On Tuesday night, the Longmont City Council unanimously voted to direct staff to bring an ordinance forward that would make changes to the historic preservation code.
Since 2021, the Planning and Development Services department has worked on amending the historic preservation code.
Its original intent “was to bolster the maintenance and demolition requirements and change the review process for reviewing proposed demolitions,” according to the city council communications.
The proposed changes include identifying structures that are 50 years old or older within the city’s original town site — which spans from the west on Bowen Street to the west on Martin Street and from the north on Ninth Avenue to the south on First Avenue.
Before demolition in this area could happen, the property owner would need to verify whether or not the structure is considered a historic landmark by undergoing a review by a staff liaison and the chair of the Historic Preservation Commission. Further steps can be taken to include a public hearing with the Historic Preservation Commission and a public hearing before Longmont City Council. These steps are taken to preserve Longmont’s history.
If a structure is deemed unsafe by the Fire Marshal, the demolition can be granted, according to Glen Van Nimwegen, director of Planning and Development Services.
The proposed changes also include a requirement to maintain historic landmarks in a way that they do not become structurally unsound and require demolition, Van Nimwegen.
If adopted, the code changes would also increase the number of residents required within a district from 25% to 51% to approve the formation of a new historic district. The proposed changes also allow for fewer people within a district to opt out of a designation from 51% to 30% once the process has begun. However, if a district would like to remove its designation it would require a 51% vote instead of a previous 25%.
The staff of the Planning and Development Services will bring the proposal before council at a future date as an ordinance.
