(a) As part of the general plan for the physical development of that portion of the county within the Maryland-Washington Regional District, there shall be prepared, adopted and approved a master plan for historic preservation which shall constitute an amendment to the general plan for the Maryland-Washington Regional District. Such plan shall designate historic sites and historic districts and describe their boundaries; it shall propose means for the integration of historic preservation into the planning process; and it shall suggest other measures to advance the goals of historic preservation.
(b) In considering historic resources for designation as historic sites or historic districts, the planning board shall apply the following criteria:
(1) Historical and cultural significance. The historic resource:
a. Has character, interest or value as part of the development, heritage or cultural characteristics of the county, state or nation;
b. Is the site of a significant historic event;
c. Is identified with a person or a group of persons who influenced society; or
d. Exemplifies the cultural economic, social, political or historic heritage of the county and its communities.
(2) Architectural and design significance. The historic resource:
a. Embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period or method of construction;
b. Represents the work of a master;
c. Possesses high artistic values;
d. Represents a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction; or
e. Represents an established and familiar visual feature of the neighborhood, community or county due to its singular physical characteristic or landscape.
(c) (1) Within 4 years from the date the District Council designated an individual historic resource, the District Council may approve an amendment to the Master Plan for Historic Preservation if:
(A) when the resource was designated as an individual historic site, it was recommended as part of a historic district by the Planning Board but was not recommended by the Board for designation as an individual historic site; and
(B) when the resource was recommended for inclusion in a historic district, the notice given to the subject property’s owner by the Historic Preservation Commission or the Planning Board indicated that the resource might be included in a historic district but did not indicate the possibility of an individual site designation.
(2) After advertising and holding a public hearing, the District Council may:
(A) vacate the District Council’s previous action to designate the resource as an individual site;
(B) include the resource within the boundary of the historic district; or
(C) affirm the District Council’s previous action.
(3) Any change to the Master Plan for Historic Preservation under this subsection must be transmitted to the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission for its adoption. (Ord. No. 9-4, § 1; Ord. No. 11-59; , § 1.)
Editor’s note—Section 24A-3 is cited in Montgomery Preservation, Inc. v. Montgomery County Planning Board, 197 Md. App. 388, 14 A.3d 1 (2011). 
