§ 160A-400.7. Historic Preservation Commission.
§ 160A‑400.7. Historic Preservation Commission.
Before it may designate one or more landmarks or historic districts, amunicipality shall establish or designate a historic preservation commission.The municipal governing board shall determine the number of the members of thecommission, which shall be at least three, and the length of their terms, whichshall be no greater than four years. A majority of the members of such acommission shall have demonstrated special interest, experience, or educationin history, architecture, archaeology, or related fields. All the members shallreside within the territorial jurisdiction of the municipality as establishedpursuant to G.S. 160A‑360. The commission may appoint advisory bodies andcommittees as appropriate.
In lieu of establishing a historic preservation commission, amunicipality may designate as its historic preservation commission, (i) aseparate historic districts commission or a separate historic landmarkscommission established pursuant to this Part to deal only with historicdistricts or landmarks respectively, (ii) a planning board established pursuantto this Article, or (iii) a community appearance commission establishedpursuant to Part 7 of this Article. In order for a commission or board other thanthe preservation commission to be designated, at least three of its membersshall have demonstrated special interest, experience, or education in history,architecture, or related fields. At the discretion of the municipality theordinance may also provide that the preservation commission may exercise withina historic district any or all of the powers of a planning board or a communityappearance commission.
A county and one or more cities in the county may establish ordesignate a joint preservation commission. If a joint commission is establishedor designated, the county and cities involved shall determine the residencerequirements of members of the joint preservation commission. (1989, c. 706, s. 2; 2005‑418, s. 12.)