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5 <br /> Compliance score (prior grantees only) — 10% <br /> 7. Funding decisions were made at the September 2023 OCAC meeting. For the GAP <br /> program, the board prioritized high scoring program requests, programs hiring <br /> multicultural artists, and schools. For APG, the board approved funding applicants with <br /> scores above 60 at their full request amount. <br /> 8. All applicants were notified of the panel's decisions. All declined GAP applicants received <br /> panel feedback; and approved GAP and APG applicants could receive feedback upon <br /> request. <br /> Katie Murray, Arts Commission Director, reviewed the background information for the item <br /> and introduced grant recipients. Following recognition, a picture was taken of the Board and grant <br /> recipients. <br /> Commissioner Richards arrived at 7:23 pm. <br /> 5. Public Hearings <br /> a. Joint Public Hearing with the Historic Preservation Commission Regarding the <br /> Proposed Designation of the Davis Cotton Gin and Press as an Orange County Historic <br /> Landmark <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 /> 2, 2022 meeting minutes are provided as Attachment 2. (This is the fourth of the four landmark <br /> applications approved by the HPC on November 2, 2022. The other three properties were <br /> approved by the BOCC in June 2023.) <br /> The application material for this property (Attachment 1) was then submitted to the State Historic <br /> Preservation Office (SHPO) for review and comment as required by State law. The SHPO <br /> provided a positive review(Attachment 3). The next step is for the HPC and BOCC to hold a joint <br /> public hearing as required by the County's Historic Preservation Ordinance. <br /> Following this joint public hearing, the BOCC and the HPC will take into consideration public <br /> comments, if any. It is projected that the HPC will then present a final draft landmark ordinance <br /> to the Board of Commissioners for consideration and adoption, likely at a November 2023 <br /> Business meeting. <br />