HISTORIC DISTRICT DESIGNATION & COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES

HISTORIC DISTRICT DESIGNATION & COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES

1. Property Owners wishing to establish an historic district which includes their property may petition the Valparaiso Historic Commission according to the following criteria:

•	Property Owners wishing to establish an historic district must submit proposed boundaries and a petition containing the signatures of a least 60% of the property owners within the proposed boundaries in favor of the proposed district.
•	Mailing information of property owners within the proposed district.
•	Property Owners in favor of the proposed district must indicate to the Commission their reasons for proposing designation on an application filed with the Review Board.
•	Optionally, property owners may submit photos of structures within the proposed district.

2. If the historic district designation is initiated by the Commission, a written report including a survey of the properties within the proposed district and the submission of a map to the City Council are required in addition to the items required above.

3. Once an application has been submitted to the Commission or the Commission has initiated the designation process, the following steps will be taken:

•	Information meeting with property owners within the proposed historic district will be held to discuss the district options, what the process entails, drafting preservation guidelines, and other pertinent details.
•	Site visits will be conducted by Commission.
•	Survey of properties within proposed district will be completed by the Commission based on Porter County Interim Report.
•	Prepare preservation guidelines by the Commission in conjunction with the property owners within the proposed district.
•	Commission will hold public hearing on proposed historic district and at which will approve the map and preservation guidelines and decide whether or not district will be done in one phase or two phases. If approved, map, preservation guidelines, and survey are sent on to City Council for the final approval.
•	A legal description will be prepared for recording if the proposed district and preservation guidelines are approved by the City Council.

4. If the proposed historic district is approved by the City Council, property owners will then have to comply with the approved preservation guidelines and the Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) process.

5. Compliance will be ensured through a partnership between neighborhood residents, the Planning Office, and the Building Department.