[Adopted 4-14-2009 by Bill No.
1162]
The Historic Preservation Commission is hereby created.
A.
The Commission shall have a membership of seven persons, all of whom
are qualified by special interest, knowledge or training in such fields
as history, architecture, preservation, or urban design and who reside
in the County and who agree to serve on the Commission.
B.
The members shall be appointed for terms of three years except that
in making the initial appointments, two shall be for one year, two
shall be for two years, and three shall be for three years. Members
of the Commission shall be eligible for reappointment. Any vacancy
on the Commission shall be filled by the County Council for the unexpired
term of the particular position.
C.
The County Council may consult private societies or agencies to request
the names of possible Commission members.
D.
The Commission shall have the right to accept and use grants and
gifts from whatever source for the exercise of its functions.
A.
The Commission shall have the authority to seek expert advice from
appropriate sources such as the Maryland Historical Trust, Preservation
Maryland, Maryland Association of Historic District Commissions, Preservation
Law Institute, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation or
from highly qualified individuals recommended by such organizations
when necessary.
B.
The Commission may seek formal reports on topics such as proposed
boundaries of historic districts, identification of historically and
architecturally important structures and the significance of their
individual components and environments, and any other information
necessary to carrying out the purposes of the Commission.
C.
The Commission may purchase architectural or land conservation easements
on properties located in or adjacent to any historic district with
approval of the property owner. Such easements shall grant to the
Commission, the residents of the historic district, and the general
public the perpetual right to have the exterior of any designated
property, structure or land upon which it is applied retained in substantially
the same character as when the easement took effect. In addition,
the Commission shall have the authority to facilitate the restoration,
if necessary, of the easement properties to a character which is compatible
with the architecture and historically related setting of the designated
historic district.
