The Commission shall consist of nine members appointed by City Council. The members will serve terms of three years; all terms will expire on the 15th day of August. Members must be residents of Greensboro and be qualified based on special interest or experience in history, architectural history, architecture, archaeology, planning or related fields. Each locally-zoned historic district must be represented on the Commission by at least one member who resides at or owns property in that district. Members hold office until their successors are appointed and qualified, and vacancies from causes other than expiration of term shall be filled only for the unexpired portion of the term. Members shall not succeed themselves after serving a second full term without an intervening period of one year, and appointment for more than half of the unexpired portion of the term shall be considered as an appointment for full term.

The Commission shall hold meetings regularly at least once each month unless there is not sufficient business to warrant a meeting; but not more than sixty days shall expire without a regular or special meeting of the Commission. Regular meetings are held on the last Wednesday of the month. All regular and special meetings shall be held in the Plaza Level Conference Room of the Melvin Municipal Office Building except when fixed or adjourned to another location. All meetings are open to the public. Special meetings of the Commission may be called by the Chair. Notice shall be given verbally or in writing and delivered personally to each member or left at his/her residence not less than forty-eight hours prior to the time of the meeting; provided that the minimum time period for notice to a member may be waived by such member if he/she is present at the special meeting.

The Commission must also cause written notice of the special meeting, stating its general purpose, to be posted at the door of its meeting place; to be posted on the City website; and to be mailed or delivered to each news media, and/or person(s) who has filed a request for notice with the City Clerk's Office, at least forty-eight hours before the special meeting.

Five members of the Commission constitute a quorum. The concurrence of those members present will be required before any recommendation or action is made or any matter considered. When any matter is transmitted to Council without recommendation, the reasons must be stated. A vote of the majority of all members of the Commission shall be required to decide any quasi-judicial matter; vacant positions and members who are disqualified from voting by virtue of a conflict of interest shall not be counted for calculating the requisite majority during a vote on a quasi-judicial matter.

The Historic Preservation Commission’s Powers and Duties are listed in Chapter 30 (Land Development Ordinance) of the City’s Code of Ordinances, Section 30-3-8.4:

A. Review and Recommendation The Historic Preservation Commission has review and recommendation authority for the following:

1. Designation of Local Historic District overlay district including design guidelines and zoning map amendments (see Historic District Preservation Manual and Design Guidelines); 2. Designation of Landmark Signs (30-4-12.2); 3. Ordinance Text Amendments, when required (30-4-4); 4. Zoning Map Amendments, when required (30-4-5 through 30-4-8); 5. Special Use Permits, when required (30-4-10); 6. Special Exceptions, when required (30-4-14); 7. Variances, when required (30-4-13); and 8. Street, Alley and Walkway Closings, when required (30-4-22).

B. Final Action

1. The Historic Preservation Commission has final decision-making authority for a certificate of appropriateness (30-4-12.4) when the subject property is located within a designated local historic district.

2. The Historic Preservation Commission has final decision-making authority for designation of landmark signs (30-4-12.2).

C. Nonregulatory In addition to the specific powers and duties required in the enforcement and application of, the Historic Preservation Commission has the following nonregulatory authority:

1. Review proposed nominations of National Historic Districts and sites;

2. to undertake an inventory of properties of historical, prehistorical, architectural, and/or cultural significance;

3. to acquire by any lawful means the fee or any lesser included interest, including options to purchase, to properties within established historic districts or to any such properties designated as landmarks; to hold, manage, preserve, restore, and improve the same; and to exchange or dispose of the property by public or private sale, lease, or otherwise, subject to covenants or other legally binding restrictions which will secure appropriate rights of public access and promote the preservation of the property;

4. to restore, preserve, and operate historic properties;

5. to conduct an educational program with respect to historic properties and districts within its jurisdiction;

6. to prepare and recommend adoption of a preservation plan;

7. to negotiate at any time with the owner of a building, structure, site, area, or object for its acquisition or its preservation when such action is reasonably necessary or appropriate;

8. to cooperate with the state, federal, and local governments in historic preservation activities. The City Council or the Historic Preservation Commission when authorized by the City Council may contract with the state of federal government or with any other organization, provided the terms are not inconsistent with state or federal law;

9. to enter, solely in performance of its official duties and only at reasonable times, upon private lands for examination or survey thereof. However, no member, employee, or agent of the Historic Preservation Commission may enter any private building or structure without the express consent of the owner or occupant thereof; and

10. to exercise other powers and authority provided to it by the City Council, this ordinance, and State law.

The Commission shall make no expenditure or contract any indebtedness for which the city shall be liable without the approval of the Council. Members of the Commission shall serve without compensation.