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HISTORIC PRESERVATION CODE CHANGES DELAYED UNTIL MARCH 2006
Historic Preservation Code changes have been in process since 2003. In response to feedback received this fall during public meetings to review proposed code changes, city staff decided to delay action until March 2006 to allow for greater public outreach efforts. The adoption schedule provides for a public meeting on January 11; Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board public hearing on February 1; Planning Board public hearing on February 16; City Council first reading on March 7; and, city council second reading on March 21. Although the City already has the authority to establish a historic district without a majority of property owner¡¦s consent, the issue of owner consent has been the most controversial issue during workshop discussions. Four options are under consideration for revising the Historic District Designation Process. Option A: is most similar to the current process, option A requires greater public outreach and a survey of property owners, although, the survey results are not binding and property owner consent is not required to conduct a public hearing and adopt the designation. City historic preservation staff recommends this option. Option B: requires a majority of property owners in a potential historic district must agree for the proposed designation to go to a public hearing. Option C: requires a petition, rather than a survey, showing support for a designation from a majority of property owners to conduct a public hearing and approve a designation. This is the strictest owner consent option being considered. Option D: includes additional public outreach and a property owner survey, where the survey shows a majority of property owners do not support the designation, the designation can be adopted by a super-majority of the Landmarks Board (4/5) and City Council (6/9).
COMPETITION DRIVING CITY TO CONSIDER PACKAGE OF BUSINESS INCENTIVES
-The partnership between the City Manager¡¦s Economic Vitality Office and the Boulder Economic Council is responding to competition from neighboring cities and towns by proposing a package of incentives and services. City Manager Frank Bruno announced in November that he would hire full time business liaison planner to assist in guiding business applicants through the development review process. This can be critical to a business that is expanding or seeking to locate within the city. Bruno plans to fund the position for at least two years. Since summer, Senior Planner, Liz Hansen has provided the service using 25% of her time. Making this a full time position is a statement of the city¡¦s commitment to economic development. On the incentive front, five incentives are being considered that focus primarily on business retention but also support business-recruiting strategies. The options include: use tax rebates up to $50,000 per year per company; educational assistance that will split the cost of work-related training and development programs up to $1000 per company per year; employee discounts that provide resident discounts and privileges at city parks and recreation centers; down payment assistance for companies using SBA 504 loans to purchase property in Boulder; and, streamlining the city planning and development processes for expanding and relocating businesses. The package of proposed incentives will be reviewed by City Council in January 2006.
28th STREET MOTELS MAY BE REPLACED WITH CONDOS AND LOFTS
In case you missed the 11/15/05 Daily Camera article, in August, Boulder based Chanin Development Inc. purchased both the Lazy L and New West Inn motels that now reside along the 28th Street frontage road east of the CU campus. According to Chanin, the plan is to replace the Lazy L with condominiums that will be named Landmark Lofts. The New West Inn would be converted to condos as Landmark Loft¡¦s second phase. The projects will be targeted to seniors seeking independent living options and CU students. The combined properties are just over 4.25 acres and the envision four-story attached dwelling configurations. Nearby, the Golden West Manor plans to add 56 moderately priced one and two bedroom apartments targeted to retirees.
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