§ 84-78. Application.

(a)

Commission to prescribe application procedure. The commission shall prescribe the procedure for making application for a certificate of appropriateness.

(b)

Preliminary conference. The applicant shall have the right to a preliminary conference, upon applicant's request, with the commission staff and any member of the commission who chooses to attend after receiving a notice thereof, for the purpose of making any changes or adjustments to the application which might be more consistent with the commission's standards.

(c)

Public hearing; notice.

(1)

The commission shall hold a public hearing upon each application for a certificate of appropriateness affecting property under its control except in those instances where the commission has determined the application for a certificate of appropriateness does not involve a material change or that the commission has determined that the application complies with the standards adopted by the commission in which case the commission shall by appropriate means designate its approval.

(2)

Notice of the time and place of the hearing shall be given by publication in the form of a legal advertisement appearing in the official journal of the city or in a newspaper having general circulation in the parish, at least seven days before such hearing, and by posting such notice on or near the main entrance of any hall or room where the commission usually meets. In addition, notices shall be mailed at least seven days prior to the date of such public hearing to the following:

a.

All adjacent property owners and such other persons and/or organizations as the commission may from time to time determine by policy;

b.

The applicant;

c.

The director, city planning commission; and

d.

The director, department of safety and permits.

(d)

Approval or denial; time limit; written notice. Within not more than 45 days after the filing of an application, the commission shall act upon it, either approving, denying or deferring action, giving consideration to the factors set forth in this division. Evidence of approval of the application shall be by certificate of appropriateness issued by the commission; and whatever its final decision, notice in writing shall be given to the applicant, the city planning commission, and the department of safety and permits.

(e)

Records to be kept. The commission shall keep a record of all applications for certificates of appropriateness and of all its actions under this article or its rules and procedures.

(f)

Changes and modifications. The commission shall have the right to make such recommendations for changes and modifications as it may deem to be necessary in order to enable the applicant to meet its requirements.