Historic Preservation Commission

Historic Preservation

Starts with You

Overview

The Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) is a quasi-judicial body that acts on Certificates of Appropriateness for development within the Downtown Boone Local Historic District and other designated Local Landmarks.  The HPC also acts in an advisory capacity by making recommendations to Town Council to promote, enhance and preserve the character and historic landmarks or districts in the Town’s planning area. 

The Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) is responsible for the inventory of historical, architectural, and culturally significant properties within the Town of Boone's planning jurisdiction, and makes recommendations to Council to promote, enhance and preserve the character and historic landmarks or districts in the Town's planning area. Currently, HPC has 5 members, and members are appointed for three-year terms. The HPC strives to work with the local community to advocate for historic preservation and apply design standards to designated historic landmarks and districts. 

Please review the Town of Boone Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), Article 2 Administrative Mechanisms (Sections 2.04 & 2.05), Article 6 Quasi-Judicial Hearings, and Article 8 Historic Preservation Procedures for more information about the HPC.

Board Openings

For more information continue through this page to view the Membership and Current Roster sections or visit the Apply for a Board or Commission page.  

Membership

The HPC consists of five (5) members appointed by Town Council for 3-year terms.   All members shall be residents of the Town of Boone.

To the extent qualified persons can be found, the majority of the Commission shall have demonstrated special interest, experience, or education in history, architecture, archaeology, or related fields, and to the extent, persons may be found with the stated qualifications, the Town Council shall seek to appoint two persons with significant experience or knowledge in historic preservation, one person with significant experience or knowledge in building construction, and one person with significant experience or knowledge in architecture.

One membership position on the HPC shall be designated for an Appalachian State University student; provided, that more than one Appalachian State University student position may be appointed at the discretion of the Town Council. The designated Appalachian State University student member shall serve a term of one (1) year.

Student Board Application

Board Application

To submit the application online, use the form linked here

Powers and Duties

  1. Undertake an inventory of properties of historical, prehistorical, architectural, and/or cultural significance; and
  2. Recommend to the Town Council areas to be designated by ordinance as "Historic Districts;" modification of Historic District boundaries; and individual structures, buildings, sites, areas, or objects to be designated by Ordinance as "Landmarks”; and
  3. Recommend to the Town Council criteria and procedures for the protection and preservation of Historic Districts and Landmarks; and
  4. Recommend to the Town Council that designation of any area as a Historic District or part thereof, or designation of any building, structure, site, area, or object as a Landmark, be revoked or removed for cause; and
  5. Conduct educational programs with respect to historic properties and districts within its jurisdiction, including but not limited to programs of recognition for significant historic properties, and programs to educate landowners of possible tax benefits associated with historic designation; and
  6. Cooperate with the State, federal, and local governments in pursuance of the preservation and protection of areas and properties deemed to be of special significance in terms of their history, prehistory, architecture and /or culture, and contract, when authorized by the Town Council, with the State of North Carolina or the United States of America, or any agency of either for that purpose; and
  7. Enter, solely in performance of its official duties and only at reasonable times, upon private lands for examination or survey thereof, provided that no member, employee or agent of the Commission may enter any private building or structure without the express consent of the owner or occupant thereof; and
  8. Prepare and recommend the official adoption of a preservation element as part of the municipality's comprehensive plan; and
  9. Review and act upon proposals for alterations, demolitions, or new construction within historic districts, or for the alteration or demolition of designated landmarks, and identify and propose preservation alternatives to owners; and
  10. Perform any other related duties that the Council may direct.

Rules of Procedure

The HPC's Rules of Procedure, together with the provisions of the Town of Boone Unified Development Ordinance ("UDO"), govern the operation of the Historic Preservation Commission. The HPC shall conduct its meetings in accordance with its duly adopted rules of procedures so long as they are not inconsistent with the provisions of the UDO or State law, and the Commission shall comply with the requirements of the UDO Article 8.  The Commission shall conduct its meetings so as to obtain necessary information and to promote the full and free exchange of ideas. When exercising authority over any individual property in accordance with Sections 8.03 and 8.06 of the UDO, it shall conduct itself in a quasi-judicial manner.

These rules also are designed to answer questions from people who are unfamiliar with the Commission’s processes in order to provide more predictability and therefore more timely processing of applications. They are an attempt to make the procedures more predictable and understandable, to address certain details of the Commission’s operation, to create uniform methods for dealing with recurring questions which arise during hearings before the Commission, to provide guidance to people who appear before the Commission so they can better prepare for Commission hearings, and to facilitate the efficient administration of matters which come before the Commission. 

The Town Council has given the Commission the power to adopt these rules, and they are binding on participants in cases before the Commission. However, if there is ever a conflict between the provisions in these rules and the UDO or state law, the UDO and state law always controls. 

Historic Preservation Commission Rules of Procedure (PDF)

Historic Preservation Commission, Certificate of Appropriateness - Legal Representation Guidance (PDF)

Meetings

  • Advisory Meeting: 3:00 p.m., First Tuesday of the Month
  • Quasi-Judicial Meeting: 3:00 p.m., Second Tuesday of the Month
  • The HPC is currently meeting virtually, through WebEx, a video-conferencing software.  Please contact the Planning & Inspections Department by email (planning@townofboone.net) or by phone (828-268-6960) for more information on how to watch or participate in the HPC meetings. 
  • 2023 Town of Boone Meeting Calendar (PDF)

Agendas & Minutes

Agendas are available prior to the meetings. Minutes are available following approval.

View Most Recent Agendas and Minutes

HPC Public Hearings/Quasi-Judicial Meeting Dates - 2023

All HPC meetings are open to the public, and anyone interested can attend any of the HPC's meetings. Public Hearings by the HPC are held during their Quasi-Judicial session when they hear cases for Certificates of Appropriateness for work in the Downtown Boone Local Historic District. For information on the local historic district, visit the HPC's page.  

On this page, you will find Meeting Date Tables in Section 1., and Resources in Section 2. 

The HPC currently meets virtually using video conferencing software, WebEx. For more information, see Section 3 below.

1. Meeting Date Tables

MEETING DATE

January 17, 2023*February 14, 2023March 14, 2023April 11, 2023May 9, 2023June 5, 2023*

SUBMITTAL DEADLINE

November 21, 2022December 28, 2022January 27, 2023February 24, 2023March 23, 2023April 27, 2023


Please Note!
*The meeting date changed from the original.
MEETING PACKETThe meeting packet will be made available on the Town of Boone Meeting Portal approximately one week before the meeting date. 


MEETING DATE

July 11, 2023August 8, 2023September 12, 2023October 10, 2023November 14, 2023December 12, 2023

SUBMITTAL DEADLINE

May 24, 2023June 22, 2023July 28, 2023August 24, 2023September 29, 2023October 24, 2023
MEETING PACKETThe meeting packet will be made available on the Town of Boone Meeting Portal approximately one week before the meeting date. 

2. Resources

Interested in Parcel Information

Please use the interactive zoning map maintained by the Town's GIS system to look up parcel location.

Information about the Public Hearing Packet

The public hearing packet containing details for each case will be published one week before the meeting and can be viewed/downloaded on the Town of Boone meeting portal accessed through the following link: Town of Boone Meeting Portal. 

To view the packet use the options on the portal screen to select the Historic Preservation Commission in the drop-down menu or scroll to the meeting date to view the packet information.  

Questions about the Meeting Dates

Please see the Town of Boone Planning & Inspections Meeting Schedule provided as a PDF.  

3. Attending Virtually Through WebEx

For those interested in attending this meeting, please contact Jessica Mitchell (jessica.mitchell@townofboone.net) to receive a WebEx invite to the meeting.  

Current Roster

Please note HPC members are not allowed to discuss any Certificate of Appropriateness case before them outside of the hearing (what the courts' term ex parte communication).  An ex parte communication occurs when a Commission member discusses with any other person, including another Commission member, party, or staff of the Planning Department, the substance or merits of a case outside the hearing and before the decision in the case is announced.

Board MembersAppointedTerm Expires
Eric Plaag- Chair5/20/20216/30/2024
Bettie Bond- Vice-Chair6/18/20206/30/2023
Chuck Watkins- Commission Member9/18/201807/27/2023
James Sharp - Commission Member07/27/20226/30/2024
Riley Ziegler - Student Member02/08/20236/30/2023