Rehabilitating an Historic Structure

 

Introduction

Kansas Historic Preservation Law

State and Federal Preservation Standards

The Kansas Historical Preservation Office

The National Register

Listing a Property on the National Register

Grants and Incentives

The Historical Preservation  Board of Review

A List of Historic Sites in Wyandotte County

Unified Government Landmarks Ordinance

The Landmarks Commission

Homeowner's Guide to Real Estate Property Tax

A Guide to appealing your Real Estate Tax Valuation

Back to Historic Westheight Neighborhood Association Home Page

THE UNIFIED GOVERNMENT OF WYANDOTTE COUNTY/KANSAS CITY, KS

LANDMARKS ORDINANCE (portion)

Sec. 27-116.  Certificate of appropriateness – Prerequisite to building permit, etc. 

a) No building or demolition permit, whether to erect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, improve, remove, excavate, convert or demolish any building, structure or utility shall be issued in accordance with this Code, with respect to any real property designated as an historic landmark or located within an historic district, except in accordance with the terms and provisions of a certificate of appropriateness as approved by the landmarks commission.  However, a building permit may be issued with respect to such real property for the accomplishment of any work thereon which will neither change the exterior architectural features of a structure nor the character or appearance of the land, and  which is considered necessary as a part of normal maintenance and repair.  The permit  shall be issued only with the joint concurrence of the building official and the director of city planning.

b) Except as otherwise provided, no land surface within any real property designated as an historic landmark or as part of an historic district shall be changed, and no improvements thereon shall be erected, removed, restored, demolished or altered, nor shall any addition be made thereto, in such a manner or of such a character as to change the exterior appearance or exterior architectural features thereof, which change shall be visible from any public street, park or other public place, without prior approval of the landmarks commission, evidenced by a certificate of appropriateness reciting in detail precisely what changes are approved.  Such changes in appearance shall include the erection of business, professional and other signs on the historic landmark or within the historic district, and no certificate of appropriateness shall permit the erection of any such sign unless the size, texture, style and materials thereof are compatible with the general characteristics of the neighborhood.

c) Any person desiring to obtain a building or demolition permit to remove, demolish or in any way change the exterior appearance or the exterior architectural features of improvements on a real property designated as an historic landmark or located within an historic district, or desiring to change the land surface of such real property, shall submit to the landmarks commission a specific statement of the work proposed, together with such details as the commission may require.  Upon receipt of any application for a building or demolition permit, the building inspector shall immediately forward the application to the landmarks commission.  The commission shall schedule a public hearing on the request at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the commission, and notify the applicant of such hearing.

d) No building or demolition permit shall be issued for such a property without the prior approval of the landmarks commission, evidenced by the certificate of appropriateness.  The landmarks commission shall grant the certificate of appropriateness if it shall find: 
(1) The changes proposed are not visible from any public street, alley, park or other public place; or
(2) Such changes are not detrimental to the historic, cultural or architectural character of the district, site, building, structure or object, or of other improvements thereon; or
(3) That such changes are in accord with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation and Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings.

If the landmarks commission shall not find either (1), (2) or (3) hereinabove, then it must 
deny the application for a certificate of appropriateness.

NOTE: For the complete Landmarks Ordinance, please inquire of the Planning and Zoning Division of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County,/Kansas City, Kansas.