Any county or municipality is hereby empowered to expend public funds for any purposes connected with the preservation, protection or enhancement of historical areas and landmarks, areas related to historical areas or areas otherwise of special architectural or visual interest, including but not limited to the purchase of any or all of such areas and landmarks, if necessary, through the use of eminent domain in the manner provided by law for the acquisition of property for a public purpose, which acquisition is hereby declared to be:

A. the leasing or acquisition of any other title or interest in the same by negotiation or, if necessary, through the use of eminent domain in the manner provided by law, including the acquisition of easements in and related to such areas and landmarks which will permit the county or municipality to control development of the same in a manner consistent with the purposes of the Historic District and Landmark Act;

B. the entering into any reasonable agreement with private persons to promote the objectives of this section; or

C. the enactment of appropriate ordinances or resolutions under which the county or municipality, as the case may be, may be given prior right to acquire any interest in property in such areas and landmarks as over any private person offering an equal price for the same interest or any other similar measures as may be consistent with the purposes of the Historic District and Landmark Act.

History: 1953 Comp., § 14-21-4, enacted by Laws 1965, ch. 300; 1983, ch. 178, § 5.

Bracketed material. — The bracketed material was inserted by the compiler and is not part of the law.

Am. Jur. 2d, A.L.R. and C.J.S. references. — Validity and construction of statute or ordinance protecting historical landmarks, 18 A.L.R.4th 990.

Application and construction of § 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (16 USCS § 470f), dealing with federally sponsored projects which affect historic properties, 68 A.L.R. Fed. 578.