12.04.2002 LPAB MinutesCity of Boulder
Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board
~A~A~,IMinutes
~City Council Chambers
Municipal Bailding
1777 Broadway, Second Floor
Wednesday, December 4, 2002
6:00 p.m.
Board Membets Pxesent
Leslie lluxp,in- vice chaix, Lisa ~ggex, Leland ltuclcex, Rory Salance- Chaix,
Staff Members Present
Jexry Goxdon- City Attoxney, Neil Holthouser- T'lannex, Sarah Myexs- Landmaxks Boaxd Secxetaiy,
Matt Russell- Pxeservation Intexn, Deon WolfenUaxgex- Presexvation Plannex.
Mr. Salance called the meeting to ordec at 6:04 p.m.
The Uoaxd made an acclamation to change the ordex of items in oxder to heax item 5£ixst due to the
large number of citizens present.
5. Public hearing and considexation of a request to designate a poxtion of the University Hill
area, roughly from Grant Place to 16th, and from Univetsity Avenue to Mariposa, as
shown in the map below, as a historic district undex the City of Boulder Historic
Preservation Code. Applicant: Histoxic Boulder, Inc.
Applicant Presentation
Paul Sa~~xito, 2765 7`" St., speaking on behalf of Histoxic Boulde~, said that although his
organization thixiks the axea is certainly a historic one, they realize the application has caused
proUlems. Thetefoxe, they do not want the designation application pxocess to pioceed xight now.
They would like to clarify things for xesidents aud owners in the area about what it means to be a
historic district. He xead 2 lettex of withdxawal into the xecord and submitted a copy.
Ms. Dnrein- made a motion to accept the withdrawal
Ms. Leeex- seconded the motion.
Vote
'The Uoaxd voted unanvnously (4-0) to suppoxt the motion.
Mr. Salance assuxed the citizens that thexe would be meetings in the neai futuxe to better explun
what the histoxic distxict means and what its e£fects would be. A tentative date is Januaty 25.
Theie was a Uxief discussion of how best to contact those pexsons intexested in such a meeting.
1. Citizen Pacticipation fox items not on the agenda.
Mary Street 790 Lincoln Pl. - is conceined about the process of iniuating the district. She wants the
neighbors to vote. Sha feels there is too much of a mix of homes to m11ce it a district. She is also
concexned about the extra cost of staff time when the City's money is so limited. The City should
allow expansion on these Uni Hill pxopexues in a town that is ns expcnsive as Bouldex.
Alex We2vex, 976 10`h St- feels it is inappropxiate to make the area a district. It will be hardex to
impxove tlungs fox propexty ownexs and she wants it to Ue easy to do so. She has becn a suppoxtcx
of histoxic pxotection, but she thinks this district will be a hindxance rather than a help to people
who would like to unpxove their homes.
Dx. Axnold Lichtncx. 965 10`h St.- says he is constrained with space. Property values nxe very high in
thc Uni Hill area and you need to be able to expand yout home. He feels that bad ~lteraUons are not
happening now. He would suggest that thexe be incentives fox being in a distxict in oxdet to make it
a moxe attractive proposition.
Lisa I{ehava, 873 Lincoln, said that managing time is a life challenge and it is very haxd to go about
getting estimates fox woxk on one's home, and hhen getting it completed. She is not happy with
having to go through a ciry review and she has heard regulates many very small detaIls. It will be an
addiYional buxden when there axe alxeady otdinances to conttol buildings.
Mx. Ruckex asked where this speakex got her infoxmation ou what ltind of changes to a property
would Ue xegulated Uy the city.
She said she got a lettex fxom a lawfixm, Faegxe and Benson, that contained mfoxmation about the
ciry's xeview pxocess.
Mx. Salance asked staff if thexe was any infoxmation aUout who was distributing this lettex to the
neighborhood.
Ms. Wolfenbax~ex said that it appeaxed that a Mx. )ames Cargill was who hixed the lawfixm to send
out the letters. He is a property owner in the proposed district, but he lives in Wisconsin. The
pxopextics hc owns axe not licensed as xentals.
PhIl Loneen, 980 10`~' St- said it's already hard to get landlords to improve their properties. This will
deter them moxe. Thexe are some eyesoxes now and he woxxies it will only get woxse with the
diatsict in place.
Otto Vexdonex 854 15`~' St.- tltanks thc boaxd fox its woxk. He is not in favox of a district Uecause
legislating a person's style pxefexences is not appxopriate. He thinks that many things in the
Mapletou Hill axea look like jokcs with huge additions on the backs of small histoxic homes. The
Hill should continue to do new and better things without the xestriction of an histoxic distxict,
Tom Moonev, 905 Lincoln Place- agxees it is impottant to makc The Hill's housing accessible fox
families that are growing. It is unLCasonable to mandate a building's design fox histoxic xeasons. He
had a tough time when he remodeled his home and this will just make it worse.
2
Rishi Rai. 852 14`h St, is concexned with the contcntiousness of tl~is issuc. He wants to know who is
so against the proposal becausc he doesn't get the impxession that cvexyone is against it. People
want to know moxe aUout what it means to be in a distsict and holding public meetings is a good
idea.
Tun Plass. 655 Ma~vell, thinks historic distsicts axe positive foi the community. Many of his
neighUoxs in Mapleton I-Iill District hlve done addiuons and they've tuined out well. Hc asks that
xesidents keep an open mind. Although theie will be moxe xcgulations, you'll be able to maintain the
nice qualities of the district.
David Baxdett. 954 I.incoln Place- aslcs that the board and HistoTic Bouldex continue with the
pxocess of involving the community. He feels he is lucky to have histoxic districts in Bouldex. He
supports the Uni Hill district.
Vasi Fiflis, 1602 ColumUine Ave- propexty vnlues axe so high that it poses a pxoblem fox ptopetty
ownets when thcy ate foxced to adhete to guidelines detexmined fox an histoxic district. It is a litde
too late and too much to aslc that anothex layex of xeguladon be imposed.
Chxistina Fiflis Eason. 1636 Columbine Ave- would like to tebut those in favox of the district. She
feels this hasn't been a fa~ ptocess. Hex histoxic home has been preseived thxough the piocess in
place now so additional tegulations aie not necessaxy. NeighUots axe sensitive when doing ie-
designs, etc.
Mxs. Ra' 863 14`h St- said that the eleven people who signed from the ncighboxhood association to
suppoxt this pxoposal axe not xesponsible fox "initiating" it. They simply attended a meeting at the
West Seniar Center sponsored Uy the city planning department and, at that time, signed their names
in suppoxt of it. Some of the complaints made tonight would be moxe appiopiiate to bxing up at the
xegulax planning Uoaxd meeting since they relate to the genexal building pexmit pxocess. A histoxic
district designation might actually make it easier to go through building permitting.
Susan Balint, 760 9th St.- pointed out that the notificntion pxocess far this issue was xeally lacking.
You need to have notification in the newspaper the Sunday immediately before a mecting of the
Landmaxks Boaxd besides the xegularly published one ten days befoxc. She also said that adding
anothex layex of xeview to the alxeady complicated building pexmit process would be very pxohibitive
to many busy peoplc.
The citizen participation portion of the meeting was closed.
Ms. D~ein- is stnxck by the numbet of comments heaxd tonight. She thinks thexe needs to be a lot
of time spent on educating tesidents in the area about what historic distxicts xeally mean. Histoxic
Boulder necds to look at the boundaxies carefully.
Mx. Ruckex- agxees completely. He asks that everyone who is involved tries to cleaxly undexstand
the issue on both sides.
Mx. Salance- told the citizens present that he is indeed listening closely to their concexns and that he
will support any meetings that ace held in thc futuLe. He wants to look cnxefully at the divexsity in
the neighboxhood.
2. Report on Demolition Permits Issued and Pending.
3. Approval of the minutes of the August 21, 2002 and November G, 2002 meetings.
The minutes were appxoved as submitted.
4. Considexation of a cecommendation to City Council concerning a request for individual
landmark status for the sttuctuce and its site at G02 Maxwell Avenue. Owners: Sally and
David Raccuglia
Ms. Myets swoxa in those people wishing to spcak to this item.
Mx. Salance asked boaxd membexs Yo Yeaeal any ex-paxte contacts they may haoc had Yelated fo this
item.
All memUexs said they saw this item at a previous boatd mceting. In addition, Mx. Salance, Ms.
Fggex. and Mx. Ruckex saw the item at the design xeview committee.
Staff Presentation
Ms. Wol£enUaxgex gave an overview of the staff inemo.
The applicant was not pxesent to do a pxesentation.
Public Hearing
No one spoke at the public hearing.
Boaed Motion
Ms. ~esex made a motion to xecommend to City CouncIl individual landmark status for the
structure and its site at 602 Maxwell Avenue.
Mx. Ruckex seconded the motion.
Vote
The boaxd voted unanimously 4-0 to suppoxt the mouon.
6. Publ'rc hearing and consideration of a xequest to grant a Landrnark Alteration Certificate
foc constnxction of a new single-family residence and a new detached, two-car gatage for
the property at 520 Spruce Stceet, within the Mapleton Hill Historic Distxict. This item
was conunued from the November 6, 2002 meeting. Ownec: Steve Rice
Ms. Mvets swote in those people wishing to speak to this item.
Mr. Salance asked board membexs to revell any ex-paxte contacts they may have had xelated to this
item.
Thexe wexe no contacts to xeveal.
Staff Presentation
Mx. Holthouser gave an oven*iew of the staff inemoxandum.
Applicant Pxesentation
Steve Rice, 520 Spxuce owner, passed out a paclfet outlining the ways in which he and his architect
attempted to xespond to the board's difection fxom the last meeting.
13iian Fuentes, 812 20°i St. #9, axchitect - showed how his plans have attempted to comply with
what was aslced Uy thc Uoaxd last month. He said he also seduced thc footprint and FAR so that it
isn't the largest house on the block.
Public Hearing
Phil Robextson, 550 Spruce, complimented the designer and said he would be happy to have the
structuxe next to him as a neighbox.
Board Motion and Discussion
Mx. Ruckex- it took a longex time than we thought, and hc appreciates all the wark of thc applicants.
The final plans ~xe grcat. He'll suppoxt it at this point.
Ms. Durein has similar dioughts. She supparts die project.
Mx. Salance and Ms. Eggcx agxee.
Mx. Ruckex- made 1 motion to gxant a Landmaxk Altexntion Cextificate fox construction of a new
suigle-family residence and a new det2ched, tevo-cax gaxage for the pxopexty at 520 Spruce Street,
adopting the staff inemoxandum as fmdings of the Boaxd and subject to the following conditions:
1. Tbe applicant shall submit final plans, including siee plan, roof plan, grading plan, and all
building elevations, including gaxage clevations, to the Landmaxks design teview
committee. 1"he site plan shnll call-out all matuxe vegetation. Building elevations shall Ue
dtawn at one-quaxtex-inch-scale, and shall call out all dimensions, detaIls, matexials,
coloxs, and window and door scheclules.
2. The Landmarlis design rcview committee shall review final plans, inchiding window sizc,
type and axxangement, trim details, coloxs, matexials, garage placement, dxiveway plan,
reeainr a walls, and landscaping, £ox compliance with the Histoxic Pxesen~ation
Oxdinance and the Mapleton Hill Design Guidclines.
Ms. DurQin- seconded the motion
Vote
The boaxd voted unanirnously (4-0) to suppoxt the motion
7. Mattars from the City Attorney
Thexe was nothing.
S. Matters from the Planning Depactment
- Stay of demolition for 428 Pleasant Street
- General Design Guidelines
The boaid talked about the usc of guidelines in the Uni Hill potential histoiic axea. Boaxd membcxs
wanted to be sure that residents in this axea xealize that they would be included in the design of
guidelines, should thcy be necessnry.
- Update on the Chautauqua Cultural Landscape Assessment Project
Mn Holthousex explained the xecent developments of this project.
- Update Memo
Susan Balint. 760 9"' St. came up and commented that thexe are some needs fox addirional parking at
Chautauqua. The consultants have xesponded.
The Uoaxd had a discussion aUout paxking spaces at Chautauqua.
9. Matters from the Board
The boaxd talked about including the Fixst Methodist Church in the Downtown I-Iistoxic Disteict at
it's xequest. They decided that they would wait until an official xequest came to them and perhaps
include that with an adjustment far the CAGID lot.
10. Old and New Business
11. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 8:30 pm.