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

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04 ( HPC will rank the eligibility of sites from this group.) Over six hundred sites of historic significance are identified in the County's historic resources survey. A small number of these sites may eventually achieve landmark status; however, the National Register and NRSL sites will comprise the selection group for designation during the initial years of the program. The Historic Preservation Commission will select sites to recommend for landmark designation. The selection will be based on evaluation criteria developed by the HPC. The Commission has developed a Historic Sites Scoring Criteria as a method to rank the quality of resources. This ranking will result in a priority list, consisting of ten to fifteen sites and will be updated annually. The number of sites selected annually for designation will depend upon the availability of funding from the Board of Commissioners. After a site is earmarked, a designation report is prepared. If the site is determined to be eligible for the National Register, the report will consist of a National Register nomination form. If the site is ineligible for National Register consideration, but otherwise significant and worthy of local landmark status,a local designation report is required. Upon completion of the landmark designation report, it must be submitted to the State Historic Preservation Office for comment. Review and comment by the SHPO will occur before the HPC`s recommendation to the Board of Commissioners. The county's historic preservation ordinance outlines the specific steps of the landmark designation procedure. The HPC will recommend a historic landmark designation to the Board of Commissioners and request a public hearing on the draft designation ordinance. A joint public hearing will be held quarterly during the calendar year to consider recommended sites. Sites that are recommended for listing on the National Register of Historic Places Md local landmark designation undergo a slightly different procedure that will entail both state and federal review and approval. 4 Effect of the Low of Revenue from Fifty Percent Tax Deferral Should the Board of Commissioners choose to establish a landmarks designation program, the benefit of a fifty percent tax deferral to landmark property owners would result in a small loss of revenue from the general fund. Based on 1997 property assessments, the first year tax revenue loss if all National Register and National Register Study List sites (a total of 46 properties)were locally designated would be $12,223.10. However,this loss in revenue is minuscule in comparison to total revenues generated by property taxes, and represents 0.023%of total property tax revenues. Another consideration is whether to allow the fifty percent tax deferral benefit for landmark property owners who are currently receiving the tax deferment for forest or farm use. Allowing the dual deferment would not significantly increase the revenue loss incurred by landmark designation,but it would serve as an additional incentive for a property owner to participate in the designation program. Any minor tax revenue loss could be offset by an 3