Click here for LHDC Application

Click here for LHDC Information and Instructions for Applications

A. Establishment and Qualifications. There is hereby established a commission to be known as the "Landmark and Historic District Commission" consisting of seven (7) members, all of whom shall be citizens of Florissant and shall be appointed by the City Council. Every reasonable effort shall be made to appoint persons within the Old Town area and designated historic districts with a demonstrated interest in history and preservation. To the extent available, it shall include professional members whose background or education demonstrates an interest in art and architecture, history or other fields related to historic preservation.

B. Terms. The terms of office shall be for three years excepting that the membership of the first commission shall serve respectively for terms of three for three years, two for two years and two for one year. Vacancies shall be filled for unexpired terms within 45 days. Any member who fails to attend at least fifty percent (50) of all meetings, regular or special, in any calendar year, shall be deemed to have resigned such membership upon an affirmative vote of the majority of the City Council.

C. Officers. Officers shall consist of a chairperson and a vice-chairperson elected by members. Officers shall serve a term of two (2) years and shall be eligible for re-election; but no member shall serve as chairperson for more than three (3) consecutive terms after the adoption of this ordinance. The chairperson shall preside over meetings. In the absence of the chairperson, the vice chairperson shall perform the duties of the chairperson. If both are absent, a temporary chair shall be elected by those present. The recording secretary shall be appointed by the Public Works Department and shall not be a voting member of the Commission and shall have the following duties: 1. Take minutes of each LHDC meeting; 2. Be responsible for publication and distribution of copies of the minutes, reports and decisions to the members of the LHDC; 3. Give notice as provided herein by law for all public hearings conducted by the LHDC; 4. Advise the Council of vacancies on the LHDC and expiring terms of members; 5. Prepare to submit to the Council a complete record of the proceedings before the LHDC on any matter requiring Council consideration or that may be requested by the Council.

D. Meetings. A quorum shall consist of four members. All decisions or actions of the LHDC shall be made by a majority vote of those members present and voting at any meeting where a quorum exists. Meetings shall be held at regularly scheduled times to be established by the LHDC at the beginning of each calendar year or at any time upon the call of the chairman, but no less than four times each year. No member of the LHDC shall vote on any matter that may materially or apparently affect the property, income, or business interest of that member. No action shall be taken by the LHDC that could in any manner deprive or restrict the owner of property in its use, modification, maintenance, disposition, or demolition until such owner shall first have had the opportunity to be heard at public meeting of the LHDC as provided herein. All meetings shall be conducted in accordance with applicable ordinances and laws of the State of Missouri.

E. Powers and Duties. The LHDC shall have the following powers and duties:

1. To adopt its own procedural regulations, provided that such regulations are consistent with the Florissant Code of Ordinances and the Revised Statutes of the State of Missouri, copies of which shall be on file in the Office of the Department of Public Works and in the Office of the City Clerk and accessible to the public;
2. To conduct surveys for the identification of historically, archaeological and architecturally significant properties, structures, sites and areas that exemplify the cultural, social, economic, political or architectural history of the nation, state or city; and to maintain the research information in an inventory accessible to the public;
3. To investigate, and recommend to the City Council the adoption of ordinances designating properties, areas or structures having special cultural, historic, archaeological, community or architectural value as Landmarks and Historic Districts;
4. To establish and maintain a Florissant Landmarks Register of all properties and structures which have been designated as Landmarks and Historic Districts, including all information required for each designation;
5. To confer recognition upon the owners of designated Landmarks property, structures or Historic District Contributing Resources by means of certificates, plaques, or markers; and to make recommendations for the design and implementation of specific markings of the streets and routes leading from one Landmark or Historic District to another;
6. To advise and assist owners of Landmarks, owners of Historic District Contributing Resources and property, structures within Historic Districts on physical and financial aspects of preservation, renovation, rehabilitation, and reuse, and on procedures for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places;
7. To nominate Landmarks and Historic Districts to the Florissant Historic Register and to the National Register of Historic Places and to review and comment on any nominations to the National Register of Historic Places;
8. To inform and educate the citizens concerning the historic, archaeological and architectural heritage of the City through publication or sponsorship of maps, newsletters, brochures, pamphlets, programs and seminars by the City, or other appropriate parties;
9. To make recommendations to the Planning and Zoning Commission concerning any application for the sub-division of any property, any permit for erection of any new building or structure, or alteration of or addition to any building structure or site affecting designated Landmarks or Historic District Contributing Resources;
10. To review applications for construction, alteration, offsite relocation or demolition and issue Certificates of Appropriateness for such actions. Applicants may be required to submit plans, drawings, elevations, specifications, and other information;
11. To request the Director of Public Works to issue stop work orders for any construction, alteration, offsite relocation or demolition undertaken without a Certificate of Appropriateness or to stop work that violates the conditions of a certificate;
12. To consider applications for Certificates of Economic Hardship that would allow the performance of work for which a Certificate of Appropriateness has been denied;
13. To develop and maintain specific design guidelines based on historic preservation resources, including but not limited to, the Old Town Development Plan and Guidelines and development plan guidelines for each Historic District, and the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Treatment of Historic Properties, for the alteration, construction, or offsite relocation of designated Landmarks, Historic Districts and Historic District Contributing Resources. Said guidelines may be amended, modified or revised based upon recommendations from the Planning and Zoning Commission, following a report of any such change by the LHDC. Following reasonable notice, a public hearing shall then be held before the City Council on said proposed amendment, modification or revisions and the City Council shall determine whether to amend, modify or revise the guidelines pursuant to an ordinance, and the guidelines, including color charts, and Review Standards shall be available to the public in the Office of the Public Works and in the Office of the City Clerk. Copies or pertinent sections of the guidelines and Review Standards shall be printed for distribution to residents and businesses whenever an application for permit is received and to developers, contractors, purchasers as soon as the City has knowledge of the proposed development or construction;
14. To make recommendations on any matter referred to it by the City Council or the Planning and Zoning Commission;
15. To review proposed zoning amendments, applications for special use permits, or applications for zoning variances that affect proposed or designated Landmarks or Historic District Contributing Resources;
16. To grant variances for signs as authorized in Chapter 5 of the Florissant Code of Ordinances;
17. To grant approval of fences at designated Landmarks as authorized by Section 3-6 of the Zoning Code;
18. When requested by the Mayor or City Council assist in the administration on behalf of the City of Florissant any property of historical significance or full or partial interest in real property, including easements, that the City of Florissant may have or accept as a gift or otherwise;
19. When requested by the Mayor or City Council accept and administer on behalf of the City of Florissant such gifts, grants, and money as may be appropriate for the purposes of this ordinance. Such money may be expended for publishing maps and brochures or for hiring staff persons or consultants or performing other functions for the purpose of carrying out the duties and powers of the Commissions and the purposes of this ordinance;
20. To call upon available city staff members for technical advice;
21. To retain such specialists or consultants within budgetary limits and with the approval of the Mayor or to appoint such citizen advisory committees as may be required from time to time;
22. To speak before all boards and commissions, including the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Florissant City Council, on any matter affecting historically, archaeologically, culturally and architecturally significant property, structures, sites and areas;
23. To make recommendations to the City Council concerning budgetary appropriations to further the general purposes of this ordinance;
24. To make recommendations to the Planning and Zoning Commission and to the City Council on preservation components of the Master Plan of the City of Florissant;
25. To periodically review the Florissant Zoning Ordinance and to recommend to the Planning and Zoning Commission and to the City Council any amendments appropriate for the protection and continued use of Landmarks, or property, sites and structures within Historic Districts; and
26. To undertake any other action or activity necessary or appropriate to the implementation of its powers and duties or implementation of the purpose of this ordinance.

F. Grants. The Commissions may, with the consent of the City Council, apply for, receive, or expend any federal, state or private grant, grant in aid, gift or bequest, in furtherance of the general purposes of this ordinance. e (5) citizens