Item 7C - Draft Landmarks Design Review Committee Meeting Procedures & Guidelines
Landmarks Design Review Committee
Meeting Procedure & Guidelines
June 6th, 2018 The Landmarks design review committee reviews and approves over 200 Landmark
Alteration Certificate applications, demolition requests, and state historic preservation tax credit
applications annually. While the meetings are intended to be informal and collaborative, the Landmarks Board and historic preservation program staff have established the following description and guidelines to
ensure their efficient functioning.
Description:
The Landmarks design review committee (Ldrc) normally meets each Wednesday morning to
administratively review Landmark Alteration Certificate (LAC) applications, demolition requests for
non-designated demolitions of buildings constructed before 1940, and state historic preservation
tax credit applications.
Two Landmarks Board members and one historic preservation staff person constitute the Ldrc.
Attending Ldrc members must unanimously agree to issue either an LAC, or a demolition permit.
The Ldrc cannot deny an application; if a single attending Ldrc member considers that a LAC
proposal may have a “significant impact or potential detriment” to the landmarked site or historic
district, the member can refer the LAC application to the Landmarks Board for review in a quasi-
judicial public hearing. (9-11-14(3) B.R.C.)
If a single attending Ldrc member considers there is “probable cause” to consider the building or
structure proposed for demolition “may be eligible for designation as an individual landmark , the
member can refer the demolition application to the Landmarks Board in a quasi-judicial public
hearing (9-11-23(d)(2) B.R.C.).
While Ldrc meetings are administrative in nature, the meetings are open to the public. The
agendas are posted online at: https://bouldercolorado.gov/boards -commissions/landmarks -design-
review-committee -ldrc , at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting. Because the Ldrc process is
administrative, members of the public may observe the meeting, but no public input may be taken.
Meeting Procedure & Guidelines:
Reviews wil l not begin until staff and the two attending board members are present.
Applicants (or designated representatives) are encouraged, thought not required, to attend Ldrc
meetings; the LAC design process is typically collaborative and iterative, while the demolition request process provides applicants the opportunity to share information about buildings or
structures proposed for demolition.
Members of the public wishing to observe an Ldrc meeting should arrive prior to the posted
meeting time and wait in the Planning & Development Service Center Lobby. Staff will invite the
applicant and any public observers into the Ldrc meeting room.
Public observers should not enter the meeting room once a case review has begun as this can be
distracting to the applicant and/or Ldrc members.
Public observers should not sit at the Ldrc table, but in chairs located along the walls of the room.
Because Ldrc meetings are administrative no public comment may be taken. We request that
public observers not speak or ask questions during case review.
Staff will introduce those in attendance, identify their roles, and briefly introduce the application.
The applicant or representative will be invited to present the proposal.
For LAC reviews, the Ldrc will assess the proposal, referring to the applicable design guidelines; a
collaborative approach between the applicant and Ldrc is encouraged in achieving designs that are
generally consistent with applicable design guidelines.
For LAC reviews, revisions may be requested for review by the Ldrc at a subsequent meeting, or
administratively by staff. Rarely should a proposal be reviewed by the Ldrc more than twice.
For demolition requests, the staff will review available historic material on the building or structure,
then give the applicant the opportunity to comment. Staff and the Ldrc will assess the building or
structure’s potential historic, architectural significance and evaluate its historic integrity, if any.
Staff will take notes during the meeting, review the notes at the end of the meeting, and provide a
copy to the applicant, with a description of next steps.
If a Landmark Alteration Certificate is approved, it will not be issued at the meeting but will be
emailed to the applicant, usually within 24 hours.