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Historic Preservation Commission Minutes December 8, 2010 2 Staff provided updates on the Unified Development Ordinance, and referenced the Planning Department’s website for additional information. d. Code of Ethics for the Board of County Commissioners of Orange County, North Carolina (See Sections 2 &4) The County Attorney asked for staff to share information on the Board of County Commissioner’s recently adopted Code of Ethics. HPC members read through the material focusing on the two sections, identified by the County Attorney, as most relevant to the volunteer boards. ITEM #7: PUBLIC HEARINGS None. ITEM #8: ITEMS FOR DECISION a. Application for Local Landmark Designation – Murphey School Moon introduced the application for Murphey School, referring to the staff materials in the packet and the application included as a stand along attachment. The owner, Jay Miller, joined the table to participate in the discussion. Dickinson offered some general remarks about the process and invited Miller to comment on the application and ask questions. Staff explained the three items outlined in the HPC’s agenda facesheet that the HPC were tasked to complete at the meeting: 1) Discuss the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) staff’s comments regarding the completeness of the application and the appropriateness of the property for a local landmark program, 2) Review the contents of the application to make sure it is complete and provides enough information to prepare a designation ordinance (if appropriate) and review future Certificate of Appropriateness applications. 3) Decide whether to request a joint public hearing with the BOCC. HPC members read through the comments from the SHPO together, noting the following key phrases: “We have reviewed the report and find it to be complete, providing the Orange County Historic Preservation Commission with information sufficient to find that the Murphey School has the requisite special significance and integrity for local landmark designation.” “Please note that, if the Council wishes to extend the Commission’s authority to significant interior features, the owner must give consent and the designation ordinance must specify the particular features subject to review and describe the nature of the Commission’ design authority over them.” The HPC agreed with the SHPO’s assessment that application is complete. Members systematically reviewed the Murphey School using their historic sites evaluation form, and found that the property score very favorably. The HPC concurred with the SHPO’s assessment that Murphey School appears to have the historic and architectural significance appropriate for local designation. Members discussed the SHPO’s comments regarding the review of interior features and asked Mr. Miller for his thoughts. Mr. Miller recounted his efforts to preserve as much of the interior of the building as permitted while meeting the Building Code requirements, and felt it appropriate to extend the HPC’s authority over those key elements of the interior that he had worked so hard to protect. HPC members read through the Certificate of Appropriateness - Project Review Form, while reviewing the Murphey School Local Landmark application to ensure that the application contained enough information for future HPC members to review a future Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) application. Members felt that the information in the application report was sufficient and that with a well-crafted designation ordinance future property owners/ HPC members would be able to understand the scope of the HPC’s authority to review changes to the property-site, building(s) exterior and interior. The HPC reviewed the draft memo requesting a joint public hearing with the BOCC, included in the packets. Dickinson requested some minor modifications to strengthen the positive tone of the memo. The HPC