HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 06/03/2025 - Memorandum from Maren Bzdek re Preview of Historic Preservation Code UpdatesHistoric Preservation Services
281 North College Avenue
P.O. Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522.0580
970.416.4250
preservation@fcgov.com
fcgov.com/historicpreservation
MEMORANDUM
Date: May 23, 2025
To: Mayor and City Councilmembers
Through: Kelly DiMartino, City Manager;
Caryn Champine, PDT Service Area Director;
Lori Schwarz, AICP; CDNS Director
From: Maren Bzdek, Historic Preservation Manager
Subject: Preview of Historic Preservation Code Updates
BOTTOM LINE
Project kickoff for updates to the historic preservation codes is scheduled for July 2025, with
adoption process for the revised codes expected in Q2 2026. This summary provides Council
with an early look at the primary categories staff proposes to address, as well as the general
project schedule.
BACKGROUND
• Chapter 14 of the Municipal Code and Section 5.8.1 of the Land Use Code outline the
regulatory requirements for the City of Fort Collins’ recognition and management of
historic resources. These code requirements govern the identification and designation of
landmark properties, exterior alterations to landmark properties, and the treatment of
cultural and historic resources on or adjacent to development sites.
• Council adopted the existing code requirements in March 2019 following a code revision
process with appropriate community engagement, legal consultation, and consideration
of existing best practices in peer communities. In the six intervening years, the general
trends and practices of historic preservation at the municipal level of governance have
continued to evolve, and application of our current code provisions has revealed several
opportunities for revision, updates, and corrections.
• While some of the identified code revisions are logical steps to align with the Future of
Commercial Centers and Corridors land use code revisions, and others are simple
cleanup measures to correct errors or clarify language and intent, certain topics will
require additional public engagement and careful consideration by Council. Staff
organized those into seven general categories, as follows:
Docusign Envelope ID: 89EDF946-813A-4370-97C1-AF0E4A738FCE
o Simplify and Optimize Historic Survey (Identification of Historic
Resources): This category includes revision of historic survey requirements that
are a pre-submittal step for Development Review applications.
o Treatment of Historic Resources in Redevelopment/Adaptive Reuse
Scenarios: Revisions would provide more clarity and early certainty about
options for development applicants that will successfully comply with code
requirements when development sites contain historic resources.
o Demolition Review and Noticing: Addition of this code section would optimize
and codify the demolition review and noticing process, which is currently an
administrative process not reflected or appropriately connected to related
processes in the code.
o Determinations of Landmark Eligibility: Council would have the option to
consider and potentially revise the current process for appeals of official
determinations of eligibility.
o Landmark Nominations: Consideration of this topic will address recent
concerns about current process for non-owner-initiated landmark nominations.
o Update Landmark Eligibility Standards: Council may wish to consider the
addition of the cultural significance of a property as a fifth option that would
support a rationale landmark eligibility.
o Clarify processes related to archeological resources: Review and update
code language to align with expectations about archeological resource
management and tribal consultation.
NEXT STEPS
• Q3/Q4 2025: Public engagement and initial drafts of revisions; summary memo will
be sent to Council to provide a progress update
• March 2026: Staff will present findings and alternatives at a Council Work Session
• Q2 2026: Begin adoption process
Docusign Envelope ID: 89EDF946-813A-4370-97C1-AF0E4A738FCE