S ORD-1998-014 Designation of Orange County Historic Landmarks

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BACKGROUND: historical development, assesses the status of historical resources, and outlines the (continued) historic preservation efforts that are currently underway. The Element lists specific action strategies that direct the work of the Orange County Historic Preservation Commission, including a program to designate County historic landmarks. One of the strategies described in the Historic Preservation Element is the development of a prioritized list of properties for consideration as local historic landmarks. During 1996, the HPC developed a methodology for evaluating and ranking the County's most significant historic resources. Priority consideration for local landmark designation was given to the County's existing sites that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In August 1997, the Planning Department staff prepared a detailed report on implementing a local landmark designation program. The report, Preserving the Orange Tradition, describes the authority for instituting such a program, describes the local historic designation process, and examines the costs of the program. The report includes draft ordinances for designation of Orange County's first local historic landmarks. The Executive Summary of this report is attached. Four(4)current National Register sites: Moorefields, Bingham School, Chatwood, and the Rigsbee's Rock House, were selected by the Historic Preservation Commission for consideration as Orange County's first locally designated historic landmarks. The owners of these sites were notified by certified mail of the HPC's intent to recommend them for local landmark designation. Each owner consented to having their property designated as a local landmark (notification letters and signed consent forms are attached). :As required by the Historic Preservation Ordinance, designation reports were prepared for these sites. Since the sites were previously listed on the National Register, the reports consisted of a cover memo describing the sites' current condition along with photographs of the structures. National Register nomination forms were provided as an attachment to the reports. The designation reports were reviewed by the Historic Preservation Commission on February 25, 1998. (The landmark designation reports and HPC comments of 2-25-98 are attached. National Register nomination forms are not included in this agenda material but are on file in the Planning and Inspections Department.) Following the meeting, the designation reports were forwarded to the State Historic Preservation Office for comment (SHPO comments are attached.) At their meeting of March 25, 1998, the HPC recommended these sites for local landmark designation, and requested this matter be considered at the Public Hearing on May 26, 1998(HPC comments of 3-25-98 are attached). Summary descriptions of the four (4) sites recommended for local landmark designation follow. LEID-1-98 MOOREFIELDS(National Register Site#0185) Moorefields is located in the Cheeks Township, at the end of an unpaved lane 0.4 miles from Moorefields Road (SR 1135). The entrance to the lane is approximately 0.4 miles west from the northernmost junction of Dimmocks Mill Road(SR 1134) and Moorefields Road. Moorefields is also described as Lot 3, Cheeks Orange County Property Map 51.