Historic Preservation Commission Agenda and Packet 2016 05 16

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Historic Preservation Commission Meeting Minutes April 18, 2016 Page 7of11 character, we wanted to build something that reflected the style of Louisville, the American farm house. There are elements of some structures seen daily around here. The idea of stone in the front is to take the monument we are saving and bring it across the site continuously in certain areas, but not continuous, so it looks more historic versus a pure one layer platform. There will be two stories on the front and then it steps back to three stories. From Plaza Drive, you will not see the third story. We have oriented the building towards the detention pond to the south. We have tried to hide some of the unnatural esthetics of a senior housing complex. The porta cochere is built in versus sticking out. We will use lots of bright colors in landscaping. We are trying to keep the theme of Louisville moderate farm house and agricultural feel. Commission Questions of Applicant: None. Public Comment: None. Tom Abbott, 1800 Plaza Drive, Louisville, CO My good friend reminds me to speak my heart. I have heard numerous times that Louisville has been written up as a very special place to live in our country, apparently the best town in our country. When I moved in, the northwest part from the house was all dirt with no roads and the southeast was all grass fields with no roads. Every time I step outside now, it is a common theme to render these nicest places into not the nicest places anymore. Closed Public Hearing and Discussion by Commission: Chuck Thomas asks what is the nature of our recommendation? Trice says these comments will be taken and placed in a letter to the applicant. It will have comments from all our referral agents. The applicant will respond to those. This will go into the Staff Report information for Planning Commission and City Council. Fahey says I was not here for the first part of the 1800 Plaza presentation on demolition. Did the HPC vote for a stay on the demolition for 180 days? This presentation is what Balfour is proposing to build if and when the stay is lifted? The stone structure at the beginning will be saved as part of the new construction? Trice says the HPC voted on a 180 day stay. Looking at the site plan, there is a historic element and it will be maintained with an interpretative sign which will be similar to what was worked on for the Hutchinson development. We worked with the Historical Commission to develop language, and the interpretative sign will be on a structure as part of the wayfinding program. Cyndi Thomas says I would love to see the house moved and saved. I don't have any earth - shattering commentary. It is clear that there is a lot of green space existing there now, and it is a beautiful area. There is a ton of development going on around it. As part of the HPC, I am not sure that what is being proposed there impacts what we do on a daily basis. I am not opposed to it. Fasick says I agree with that. I think the architectural style is nice. I think it would probably fit in well with all the new construction going in. Obviously, I'd prefer to have the historic building saved, but if that is not an option, I don't know that I have any problem with the proposal. I thank the applicant for proposing to save the mine piece. Haley says the massing is sensitive to the area and to what it originally was. I appreciate the historic marker. Chuck Thomas says I believe there are three historic preservation issues here. The original site as it was, the rural nature of it is gone. It was an issue but it has been built out around it at this point. A lot of the vistas have been lost from what I can see as a