The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutAgenda - 05-05-2015 - 7aORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: May 5, 2015 Action Agenda Item No. 7 -a SUBJECT: Designation of the White Cross School as an Orange County Local Historic Landmark DEPARTMENT: Environment, Agriculture, Parks PUBLIC HEARING: (Y /N) N and Recreation (DEAPR) ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Proposed Ordinance Designating the White Cross School as an Orange County Local Peter Sandbeck, 245 -2517 Historic Landmark PURPOSE: To consider and adopt an ordinance to designate the White Cross School as an Orange County Local Historic Landmark. BACKGROUND: In 1991 Orange County adopted the "Ordinance Creating the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) of Orange County," also referred to as the "Historic Preservation Ordinance ". In 1997 the County adopted the Local Landmark Program, a voluntary program allowing the HPC to designate properties of local historic and /or architectural significance, as authorized by NC General Statute 160A- 400.1- 400.14. One of the HPC's duties is to recommend properties to the BOCC for local landmark designation. Properties must meet a high standard of historic and /or architectural significance to be designated as an individual landmark. The higher standard is appropriate since landmark property owners are eligible for a 50 percent property tax deferral as provided by state law, as long as the property is preserved and retains its historic character. The adoption of the attached landmark ordinance is the final step in the County's historic landmark designation process, outlined in Article 3 of the County's Historic Preservation Ordinance. The BOCC, at its March 3, 2015 meeting, held a required joint public hearing with the HPC to obtain public input and comment about the proposed landmark designation for the White Cross School. At the close of that hearing, the BOCC returned the draft landmark designation ordinance back to the HPC to allow for final editing and review. The attached final version of the proposed landmark ordinance has been approved by the HPC and the County Attorney and is ready for consideration and adoption by the BOCC at this meeting. 2 FINANCIAL IMPACT: The designation of the White Cross School as a Local Historic Landmark will make the owner of the property eligible for a 50% (fifty percent) property tax reduction as provided by state law and the County's local ordinance, as an incentive to maintain the property in its historic condition for the public benefit. The 50 percent property tax reduction applies only to the valuations of the historic school building and the immediate lot around the school, but will not include several rental houses located on the northern half of the lot. As for any proposed landmark, the exact valuation is determined by the County's Tax Administration Office, which provided the following figures for guidance: Valuation of historic school and immediate lot before landmark designation: $323,934 Valuation of same property after landmark designation (50% reduction): $161,967 Approximate reduction in annual property tax = (- $1,519.25) RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board adopt and authorize the Chair to sign the attached ordinance to designate the White Cross School as an Orange County Local Historic Landmark, and also thank the owners, Jay and Danielle Sunde, for their ongoing efforts to preserve this important historic rural school building. 3 ORD- 2015 -012 DRAFT AN ORDINANCE OF THE ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS DESIGNATING THE PROPERTY KNOWN AS THE WHITE CROSS SCHOOL IN ORANGE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA AS A LOCAL HISTORIC LANDMARK Whereas, all of the prerequisites to the adoption of this ordinance prescribed in Part 3C, Article 19, Chapter 160A (Historic Districts and Landmarks) of the General Statutes of North Carolina and an Ordinance Creating the Historic Preservation Commission of Orange County (the "Historic Preservation Ordinance ") have been met; and Whereas, the Orange County Board of Commissioners has taken into full consideration all statements and information in the application and the designation report prepared by the Orange County Historic Preservation Commission and presented to the Board of County Commissioners on the 3rd day of March, 2015, on the question of designating the property known as the White Cross School as a historic landmark; and Whereas, the property known as the White Cross School, located in Bingham Township in the County of Orange and more particularly described in Exhibit A attached hereto, is significant as one of only three brick consolidated schools still standing in the County; and Whereas, the original building constructed in 1933 and enlarged in 1948 retains a high degree of architectural integrity, with most of its original historic exterior and interior features still preserved; and Whereas, the White Cross School is an important and increasingly rare example of a rural school built according to the plans promoted by the State Department of Public Instruction in the 1920s and 1930s to provide modern, well -lit and sanitary facilities for students; and Whereas, the White Cross School played a pivotal role in the social and cultural life of the White Cross community and lower Bingham Township until it was closed in 1961; and M Whereas, the Orange County Historic Preservation Commission has recognized the historic, architectural and cultural significance of the property known as the White Cross School and has recommended that the property be designated a "historic landmark" as outlined in Article 3 of the Historic Preservation Ordinance; and Whereas, the State Historic Preservation Office, an agency of the Office of Archives and History of the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, has reviewed and commented on the findings of the Orange County Historic Preservation Commission, and has approved the White Cross School for designation as a local historic landmark; Now, therefore, be it ordained by the Board of County Commissioners of Orange County, North Carolina that: Section 1. The property known as the White Cross School, located in Bingham Township, Orange County, North Carolina jurisdictional area, consisting of approximately 1.4 acres more particularly described in Exhibit B, is hereby designated a historic landmark pursuant to Part 3C, Article 19, Chapter 160A of the General Statutes of North Carolina and the Orange County Historic Preservation Ordinance. Section 2. The owner(s) and occupant(s) of the property known as the White Cross School be given notice of this ordinance as required by applicable law, and that copies of this ordinance be filed and indexed in the office of the County Clerk, Orange County Register of Deeds, Orange County Tax Supervisor and Orange County Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks and Recreation, as required by the applicable law. Section 3. In accordance with Part 3C, Article 19, Chapter 160A of the General Statutes of North Carolina and the Orange County Historic Preservation Ordinance, the exterior and site features of all historic landmarks are always under the purview of the Historic Preservation Commission's Certificate of Appropriateness provisions. The jurisdiction of the Historic Preservation Commission may also extend over interior spaces with the consent of the owner. The HPC shall determine Certificates of Appropriateness for the White Cross School based on the HPC's approved design standards, with reference to the designation ordinance, the application materials and the designation report. Section 4. All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed to the extent of such conflict with this ordinance. Section 5. Any part of this ordinance determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be in violation of any law or constitutional provision shall be deemed severable and shall not affect the validity of the remainder. Section 6. This ordinance shall become effective immediately upon its adoption. 5 NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners does hereby officially designate the White Cross School as an Orange County Local Historic Landmark. This the 5th day of May, 2015. Earl McKee, Chair Orange County Board of Commissioners Attest Donna Baker, Clerk to the Board EXHIBIT A O V. r ► '•6 White Cross School t. 3501 Highway 54 West Chapel Hill, NC. Aerial view showing present parcel: 2.69 acres e;.; PIN: 9749402837 z� r y - - � ` -•f' r _ _ it a..• R�. PIN 9749402837 = #` .. r • `� - �. +l� j • may' - , _ ' i 1 � �r White Cross } School' r r.. Highway 54 West EXHIBIT B 7 White Cross School 3501 Highway 54 West, Chapel Hill, NC Plat of subject property showing portion of parcel proposed for Orange County Local Landmark designation (approx. 1.4 acres) V 71. IS: V� ■ . 14 ML, AL Am Rite ' ite Cross M;1AV" ' 'L c W 06 Highway 54 West E 164 • 'olk kkY