Orange County NC Website
1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: May 16, 2023 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 5-a <br /> SUBJECT: Joint Public Hearing with the Historic Preservation Commission Regarding the <br /> Proposed Designation of Three Properties as Orange County Local Landmarks <br /> DEPARTMENT: Environment, Agriculture, Parks <br /> and Recreation (DEAPR) <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> 1) Local Landmark Application and Peter Sandbeck, 245-2517 <br /> Report for Harvey's Chapel AME <br /> Church <br /> 2) Local Landmark Application and <br /> Report for Eno Quaker Burying <br /> Ground <br /> 3) Local Landmark Application and <br /> Report for the David Faucette House <br /> 4) November 2, 2022 Historic <br /> Preservation Commission Meeting <br /> Minutes <br /> 5) Letters from State Historic <br /> Preservation Office <br /> PURPOSE: To conduct a joint public hearing with the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) <br /> to receive public comment on the applications to designate the Harvey's Chapel AME Church, <br /> Eno Quaker Burying Ground, and David Faucette House as Orange County Local Landmarks. <br /> This is a routine joint public hearing required by state enabling legislation and the County's Historic <br /> Preservation Ordinance. <br /> BACKGROUND: In 1991, the BOCC adopted the "Ordinance Creating the Historic Preservation <br /> Commission (HPC) of Orange County," also referred to as the "Historic Preservation Ordinance." <br /> In 1997, the BOCC adopted the Local Landmark Program, a voluntary program allowing the HPC <br /> to designate properties of local historic and/or architectural significance, as authorized by NC <br /> General Statute 160D-9-40 - 160D-9-51. One of the HPC's duties is to recommend properties to <br /> the BOCC for local landmark designation. Properties must meet a high standard of historic and/or <br /> architectural significance to be designated as a landmark. The higher standard is appropriate <br /> since landmark property owners are eligible for a 50 percent property tax deferral as provided by <br /> state law, as long as the property retains its historic character. The intent of this tax treatment is <br /> to provide a modest benefit for owners who face high costs to maintain, paint and repair their <br /> historic buildings, usually by employing local tradespeople. <br /> The historic landmark designation process involves several steps culminating with the adoption <br /> of an ordinance by the BOCC for each individual landmark. The HPC adopted a motion at its <br />