HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB Study Session 2010-07-13
Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, July 13, 2010
Minutes of a Study Session meeting of the TOWN BOARD of the Town
of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting held at Town Hall in
Rooms 202 & 203 in said Town of Estes Park on the 13th day of July,
2010.
Board: Mayor Pinkham, Trustees Blackhurst, Elrod, Ericson,
Koenig, Levine and Miller
Also Attending: Town Administrator Halburnt, Deputy Town Administrator
Richardson, Town Attorney White, Director Kilsdonk and
Joseph, Mgr. Fortini, Town Clerk Williamson
Absent: None
Mayor Pinkham called the meeting to order at 5:05 p.m.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION.
Dan Corson/Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation Colorado Historical Society
(CHS) reviewed historic preservation in Colorado. He stated there are currently 113
governmental entities in Colorado with Historic Preservation Ordinances (HPO), all are
different to address specific local issues, and they are either Certified Local
Governments (44 of 113) or non-certified. He stated there are grant funds available
through the Colorado Historical Society to facilitate the writing of a HPO. All but one
Historic Preservation Commission is staffed by at least one employee of the entity. The
Commissions range in size from 5 to 9 board members. The most restrictive
communities are those with the highest land values. He reviewed several provisions of
a potential ordinance and stated several examples are available on the CHS website.
Property owners in a historic preservation area are required to go through the design
review but are not required to participate. Property values for those included in a district
general increase because they are protected; however, property can only be developed
for their intended use and not the speculative use, thereby limiting future use of the
property.
Mr. Codson reviewed a presentation on Certified Local Governments (CLGs). They
work in partnership with the CHS and the National Park Service and are evaluated
every four years. A CLG must maintain a qualified ordinance that outlines the criteria
for designation and design review, form a Historic Preservation Commission, enforce
the ordinance, maintain a system for surveying and inventory of historic properties
within your jurisdiction, required to comment on national register nominations, design
standards and decisions must be consistent with the Secretary of Interior Standards for
treatment of historic properties, submit minutes to CHS at the same time they are
distributed to commission members, final annual report for the state fiscal year by
August of each year, provide public access to minutes, one commission member must
attend an educational session or workshop each year and Commission must meet 4
times per year. The benefits of forming a CLG include the entities eligibility for matching
grants, 10% of CHS’s annual federal allocation must be passed through to CLG through
subgrants which are augmented with State Historic Fund grants, and local designations
are eligible for tax credits.
Board questions included the following: could an individual apply for a tax credit without
an HPO or the establishment of a CLG; how much time do staff members spend
implementing the program; and would the Commissioners have to be town residents.
Mr. Cordson stated a property could apply for a tax credit if it is on the national registry.
Most communities do not have a full time employee implementing the HPO. They utilize
a staff member from the planning department that spends only a portion of their work
Town Board Study Session – July 13, 2010 – Page 2
load on historic preservation. The make-up of a commission is dependent on the
language in the ordinance.
A discussion followed amongst the Board on how to move forward with the issue.
Trustee Miller suggested drafting an ordinance for the community to review. Trustee
Blackhurst questioned whether or not there is a community need and further discussion
should occur prior to drafting an ordinance. Trustee Levine stated there should be
community interest before moving forward with an ordinance. Trustee Koenig voiced
concern that a HPO may utilize too much staff time, the need to get public input and a
concern with the ordinance moving from voluntary to mandatory in the future. Trustee
Ericson stated the Board should move forward with an ordinance, and should have a
community core of volunteers take on the issue in order to minimize staff time. Trustee
Elrod stated the issue is not need based but opportunity based, little to no staff time
would be involved and the Town should move forward. Mayor Pinkham stated drafting
an ordinance would be a worthwhile effort. Administrator Halburnt recommended the
Board consider a subgroup of volunteers to develop a draft ordinance that could be
presented to the Board and the public for review and comment. After further discussion,
the Board reached consensus to have a volunteer group, led by Trustee Miller,
develop a draft ordinance for the Town Board’s review prior to moving forward
with public hearings.
SIGN CODE.
This item would be discussed during the Town Board meeting as a report item and
Board discussion.
There being no further business, Mayor Pinkham adjourned the meeting at 6:42 p.m.
Jackie Williamson, Town Clerk