Historic Preservation Board

Created; Authority.

There is hereby created a city Historic Preservation Board for the purposes of carrying out the provisions of this division. The board shall have the authority to recommend the designation of areas, places, buildings, including the public portions of interiors of buildings, structures, landscape features, archeological sites and other improvements or physical features, as individual buildings, structures, improvements, landscape features, sites, districts, or archeological zones that are significant to the city's history, architecture, archeology, or culture or possess an integrity of location, design, setting, material or workmanship, in accordance with the goals of this division to grant certificates of appropriateness and to determine whether any building, structure, improvement, landscape feature, public interior or site individually designated in accordance with section 2.13.9, or located within an historic district may be altered or demolished. For purposes of section 1.06 of the City Charter “Public vote required prior to enacting reduced powers and duties for Historic Preservation Board, or less stringent historic preservation standards or regulations,” nothing in these land development regulations shall be interpreted or applied to authorize less stringent historic preservation standards or regulations than those existing as of November 6, 2012, unless authorized by referendum pursuant to section 1.06.

Powers and Duties

The Historic Preservation Board shall have the following powers and duties:

Recommend to the Planning Board and City Commission, the designation of historic buildings, structures, improvements, landscape features, public interiors, and historic sites or districts.
Prepare and recommend for adoption specific guidelines for each designated site or district to be used to evaluate the appropriateness and compatibility of proposed alteration or development within designated historic sites or historic districts.
Issue or deny certificates of appropriateness, certificates to dig and certificates of appropriateness for demolition in accordance with procedures specified in this division, excluding certificates of appropriateness for demolition for city-owned buildings and other improvements as hereinafter specified on city-owned property and public rights-of-way, and property owned by the Miami Beach Redevelopment Agency, for which properties the historic preservation board shall serve as advisor to the city commission. This authority shall include review and approval of design and location within public rights-of-way inside of locally designated historic districts of all wireless communications facilities as defined in chapter 104 of General Ordinances, "Telecommunications," article I, "Communications rights-of-way" under the standards provided therein, at subsection 118-104-6(t).
Recommend restoration of property to its prior condition as required by section 2.13.4 when the property has been altered in violation of this division.
To authorize, upon application, such variance from the terms of these land development regulations, where authorized by section 2.8.1, pursuant to the requirements in chapter 2 of these land development regulations, as will not be contrary to the public interest when, owning to special conditions, a literal enforcement of a provision of these land development regulations would result in an unnecessary and undue hardship.
Facilitate the redevelopment of historic sites and districts by directing the planning department, and other city departments, to provide advisory and technical assistance to property owners, applicants for certificates of appropriateness.
Make and prescribe by-laws and application procedures that are reasonably necessary and appropriate for the proper administration and enforcement of the provisions of this division. The board shall prescribe forms for use by applicants when requesting action under this division. The board may authorize any one of its members to administer oaths and to certify official documents.
Award historic markers or plaques upon the recommendation of the city manager and with the consent of the City Commission.
Update and revise the historic properties database.
Advocate that the city administration explores and advises the historic preservation board and the building official as to alternatives available for stabilizing and preserving inadequately maintained or unsafe buildings or structures within the city's designated historic districts or on designated historic sites.
Review all new construction, alterations, modifications and improvements to any building, structure, improvement, landscape feature, public interior or site individually designated in accordance with section 2.13.9, or located within an historic district.
To review and recommend to the city commission any and all amendments to these land development regulations affecting historic preservation issues; specifically, section 2.1.4 entitled "historic preservation board," and article XIII entitled "historic preservation.". The review and recommendation process by the historic preservation shall follow the procedures in section 2.4.1(e).
Serve as the city's floodplain management board for applications concerning properties within its jurisdiction, and shall have the authority to exercise all powers and perform all duties assigned to such board pursuant to section 54-31, et seq., Resolution No. 93-20698, and in accordance with the procedures set forth therein as such ordinance and resolution may be amended from time to time. For the purposes of determining jurisdiction, the criteria in section 2.8.1, for a variance shall be utilized.

Membership and Appointment

The Historic Preservation Board shall be composed of the following seven members, appointed with the concurrence of at least four members of the City Commission:
1. A representative from the Miami Design Preservation League (MDPL), selected from three names nominated by such organization.
2. A representative from Dade Heritage Trust (DHT), selected from three names nominated by such organization.
3. Two at-large members, who have resided in one of the city's historic districts for at least one year, and who have demonstrated interest and knowledge in architectural or urban design and the preservation of historic buildings.
4. An architect registered in the State of Florida with practical experience in the rehabilitation of historic structures, or a professional practicing in the field of architecture or landscape architecture with experience in the rehabilitation of historic structures.
5. One of the following:
  1. A licensed professional engineer, licensed professional architect, or licensed professional landscape architect with expertise in water resources;
  2. A person licensed by the State of Florida in hydrology, water or wastewater treatment;
  3. A person with a degree from an accredited college or university in a field of study related to water resources; or
  4. A floodplain manager or a principal community administrator responsible for the daily implementation of flood loss reduction activities including enforcing a community's flood damage prevention ordinance, updating flood maps, plans, and policies of the community, and any of the activities related to administration of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) (a "water management expert"), each of the foregoing with professional experience and demonstrated interest in historic preservation.
  5. A person who is a resident at-large and currently resides in the city and has resided in the city for at least three consecutive years at the time of appointment or reappointment.
6. A member of the faculty of a school of architecture in the State of Florida, with academic expertise in the field of design and historic preservation or the history of architecture, with a preference for an individual with practical experience in architecture and the preservation of historic structures.
All members of the board except the architect, university faculty member, and water management expert shall be residents of the city; provided, however, that the City Commission may waive the residency requirement (if applicable) by a 5/7ths vote, in the event a person not meeting the residency requirements is available to serve on the board and is exceptionally qualified by training or experience in historic preservation matters. All appointments shall be made on the basis of civic pride, integrity, experience and interest in the field of historic preservation.
Eligibility
An eligibility list solicited from, but not limited to, the organizations listed below may be considered by the City Commission in selecting board members:
1. American Institute of Architects, local chapter.
2. Miami Design Preservation League.
3. Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce.
4. Miami Beach Development Corporation.
5. Dade Heritage Trust.
6. Florida Engineer Society, local chapter.
Any other organization deemed appropriate by the city commission.
Each voting member of the board shall be required to complete an architectural walking tour offered by the Miami Design Preservation League (MDPL), which includes the National Register Architectural District in South Beach and/an historic district in North Beach. In the event tours offered by MDPL are no longer available, this requirement may be satisfied by completing a similar architectural tour conducted by an educational non-profit organization as may be approved by resolution of the city commission. Members shall use their reasonable best efforts to complete the tour within sixty (60) days of their initial appointment

Procedures

In addition to all procedures otherwise authorized or required by these land development regulations, the following shall apply to the Historic Preservation Board:
1. The planning department shall provide the necessary staff to assist the board in the performance of its duties.
2. The planning director or designee shall attend all meetings of the board and serve as a liaison between the board, the city administration, organizations interested in historic preservation and the general public.

Important Links:

Membership Details (Terms, Positions, Titles)

Vacancies

Liaison Contact information

Land Use Board Hearing Application

Planning Department

Agenda, After Actions, Meetings Schedules & After Actions Prior to March 2016

Current Agendas & After Actions

List of City Boards and Committees

Historic Designation Sites

By-Laws and Rules and Procedures for the Historic Preservation Board

North Beach National Register Districts
Press Release Dec. 2009
North Beach Multiple Property Documentation Cover
Historic and Architectural Resources of the North Beach Community (1919-1963)
Map of district boundaries
Normandy Isles National Register Historic District
National Register Nomination
Summary Description
Detailed Map
Photos
North Shore National Register Historic District
National Register Nomination
Summary Description
Detailed Map
Photos

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