HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022 - Historic Preservation Commission - Work Plan
Community Development & Neighborhood Services
281 North College Avenue
P.O. Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522.0580
970.416.4250
preservation@fcgov.com
fcgov.com/historicpreservation
Historic Preservation Services
MEMORANDUM
DATE: November 17, 2021
TO: Susan Gutowsky, Council Liaison
CC: Kelly DiMartino, Interim City Manager, Tammi Pusheck, Interim City Clerk
FROM: Meg Dunn, Chair, Historic Preservation Commission
RE: Historic Preservation Commission 2022 Work Plan
The Historic Preservation Commission (formerly Landmark Preservation Commission) was
established in 1968 after the Centennial celebration of the founding of our city led to a
groundswell of support for identifying and preserving places important to our local heritage.
MISSION ‐ The Commission’s mission is closely aligned with four out of five of the City’s Guiding
Themes & Principles as identified in the 2020 Fort Collins Strategic Plan:
1. Affordability
o Supports the retention and rehabilitation of our existing affordable housing stock.
o Assists owners of historic properties in accessing State tax credits and provides zero
interest loans for maintaining historic properties.
o Provides an avenue to protect smaller sized housing stock that is often more
affordable than newer or larger construction.
o Provides work for local crafts people rather than outsourcing construction functions
to large chain stores and overseas factories.
2. Equity, Inclusion and Diversity
o Recognizes the need for more complete and inclusive representation of socio‐
economically, racially, ethnically, and culturally diverse communities within the city.
o Prioritizes inclusion in order to tell an accurate and comprehensive story of our
community.
o Seeks to identify, document, and preserve important sites that help to tell the full
story of Fort Collins from pre‐history through to the recent past.
o Seeks to preserve sites that enable all Fort Collins residents to see themselves and
their own history valued and represented through the City’s local landmark
program.
3. Environmental Sustainability
o Supports the conservation of buildings and scarce building materials through the
reuse and rehabilitation of historic buildings.
o Supports the reduction of energy use through the reuse of materials rather than
harvesting, processing, transporting, and installing new materials, all of which
require a great deal of energy.
4. Community Vibrancy
o Preserves the community’s sense of place by identifying, documenting, and safe‐
guarding archaeological and cultural sites of significance.
COMMISSION MAKEUP ‐ The HPC is a nine‐member board at full capacity (2 positions have
been vacant since June 2021). Per Certified Local Government (CLG) requirements, at least 40%
must have professional expertise in historic preservation, architectural history, history,
architecture, archaeology, or closely related fields. The current commission exceeds this
requirement with 100% of members having one or more of the required areas of expertise:
o Architecture: Nelson, Rose
o Land Development: Bello
o Historic Preservation: Murray, Rose
o Archeology: W. Dunn
o History: Knierim
o Education: M. Dunn, Knierim
SCOPE OF WORK ‐ The Commission has responsibilities both for the City of Fort Collins and as a
Certified Local Government:
1. The HPC performs the CLG responsibilities for the City of Fort Collins:
o Enables City to administer preservation regulations on behalf of the state and
federal governments; residents and business owners can participate in the Colorado
Historic Tax Credit program which provides an income tax credit of between 20‐35%
of qualified expenses depending on owner and project circumstances; and City can
apply for CLG grants for training, surveys, building preservation, and community
education;
o Requires enforcement of local legislation for the designation and protection of
historic properties consistent with the Secretary of Interior’s Standards; requires on‐
going survey of historic resources.
2. The HPC is the final decision‐maker on exterior alterations to properties designated as
Fort Collins Landmarks; determinations of eligibility for Fort Collins Landmark
designation; and allocation of Landmark Rehabilitation Loan funds.
3. The HPC makes recommendations to Council on Fort Collins Landmark designations; to
the Colorado State Historic Preservation Officer on nominations to the National and
State Register; and to Decision Makers on compatibility of developments adjacent to
and/or containing historic resources.
4. The HPC advises Council on the identification and significance of historic resources,
threats to their preservation, and methods for their protection; and advises Council and
staff about policies, incentives, and regulations for historic preservation.
OVERVIEW OF COMMISSION ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN 2021
o Held 10 regular meetings and 12 work sessions via remote meetings and hybrid
remote/in‐person meetings.
o Reviewed 11 design review applications for exterior alterations to designated historic
resources.
o Completed 11 formal education/training discussions on technical and historical topics at
monthly work sessions.
o Completed CLG training requirement for preservation commissions by attending the
National Trust’s PastForward 2021 virtual conference and Colorado Preservation Inc’s
Saving Places 2021 virtual conference. Recommended 2 properties for official
designation as Fort Collins Landmarks, including the first Black history landmark in the
City of Fort Collins (The Thomas House at 308 Cherry Street);
o Advocated for the restoration of Design Assistance Program (DAP) funding in the 2022
Budget. The DAP provides a voluntary, educational means to address technical
knowledge and project planning gaps for property owners, as well as to produce design
concepts that minimize the impact of alterations on historic character, improving the
outcomes of 151 projects since 2012. 2022 Responsibilities and Initiatives:
In 2022, the Historic Preservation Commission will continue to directly support Council’s
affirmed values of triple bottom line stewardship and innovation, centered in equity and
inclusion. Aligning its strategic objectives with the prioritized initiatives of City Council, the
Commission:
Will support the Neighborhood Livability and Social Health Key Outcome Area by:
o Addressing the City’s affordable housing goals by participating in the re‐
evaluation of the land use code to identify opportunities to increase
housing supply; supporting the retention and rehabilitation of existing
affordable housing stock; and by assisting Housing Catalyst in federal
clearance for the evaluation and sale of properties eligible for federal, state,
and local designation.
o Protecting historic places that are important to a broad base of our community through
cooperative discussions with a community stakeholder group that will guide further
exploration into the City’s research on historic sites associated with civil rights in Fort
Collins.
o Celebrating historic resources through community recognition and appreciation
opportunities, such as the Friends of Preservation Awards; virtual tours; signage and
brochures; and partnerships with community history organizations on special events
such as MLK Day, Pride Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, and others.
o Helping to ensure compatible alterations and new development through design review
and development review. Providing feedback and direction for ongoing historic survey
projects.
Will support the Economic Health Key Outcome Area by:
o Allocating Landmark Rehabilitation Loans, and promoting State Tax
Credits, State Historic Fund grants, and other financial programs for work
to preserve and rehabilitate eligible residential and commercial
properties.
o Supporting Housing Attainability and Affordability through revisions to the
Rehabilitation Loan Program and the Design Assistance Program to address issues of
equity, inclusion, and financial need, and better assist low and moderate‐income
citizens with cost‐effective repairs and improvements to their homes.
o Ensuring a smooth, integrated Development Review process by providing early
comments to developers and staff on Land Use Code projects; and by providing decision
makers with recommendations on development near historic properties.
o Promoting and subsidizing the use of Fort Collins’ specialized skills and tradespeople
to keep more financial resources in the community.
o Promoting the Historic Preservation Division’s Cost Comparison Calculator, an on‐line
tool that enables area contractors and residents to understand the relative costs,
longevity and energy trade‐offs in rehab material choices.
Will support the Environmental Health Key Outcome Area by:
o Incentivizing sustainable building practices and energy conservation
measures in older homes through historic preservation review processes.
o Promote sustainability, retention of embodied energy, and waste‐stream
reduction by encouraging the reuse of existing buildings and materials.
o Facilitating safe, cost‐effective energy rehabilitation and retrofitting, addition of
appropriate solar installations to historic resources, and resource sustainability
through 0%‐interest loans, grants, and free professional advice.
o Providing technical input and oversight on the Historic Preservation Division’s technical
briefs, which are designed to guide energy efficiency improvements, material repair and
replacement decisions, and other rehabilitation needs in a manner that is both climate‐
friendly and supportive of historic building character.
Will support the High Performing Government Key Outcome Area by:
o Providing the best service to Council and the residents of Fort Collins by
identifying and implementing innovative solutions and best practices
through partnerships, continuing education, and professional trainings.
o Building capacity, increasing productivity, attracting and developing
diverse and competitive talent, and facilitating the career training and growth
of young professionals by working with CSU faculty and student interns on special
projects related to Historic Preservation, Archeology, Construction Management,
Heritage Tourism and other related fields of study.
o Furthering Council’s and the City’s goals and objectives through the performance of the
Commission’s duties.