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004 <br /> from the Board of Commissioners. (The FY1997-1998 budget contains <br /> $10,000 for preparation of designation reports. These funds will allow the <br /> designation of 3-5 sites.) <br /> After a site is selected from the priority list, a designation report is <br /> prepared for submittal to the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) for <br /> comment. After review by the SHPO, the HPC will make its <br /> recommendation to the Board of Commissioners, and may request a public <br /> hearing to designate the site as an Orange County Historic Landmark. <br /> 2. Affect on Participating Property Owners. The landmark designation <br /> program would be voluntary. Owners of Priority List properties will be <br /> invited by the HPC to participate, and they may decline if they wish. If <br /> they choose to participate, their property would be affected as follows: <br /> 1) Certificate of Appropriateness Required. Certain changes to the <br /> exterior of the property require the approval of a Certificate of <br /> Appropriateness (COA) by the HPC before a building permit is issued. <br /> The Commission may deny the COA if it finds the proposed work will <br /> adversely affect the special character of the landmark. HPC review is <br /> not required for the routine maintenance and upkeep of landmark <br /> properties. <br /> 2) Eligibility for Fifty Percent Property Tax Deferral. An owner of a <br /> designated landmark may apply for an annual 50% property tax <br /> deferral for as long as the property's historical significance is <br /> maintained. The owner must apply to the Tax Assessor for a reduced <br /> valuation of the property. The reduction in value is assigned only to <br /> real property (land and structures). If the property's historic <br /> significance is not maintained, the owner must pay the deferred taxes <br /> for the current year and three subsequent years, plus interest. <br /> RECOMMENDATION: The Ordinance Creating the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) <br /> of Orange County, adopted in April 1991, authorizes the HPC to <br /> recommend designation of historic landmarks. The Historic Landmark <br /> Designation Program proposal does not require any changes to existing <br /> ordinances. <br /> Administration Recommendation <br /> The Administration recommends the Historic Landmark Designation <br /> Program be referred to the Historic Preservation Commission for <br /> recommendations to be returned to the Board of County Commissioners <br /> no sooner than September 16, 1997. <br />