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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLB CAHD Update 09.06.23To: Parks & Recreation Advisory Board Landmarks Board From: Alison Rhodes, Director of Parks & Recreation Mark Davison, Planning Senior Manager, BPR Brad Mueller, Director of Planning & Development Services Kristofer Johnson, Comprehensive Planning Manager, P&DS Marcy Gerwing, Principal Planner, P&DS Tina Briggs, Senior Landscape Architect, BPR Subject: Update on the Proposed Civic Area Historic District Application Date: September 6, 2023 On July 12, the Landmarks Board voted to initiate the designation process for the proposed Civic Area Historic District. The vote included direction for the applicant groups and staff to agree upon an extended timeline to complete the Cultural Landscape Assessment (CLA) and the research and community engagement necessary for a city-owned historic district. City staff and the applicant groups are in the process of signing a Tolling Agreement that sets forth the date of Feb. 7, 2023 for Landmarks Board consideration of the proposed historic district. The following schedule of activities have been commenced to accommodate the slightly extended timeline. Schedule Research & Department Coordination (August 2023) • Opportunity to tell complete history of area (racial equity, social and cultural significance) • Coordination with 9 city departments, 3 ditch companies and CDOT, and applicants (3 community groups) Community Engagement (September 2023) • Walking tours, What’s Up Boulder, Farmers’ Market, newsletter update, online engagement • City of Boulder Community Engagement staff are part of the project team to ensure the engagement efforts reach a broad audience and meet the City’s engagement goals. • Racial Equity Instrument and meeting with the Community Connectors in Residence • A project website • Staff shares draft CLA findings for Central Park Draft Design Guidelines (October – December) • Technical Advisory Group to develop draft design guidelines • Landmarks Board and Parks & Recreation Advisory Board Joint Study Session to review the proposed district boundary and draft design guidelines • Department Coordination Board & Council Review (January – March 2024) • January 2024 – PRAB – Project review and comment • Feb. 7, 2024 – Landmarks Board Designation Hearing (agreed upon with the applicant) • February – Planning Board (Land Use) • March – City Council (1st and 2nd Readings) PRAB Role PRAB does not have a formal role in the designation of a historic district. Because the proposed historic district includes land managed by the City of Boulder Parks & Recreation Department, PRAB is invited to participate in the following ways: - Attend community engagement events in September, including walking tours and pop-up events. Staff will forward additional information as the events are confirmed. - Review the draft design guidelines in a Joint Study Session with the Landmarks Board in November or December 2023. Design guidelines inform how an area changes over time. The draft design guidelines will be developed with the help of a Technical Advisory Group comprised of community members with historic preservation and design expertise and representatives from the city. The design guidelines are reviewed by City Council and adopted by the Landmarks Board as an Administrative Rule. - Correction: The Aug. 28, 2023 Update to PRAB included an invitation for PRAB and Landmarks Board members to participate on the Technical Advisory Group. After the memo was posted, additional conversations with the City Attorney’s Office clarified that because the Landmarks Board will review the proposed district in a quasi-judicial hearing, it is not appropriate for the board members to also serve on the Technical Advisory Committee. As such, the Landmarks Board and PRAB members will review the draft design guidelines in a Joint Study Session. - Landmarks Board Role The Landmarks Board will make a recommendation to the City Council at the designation hearing (scheduled for Feb. 7, 2024) as to whether the area should be designated as a local historic district, its name, and boundary. The criteria for the board’s review is whether the proposed designation meets Section 9-11-1, Purpose and Legislative Intent and 9-11-2, City Council May Designate or Amend Landmarks and Historic Districts, B.R.C. 1981. Board members are welcome to attend community engagement events and participate in the Technical Advisory Group for the development of draft design guidelines (see above). As the designation process is quasi-judicial, Landmarks Board members should be cautious of any ex-parte contacts. Planning Board Role As required in Section 9-11-5(e) Planning Board Review, if the Landmarks Board recommends designation, the application will be forwarded to the Planning Board within 45 days. Planning Board will report to the City Council on the Land Use implications of the proposed historic district. Planning Board review is anticipated in February 2024. The hearing is not quasi-judicial. Planning Board members are invited to attend the community engagement events planned for September 2023 (see above).