CHAPTER 17.14 - HISTORIC PRESERVATION
Legislative History: Ord. 1697 (1994); Ord. 1774 (1999); Ord. 1799 (2000).
17.14.080 Designation of Historic Landmarks or Districts.
A. Purpose. The designation of historic landmarks/districts allows the City to formally
recognize and protect historic landmarks/districts. Designated historic landmarks/districts
identify geographic areas, corridors, ensembles, buildings, portions of buildings, sites,
landscape features, cemeteries, bridges, signs, plaques, archaeological sites, or other objects of
historical and/or architectural significance, locally, regionally, or nationally. The regulations
that apply to designated landmarks/districts provide a means to review proposed changes and
encourage the preservation of the historic landmark/district.
B. Initiation. The process for designating historic landmarks or districts may be initiated by
the Landmarks Board, Planning Commission, the City Council, recognized neighborhood
groups, interested persons, or property owners, or their authorized agents, who submit a
complete application for designation.
C. Procedure. Requests for designation of historic landmarks or districts are reviewed
initially by the Landmarks Board. The Landmarks Board makes recommendations for
designations to the City Council. The City Council shall conduct a quasi-judicial hearing in
accordance with the requirements of Chapter 17.09 of the Hood River Municipal Code taking
into consideration the recommendations of the Landmarks Board and public testimony.
D. Application. An application for designation shall be prepared and filed with the Planning
Department, using forms prescribed by the Planning Director. The Planning Director shall fix a
date and time for a public hearing before the City Council.
E. Review Criteria. The Landmarks Board shall review all applications for historic landmark
or district designations and shall make its recommendation on the basis of the following criteria
(at least one (1) section or sub-section of the following criteria must apply to the proposed
historic landmark or district):
1. The proposed historic landmark or district has historic significance or contributes to the
historical resources of the community. The resource is
a. Associated with past trends, events, or values that have made a significant
contribution to the economic, cultural, social, and/or political history of city, county,
state, region, or nation; or
b. Associated with the life of or activities of a person, group, or organization, or
institution that has made a significant contribution to the city, county, region, state, or
nation.
2. The proposed historic landmark or district has architectural significance because it:
a. Embodies distinguishing architectural characteristics of a period, style, method of
construction, craftsmanship, or materials;
b. Represents the work of a designer, architect, or master builder who influenced the
development and appearance of history of the city, county, region, state, or the nation;