Agenda - 04-09-2013 - 4b - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: April 9, 2013 Action Agenda Item No. 4 -b SUBJECT: Local Historic Landmark Designation for Captain John S. Pope Farm DEPARTMENT: Environment, Agriculture, Parks PUBLIC HEARING: (Y /N) No and Recreation (DEAPR) ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: 1) Draft Ordinance Designating the Rich Shaw, 245 -2514 Captain John S. Pope Farm as an Peter Sandbeck, 245 -2517 Orange County Local Historic Landmark PURPOSE: To consider and adopt an ordinance to designate the Captain John S. Pope Farm in Cedar Grove as an Orange County Local Historic Landmark. BACKGROUND: In 1991 Orange County adopted the "Ordinance Creating the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) of Orange County ", also referred to as the "Historic Preservation Ordinance ". A few years later, in 1997, the County adopted a voluntary program to designate properties of local historic and architectural significance called the Local Landmark Program. One of the HPC's duties is to recommend properties for local landmark designation. Properties may be designated as individual landmarks or as part of historic districts. Properties must meet a higher standard of historic and /or architectural significance to be designated as an individual landmark. The higher standard is appropriate since landmark property owners are eligible for a 50 percent property tax deferral as long as the site continues to retain its historic character, as provided by NC General Statutes under 160A- 400.1- 400.14. The adoption of the attached landmark ordinance is the final step in the County's historic landmark designation process, outlined in Article 3 of the County's Historic Preservation Ordinance. The BOCC, at its March 7, 2013 meeting, held a required joint public hearing with the HPC to obtain public input and comment about the proposed landmark designation for the Captain John S. Pope Farm. At the close of that hearing, the BOCC returned the draft landmark designation ordinance back to the HPC to allow for final editing and review. The attached final version of the proposed landmark ordinance has been approved by the HPC and is ready for consideration and adoption by the BOCC. At present, five historic properties in Orange County have been designated as Local Historic Landmarks: Moorefields (south of the Eno on Moorefields Road, near Hillsborough); Bingham School (Mebane Oaks Road); the Faucette House and Mill (or Chatwood, on Faucette Mill Road); Rigsbee's Rock House (US 70A East at Lawrence Rd.); and the Murphey School (Murphey School Road).