Orange County NC Website
56 <br />have to be at least three members with experience <br />in the above mentioned fields. <br />Dp Cantrell asked Collins if he meant professional <br />experience and not just people who have served on <br />different boards. <br />Collins stated that he was talking about people <br />with professional experience with design type <br />backgrounds. The powers and duties of the <br />commission would be conducting inventories. Once <br />the inventories are conducted, the commission <br />could recommend the creation of historic <br />districts or recommend that certain property be <br />designated as historic landmarks. These are <br />generally sites with one main building and <br />accessory structures located on one piece of <br />property. Once a historic district or landmark <br />is designated, then a person would not be able tc <br />make any changes to the exterior of the building <br />or to the ground around that building until they <br />had applied for and received a Certificate of <br />Appropriateness from the Commission. The <br />Commission would have to adopt guidelines for <br />structures within the historic districts or <br />specific landmarks which would guide the owner it <br />terms of any changes to the building or grounds. <br />There are also powers that would delay the <br />demolition of historic buildings up to 180 days. <br />During that time period, an effort would be made <br />to determine if the building could be preserved. <br />Waddell asked if any given property could be <br />dedicated as historic without the owners consent <br />Collins stated that historic districts could be <br />recommended by the Commissioners without the <br />consent of the owners. He stated that in the <br />case of historic landmarks, the approach is <br />strictly voluntary. <br />Hamilton asked if there is an option to propert <br />owners once the property is sold. <br />Collins stated that historic districts and <br />historic landmark designations could be <br />eliminated. While this was in effect, if the <br />property is sold it would be sold with <br />restrictive covenants. <br />Best asked if the Ordinance creating the Histor: <br />Preservation Commission of Orange County would l <br />a freestanding ordinance. Collins answered yes <br />Best stated that he thought the ordinance shoulc <br />be written whereas there are no questions about <br />problems of taking someone's land. He stated <br />that it should better explain the County's <br />T. <br />