Cleveland Heights Landmark Commission March 20, 2024

The Cleveland Heights Landmark Commission held a working session on March 20, 2024, primarily discussing potential revisions to the local landmark ordinance, focusing on owner consent requirements for landmark designation. The commission reviewed a survey of neighboring Ohio communities' ordinances, noting that many do not require owner consent, which contrasts with Cleveland Heights' current approach. They debated maintaining the existing ordinance that requires owner notification and public hearings but not owner consent, with fallback options including an appeals process for owners. The commission also discussed streamlining the design review process, possibly consolidating reviews under the Landmark Commission, and considered the introduction of fees related to certificates of appropriateness, referencing Cleveland's fee schedule as a model. Additionally, they explored adding a salvage plan requirement for demolition requests and emphasized the importance of public outreach and education to property owners about landmark designation. The commission plans to gather further public comments before forwarding recommendations to the city council, with an eye toward applying for CLG grants to support historic district designations.