The Legislative Assembly hereby declares that it is in the best interest of the state to maintain, preserve and rehabilitate properties of Oregon historical significance. Historic preservation incentive programs provide a public benefit by encouraging preservation and appropriate rehabilitation of significant historic properties. These historically significant portions of the built environment contain the visual and intellectual record of our irreplaceable cultural heritage. They link us with our past traditions and values, establish standards and perspectives for measuring our present achievements and set goals for future accomplishments. To the extent that Oregon’s historic preservation incentive programs encourage the preservation and appropriate rehabilitation of significant historical property, the programs create a positive partnership between the public good and private property that promotes economic development; tourism; energy and resource conservation; sustainability; neighborhood, downtown and rural revitalization; efficient use of public infrastructure; and civic pride in our shared historical and cultural foundations. [1975 c.514 § 1; 1995 c.5 § 1; 2001 c.540 § 1; 2009 c.892 § 1]