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Page 2 A local government is not obligaled to create a preserx, atJon commission, regardless of how many National Regisler properties and/or dislricls there might be in the community. Preservation commis- sions are generally established only where is sufficient local interest in historic preservation and the local planning environment is responsix~heree to this interest. A preservation commission is established by an ordinance passed by the local governing board. The organization, operations, and powers of the preservation commission are prescribed by the slate enabling legislation. The commission makes recommendations to the local governing board that certain historic landmarks or districls be desig- naied, and such designations are made by local ordinance. A community may designate local disC,-icts and landmarkS that are not Register. listed in the National Since the state enabling legislation requires that a designation report b.e p. repared before a local land- mark or local district is designated, some local preservation comm~sstons usc a National Register nomination as the basis for the loc. al designation report. (For this reason the two types of designations are sometimes confused.) However, National Register listing does not mean that local designation will necessarily follow. I~Cal Lqodmarks. Landmark designations apply to individual buildings, slructures, sites, a~eas, 'or objects which are sludied by the commission and judged to have historical, architectural, archaeologi- cal~ Or cultural value. Designation is an honor, meaning the community believes the property des~.es The local landmarkS through of w. cognition and protection. government designates passage an ordinance. Owners of landmarks are eligible to apply for an annual 50% property tax deferral as 1.o. ng as the property's important hisloric features are maintained. Recapture penalties may apply if the owner destroys the property or damages its histOric value. l.~Cfil' Districts. Historic district designation is a type of zoning that applies to entire neighborhoods °r'other areas that include many historic properties. The zoning provides controls on the a.ppearance 0f'~ki~fing and proPOsed buildings. Designation is ~ honor, meaning the community behoves the :~?~:fiilecture, history, and character of the area are worthy of recognition and prolection. Historic dis- trici'i0-ning can help to improve property valueg by stabilizing and enhancing the neighborhood's character, and it benefits owners bY protecting them from ifiapprOpriate changes by other property owners that might destroy the special qualities of the neighborhood. Unlike landmark designations, I0~1 historic district designation has no effect bn local property taxes for property owners within the d~.s?gnated district. " C~r~i~cales or Appropriateness. Owners of local landmarks and of properly in local historic dis- tricls are required to obtain a certificate of appropriateness from their preservation commission before making significant changes or additions to a property, be,fore beginning new construction, or before demolishing or relocaling a properly. The commission s review of proposed changes ensures that work on property in districts or on a designated landmark is appropriate to the special character of the district landmark. A certificale of for demolition cannot be denied unless the appropriateness or prop- erty is deemed to be of stalewide significance by the State Historic Preservation Officer. In all other cases, the commission may delay demolilion or relocation for up to 365 days to explore alternatives to demolition or relocation. Federal Tax Benefits and Local Dcslgnntions: Locally designated landnurks and ~roperties located within local hi~oric di.~fick~ are ggncr~lly nol eligible for federal hislorlc preservation tax credits unle.~ the landnurk or district is also li~ed in the National Regisler of Historic Pisces. The only exceptions are Ihog properties in local districts which are not li~ed in the National Register but which have be.~en certified by the National Park Service as essentially meeting National Register criteria. There ate only four such certified local districts in Nodh Cirolina. An owner of a pmperl)- that is b~th locally de~ignaled and ligtM it, the National Register who is see. king federal investment ~x ~¥edlts for a rehabililatlon must acquire a local cerfifi~te of appropriateness and federal lex ceflificzlion through ~p~- rai~ apl~lic~tinr, s. Approval for one does not imply or guzrante~ approval for the other, though in most ca.~.s local design ic~'~' guldcllncx and federal rehabilitation s~and~tds are in concurrence and arc mutually reinforcing. ' FOR MORE INFORMATION contact the Prese..rvatio~n Planner, Slain ltistoric ~rr-~n'ation Office, N.C. Division of Att'hives and Ilislnq,', 109 'l~st Jones Slreel, Raleigh, NC 2'/601-2807 Telephone 919/733-6545] (:'~';,; '% 10/28191