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Historic Preservation Ordinance Initial Discussion
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Summary and Background Information:
Commerce City is working on the creation of a Historic Preservation Ordinance as the first step to implement the 2015 Historic Preservation Plan. This ordinance will establish a program for historic preservation efforts in the city and shape how those efforts take place. Some common program scopes include establishing criteria for what is historic in the community, the process for designating local landmarks and reviewing proposed alterations to those landmarks, financial incentives to help maintain and restore historic structures, and ongoing outreach and education to the community. The City’s goal for this Ordinance is to create a program which will begin to preserve and celebrate the unique history of the community in a way that balances property rights and economic development.
The City has contracted with Pinyon Environmental, Inc. to complete the ordinance, and has been working with them throughout the summer to complete initial outreach with the community at large and targeted stakeholders (including Economic Development, school districts, local business development organizations, and the Commerce City Historical Society, among others) to begin to shape the designation criteria, design review process, incentives, and other components of the program. Initial feedback from these groups will be shared at the study session, and the consultant will be seeking input on the direction provided by the community thus far as they begin to draft the framework for the Ordinance.
The Historic Preservation Ordinance is anticipated to be adopted by March of 2020, with additional community and stakeholder outreach as well as Planning Commission and City Council study sessions to review the draft ordinance framework in late Fall 2019, and public hearings for adoption of the final Ordinance in Winter 2020. Subsequent phases of historic preservation efforts may include est...
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