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ORANGE COUNTY HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION Approved Meeting Summary October 28th, 2015 Old Orange County Courthouse 106 East King Street, Hillsborough MEMBERS PRESENT: Susan Ballard, Todd Dickinson (Chair), Jaime Grant, and Bob Ireland MEMBERS ABSENT: Rob Golan (excused); Grace White (excused) STAFF PRESENT: Peter Sandbeck, Cultural Resources Coordinator, DEAPR GUESTS: Stacey and Darrell Lingle, Mimi Logothetis, Peter Yeganian ITEM #1: CALL TO ORDER Chair Dickinson called the meeting to order at 7:03 pm and recognized the guests. ITEM #2: CHANGES OR ADDITIONS TO AGENDA: None. ITEM #3: APPROVAL OF MINUTES (September 21St, 2015 meeting) Ireland moved to accept the minutes, seconded by Ballard; motion passed. ITEM #4: ITEMS FOR DECISION: a. Consideration of Draft Landmark Aaalication for the Nicholas Corbett Hester House in Cedar Grove (attachment 1). Staff provided an overview explanation of the landmark criteria and approval process for HPC members and attendees. This is our second landmark application this year, which means we can meet our goal of designating two landmarks per year. In Orange County, the landmark process is voluntary. Properties are determined to be eligible through the findings of a detailed research report, which according to our ordinance must demonstrate that the proposed property "possesses special significance to Orange County in terms of its historical, architectural or cultural importance." Owners agree to have any proposed future restoration or preservation work, or repairs or additions reviewed by the HPC in return for the protection and the opportunity to take advantage of the 50% reduction in property tax as allowed by state law and our ordinance. All work must be proposed in writing through our Certificate of Appropriateness application and in compliance with our published design guidelines. Staff provided a handout with proposed language for a motion or resolution that the HPC should make to document its "findings of fact" regarding the significance of the proposed landmark and to move the application forward for review by the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO); they have 30 days to complete their review and provide any suggested edits /revisions /comments back to us. Staff will convey those comments to the owner's consultant, who will make any changes and return a final draft application to us. At our next meeting, members will be asked to make a final motion to recommend that the Board of County Commissioners adopt an ordinance to designate the Hester House as an Orange County Local Historic Landmark. Staff showed a brief PowerPoint about the property, including a proposed boundary map showing that the westernmost seven acres of the larger parcel are to be included in the landmark designation. Neighboring property owners Stacey and Darrell Lingle asked several questions about the landmark process and its impact on the values of nearby properties. Owner Mimi Logothetis provided