Item 2 - 4.6.2016 Minutes DRAFT
CITY OF BOULDER
LANDMARKS BOARD
April 6, 2016
1777 Broadway, Council Chambers Room
6:00 p.m.
The following are the action minutes of the April 6, 2016 City of Boulder Landmarks
Board meeting. A digital recording and a permanent set of these minutes (maintained
for a period of seven years) are retained in Central Records (telephone: 303-441-3043).
You may also listen to the recording on-line at: www.boulderplandevelop.net.
BOARD MEMBERS:
Fran Sheets, Interim Chair
Eric Budd
Briana Butler
Ronnie Pelusio
*Crystal Grey, *Planning Board representative without a vote
Deborah Yin, absent
STAFF MEMBERS:
Debra Kalish, Senior Assistant City Attorney
James Hewat, Senior Historic Preservation Planner
Marcy Cameron, Historic Preservation Planner
Lesli Ellis, Comprehensive Planning Manager
Holly Opansky, Landmarks Board Secretary
William Barnum, Historic Preservation Intern
1. CALL TO ORDER
The roll having been called, Interim Chair F. Sheets declared a quorum at 6:00 p.m.
and the following business was conducted.
2. OATHS OF OFFICE FOR NEW BOARD MEMBERS
D. Kalish swore in the two new Landmarks Board members, E. Budd and R.
Pelusio. She verbally offered, “I (Eric and Ronnie) to solemnly swear or affirm that
“I” will support the Constitution of the United States of America and of The State of
Colorado and the Charter and ordinances of the City of Boulder, and faithfully
perform the duties of the office of a member of the Landmarks Board which I am
about to enter.”
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
On a motion by B. Butler, seconded by R. Pelusio, the Landmarks Board approved
(4-0) the minutes as amended of the March 2, 2016 board meeting.
4. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
Kathryn Barth, 2940 20th St., welcomed the new board members and encouraged
applicants to come review designs early in the process. She also recommended
pursing State Historic Fund grants and strengthening partnerships with History
Colorado, the State Historic Fund, and the National Historic Register.
Ron Sladek, Chair of the City of Fort Collins Landmarks Commission, invited the
Landmarks Board to Fort Collins.
5. DISCUSSION OF LANDMARK ALTERATION AND DEMOLITION
APPLICATIONS ISSUED AND PENDING
717 17th St. Stay-of-Demolition Expires July 3, 2016. J. Hewat offered a recap
of site visit, mentioning that there was not a lot of interest from applicant to
preserve the house in particular because the unique construction material of
clay tile, does not lend itself to adding onto the building. Since the site visit
there have been no additional conversations with the applicant. Staff plans to
reach out to the applicant to further discussion about alternatives to
demolition.
Statistical Report
6. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. Public hearing and consideration of a Landmark Alteration Certificate
application to make improvements at the north end of Chautauqua Park, 900
Baseline Rd., including construction of a sidewalk on the south side of Baseline
Road from 6th Street to the King’s Gate, construction of a sidewalk on the east
side of Kinnikinic Road into the park from Baseline Road, reconstruction of the
drainage swale along the east side of Kinnikinic Road, and installation of lighting
at the trolley house and arbor per Section 9-11-18 of the Boulder Revised Code
1981 (HIS2016-00068).
Ex-parte contacts
E. Budd, B. Butler, R. Pelusio, and F. Sheets made site visits.
F. Sheets also reviewed the swales at the LDRC.
C. Gray noted that Chautauqua was the first place she lived in Boulder and that
Susan Osborne, president of the Colorado Chautauqua Association (CCA) is a
good friend
Staff Presentation
J. Hewat, presented the case to the board
Applicant’s Presentation
Melanie Sloan, Transportation Planner, presented an overview and goals of the
project to improve pedestrian safety while honoring historic nature, to meet
ADA accessibility standards, and to provide improve lighting.
Brian Wiltshire, Project Manager, provided information during the questions
and answer portion of the process.
Public Hearing
Karl Anuta, 4840 Thunderbird Dr., former Landmarks Board and CCA board
member, spoke in support of project, especially because of it’s limited scope. He
advised the board that their job was to ensure it (the application) meets the code,
to inquire if the walk south from Kings’ Gate is ADA compliant in itself, and to
ensure the swale does not constitute approval for the whole district. He
highlighted that since Chautauqua is a National Register historic district, it is
possible that non-compliance with National standards can lead to it loosing
status. An an example of this is when there was so much modification to History
Colorado at 18th and Baseline that it was removed from the National Register.
Tom Thorpe, 3815 Newport Ln., architect and planner, worked in boulder for 40
years, specializing in preservation for 7 years. He was a former Landmarks
Board member, and is now a CCA board member and Chair of Buildings and
Grounds Committee. Mr. Thorpe spoke in support of this current version.
Abby Daniels, 1200 Pearl St., Executive Director of Historic Boulder, welcomed
the two members and spoke in support of the project, acknowledging the
responsive revisions the project team made since the last Landmarks Board
review (in February 2016). She impressed upon the board the importance of this,
“Crown Jewel of Boulder.”
Kathryn Barth, 2940 20th St., Has researched online about swales in national
parks, finding that there was not a precedent for concrete underlayment to
swales. Ms. Barth expressed concern and encouraged the board to consider the
inconsistency of the ADA at the King’s Gate then not ADA on the path head
south toward the Dining Hall.
Jeff Medanich, lives in Berthoud, Preservation and Facilities Manager at
Chautauqua, spoke about the approved test patch of the swale that was
presented at LDRC. He detailed the material would be permeable concrete below
the stone, the stone will be set in the concrete, with no grout between the stones
to allow sediment to fill in the gaps. J. Medanich also mentioned the plan was to
re-use 75% of existing swale stone. He pointed out ribbon course down the
middle of the swale and that this is predominant throughout the campus that
they intend to match. Sighting that the existing swales are sometimes used as
sidewalks, and that they are currently in poor condition and hazardous to walk
on. He clarified that, there is no intention to build more sidewalks.
Dorothy Riddle, 700 Grant Pl. asked if sidewalk on the east side of Kinnikinic
entrance would cut into existing plantings. She expressed that ADA at Kinikinnic
is unnecessary, as wheelchair users rely on handicapped parking further in the
park.
Motion
On a motion by B. Butler seconded by R. Pelusio, the Landmarks Board voted
and approved (3-1, D. Yin absent, S. Sheets objecting that she does not like the
plans, they do not meet the guidelines well enough, concerned with queen’s gate
path, and does not agree with need for 5’ concrete path) the application for the
construction of public improvements as shown on plans and specifications dated
04/06/2016, finding that, if constructed pursuant to the conditions below, the
public improvements will meet the standards for issuance of a Landmark
Alteration Certificate in Section 9-11-18, B.R.C. 1981, and will be consistent with
the General Design Guidelines and the Chautauqua Park Historic District Design
Guidelines, and adopts the staff memorandum dated April 6, 2016 as the
findings of the Board.
CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL:
1. The applicant shall be responsible for ensuring that the development will
be constructed in compliance with the application dated 03/11/2016 on file
in the City of Boulder Planning Housing & Sustainability Department,
except as modified by these conditions of approval.
2. Prior to submitting a building permit application and receiving final
issuance of the Landmark Alteration Certificate, the applicant shall submit
revised plans showing:
a. A test patch of the proposed new concrete sidewalk for
inspection by the Landmarks design review committee (Ldrc) to
ensure consistency with historic concrete in the historic district;
3. Prior to submitting a building permit application and receiving final
issuance of the Landmark Alteration Certificate, the applicant shall submit
design revisions and details as required above that shall be reviewed and
approved by the Landmarks design review committee (Ldrc) prior to the
issuance of a building permit. The applicant shall demonstrate that the
design details are in compliance with the intent of this approval and the
General Design Guidelines and the Chautauqua Park Historic District Design
Guidelines.
For areas outside the Historic District, R. Pelusio recommends that Public
Works looks closely at the radius of the corners at Kinnickinic and
Baseline Roads, evaluates the median vs bulb out in an effort to design a
tighter turning radius (to slow cars down) for a more pedestrian friendly
entrance to Chautauqua.
B. Public hearing and consideration of revisions to the Downtown Urban Design
Guidelines, Section 1, The Downtown Historic District.
Staff Presentation
M. Cameron, presented the third round of revisions that will incorporate a
change that was requested by the City Council. For section 1.1.G. Reduce the
visual impact of structured and surface parking lots, add the language under .1
that “surface parking lots are discouraged” and renumber points after that.
Public Hearing
There were no public speakers for item.
Motion
On a motion by B. Butler, and seconded by E. Budd, the Landmarks Board
approved (4-0, D. Yin absent) 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.
7. MATTERS FROM THE LANDMARKS BOARD, PLANNING DEPARTMENT
A. Historic Resource Survey Plan Introduction – Ron Sladek, Tatanka Historical
Associates. He gave an overview to the grant-funded Historic Resource Survey
Plan, with a project update, purpose, and process. M. Cameron solicited two
board members to consider participation and attendance at meetings.
B. Canyon Boulevard Complete Street Study – Noreen Walsh, Senior
Transportation Planner. She introduced the Canyon Complete Streets with a
public open house on April 27, a joint board meeting on May 18, and a City
Council Study Session on May 31. R. Pelusio asked which boards are invited and
N. Walsh mentioned LB, PRAB, Transportation, DMC, and BDAB.
C. Gray asked if there will be conceptual designs at the open house and how did
she get input for those designs. N. Walsh responded that an internal working
group was formed to create the strengths and constraints of the area. E. Budd
asked what the format of the open house. N. Walsh responded that it will be an
open house format, with feedback on the measures of evaluation. The joint board
meeting will provide time for board discussion.
C. Update Memo
D. Subcommittee Update
1) Outreach and Engagement
2) Potential Resources
8. DEBRIEF MEETING/CALENDAR CHECK
9. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 9:18 p.m.
Approved on _______________, 2016
Respectfully submitted,
, Chairperson