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1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: October 17, 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 the Davis Cotton Gin and Press as an Orange County <br /> Historic Landmark <br /> DEPARTMENT: Environment, Agriculture, Parks <br /> and Recreation (DEAPR) <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> 1) Historic Landmark Application and Peter Sandbeck, (919) 245-2517 <br /> Report for the Davis Cotton Gin and <br /> Press <br /> 2) November 2, 2022 Historic <br /> Preservation Commission Meeting <br /> Minutes <br /> 3) Letter 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 application to designate the Davis Cotton Gin and Press as an <br /> Orange County Historic Landmark. This is a routine joint public hearing required by State enabling <br /> legislation and the County's Historic 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 Historic Landmark Program, a voluntary program allowing the <br /> HPC to designate properties of local historic and/or architectural significance, as authorized by <br /> NC General Statute 160D-9-40 - 160D-9-51 . One of the HPC's duties is to recommend properties <br /> to the BOCC for historic landmark designation. Properties must meet a high standard of historic <br /> and/or architectural significance to be designated as a landmark. The higher standard is <br /> appropriate since landmark property owners are eligible for a fifty (50) percent property tax <br /> deferral as provided by State law, as long as the property retains its historic character. The intent <br /> of this tax treatment is to provide a modest benefit for owners who face high costs to maintain, <br /> paint and repair 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 /> November 2, 2022 meeting stating that the Davis Cotton Gin and Press possesses special <br /> historical and/or architectural significance and is worthy of landmark designation. The November <br />