>
    </para>
    <para num="(c)" heading="Action by Council.">If, within 100 days of the referral, the Commission fails to submit its written report or recommendations, or fails or is unwilling to make the findings of fact required by &lt;cite data-path="|6|§3-1|(b)"&gt;§ 3-1(b) {“Ordinance ... required: Findings of fact”} of this subtitle&lt;/cite&gt;, the City Council:<para num="(1)">may proceed to hear and consider the action, subject to the requirements of § 3-6 {“Council action – Public notice and hearing”} and &lt;cite data-path="|6|§3-8"&gt;§ 3-8 {“Council action – Amendments”} of this subtitle&lt;/cite&gt;; but</para>
      <para num="(2)">may not adopt the action without preparing and adopting its own written findings of fact affirming that the action will not adversely affect the District’s compliance with the requirements, standards, procedures, and guidelines specified in &lt;cite data-path="|6|§3-1|(b)"&gt;§ 3-1(b) {“Ordinance ... required: Findings of fact”} of this subtitle&lt;/cite&gt;.</para>
    </para>
    <annotation type="History">Ord. 15-408</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" />
  </section>
</baltimore-city-law>
