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forth Carolina General Assembly - NCGS CHAPTER 160A http : //www , ncga. state .nc , us/statutes/statutes%SFin%SFhtm1/chp160a . htmI r <br /> 020 <br /> district or landmark for the education , pleasure and enrichment <br /> of the residents of the city or county and the State as a whole . <br /> ( 1989 , c . 706 , s . 2 . ) <br /> § 160A- 400 . 2 . Exercise of powers by counties as well as <br /> cities . <br /> The term " municipality " or " municipal " as used in G . S . 160A- <br /> 400 . 1 through 160A- 400 . 14 shall be deemed to include the <br /> governing board or legislative board of a county , to the end that <br /> counties may exercise the same powers as cities with respect to <br /> the establishment of historic districts and designation of <br /> landmarks . ( 1989 , c . 706 , s . 2 ; 1989 ( Reg . Sess . , 1990 ) , c . 1024 , <br /> s . 40 . ) <br /> 160A- 400 . 3 . Character of historic district defined . <br /> Historic districts established pursuant to this Part shall <br /> consist of areas which are deemed to be of special significance <br /> in terms of their history , prehistory , architecture , and / or <br /> culture , and to possess integrity of design , setting , materials , <br /> feeling , and association . ( 1989 , c . 706 , s . 2 . ) <br /> § 160A- 400 . 4 . Designation of historic districts . <br /> Any municipal governing board may , as part of a zoning or <br /> other ordinance enacted or amended pursuant to this Article , <br /> designate and from time to time amend one or more historic <br /> districts within the area subject to the ordinance . Such <br /> ordinance may treat historic districts either as a separate use <br /> district classification or as districts which overlay other <br /> zoning districts . Where historic districts are designated as <br /> separate use districts , the zoning ordinance may include as uses <br /> by right or as conditional uses those uses found by the <br /> Preservation Commission to have existed during the period sought <br /> to be restored or preserved , or to be compatible with the <br /> restoration or preservation of the district . <br /> No historic district or districts shall be designated until . <br /> ( 1 ) An investigation and report describing the <br /> significance of the buildings , structures , features , sites or <br /> surroundings included in any such proposed district , and a <br /> description of the boundaries of such district has been prepared , <br /> and <br /> ( 2 ) The Department of Cultural Resources , acting <br /> through the State Historic Preservation Officer or his or her <br /> designee , shall have made an analysis of and recommendations <br /> concerning such report and description of proposed boundaries . <br /> Failure of the department to submit its written analysis and <br /> recommendations to the municipal governing board within 30 <br /> calendar days after a written request for such analysis has been <br /> received by the Department of Cultural Resources shall relieve <br /> the municipality of any responsibility for awaiting such <br /> analysis , and said board may at any time thereafter take any <br /> necessary action to adopt or amend its zoning ordinance . <br /> The municipal governing board may also , in its discretion , <br /> refer the report and proposed boundaries to any local <br /> preservation commission or other interested body for its <br /> ,recommendations prior to taking action to amend the zoning <br /> ordinance . With respect to any changes in the boundaries of such <br /> . district subsequent to its initial establishment , or the creation <br /> of additional districts within the jurisdiction , the <br /> investigative studies and reports required by subdivision ( 1 ) of <br /> this section shall be prepared by the preservation commission , <br /> and shall be referred to the local planning agency for its review <br /> and comment according to procedures set forth in the zoning <br /> ordinance . Changes in the boundaries of an initial district or <br /> proposal for additional districts shall also be submitted to the <br /> Department of Cultural Resources in accordance with the <br /> 52 of 270 6/20/2000 10 : 19 AM <br />