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Commissioners will then reconvene immediately to hear several items that were continued from <br />the August 20th Regular meeting. <br />B. PUBLIC CHARGE <br />Chair Crowther dispensed with the reading of the Public Charge. <br />C. PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS <br />1. HISTORIC LANDMARKS DESIGNATION PROGRAM <br />Chair Allison introduced Planner Don Belk and requested that he present the first <br />item. Don Belk presented this item in order to receive citizen comment on the proposed Historic <br />Landmark Designation Program. He mentioned that the Ordinance creating the Historic <br />Preservation Commission (HPC) of Orange County, adopted in April 1991, authorizes the HPC <br />to recommend designation of individual buildings, structures and sites as "historic landmarks." <br />Local landmark designation is the formal recognition of a property's importance to the history <br />and cultural heritage of Orange County, and is fundamental to implementing the goals and <br />objectives of the Historic Preservation Element of the Comprehensive Plan. A report was <br />presented, entitled Preserving the Orange Tradition: A Landmarks Designation Program for <br />Orange County, which provides an in-depth discussion of the historic landmarks designation <br />program. This report reviews the authority for instituting such a program, the process of local <br />historic designation, and examines the costs of the program. <br />COMMENTS AND/OR QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS: None <br />COMMENTS AND/OR QUESTIONS FROM THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION: <br />None <br />COMMENTS AND/OR QUESTIONS FROM CITIZENS: None <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Halkiotis, seconded by Commissioner Brown, to <br />refer the Historic Landmarks Designation Program to the Historic Preservation Commission for <br />a recommendation to be returned to the Board of County Commissioners no sooner than <br />September 16, 1997. <br />VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br />2. NATIONAL REGISTER NOMINATION <br />(a) HP-1-97 Cedar Grove Rural Crossroads Historic District <br />This item was introduced by Tom Allison to receive citizen comment on the <br />nomination of the Cedar Grove Rural Crossroads Historic District to the National Register of <br />Historic Places. He introduced Kaye Graybeal, a Rural Historic District Specialist, and the author <br />of this nomination. Ms. Graybeal stated that the National Register of Historic Places, established <br />by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, is the nation's official list of buildings, <br />structures, sites, and districts that are worthy of preservation for their significance in American <br />history, architecture, archeology, and culture. There are over 62,000 listings across the United <br />States and its territories. In North Carolina, there are approximately 1,900 listings, including <br />some 250 historic districts. For owners of historic properties, National Register listing is a <br />prestigious honor. A property that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places has been <br />deemed important to the Nation's heritage. The listing of a property in the National Register