Historic Preservation Ordinance

CHAPTER 10A - HISTORIC PRESERVATION

Table of Contents
1050.Purposes
1051.Definitions
1052.Tulsa Preservation Commission
1053.Historic Preservation District Provisions
1054.Historic Preservation District - Zoning Map Amendments
1055.Certificate of Appropriateness

SECTION 1052. TULSA PRESERVATION COMMISSION

  1. Creation

    There is hereby created a Tulsa Preservation Commission, hereinafter referred to as “Preservation Commission”.

  2. Composition

    The Preservation Commission shall be a 15 member commission composed of three groups; the Professional Group, the Community Group, and the Ex Officio Group. A description of the membership and their qualifications are as follows:

    1. The Professional Group shall be composed of seven members as follows: One member shall be a Licensed Architect, one member shall be an Urban Planner or Licensed Landscape Architect, one member shall be a Commercial or Residential Developer or Builder, one shall be a Licensed Real Estate Broker, one member shall be a person actively engaged in banking or finance, one member shall be a Historian or Architectural Historian possessing special skills, experience, and study in historical research, and one member shall be an employee of or an elected board member of the Tulsa Public Schools.
    2. The Community Group shall be composed of six members as follows: Residents of the City of Tulsa who own property and reside in areas identified in the Tulsa Historic Preservation Plan Report, September 1980, or as amended, provided however, one of the six members shall be an owner of a nonresidential structure identified in said Report.
    3. The Ex Officio Group shall be composed of two members as follows: A member of the Arts Commission and Planning Commission.


  3. Appointments

    The members of the Professional Group and the Community Group of the Preservation Commission shall be appointed by the Mayor subject to approval by the City Commission. Members should be appointed from a list of three nominees solicited from the appropriate organizations related to the position being filled, such as: architectural, landscape architectural, planning, building and real estate organizations; neighborhood associations, Downtown Tulsa Unlimited, and other organizations with interests related to the positions being filled.

    The Ex Officio Members shall be appointed by their respective commissions to serve on the Preservation Commission.

  4. Terms

    Terms shall be for three years, except that initial terms shall be staggered as follows: two Professional Group members and two Community Group members shall serve for a one year term, two Professional Group members and two Community Group members shall serve for a two year term and three Professional Group members and two Community Group members shall serve a three year term. All members shall serve until their successor takes office.

    The Ex Officio members shall serve terms equal to their terms on the respective commission.

  5. Vacancies

    In the event of a vacancy occurring in the membership of the Preservation Commission for any reason, an appointment shall be made in the same manner as regular appointments.

  6. Compensation

    Members of the Preservation Commission shall serve without compensation.

  7. Chairman, Vice-Chairman, and Secretary

    The Preservation Commission shall annually elect from its appointed members a Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Secretary. Vacancies shall be filled in similar manner as regular election.

  8. Rules of Procedure

    The Preservation Commission shall make and adopt regulations for the conduct of its business.

  9. Meetings

    The Preservation Commission shall meet at least once a month for the purpose of transacting its business and duties as set forth in this Chapter; provided however, in fulfilling its duties related to Certificate of Appropriateness applications, the Preservation Commission shall hold at least one additional meeting a month, as required, and such additional meeting shall be held no greater than 14 days after the required meeting of the month.

    All meetings, deliberation, and voting of the Preservation Commission shall be open to the public. The Preservation Commission shall keep minutes of its proceedings, showing the vote of each member upon all actions, or if failing to vote, indicating that fact, and shall keep records of its examinations and other official actions, all of which shall be filed in the Department of City Development and shall be a matter of public record.

  10. Quorum

    Seven members of the Preservation Commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, except that in the matter of Certificate of Appropriateness reviews and action, there shall be at least four members, of the seven, from the Professional Group in the quorum.

  11. Minimum Vote

    Issues shall be decided by a simple majority of votes by those members present.

  12. Conflict of Interest

    Members of the Preservation Commission to whom some private benefit, directly or indirectly, may come as a result of a public action taken by the Preservation Commission, should not be a participant in that action. The possibility, not actuality, of a conflict should govern. The individual experiencing a conflict of interest shall declare his interest, and abstain from voting on the matter. The individual should not discuss the matter with a fellow member or member of the City Commission or Planning Commission for the purpose of influencing a decision thereof.

  13. Staff

    The Department of City Development shall provide staff to the Preservation Commission to assist in the performance of its duties.

  14. Powers and Duties

    Unless otherwise specified in this Chapter, the duties of the Preservation Commission shall be:

    1. Prepare, or cause to be prepared, a comprehensive inventory of historical resources within the City of Tulsa and update said inventory as deemed necessary.
    2. Prepare, or cause to be prepared, proposed Historic Preservation Zoning Map Amendments or other amendments to the Tulsa Historic Preservation Plan to be recommended to the Planning Commission for public hearing and adoption as part of the Comprehensive Plan for the City of Tulsa.
    3. Prepare findings relating to, and make recommendations on, Zoning Map Amendments as set forth in Section 1054 of this Chapter.
    4. Promulgate Design Guidelines as are necessary for the review and approval of applications for Certificate of Appropriateness and to inform residents, property owners, and the general public of those Guidelines. Design Guidelines shall relate to the significant characteristics of the historic resource(s) being proposed for “HP” designation. The Design Guidelines shall be developed by the Preservation Commission and shall include review and input of the property owner(s) or agents, the District Planning Teams, and other parties directly affected by the proposed designation. Such Design Guidelines shall be subject to approval and adoption by the City Commission, upon the holding of a public hearing by the Planning Commission, and the recommendation of the Preservation Commission and Planning Commission.
    5. Act upon applications for Certificates of Appropriateness and perform other duties as set forth in Section 1055.
    6. Make recommendations to the City Commission concerning grants and programs from federal and state agencies, private groups and individuals and the utilization of budgetary appropriations to promote the preservation of historic resources in the City of Tulsa. Coordinate and oversee such programs and projects as may be directed by the City Commission.
    7. Recommend to the City Commission the need for employing staff and making contracts with professional and technical experts as may be required for the furtherance of Preservation Commission work.
    8. Increase public awareness of the historic resources in the City of Tulsa and disseminate information to the public concerning historic resources in the City of Tulsa deemed worthy of preservation. Provide notification, as effectively as possible, to property owners within HP Zoning Districts of designation and requirements of such designation. Advise and disseminate information to property owners on the preservation, conservation, protection, enhancement, perpetuation, and use of historic resources.
    9. Place, or cause to be placed, monuments, markers, or other identifying elements at locations of historical resources as funds are available.
    10. Coordinate, comment on and make recommendations to the appropriate body concerning actions undertaken by other City, State, and Federal agencies with respect to the effect of such actions upon the historical resources in the City of Tulsa.
    11. Consider methods other than those provided for in this Chapter for encouraging and achieving preservation of historic resources in the City of Tulsa and make appropriate recommendations to the City Commission and to other bodies and agencies, both public and private.
    12. Prepare, or cause to be prepared, studies and reports, and undertake other preservation related tasks as may be deemed appropriate.
    13. Prepare, or cause to be prepared, in accordance with the goals and objectives set forth for neighborhood conservation in the Comprehensive Plan of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, programs and plans designed to implement neighborhood stabilization, revitalization, and conservation in those neighborhoods of the City of Tulsa that are fifty years or older which may lack significance according to the criteria in Section 1054, yet represent valuable resources to the City of Tulsa.
    14. Perform any other duties and functions imposed by this Chapter or which may be specified by the City Commission.