Board of Directors

Bud Frick

Bradley Goetz

Richard Hill

Mary Humstone

Karen Joslin

Rheba Massey

Alyson McGee

Jamie Nichols

Susan Stuessie

Karen Waddell

Jim White

Advisory Board

Sherry Albertson-Clark

Jennifer Carpenter

James Hunter

Jim Joy

Karen McWilliams

David Mitchell

November 15, 2000
Landmark Preservation Commission
City of Fort Collins
281 North College Avenue
Fort Collins, CO 80524

Dear members;

As you consider the first of what will be many proposals and requests over the next years for property development in the Downtown Fort Collins area, Historic Fort Collins would like to put forward some items for your consideration. HFCDC must speak as advocates for the historic planning process itself. In this case, this means asking not about a particular structure's merits, but asking whether all aspects of the project are working according to the established preservation plans.

The Sears-Trostel property falls within the area to be addressed in the Downtown River Corridor Implementation Program. It happens to also be the location of the birthplace of our city. But most importantly, this site will have a great visual impact on the entire north end of Old Town. In fact it is the link between our city's #1 and #2 greatest assets---the Poudre River and the heart of historic Old Town.

Because of these existing conditions, it becomes very important to make sure the intent of the City's preservation philosophy is applied. We want to remind you of the following pertinent facts:

1. The National Park Service is currently still surveying the immediate river area with regards to the cultural landscape.

2. City Staff is currently planning out the process of an historical structure and archaeological survey that will start with the fort site.

3. From 1991 to 1994 the City worked to produce the HRPPP document. That Plan includes the following information:
· In Appendix B, the Old Fort Site is listed as a High Preservation Necessity and a High Preservation Priority.
· Section I.A. of the Action Plan states Historic Contexts are to be used as the framework for identifying, evaluating, and prioritizing. At this time the appropriate Historic Context has not been written for this building or property type.
· Historic Conservation Areas are described and encouraged in both the Action Plan Evaluation Section (I.A.E) as well as the Planning & Regulation section IV.I. This would function similarly to a zoning district overlay zone.

In light of these considerations, we submit the following opinion and request.
1. Any decision on the Sears property and buildings is premature without complete and accurate evaluation criteria.
2. We urge the LPC and City of Fort Collins to establish immediately a Historic Conservancy Area and the accompanying general Design Guidelines for development.
3. We ask you to place a moratorium on development for as short a time as possible to complete all the current activities and to establish said guidelines. This could be as short as three months and we'd like to help with this effort any way we can.

In closing, we want to state that you may not have been aware of all the ongoing elements of this project. Please take the time to study and implement the plans the city has previously worked to hard to produce. And know that we speak in support of appropriate and responsible development of the City's historic resources.

Sincerely,

Karen D. Joslin, President
Historic Fort Collins Development Corporation