Specific Authority and Powers. The Commission shall have all powers of an historic preservation commission as provided in G.S. 160D Article 9 Part 4, including the following duties and responsibilities:
(a)
To undertake inventories of properties of historical, archaeological, architectural, and/or cultural significance;
(b)
To recommend to the Elected Bodies that individual properties be designated as Local Historic Landmarks (LHL) and/or that areas be designated as Historic (H) or Historic Overlay (HO) Districts and to recommend that the Elected Bodies revoke historic landmark and/or district designations, in whole or part, for cause;
(c)
To review and act on proposals for exterior alteration, relocation, new construction, or demolition of, or within, designated historic landmarks or districts in accordance with G.S. 160D Article 9 Part 4;
(d)
To review and act on proposals for alteration of interior features of designated historic landmarks if such features are specified in the designation ordinance;
(e)
To delay the relocation, demolition, or destruction of a designated landmark, or a building, structure, or site located within a designated historic district for not more than three hundred sixty-five (365) calendar days from the date of approval.
(f)
To negotiate with property owners who have received a Certificate of Appropriateness to demolish or relocate designated historic landmarks and/or properties within designated historic districts, in an effort to find a means of preserving the properties;
(g)
To delay demolition or destruction of buildings, sites, or structures proposed for historic landmark designation or located in areas proposed for historic district designation, for which the Commission has voted to recommend designation, for up to one hundred eighty (180) days, or until the Elected Bodies take final action on the recommendation, whichever occurs first;
(h)
To report violations of the law to the appropriate Inspections Division of the County/City/Town/Village responsible for enforcement, and/or institute action to prevent, restrain, correct, or abate violations of Article IV and Article VI of this Ordinance;
(i)
To organize itself and conduct its business by whatever legal means it deems proper and to appoint advisory bodies or committees, as appropriate;
(j)
To receive and spend funds appropriated by the Elected Bodies for operation and performance of the Commission's duties and to accept funds granted to the Commission from private or nonprofit organizations or individuals;
(k)
To contract for services or funds from the State of North Carolina and agencies or departments of the United States government and to obtain the services of private consultants in order to perform the Commission's official duties;
(l)
To 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 pursuant to G.S. 160D-942(A)(3)
(m)
To enter private lands to examine or survey them, at reasonable times and with the consent of the owner or occupant, in order to perform the Commission's official duties;
(n)
To give advice to property owners concerning treatment of the historic and related visual characteristics of their properties and to conduct educational programs on historic resources within Forsyth County;
(o)
To publish information about, or otherwise inform the public and/or owners of designated historic landmarks or property within designated historic districts of any matters pertinent to the Commission's duties, organization, procedures, responsibilities, functions, or requirements;
(p)
To undertake programs of information, research, or analysis relating to any matters under the Commission's purview;
(q)
To recommend to the Elected Bodies and the State of North Carolina buildings, structures, sites, objects, or districts worthy of national, State, or local recognition;
(r)
To cooperate with State and federal governments on matters related to historic preservation and to cooperate with local governmental boards, commissions, or agencies or other governmental units;
(s)
To offer or request assistance, aid, guidance, or advice concerning matters under its purview or of mutual interest;
(t)
To prepare and recommend adoption of a preservation element as part of a comprehensive plan for the County/City/Town/Village;
(u)
To propose to the Elected Bodies changes to this or any related ordinance, and to propose new ordinances or laws relating to designated historic landmarks or districts, or relating to the total program for the development of the historic resources of Forsyth County; and,
(v)
To exercise such other powers and perform such other duties as are required elsewhere by this Ordinance, State law, or by the Elected Bodies.