The Historic Preservation Commission is authorized and empowered to undertake any actions reasonably necessary to the discharge and conduct of its duties and responsibilities as outlined in this chapter and G.S. § 160D-942, including, but not limited to, the following:
(A) Undertake an inventory of properties of historical, architectural, and/or cultural significance;
(B) Recommend to the Board of Commissioners, areas to be designated by ordinance as “Historic Districts” and individual structures, buildings, sites, areas, or objects to be designated by ordinance as “landmarks”;
(C) Acquire by any lawful means the fee or any lesser included interest, including options to purchase, to properties within established districts or to any such properties designated as landmarks to hold, manage, preserve, restore, and improve such properties, and to exchange or dispose of the property by public or private sale, lease or otherwise, subject to covenants or other legally binding restrictions that will secure appropriate rights of public access and promote the preservation of the property;
(D) Restore, preserve, and operate the historic properties;
(E) Recommend to the Board of Commissioners that designation of any area as a historic district or part thereof, or designation of any building, structure, site, area, or object as a landmark be revoked or removed;
(F) Conduct an educational program on historic properties and districts within its jurisdiction;
(G) Cooperate with the state, federal, and local governments in pursuance of the purposes of this chapter, and the General Statutes. The Board of Commissioners, or the Commission when authorized by the Board of Commissioners, may contract with the State of North Carolina or the United States of America, or with any agency of either, or with any other organization provided the terms are not inconsistent with state or federal law;
(H) Prepare and recommend the official adoption of a preservation element as part of the local government’s comprehensive plan;
(I) Review and act upon proposals for alterations, demolitions, or new construction within historic districts, or for the alteration or demolition of designated landmarks, pursuant to this part;
(J) Negotiate at any time with the owner of a building, structure, site, area, or object for its acquisition or its preservation, when such action is reasonably necessary or appropriate.
(Ord. passed 9-8-1992; Ord. passed 3-21-2022)