City Council Minutes 2005 03 01 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Louisville City Council Meeting March 1, 2005 Page 6 of 12 COUNCIL COMMENTS Council member Keany stated the major concern appears to be the involuntary designation of historic property. He asked Chairperson Koertje if the ordinance was presented to other business organizations. Chairperson Koertje stated other than Downtown Business Association, there has not been concern voiced by other groups. He stated owners of historic homes voiced some concern, but seemed to be satisfied by the guidelines set forth in the ordinances. Alicia Mahoney, Former member of the Historic Preservation Commission, stated a presentation was also made to the Chamber of Commerce. Council member Keany asked Commissioner Hartronft ifhe was aware of other community's preservation ordinances contain involuntary designation. Commissioner Hartronft stated some ordinance address involuntary and some do not. Council member Keany asked Commissioner Hartronft what he envisioned the City doing with historic property it purchases. Commissioner Hartronft stated the City could preserve the property and then sell it and move on to preserve the next historic property. Council member Van Pelt commended the work of the Historic Preservation Commission. She addressed the incentives for preservation suggested by the Commission and felt they should be defined and provide options for future Council's to contemplate. She voiced her concern over historic designation over a landowner's objection. Council member Brown concurred with Council member VanPelt and suggested the Council and the community find funding methods to preserve historic properties. He stressed it is a community investment. Council member Marsella applauded the efforts of the Historic Preservation Commission. She supported landmarking over the objections of the property owner, but felt the guidelines should be very stringent. She suggested it could be used as a negotiation tool. She disagreed with a 50-year benchmark for historic preservation, and suggested 65-years for a starting point. She differed with the Planning Commission and stated the history of Louisville is quite important and worth preserving. Council member Levihn addressed the old town neighborhood where historic homes have been remodeled or demolished. He requested that Steve Anderson address cataloging of the historic old town community and respond to the remodels of the historic homes in Louisville. Steve Anderson stated many of the homes in Old Town Louisville date back to the teens and early twenties. He stated in cataloging the homes, there should be at least a sixty-year threshold. He noted some communities, such as the City of Boulder, have addressed pop-up remodels and demolition of historic homes by prohibiting them in their ordinances. He noted those type of alterations change the character and flavor of old town Louisville. 6