Individual Property Designation of Landmarks

Criteria for the designation of a landmark, landmark site, or historic district

Section 28.04 of the Municipal Code

Landmark, landmark site, or historic district designation may be placed on any site or area that fulfills one or more of the following:

  1. Exemplifies or reflects the broad cultural, political, natural, economic, or social history of the City of Waukesha, State of Wisconsin, or the Nation
  2. Identified with historic personages or with important events in National, State or local history
  3. Embodies the distinguished characteristics of an architectural type inherently valuable for study of a period, style, construction method, or of indigenous materials or craftsmanship
  4. Representative of notable work of a master builder, designer or architect whose individual genius influences an era.

Process for the designation or rescission of a landmark, landmark site, or historic district property Section 28.06(1) and 28.11 of the Municipal Code

  1. Request for designation or rescission of landmark designation – Anyone may request the Landmarks Commission to designate a property or group of properties a landmark or historic district. Requests may be made at the Landmarks Commission meeting or by contacting the Planning Department. Rescission of landmark designation will occur only if the property is determined not to be historically significant or the landmark designation causes exceptional economic hardship.
  2. Research of historic significance – A detailed investigation is done into the history and character of the property to determine if the property meets one or more of the criteria to be designated a landmark, landmark site, or part of a historic district. The research report is initiated by the requester of the landmark designation or by the Landmarks Commission. The research report is preferably done by a consultant with the aid of the City Planning Department.
  3. Notice of a public hearing – The Landmarks Commission will send the following notifications of a public Landmarks Commission meeting to discuss a property's landmark designation or to discuss a property's relationship within a historic district. At least 20 days before the hearing on an individual historic property, the recorded owner of the property and the owners of property within 200' of the historic property or historic district property will be notified. Notice of the meeting will be published Class 2 notice under the Wisconsin Statutes in the Official City newspaper. Public Works, Park and Rec., Fire, Police, Building Inspection and City Planning will be notified. Each department will respond to the Landmarks Commission with its comments on the proposed designation or rescission.
  4. Public hearing – The Landmarks Commission will conduct a public hearing on the proposed Landmark designation or rescission. Witnesses may be heard at the hearing. The Commission may subpoena witnesses and records, as it deems necessary.
  5. Decision of the Landmarks Commission – Within 10 days after the close of the public hearing, the Landmarks Commission may designate the property as either a landmark or a landmark site, include it in a historic district, or rescind such designation.
  6. Notification of designation or rescission – Within 10 days of the Landmarks Commission's decision, property owners and other people who appeared at the public hearing, City Clerk, City Attorney, Building Inspector, and the City Assessor will be notified.
  7. Recorded designation or rescission – The Landmarks Commission will record the landmark designation or recession with the Waukesha County Register of Deeds.
  8. Listing with the National Register of Historic Places – The Landmarks Commission will go through the process of listing the landmark, landmark site, or historic district property on the National Register of Historic Places. The significance of the property is evaluated at the national and state level. Being part of the National Register of Historic Places gives the property national recognition and makes the property eligible for state and federal aid.
  9. Appeal of a decision of the Landmark Commission – Within 30 days of a Landmarks Commission decision, anyone having a substantial interest in a property designated as a landmark or landmark site may appeal the Landmarks Commission's decision by requesting a review of the determination from the Administrative Review Appeals Board in accordance with the provisions set forth in Chapter 68 of the Wisconsin Statutes. The Board will determine if the decision of the Landmarks Commission was done fairly and in compliance with the Waukesha