Section 55 ILCS 5/5-30011 - Authority of preservation commissionEvery preservation commission established by ordinance of the county board pursuant to the report and recommendations of the preservation study committee shall have the following powers and authority:
(1) To conduct an ongoing survey of the county to identify buildings, structures, areas, sites and landscapes that are of historic, archaeological, architectural, or scenic significance, and therefore potential landmarks or preservation districts;(2) To hold public hearings and recommend to the county board the designation of landmarks or preservation districts identified in the survey;(3) To compile information concerning and prepare descriptions of, the landmarks or preservation districts identified and recommended for designation, and the characteristics that meet the standards for designation;(4) To prepare, keep current, and publish a map or maps showing the locations and exact boundaries of both proposed and designated landmarks and preservation districts, and, if the preservation commission so chooses, the locations and boundaries of designated State or federal landmarks or districts;(5) To keep a register of all designated landmarks and preservation districts;(6) To establish an appropriate system of markers or plaques for all designated landmarks and preservation districts, and for streets, roads and highways leading from one landmark or preservation district to another and to confer recognition upon the owners of landmarks or property within preservation districts by means of certificates, plaques or markers;(7) To nominate landmarks and historic districts to any state or federal registers of historic places;(8) To advise and assist owners of landmarks and property within preservation districts on physical and financial aspects of preservation, renovation, rehabilitation and reuse, and on procedures for inclusion on any state or federal register of historic places;(9) To inform and educate the citizens of the county concerning the historic, archaeological, architectural, or scenic heritage of the county by publishing appropriate maps, newsletters, brochures and pamphlets, and by holding programs and seminars;(10) To hold public hearings and to review applications for construction, alteration, removal or demolition affecting landmarks or property within preservation districts and issue or deny certificates of appropriateness for such actions;(11) To consider applications for certificates of economic hardship that would allow the performance of work for which a certificate of appropriateness may be, or has been denied;(12) To develop specific criteria and guidelines for the proper alteration, construction, demolition or removal of landmarks, or of property within preservation districts;(13) To review proposed amendments to zoning regulations, applications for special uses or applications for zoning variations that affect any landmark or preservation district. Proposed zoning amendments, applications for special use or zoning variations that affect any landmark or preservation district as defined in the ordinance establishing the preservation commission shall be transmitted to the preservation commission for review and comment prior to the date of the hearing by the county regional plan commission or zoning board of appeals;(14) To administer on behalf of the county board any property, or full or partial interest in real property, including a conservation right, which the county may have or accept as a gift or otherwise, upon designation by the county board;(15) To accept and administer on behalf of the county board such gifts, grants and money or other personal property as may be appropriate for the purposes of this Division. Such money may be expended for publishing maps and brochures, or for hiring staff persons or consultants or performing otherwise appropriate functions for the purpose of carrying out the duties and powers of the preservation commission and the purposes of this Division;(16) To administer any system established by the county board for the transfer of development rights;(17) To call upon available county agencies and staff members as well as other experts for technical advice;(18) To retain such specialists or consultants, or to appoint such citizen, neighborhood or area advisory committees, as may be required from time to time;(19) To testify before all boards and commissions including any county regional plan commission, and the zoning board of appeal on any matter affecting potential or designated landmarks or preservation districts;(20) To periodically review any county comprehensive plan and to develop a preservation component in any comprehensive plan of the county and to recommend it to the county regional plan commission and the county board;(21) To periodically consult with the county zoning administrator and review any county zoning ordinance and building code and to recommend to the county regional plan commission and the county board any amendments appropriate for the protection and continued use of landmarks or property within preservation districts;(22) To adopt rules and procedures for operation of the preservation commission and the conduct of hearings and meetings;(23) To undertake any other action or activity necessary or appropriate to the implementation of its powers and duties, or to implementation of the purposes of this Division. P.A. 90-655, eff. 7/30/1998.