Item 6B - Downtown Urban Design Guidelines_RevisionsM E M O R A N D U M
April 6, 2016
TO: Landmarks Board
FROM: Lesli Ellis, Comprehensive Planning Manager
Debra Kalish, Senior Assistant City Attorney
James Hewat, Senior Historic Preservation Planner
Marcy Cameron, Historic Preservation Planner
SUBJECT: Public hearing and adoption of revisions to Section 1, The Historic
District of the Downtown Urban Design Guidelines pursuant to the
rulemaking procedures set forth in Chapter 1-4, B.R.C. 1981.
SUGGESTED MOTION
If the board accepts the proposed revisions, staff recommends the following motion
language:
I move that, pursuant to the rulemaking procedures set forth in Chapter 1-4, B.R.C. 1981, the
Landmarks Board approve as to substance the proposed revision to Section 1, “The Historic
District,” of the Downtown Urban Design Guidelines, specifically Subsection 1.1, G., to
include an additional guideline, “Surface parking lots are discouraged,” so that subsection will
now reads as follows:
G. Reduce the visual impact of structured and surface parking.
1. Surface parking lots are discouraged.
2. Parking structures should be compatible with the historic district,
overall block and adjacent buildings. All parking structures should
be architecturally screened and/or wrapped with an occupiable use.
3. Surface parking should be located to the rear of the property and
screened from view.
4. Pedestrian routes in structures and parking lots should be easily
identifiable and accessed, with clear visual connections to the
sidewalks and buildings.
PURPOSE
The Landmarks Board approved revisions to Section 1, “The Historic District,” of the
Downtown Urban Design Guidelines at their February 3 and March 2 meetings. The Feb. 3,
2016, version of the Downtown Urban Design Guidelines is available online at
https://documents.bouldercolorado.gov/weblink8/0/doc/131284/Electronic.aspx.
The revisions made at the March 2 meeting can be referenced in the March 2, 2016
Landmarks Board memo, available online at
https://documents.bouldercolorado.gov/weblink8/0/doc/131871/Electronic.aspx.
If the board approves these revisions as to substance, three copies of the proposed
revisions will be filed with the city clerk and the public will be given notice that Section
1 is available for review and comment during a 15-day comment period pursuant to
Chapter 1-4, Rulemaking, of the Boulder Revised Code 1981.
SUMMARY
As part of the Design Excellence Initiative, and in response to City Council
direction in March of 2015, staff has been working on revisions to the Downtown
Urban Design Guidelines to improve usability, organization and graphics, remove
redundant and outdated items, and bring the 13-year-old document into
alignment with the plans, policies and regulations created since the last update.
The update to the Guidelines was prepared during seven working group
sessions facilitated by staff from August through November of 2015. In addition,
staff held a joint board meeting and a public open house in December of 2015 to
present the draft edits and recommendations from the working group. Reference
the February 3, 2016 and March 2, 2016 Landmarks Board memos for
background information on the process and proposed revisions.
The Landmarks Board made revisions to Section 1, The Historic District on
February 3, 2016 and March 2, 2016. The Planning Board and the Design
Advisory Board made recommendations to City Council on changes in Sections 2
and 3.
City Council reviewed the recommended revisions on Feb. 16, 2016, and
requested that the following language be added to guideline 1.1 (G)(1) in Section
1: “Surface parking lots are discouraged.”
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved the proposed revisions as
to form.
Three copies of the proposed revision will be filed with the City’s Central
Records Department on April 6, 2016, and will be published in the Boulder Daily
Camera April 7, 2016, to allow for a 15-day public comment period per
Rulemaking, Chapter 1-4, of the Boulder Revised Code 1981.
NEXT STEPS
April 7 – April 22, 2016 Public Comment Period; Notice of Rulemaking published in
the newspaper on April 7, 2016. If no comments are
received, the guidelines will become effective immediately
after the public comment period. If comments are received,
staff will forward them to the Board for consideration at its
May 4, 2016 meeting.
May 4, 2016 If, after reviewing public comments, the Board makes
substantive changes to the proposed revisions to the
Guidelines and they are approved as to form by the City
Attorney’s Office, staff will publish those changes and a
third public comment period will begin. This process
continues until there are no further substantive changes to
the rule.
ATTACHMENTS
A: Proposed change to Section 1, “The Historic District,” page 15.
B: Notice of Rulemaking for Amendments to the Downtown Urban Design Guidelines
per Chapter 1-4 of the Boulder Revised Municipal Code, 1981
Insert text as 1.1,
G., 1: “Surface
parking lots are
discouraged” and
renumber 1, 2 and
3 as 2, 3 and 4.
Attachment B: Notice of Rulemaking for Amendments to the Downtown Urban
Design Guidelines per Chapter 1-4 of the Boulder Revised Municipal Code, 1981
Notice of Rule-Making
The Landmarks Board of the City of Boulder proposes to adopt the following rule by the
rulemaking procedures set forth in Chapter 1-4 of the Boulder Revised Municipal Code, 1981.
The Secretary of the Board filed three copies of the proposed rule with the City Clerk, located in
the Municipal Building, 1777 Broadway, Boulder, Colorado, on April 6, 2016. Those copies are
available for public review and comment until April 22, 2016. Written comments should be
submitted to James Hewat at hewatj@bouldercolorado.gov, or the above address, by April 22,
2016.
The proposed rule was approved as to substance prior to publication by the Landmarks Board at
its April 6, 2016 meeting.
The proposed rule was approved as to form by the City Attorney’s Office on March 25, 2016.
Notice of intent to adopt the rule was published in the Daily Camera on April 7, 2016.
REGULATION/RULE
Revisions to Section 1 “The Historic District” of the Downtown Urban Design Guidelines to add
the following language to guideline 1.1(G)(1): “Surface parking lots are discouraged.”
This regulation is established to provide guidance for the review of Landmark Alteration
Certificates in the Downtown Historic District to ensure that proposed alterations of designated
properties will not adversely affect or destroy their historic character or architectural integrity
and that all changes are consistent with the spirit and purpose of Chapter 9-11, Historic
Preservation, of the Boulder Revised Code 1981.
The Landmarks Board of the City of Boulder proposes to adopt a regulation to amend Section 1
“The Historic District,” of the Downtown Urban Design Guidelines. As proposed, the amended
design guidelines will continue to provide guidance in preserving and protecting the historic
character of the district. A full and complete copy of the revised guidelines are available for
public review at Central Records at the Municipal Building, 1777 Broadway Street 2nd floor,
Boulder Colorado, 80302 or online at www.boulderhistoricpreservation.net.