Orange County NC Website
North Carolina General Assembly - NCGS CHAPTER 160A http : //www .ncga , state . nc . us/statutes/statutes %5Fin%5Fhtml/chp160a . html <br /> board other than the preservation commission to be designated , at 0 20 <br /> least three of its members shall have demonstrated special <br /> interest , experience , or education in history , architecture , or <br /> related fields . At the discretion of the municipality the <br /> ordinance may also provide that the preservation commission may <br /> exercise within a historic district any or all of the powers of a <br /> planning agency or a community appearance commission . <br /> A county and one or more cities in the county may establish <br /> or designate a joint preservation commission . If a joint <br /> commission is established or designated , the county and cities <br /> involved shall determine the residence requirements of members of <br /> the joint preservation commission . ( 1989 , c . 706 , s . 2 . ) <br /> § 160A- 400 . 8 . Powers of the Historic Preservation <br /> Commission . <br /> A preservation commission established pursuant to this Part <br /> may , within the zoning jurisdiction of the municipality : <br /> ( 1 ) Undertake an inventory of properties of <br /> historical , prehistorical , architectural , and / or cultural <br /> significance ; <br /> ( 2 ) Recommend to the municipal governing board <br /> areas to be designated by ordinance as " Historic Districts " ; and <br /> individual structures , buildings , sites , areas , or objects to be <br /> designated by ordinance as " Landmarks " ; <br /> ( 3 ) Acquire by any lawful means the fee or any <br /> lesser included interest , including options to purchase , to <br /> properties within established districts or to any such properties <br /> designated as landmarks , to hold , manage , preserve , restore and <br /> improve the same , and to exchange or dispose of the property by <br /> public or private sale , lease or otherwise , subject to covenants <br /> or other legally binding restrictions which will secure <br /> appropriate rights of public access and promote the preservation <br /> of the property , <br /> ( 4 ) Restore , preserve and operate historic <br /> properties ; <br /> ( 5 ) Recommend to the governing board that <br /> designation of any area as a historic district or part thereof , <br /> or designation of any building , structure , site , area , or object <br /> as a landmark , be revoked or removed for cause ; <br /> ( 6 ) Conduct an educational program with respect to <br /> historic properties and districts within its jurisdiction ; <br /> ( 7 ) Cooperate with the State , federal , and local <br /> governments in pursuance of the purposes of this Part . The <br /> governing board or the commission when authorized by the <br /> governing board may contract with the State , or the United States <br /> of America , or any agency of either , or with any other <br /> organization provided the terms are not inconsistent with State <br /> or federal law ; <br /> ( 8 ) Enter , solely in performance of its official <br /> duties and only at reasonable times , upon private lands for <br /> examination or survey thereof . However , no member , employee or <br /> agent of the commission may enter any private building or <br /> structure without the express consent of the owner or occupant <br /> thereof ; <br /> ( 9 ) Prepare and recommend the official adoption of <br /> a preservation element as part of the municipality ' s <br /> comprehensive plan ; <br /> ( 10 ) Review and act upon proposals for alterations , <br /> demolitions , or new construction within historic districts , or <br /> for the alteration or demolition of designated landmarks , <br /> pursuant to this Part ; and <br /> ( 11 ) Negotiate at any time with the owner of a <br /> building , structure , - site , area , or object for its acquisition or <br /> its preservation , when such action is reasonably necessary or <br /> appropriate . ( 1989 , c . 706 , s . 2 . ) <br /> 155 of 270 6/20/2000 104019 AM <br />