Boone To Consider New Historical Preservation Commission November 2

Story by Anna Oakes

The public can comment on the proposed creation of a Historic Preservation Commission in Boone on Monday, November 2, at 7:00 p.m. at the Town Council’s quarterly public hearing at the Town Council Chambers.

The commission would have the power to identify historic properties within the town that, if approved by the council, would require specific procedures for any construction, reconstruction, alteration, restoration, demolition and other changes to those properties. The role of the commission and guidelines for the creation of historic districts and landmarks will be established in new text in the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO).

“This will be big,” Council Member Janet Pepin said at the council’s October 15 monthly meeting, when the council approved the draft UDO language for inclusion in the quarterly public hearing agenda. “I really implore people to show up for the public hearing.”

According to the draft language, the Historic Preservation Commission will include the following powers: undertake an inventory of properties of historical, prehistorical, architectural and/or cultural significance; recommend to the Town Council areas to be designated as historic districts and structures or areas to be designated as historic landmarks; recommend criteria and procedures for the protection and preservation of historic districts and landmarks; conduct educational programs on historic properties and districts; cooperate with the state, federal and local governments in preserving historic properties; enter, with consent of the owner, private properties for examination; prepare and recommend adoption of a preservation element as part of Boone’s Comprehensive Plan; and review and act upon proposals for alterations, demolitions or new construction within historic districts or for historic landmarks and propose preservation alternatives to owners.

Historic districts, according to the proposed text amendment, would be established as overlay districts on the town’s zoning map. No historic district can be designated until an investigation and report on the significance of the buildings, structures, features, sites or surroundings included in the district has been prepared. The town shall submit this report to the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources for analysis and recommendations.

Historic landmarks are to be identified in the UDO along with the name(s) of the owner(s) of the property and the elements of the property that are integral to its historic value.

Once designated as a historic landmark or property within a historic district, properties cannot be altered on the exterior or have outdoor signs or above-ground utility structures erected or be altered, restored, moved or demolished until the owner applies for a certificate of appropriateness to be submitted to and approved by the Historic Preservation Commission prior to the issuance of a building permit. The certificate of appropriateness will be required even when building or other permits are not required.

The jurisdiction of the commission over interior spaces will be limited to specific interior features of historic significance in publicly owned landmarks and those in privately owned landmarks for which the owner has consented to interior review. Consent to the town for interior review will bind future owners and/or successors in title.

The ordinance would not prevent ordinary maintenance or repair or any changes deemed necessary by the building inspector for public safety.

All applications for certificates of appropriateness, according to the draft, will be reviewed and acted upon within 180 days of the application date. Applications can be denied except where the commission finds that the owner would suffer extreme hardship or be permanently deprived of all beneficial use or return by virtue of the denial.

Even if a certificate is approved by the commission, the commission can delay the effective date of the certificate by up to 365 days so that the commission can negotiate with the owner and with any other parties in an effort to preserve the site.

If a designated historic landmark or building within a historic district is about to be demolished, materially altered, remodeled, removed or destroyed, except in compliance with the ordinance, the Town Council may institute any appropriate action or proceedings to prevent these actions, according to the draft.

The Town Council Chambers are located at 1500 Blowing Rock Road. For more information about the proposed commission and requirements, call Boone Development Services at 828-268-6960.