HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 02/19/2008 - SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 006, 2008, DESIGNA ITEM NUMBER: 7
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY DATE: February 19, 2008
FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL STAFF: Karen McWilliams
SUBJECT
Second Reading of Ordinance No. 006, 2008, Designating Grandview Cemetery, 1900 West
Mountain Avenue, as a Fort Collins Landmark Pursuant to Chapter 14 of the City Code.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends adoption of this Ordinance on Second Reading.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Ordinance No. 006, 2008, unanimously adopted on First Reading on February 5, 2008, designates
Grandview Cemetery, 1900 West Mountain Avenue,as a Fort Collins Landmark. The owner of the
property, the City of Fort Collins, is initiating this request.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Copy of First Reading Agenda Item Summary- February 5, 2008.
(w/o original attachments)
ATTACHMENT
ITEM NUMBER: 19
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY DATE: February 5, 2008
FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL
FF: Karen McWilliams
SUBJECT
First Reading of Ordinance No.006,2008,Designating Grandview Cemetery, 1900 West Mountain
Avenue, as a Fort Collins Landmark Pursuant to Chapter 14 of the City Code.
RECOMMENDATION
The Landmark Preservation Commission and staff recommend adoption of the Ordinance on First
Reading. At a public hearing held on December 12,2007,the Landmark Preservation Commission
voted unanimously to recommend designation of this property.
M
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The owner of the property, the City of Fort Collins, is initiating this request for Fort Collins
Landmark designation for the property. The cemetery property contains one historic building, and
several historic structures, objects, and features, including historic bridgework, entryway features,
statuary, grave markers and monuments, and a historic segment of the New Mercer Canal. All of
these historic resources contribute to the architectural and historical significance of the cemetery.
The property also contains two non-historic,metal workshop/garage buildings,one non-historic circa
1970s residential dwelling, a non-historic pumphouse, and two other small storage sheds of recent
vintage. These buildings are non-contributing elements of the cemetery property. While all
cemetery lots are owned by the City of Fort Collins,individual grave markers belong to the families
of the deceased, who have the legal right to remove, modify or replace the markers. The City's
Master Plan for Grandview Cemetery,once developed,will be used in conjunction with the criteria
in Section 14-48 of the Municipal Code to determine compliance with historic preservation
standards. In the event of a conflict between the Master Plan and the Code, the Code will control.
t
BACKGROUND -P
On August 15, 1887, the City of Fort Collins purchased 80 acres of land located a mile and a half
west of the city, for$50 per acre,for a new cemetery. The first interment in Grandview occurred on
November 21, 1887,the burial of three month old Felix Scoville. A one-half acre plot was set aside
and dedicated to the uses of George H. Thomas Post No. 7, Grand Army of the Republic. Standing
in the center of this section is the Soldier's Monument,a life-size figure of a Union Civil War soldier
standing at parade rest, erected here in 1905. On June 13, 1909, another significant monument was
February 5, 2008 -2- Item No. 19
added to the cemetery, a volunteer fireman's memorial statue,dedicated in honor of those who had
served with the department. It is a granite,life-sized figure of a fireman in full uniform and hat. The
fire bell that once hung in the bell tower on the roof of the old fire station on Walnut Street is
mounted in cement in front oft
Grandview Cemetery contains veral I ific s ctures features. The brick and moss rock
Grandview Office is a notable d ion- ild Built • 938 by the Civilian Conservation
Corps(CCC),it is located at the entrance to the cemetery. In 1924,a reinforced concrete bridge was
moved to the entrance of the cemetery,replacing an old wooden bridge. Previously located 150 feet
north of Mountain Avenue, across the New Mercer Canal, the bridge had been built by the Denver
and Interurban Railway(1907-1918) across from their streetcar station at the cemetery. Once in it
new location, it was renovated with rustic"mountain rock"side-walls and rustic ornamental flower
receptacles. This coincides in time with the similar native rock walls that were built in City Park.
There are also three historic moss rock planters,roughly the same vintage as the bridge, located in
Section H. Each of these structures features very good to excellent historic integrity.
Grandview displays many different types of headstones and monuments, documenting changes in
Fort Collins residents' style, taste, available materials, and economic prosperity throughout the
decades. Early monuments were often of marble. Around the turn of the twentieth century a popular
style was around granite orb affixed to the to of a rectangular stone. Also popular during this same
time period was the placement opi s con ly of h' served the purpose of grouping
families together. Between 1 0-1930, mon a the pe of a tree stump were used to
identity members of the org ati o s oodmen f the World. From 1900-1940,
monuments made of granite became more popular and marble fell to the wayside. Apex monuments,
featuring a drop wash base, were typical during this period. The base was designed to keep water
and snow away from the attached monument. From the early-to-mid twentieth century,variations
of taller monuments were another significant stylistic feature. During the Depression and post-WWII
years, the flat, flush marker became popular.
Grandview Cemetery is the most heavily wooded public park in Fort Collins, with more than 600
trees planted on 40 acres. To perpetuate this forested environment, new and replacement trees are
planted on an annual basis. Of special significance are three towering blue spruce in the soldier's
section of the cemetery,beautiful examples of Colorado's state tree. A state champion Ohio buckeye
has recently received recognition by the State Forest Service. A total of thirty four different species
of trees are found within Grandview. Aside from its aesthetic beauty, Grandview's expertly crafted
urban forest makes for an abundant wildlife habitat. A herd of deer makes its way in and out of the
cemetery, especially in the win, hs s ay
smaller mammals make their
homes in the grounds. The oc ion ote, d ve have been spotted within thecemetery. One hundred seven six spe es of r averded at Grandview includingmany rare and unusual example . c i haplace in all of Colorado to find
the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, an eastern woodpecker that rarely winters in our state. The Broad-
winged Hawk,an eastern raptor,has been documented nesting in Colorado only once:in Grandview
in 1978. And then there is the"crown j ewel"of Grandview Cemetery's bird history—the appearance
in 2005 of Colorado's only record of Tropical Parula. This Mexican warbler had never previously
been seen north of Lubbock,Texas. Grandview's history as a wildlife habitat is greatly appreciated
by visitors, both casual and passionate, and expands the cemetery's value far beyond its primary
function as a respectful final resting place for loved ones buried here.
February 5, 2008 -3- Item No. 19
Today, Grandview Cemetery is under the management of the City of Fort Collins' Parks and
Recreation Department,and consists of approximately 45 developed acres,34,000 grave spaces,70
crypts, 336 niches, and nearly 26,000 burials.
ATTACHMENTS 7le
1. Historic Landmark Designation Nomination Form.
2. Landmark Preservation Commission Staff Report dated December 12, 2007,
3. Pictures of Grandview Cemetery.
4. Agreement.
5. Resolution 8, 2007 of the Landmark Preservation Commission Recommending Landmark
Designation of Grandview Cemetery.
ORDINANCE NO. 006, 2008
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
DESIGNATING GRANDVIEW CEMETERY, 1900 WEST
MOUNTAIN AVENUE, FORT COLLINS, COLORADO, AS A
FORT COLLINS LANDMARK PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 14
OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 14-2 of the City Code, the City Council has established a
public policy encouraging the protection, enhancement and perpetuation of landmarks within the
City; and
WHEREAS, by Resolution dated December 12, 2007, the Landmark Preservation
Commission(the"Commission")has determined that Grandview Cemetery has significance to Fort
Collins under Landmark Designation Standards(1),(2),(3)and(4),as the oldest operating cemetery
in the city; for its association with events significant to the founding and early growth of Fort
Collins; for the many noteworthy individuals interred there; for the property's historic CCC office
building, and its historic structures, monuments, and landscape features; and finally, for the
cemetery's ability to serve as a record of the city's past and to provide important information for
future researchers; and
WHEREAS,the Commission has further determined that said property meets the criteria of
a landmark as set forth in Section 14-5 of the Code and is eligible for designation as a landmark,and
has recommended to the City Council that said property be designated by the City Council as a
landmark; and
WHEREAS, the City Manager has consented to such landmark designation on behalf of the
City as owner of the Cemetery, pursuant to the provisions of Section 14-21 of the Code; and
WHEREAS, such landmark designation will preserve the property's significance to the
community; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has reviewed the recommendation of the Commission and
desires to approve such recommendation and designate said property as a landmark.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT
COLLINS as follows:
Section 1. That the property known as Grandview Cemetery, in the City of Ford Collins,
Larimer County, Colorado, as described in Exhibit"A,'attached hereto and incorporated herein by
this reference, is hereby designated as a Fort Collins landmark pursuant to Chapter 14 of the Code
of the City of Fort Collins.
Section 2. That the City's Master Plan for Grandview Cemetery, once developed, will
be used in conjunction with the criteria in Section 14-48 of the Municipal Code as the standards by
which alterations, additions and other changes to the buildings, structures, landscape, and features
located upon the above described property will be reviewed for compliance with Chapter 14,Article
III,of the Code of the City of Fort Collins. In the event of a conflict between such Master Plan and
Section 14-48 of the Code, the Code shall control.
Section 3. That the review criteria as contained in Section 2 hereof shall not apply to the
installation of new gravestones and grave markers or to the removal of existing gravestones and
grave markers. Routine care and maintenance of existing gravestones and grave markers shall be
reviewed in accordance with Section 2 of this Ordinance.
Introduced, considered favorably on first reading, and ordered published this 5th day of
February, A.D. 2008, and to be presented for final passage on t day of February, A.D. 2008.
Mayor `
ATTEST:
46L,
City Clerk
Passed and adopted on final reading on the t9th day of February, A.D. 2008.
Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerk