For the purpose of this chapter the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.

    "Addition" means any act or process which changes one or more of the exterior architectural features of a structure designated for preservation by adding to, joining with, or increasing the size or capacity of the structure.

    "Alteration" means any act or process that changes one or more of the exterior architectural features of a structure, including, but not limited to, the erection, construction, reconstruction or removal of any structure.

    "Area" means a specific geographic division of the city.

    "Building" means any structure created for the support, shelter or enclosure of persons, animals or property of any kind, and which is permanently affixed to the land.

    "Certificate of appropriateness" means a certificate from the historic preservation commission authorizing plans for alterations, construction, removal or demolition of a landmark or site within a designated historic district.

    "Commission" means the Columbia heritage and preservation commission.

    "Commissioners" means voting members of the Columbia heritage and preservation commission.

    "Council" means the city council of the city of Columbia, Illinois.

    "Demolition" means any act or process that destroys in part or in whole a landmark or site within a historic district.

    "Design guideline" means a standard of appropriate activity that will preserve the historic and architectural character of a structure or area.

    "Exterior architectural appearance" means the architectural and general composition of the exterior of a structure, including, but not limited to, the kind, color and texture of the building material and the type, design and character of all windows, doors, light fixtures, signs and appurtenant elements.

    "Historic district" means an area designated as a historic district by ordinance of the city council, which may contain within definable geographic boundaries one or more landmarks, and which may have within its boundaries other properties or structures that, while not of such historic or architectural significance to be designated as landmarks, nevertheless contribute to the overall visual characteristics of the landmark or landmarks located within the historic district.

    "Landmark" means any building, structure or site which has been designated as a landmark by ordinance of the city council, pursuant to procedures prescribed herein, that is worthy of rehabilitation, restoration, and preservation because of its historic or architectural significance to the city.

    "Owner of record" means the person, corporation or other legal entity listed as owner on the records of the county recorder of deeds.

    "Rehabilitation" means the process of returning a property to a state of utility, through repair or alteration, which makes possible an efficient contemporary use while preserving those portions and features of the property which are significant to its historic, architectural and cultural values.

    "Removal" means any relocation of a structure on its site or to another site.

    "Repair" means any change that does not require a building permit, that is not construction, relocation or alteration.

    "Structural change" means any change or repair in the supporting members of a building, structure, roof or exterior walls which would expand the building in height, width or bulk.

    "Structure" means anything constructed or erected, the use of which requires permanent or temporary location on or in the ground, including, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, buildings, fences, gazebos, advertising signs, billboards, backstops for tennis courts, radio and television antennae including supporting towers, swimming pools, satellite dishes, solar panels and wind generation.

    "Unreasonable economic hardship" means the condition whereby failure to issue a requested building permit, demolition permit or sign permit on a landmark, or and improvement or area within a historic district, which would amount to a taking of the owner's property with just compensation or, in the case of low-income owner(s), failure to issue such a permit would place an onerous and excessive financial burden upon such owner(s). (Ord. 777 § 1 (part), 1989: prior code § 41-1-2)