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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014 - Landmark Preservation Commission - Annual ReportCommunity Development & Neighborhood Services 281 North College Avenue P.O. Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522.0580 970.416.2740 970.224.6134- fax fcgov.com Planning, Development & Transportation Services MEMORANDUM January 31, 2015 TO: Molly Wendell, Chief Deputy City Clerk TH: Karen Cumbo, Director, Planning, Development and Transportation Services Laurie Kadrich, Director, Community Development and Neighborhood Services FR: Ron Sladek, Chair, Landmark Preservation Commission RE: Landmark Preservation Commission (LPC) 2014 Annual Report Overview of the Landmark Preservation Commission: The nine-member Landmark Preservation Commission (LPC) was created by Council in 1968 to perform the duties relating to the preservation of Fort Collins’ significant historic resources in accordance with adopted codes and regulations. To maintain Fort Collins’ Certified Local Government (CLG) status, a minimum of 40% of LPC members are required to have expertise in the fields of historic preservation, architectural history, architecture, engineering, or related subjects. Eight of the nine current members meet these professional qualifications. The Commission’s duties include making recommendations to the City Council on Fort Collins Landmark designations, serving as the final decision-maker regarding requests for alterations to exterior features of Landmark structures; determinations of Landmark eligibility and the effect of proposed work on this eligibility; State Tax Credit review; and Landmark Rehabilitation Loan approval. Final decisions of the LPC may be appealed to the City Council. The Commission performs additional functions, including: Providing a recommendation to the Decision Maker on developments affecting historic resources; promoting an awareness of and appreciation for the value of historic preservation; advising Council with regard to the identification and significance of historic resources, threats to their preservation, and methods for their protection; and advising Council and City staff with regard to policies, incentives and regulations for historic preservation. Year in Review: In 2014, the Commission convened 22 times, for 10 regular meetings, 3 special meetings, and 9 work sessions. A. Designations: There were 5 new individual Fort Collins Landmarks in 2013, bringing the total number of Fort Collins Landmark properties to 268. B. Grants: In 2014, the Preservation Division received three new Certified Local Government (CLG) and State Historical Fund (SHF) grants, using $21,400 of City funds to leverage $65,185 in grant and owner match: ▪ Historic Context of the Loomis Addition; ▪ A third SHF grant for rehabilitation of the 16-unit Paramount Cottage Camp; - 2 - ▪ Commission attendance at the bi-annual National Alliance for Preservation Commissioners conference. C. Landmark Rehabilitation Loan Program: In 2014, this program generated a total of $56,020.00 in rehabilitation work, by providing local preservation assistance zero % interest loans to four properties. City funds of $17,806.00 were matched by $38,214.00 in private funding. D. Design Review: In 2014, the Commission and staff conducted reviews of 26 alterations to the exteriors of designated Landmark properties. E. Demolition/Alteration Review: Staff processed a total of 704 demolition/alteration requests of buildings 50 years old and older in 2014. F. Preservation Awareness: In 2014, the Commission sponsored three programs promoting public awareness of historic preservation: - National Historic Preservation Week Proclamation - Friend of Preservation Awards – Five recipients - Workshop on Researching Your Home, attended by nearly 80 individuals G. LPC Training in 2014: ▪ Board and Commissions Training, presented by the Fort Collins City Attorney’s and City Clerk’s Offices. All new and continuing LPC members have taken this training. ▪ Northeastern Colorado Region Historic Preservation Commission Forum, attended by LPC members Ron Sladek, Doug Ernest, Dave Lingle, Belinda Zink, Alexandra Wallace, and Maren Bzdek; and Historic Preservation Planners Karen McWilliams and Josh Weinberg. ▪ Historic Preservation Commission Training, Denver, CO., July 2014, attended by LPC members Maren Bzdek and Meg Dunn. ▪ Saving Places Conference, Denver, CO., Feb. 2014, attended by LPC members Ron Sladek, Dave Lingle, Belinda Zink, Alexandra Wallace, Kristin Gensmer, Meg Dunn and Maren Bzdek; and Historic Preservation Planners Karen McWilliams and Josh Weinberg. ▪ Colorado Council of Professional Archaeologists Annual Conference, Glenwood Springs, March 2014, attended by Kristin Gensmer ▪ National Alliance for Preservation Commissioners Conference, attended by Ron Sladek and Alexandra Wallace H. Changes to Historic Preservation Ordinances and/or By-Laws: In April, 2014, Council adopted three ordinances pertaining to Historic Preservation: ▪ Ordinance No. 057, 2014, Amending Chapter 14 of the Code of the City of Fort Collins Regarding Landmark Preservation. ▪ Ordinance No. 058, 2014, Amending Section 2-278 of the Municipal Code Pertaining to the Functions of the Landmark Preservation Commission. ▪ Ordinance No. 059, 2014, Amending Section 3.4.7 of the Land Use Code Pertaining to New Construction as it Affects Historic and Cultural Resources. Code Revisions include: • Completely re-organized Chapter 14 to enhance clarity and understanding of the code through additional explanations and references, and by grouping relevant information; - 3 - • The inclusion of a building’s context as a consideration in determining its eligibility; • Determinations of eligibility are now valid for five years; previously it was one year; • Require a minimum of three signatures of residents of the city to submit an application for a non-consensual landmark designation. Previously, one signature was required; • Applicants must now provide a Plan of Protection showing how they will ensure that no damage will occur to eligible historic resources on or adjacent to the work site; • Require repair of properties undergoing review under any of the City’s preservation codes, and which are declared dangerous by the Chief Building Officer (CBO). If a property is found by the CBO to be an imminent threat, then the owner has the option of repair or demolition; • Provides penalties for actions that violate the protection mechanisms of the Landmark Preservation Code. • The Community Development and Neighborhood Services (CDNS) Director may approve minor alterations on landmark properties administratively; • The Landmark Preservation Commission (LPC) Design Review Subcommittee, can review plans and recommend approval to the CDNS Director. The Director can then approve the plans administratively, without the plans going before the LPC; • The LPC may now review any development project with the potential to affect individually eligible and designated historic properties, and provide a recommendation to the Decision Maker, which must take this recommendation into account; • Adds non-binding determinations of eligibility, which do not require owner permission, to the Land Use Code review process.