Agenda - 10-05-2010 - 4g - Laserfiche WebLink

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2 The standards apply only to properties where the owners enrolled in the program voluntarily. There are currently only four designated Local Landmark properties, although other properties are expected to be considered for designation in the future. Adopting Design Standards for Orange County Local Landmarks and Local Historic Districts will not impose any additional restrictions on property owners currently enrolled in the program or future property owners seeking enrollment. Two other documents, An Ordinance Creating the Historic Preservation Commission of Orange County and the Orange County Historic Preservation Commission Ru/es of Procedure dictate when a COA is required and the review process for different types of work, i.e., formal review by the HPC, administrative approval or, for some forms of maintenance, no review at all. The HPC is not pursuing any changes to the regulatory component of the Local Landmark Program. The three documents -- the design standards, the ordinance and the rules of procedure — need to be consistent with one another. Amendments to the latter finro documents, shown with the Tracking Tool, reflect the creation of the new department and other minor technical revisions for clarity. Should the County adopt the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) in the near future, staff will update references to the Zoning Ordinance (as they pertain to the designation of local historic districts) to reflect the UDO. Though primarily honorary in nature, designation programs remain the most powerFul tool to promote historic preservation at the local level. The HPC has been reluctant to promote the Local Landmark Program until it was able to complete the design standards and now has finro property owners interested in pursuing designation. Endorsed by the HPC (Attachment#4) and the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office (Attachment #5), the new design standards are intended to assist property owners and HPC members with identifying the elements that make historic properties significant, and to offer guidance on how to update properties while retaining the special qualities that make them significant. The standards can also serve as a technical and preservation planning guide for all historic property owners including those not enrolled in the Local Landmark Program. FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact associated with this item. Future applications to designate individual properties as Local Landmarks, which are eligible for a 50-percent property tax deferral, would come before the BOCC for consideration and approval. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board adopt the Design Standards for Orange County Local Landmarks and Local Historic Districts, and approve amendments to An Ordinance Creating the Historic Preservation Commission of Orange County and the Orange County Historic Preservation Commission Rules of Procedure.