The purpose of this Article is to enhance Keenesburg's local resources and to promote the public welfare through:

(1)

The protection and preservation of the Town's architecture, culture, and heritage as embodied in the Historic Properties and Historic Districts, by appropriate regulations and incentives;

(2)

The enhancement of property values and stabilization of historic neighborhoods;

(3)

The establishment of a Keenesburg Historic Register listing Historic Properties and Historic Districts;

(4)

The encouragement of continued private ownership and utilization of such Historic Properties now so owned and used;

(5)

The adaptive rehabilitation and reuse of Historic Properties owned by the Town to serve the public good; and

(6)

The promotion of thoughtful community planning and design, and the integration of historic preservation into broader public policy and land use planning.

(Ord. 2025-04, 2025, § 1)

There is hereby established a Historic Preservation Commission, appointed by the Board of Trustees, which shall have principal responsibility for matters of historic preservation as set forth in this Article.

(1)

Composition. The Commission shall consist of five (5) voting members, all of whom have demonstrate interest in, competence with, or knowledge of preservation. At least two (2) members shall be residents of the Town. Three (3) members may reside outside Town limits. Additionally, interested community members may attend meetings and contribute, and be deputized by the Commission for specified purposes.

(2)

Term of office. Members shall be appointed by the Board of Trustees to three (3) year terms from the date of appointment. In order to stagger the initial terms of office, the original membership shall serve as follows: One appointment to a term of one (1) year, two appointments of a term or two (2) years, and two (2) appointments of a term of three (3) years. Members may continue to serve until their successors have been appointed, and may serve successive terms without limitation.

(3)

Officers. The Commission shall, by majority vote, elect one (1) of its members to serve as chairperson to preside at meetings, one (1) to serve as vice chair-person, and one (1) to serve as secretary. The members so designated shall serve in these capacities for terms of one (1) year, and may serve successive terms.

(4)

Quorum and voting. A quorum of four (4) members is necessary for the commission to conduct business and hold public hearings. A roll call shall be taken at the request of any member, and a tie vote shall be deemed a denial of the motion or recommended action.

(5)

Compensation. All members of the Commission shall serve without compensation except for such amounts determined appropriate, in advance, by the Board of Trustees to offset expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

(6)

Meetings. The Commission shall establish a regular meeting schedule with no less than four (4) scheduled meetings per fiscal year. Minutes shall be kept of all proceedings by the secretary. All meetings of the Commission shall be open to the public, and conducted in accordance with public meetings and records act.

(7)

Powers and duties. The Historic Preservation Commission shall:

a.

Advise and make recommendations to the Board of Trustees on matters pertinent to preserving the historic character of the city.

b.

Prepare a historical context study on the development of Keenesburg. Survey and inventory properties in the Main Street Commercial District. Using the completed survey, propose and promote a Main Street Historic District.

(See: https://www.nps.gov/nationalregister/upload)

c.

Survey other known historical sites, to include Town-owned properties and residential neighborhoods, for the purpose of identifying and inventorying those of historical significance.

d.

Recommend properties nominated for designation as either a historic structure or a historic district, and recommend designation of those that qualify to the Board of Trustees. Property owners will be encouraged to individually list as "designated properties."

e.

From the inventories produced of buildings, objects, sites, residences and districts, create the Keenesburg Register of Historic Places, to be published on the Town website.

f.

Recommend to the Board of Trustees the establishment of simplified construction and design guidelines for the rehabilitation of historic sights, consistent with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, for review of applications to alter designated properties.

(See: https://www.nps.gov/crps/tps/rehab-guidelines/rehabilitation-guidelines-1997.pdf)

g.

Review any applications for alterations to the exterior of designated historic structures or districts.

h.

Review any applications to relocate or demolish historic properties.

i.

Participate in the planning for and oversight of rehabilitation of historic Town-owned structures.

j.

Actively pursue and maintain information on financial assistance for preservation related activities.

k.

The Commission shall prepare a written report of activities biannually to be presented to the Board of Trustees.

l.

Develop and assist in community engagement programs in history, culture, and archeology, possibly including, but not limited to:

1.

Research, design, and install interpretive signage for the Main Street Historic District, the 1927 Keenesburg school, the Southeast Weld County Fair, designated historic residences, and any other identified historical or cultural assets.

2.

Create a walking tour and brochure.

3.

Lectures, educational booths, presentations at Town Festivals.

4.

Porch sitting. Collected Stories of Keenesburg Past, by the People who Lived Them. Creation of a memories archive.

(Ord. 2025-04, 2025, § 1)

(a)

The purpose of this Section is to:

(1)

Secure and perpetuate the use of historic sites and districts for the education, pleasure, and welfare of the citizens of Keenesburg.

(2)

To provide the framework for identification and designation of properties that have significance in the City's historic, cultural, aesthetic, and architectural heritage.

(3)

Assure that alterations and new construction with designated historic sites and districts are compatible with the property's historic character.

(b)

The Board of Trustees hereby established the Keenesburg Register of Historic Places subject to the following rules and regulations:

(1)

Properties and districts may be listed in the Historic Register only if such property has been so designated pursuant to this Article.

(2)

All properties listed in the Colorado State Register or National Register of Historic Properties are eligible for the Town's Historic Register.

(3)

Eligibility criteria. Properties or districts shall be at least fifty (50) years old and meet one (1) or more of the following criteria in order to be considered for designation: (a) Association with events or persons that have made a contribution to history, (b) Distinctive characteristic of a type, period, construction method, (c) Geographic significance, (d) Possibility of property to yield important information related to prehistory or history. A property may be exempted from the age standard if the Historic Preservation Commission finds it to be exceptionally important in other criteria.

(4)

Historic districts. A geographical definable area including a concentration, linkage, or continuity of Historic Properties. Properties that do not contribute to the significance of the Historic District may be included within its boundaries.

(c)

Incentives.

(1)

Any owner of a historic property or contributing property within a Historic District under this Article may be eligible for economic incentives for the restoration or rehabilitation of that property as provided by the State of Colorado and such addition incentives as may be developed by the Town Board or Historic Preservation Commission.

(2)

The Historic Preservation Commission shall identify and advise the Town Board regarding the implementation of economic incentives for historic properties. Owners of historic properties shall be notified of economic incentive opportunities by the Historic Preservation Commission.

(d)

Participation. While the Town encourages qualifying properties to be included in the Keenesburg Historic Preservation and related programs, any property owner may elect to not participate or have an existing property removed from the Town's Historic Register at any point in time for any reason at the sole discretion of the property owner.

(Ord. 2025-04, 2025, § 1)

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this Article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this Section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Alteration means any change affecting the exterior appearance of a structure or its setting by additions, reconstruction, remodeling, or maintenance involving a change of color, form, texture, signs, or materials.

Applicant means the owner of record of a property and/pr structures located therein, or his/her designee. Person(s) submitting designation or alteration paperwork.

Building code means the Town of Keenesburg Building Code.

Building Official means the officer or designated authority charged with the administration and enforcement of the Building Code.

Certificate of appropriateness means a certificate issued by the Commission authorizing the repair restoration, alteration, construction, relocation, or demolition of historic property or any element within a Historic District pursuant to this Article.

Compatible means consistent or harmonious with location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling or association of an individual building, structure, site, or surrounding properties.

Construction means the erecting of an addition to an existing building structure, or object, or the erection a new principal or accessory building, structure, or object on a property.

Contributing property means a building, structure, site, or object that reflects the historic or architectural character within a Historic District.

Demolition means any process that destroys in part or in whole a building, structure, object, or site.

Design guidelines means a standard of appropriate activity that will preserve the historic and architectural character of a historic property, property, or Historic District.

Historic District meaning as set forth in Section 16-11-30 of this Article.

History property means a building, structure, site, or object designated by the Board of Trustees pursuant to this Article.

Historic significance means the meaning or value ascribed to a building, structure, site, object, or district based on criteria for evaluation as defined in Section 16-11-30 of this Article.

Infill means construction on vacant or under-used parcels within existing areas that are largely developed.

Integrity means the ability of a property to convey its historic significance through its physical features.

Inventory means a catalog of building, structures, objects, or sites within the Town, listed, eligible for listing in the Town's Historic Register.

Maintenance means all activities necessary to prolong the useful life and aesthetic appearance of a property.

Noncontributing property means a building, structure, object, or sites that does not reflect the historic or architectural character with a Historic District because of age or lack of integrity.

Object means a material item of functional, aesthetic, cultural, historical, or scientific value that may be, by nature or design, movable yet related to a specific setting.

Period of significance means a span of time during which significant events and activities occurred.

Owner means the person, corporation, government or other legal entity who owns or who's has any legal or equitable interest in property, and who is so listed on the records of the Weld County Assessor's office.

Property means a building, structure, site, or object.

Relocation means moving a building, structure, or object to a different location, with temporarily or permanently.

Site means the location of a significant event; a prehistoric or historic occupation or activity; or a building, structure or object, standing or vanished, where the location itself maintains historic or archaeological value regardless of the value of any existing building, structure, or object.

Structure means a construction for purposes other that shelter for humans, animals, or chattel (such as a road, bridge, canal, or fence).

(Ord. 2025-04, 2025, § 1)