(A) Upon complying with the required landmark designation procedures set forth herein, the Board of Aldermen may adopt and from time to time amend or repeal an ordinance designating one or more historical landmarks. No property shall be recommended for designation as a landmark unless it is deemed and found by the Commission to be of special significance in terms of its historical, prehistorical, architectural or cultural importance, and to possess integrity of design, setting, workmanship, materials, feeling and/or association.
(B) The subchapter shall describe each property designated in the subchapter, the name or names of the owner or owners of the property, those elements of the property that are integral to its historical; architectural or prehistorical value, including the land area of the property so designated, and any other information the governing board deems necessary. For each building, structure, site, area or object so designated as a landmark, the chapter shall require that the waiting period set forth in this chapter be observed prior to its demolition. A suitable sign for each property designated as a landmark may be placed on the property at the owner’s consent; otherwise the sign may be placed on a nearby public right-of-way.
(C) No property shall be designated as a landmark until the following steps have been taken.
(1) As a guide for the identification and evaluation or landmarks, the Commission shall, at the earliest possible time and consistent with the resources available to it, undertake an inventory of properties of historical, architectural, prehistorical and cultural significance within Spencer.
(2) The Commission shall make or cause to be made an investigation and report on the historic, architectural, prehistorical, educational or cultural significance of each building, structure, site, area or object proposed for designation or acquisition. Such report shall be forwarded to the Division of Archives and History, North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources.
(3) The Department of Cultural Resources, acting through the State Historic Preservation Officer, or his or her designee, shall either upon request of the Department or at the initiative of the Commission be given an opportunity to review and. comment upon the substance and effect of the designation of any landmark. All comments will be provided in writing. If the Department does not submit its comments to the Commission within 30 days following receipt by the Department of the report, the Commission and the Board of Aldermen shall be relieved of any responsibility to consider such comments.
(4) The Commission and the Board of Aldermen shall hold a joint public hearing (or separate public hearings) on the proposed ordinance. Reasonable notice of the time and place thereof shall be given.
(5) Following the public hearing(s) the Board of Aldermen may adopt the ordinance as proposed, adopt the ordinance with any amendments it deems necessary, or reject the proposed ordinance.
(6) Upon adoption of the ordinance the owners and occupants of each landmark shall be given written notification of such designation insofar as reasonable diligence permits. One copy of the ordinance and all amendments thereto shall be filed by the Commission in the office of the Register of Deeds of Rowan County. Each landmark shall be indexed according to the name of the owner of the property in the grantor and grantee indexes in the Register of Deeds office and the Commission shall pay a reasonable fee for filing and indexing. A second copy of the ordinance and all amendments thereto shall be kept on file in the office of the Spencer Town Clerk and be made available for public inspection at any reasonable time. A third copy of the ordinance and all amendments thereto shall be given to the building, inspector. The fact that a building, structure, site, area or object has been designated a landmark shall be clearly indicated on all tax maps maintained by Rowan County for such period as the designation remains in effect.
(7) Upon the adoption of the landmark ordinance or any amendments thereto, it is the duty of the Commission to give notice thereof to the tax supervisor of Rowan County. The designation and any recorded restrictions upon the property limiting its use for preservation purposes shall be considered by the tax supervisor in appraising it for tax purposes.
(Ord. passed 3-8-94)