Agenda - 01-21-1997 - 9b - Laserfiche WebLink

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2 r association with the Trading Path and its scenic qualities as a gateway to Orange County. Citizens also acknowledged that suburban sprawl threatens the cultural and historical significance of the area. The Historic Preservation Commission advocates measures to protect the integrity of St. Mary's Road as a preservation resource. Durham County is also interested in the St. Mary's Road/Trading Path. The Durham County Historic Preservation Commission has approved the concept of a St. Mary's Road/Indian Path Historic Corridor. They are currently updating their historic resources inventory and will include their portion of St. Mary's Road in the reassessment. They Hardscrabble Plantation (circa 1775), located on the Durham County side of St. Mary's Road, is a County Historic Landmark. In addition, Durham County has requested the NC Department of Transportation to designate a Durham Scenic Byway, which will begin at St. Mary's Road and South Lowell Road in northwestern Durham County. According to Orange County's historical architecture survey, fifteen historic inventory sites are located along the road, including three National Register sites and three National Register-eligible sites. The Historic Preservation Commission believes the St. Mary's Road/Trading Path Corridor contains suitable contributing characteristics to qualify as a rural historic district. The corridor exhibits elements of a historic cultural landscape that has evolved through use by the people whose activities and occupancy have modified the physical environment. The corridor possesses a significant concentration, linkage, and continuity of land uses, buildings and structures, roads, and natural features that would qualify it as a National Register Rural Historic District. Grant funds would be used to develop a National Register nomination for the St. Mary's Road/Trading Path Historic Corridor. Funds would be used to hire a consultant to conduct survey work aimed at developing a thorough historic context of the rural landscape of the corridor. The scope of work would include: determination of historic area boundaries and evaluation of the landscape elements; expanded surveys on historic structures and archeological sites; evaluation of significance and historic integrity of the landscape and built environment; application of the National Register criteria, and preparation of the National Register Multiple Listing forms. The work would also include the required photography for the nomination forms and preparation of a color slide presentation. Listing in the National Register of Historic Places is an honorary designation which recognizes the importance of a site to the Nation's heritage. National Register designation imposes no restrictions on property owners; however, it does offer a degree of protection by ensuring a review of federally-funded projects to determine if they pose adverse impacts to National Register sites. This requirement is described in Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. Similarly, North Carolina law (General Statutes Sec. 121-12a) provides for consideration of National Register sites in state-funded or state- licensed projects. (The attached National Register Fact Sheets provide additional information on the National Register.) RECONEM ENDATION: The Administration recommends that the County Manager be authorized to apply for up to $18,000 from the Historic Preservation Fund Grant Program. If the grant proposal is accepted by the State Historic Preservation Office, the Planning Department will request $8,000 in the FY1997-98 Budget as a cash match. The grant and matching funds would be used to complete a National Register nomination for the St. Mary's Road/Trading Path Historic Corridor.