A bill for an ordinance amending Chapter 30 (Landmark Preservation) of the Revised Municipal Code. Amends Chapter 30 of the Denver Revised Municipal Code (DRMC), Landmark Ordinance to simplify designation criteria, add criteria associated with cultural significance, to extend time frames for demolition/designation review process, to add required mediation and to clarify language and ensure consistency throughout the ordinance. The Committee approved filing this item at its meeting on 9-10-19.
Name. 11 Eyes one day Council Bill 19 0776 has passed. Madam Secretary, if you please put the next item on our screens and Councilman BLOCK, go ahead with your comment on 914. Thank you, Mr. President. I'm commenting on the first reading of this bill because I won't be here next week for the public hearing. This is the landmark ordinance. I'm very supportive of the new ordinance and the efforts of the task force, and I'm very pleased at some of the changes, including simplifying the criteria, adding culture and allowing additional time for discussion and negotiation as part of the bill. Historic preservation is very important to me. I am a Denver native and I'm a historian. I have a master's degree in history, and I've seen a lot of our historic buildings tragically destroyed over the years. I have supported every owner initiated historic designation that's come to council as have 100% of the council. That said, I have always been concerned about owner opposed landmark designation efforts that impinge on private property rights council has been put in the very uncomfortable position of having to preside over some pretty awful public hearings when some owners were having to defend their property rights. Recently, Tom's Diner brought the issue to the forefront for a lot of residents. I've heard from hundreds of constituents and residents who were shocked to learn that Mr. Messina's plans for his property and his future could be undermined by strangers. I was disappointed that the task force did not recommend a higher bar for these types of hostile designations, putting the burden on council to strike the balance between property rights and the public benefit of designation. In these controversial owner opposed cases, I believe, along with some of my fellow council members and many residents, that there should be a higher bar and near consensus, not just a simple minority majority when an owner is in opposition. I know that truly historic structures should and will garner that near consensus support. Councilwoman Gilmore and I had hoped to amend this bill to require a supermajority of ten or nine votes to approve owner opposed designations. The amendment would have simply raise the bar when owners are not in support to ensure that the property very clearly meets or exceeds the criteria. Unfortunately, we don't have the votes tonight to amend it, but I do hope that our fellow council members will reach out to their constituents to gauge their feelings on the issue and that we can discuss this proposal in the future. It's also important to note that I have heard that there are some residents who feel strongly about the property rights issue and are considering a citizen initiated ballot measure that would require the city to compensate owners when their property is designated without their consent. This proposed ballot measure could have a chilling effect on future designations. In the meantime, I do hope that the ordinance will prove to be successful, resulting in more owner initiated designations and better outcomes for our neighborhoods. Thank you. Thank you, Councilwoman. Councilman Hood. Thank you, Mr. President. I just wanted to say Tom Steiner was in Denver's perfect ten and still sorry. And the last I checked, at least, and that was one of the first things I started dealing with as a as a council person. I look forward to the conversation next week, and I look forward to learning more about the the stakeholder process that was, I think, a year in length that came up with the current for the current proposal that is contained in House Bill nine or excuse me, in City Council Bill 9142. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, Councilman. All right. See no other comments. Madam Secretary, will you please put the next item on our screens? And, Councilman Flynn, you want to go ahead with your comments on 921?