OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Colorado Springs Historic Preservation Board Meeting - January 5, 2026

City Council — Monday, January 5, 2026
BodyColorado Springs, Colorado
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, January 5, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 53:42

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Let's go ahead and get started then.

0:02

I don't have the script in front of me, but I am gonna roll with it.

0:06

So with that, let's go ahead and call the meeting to order.

0:20

I don't, you know what?

0:22

I actually just realized I don't have the words in front of me since I had planned to be there.

0:26

Do you need me to read into the record that we're a group of volunteers of professionals?

0:30

We serve in a volunteer capacity.

0:34

We don't have any volunteer to meet you.

0:36

Judy, if you would like to read that, go ahead.

0:38

I'll read it.

0:39

So Judy's gonna read.

0:41

Thank you.

0:43

Um all meetings are open to the public.

0:45

Those who wish to participate may do so in person or by phone.

0:50

And then it has a dialogue number.

0:53

If you would like to comment on the agenda item, please contact the case planner for item.

0:59

And the wrong one, huh?

1:02

Sorry.

1:02

Okay, let's try this again.

1:05

Good afternoon and welcome to Colorado Springs Historic Preservation Board meeting for January 5th, 2026.

1:13

The historic preservation board is comprised of seven members appointed by city council to administer the historic preservation code.

1:21

Historic preservation board members are community volunteers who express with expertise across a wide variety of disciplines.

1:31

Each member acts independently, carefully assessing all the evidence presented to make their decision.

1:41

And then it says clarify any ground rules for public attending or how public comment may be handled for all items on today's agenda, but we don't need we need that for full.

2:07

Okay, so if we could go continue with um roll call, Chair Lowenberg.

2:16

Present.

2:25

Board member Fitzsimmons.

2:29

Or member Potter.

2:32

Board member Bugal.

2:34

Here and board member Heinz.

2:36

Here.

2:37

Thank you.

2:38

We have five members person.

2:42

Right.

2:44

Christina, I have the agenda in front of me.

2:45

So the next item is changes to agenda and postponements.

2:50

We have no uh changes to the agenda.

2:54

Okay, great.

2:55

Thank you.

2:56

Um number three on the on the agenda or communications.

3:01

Uh first uh is our communications from city staff.

3:06

And um the next would be uh any communications from uh historic preservation board members today.

3:13

Um so I'll guess I'll go ahead and get get started.

3:16

Um so I guess happy new year and welcome to the uh first meeting of 2026.

3:21

Um I do not um have a whole lot um planned for you because it is the first Monday after the big holiday season.

3:30

Um but um to um kick off the the new year, I would like from the historic preservation board um some help with the training that we had discussed with Lindsay Welling from the state um historic fund.

3:51

And that was um best training that related to best practices for historic preservation board and commissions, um, and then also work on uh uh education and outreach.

4:07

And I know that the board had said that they were all um interested in this.

4:12

Uh Lindsay is also uh very interested in doing this, but I do think that it would be uh best if this um training was done in person.

4:23

And I would also like to uh recommend that um we do the training um on a night where we don't have a historic preservation board meeting.

4:36

And I just wanted to get a thumbs up or a yes or no, if that's okay with the historic preservation board.

4:43

It would mean that we would have like a second meeting in a month.

4:47

Um Christine, Jim, Judy, Paul, um Sarah or Matt.

4:53

Um just any input on that.

4:55

And I know which month.

4:57

Um well I was going to suggest two um two dates.

5:00

Well, I was going to suggest two um two dates.

5:09

The week of the oh sorry, I'm in the wrong calendar.

5:13

The week of the um the last week of January, which is the week of the 26th, or the second week of February, which is the week of February uh 9th.

5:31

Um, with the exception of Friday, because it's a mandatory furlough day for uh the city.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Historic Preservation█████████████████████████████████████████████70%
Procedural█████████████20%
Disability Rights█████8%
Personnel Matters█2%
Summary of Proceedings

Colorado Springs Historic Preservation Board Meeting - January 5, 2026

The Colorado Springs Historic Preservation Board convened its first meeting of 2026 to address administrative updates, historic resource projects, and nomination support. The gathering served as a planning session for future training, reviewed the status of the Mesa Road historic project, discussed potential designation for the Ivy Wild School, and unanimously supported the National Register nomination for the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind.

Consent Calendar

  • No items were placed on the Consent Calendar for this meeting.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Sarah: Proposed investigating the possibility of designating the Ivy Wild School as a historic property. She noted she heard from the Blue Star Group that the property had not yet been designated.
  • Sarah: Expressed full support for encouraging property owners to pursue historic designation to access tax incentives and ensure successful revitalization of buildings like the Ivy Wild School.
  • Matt (Board Member): Reported on efforts to educate neighbors in the Old North End regarding state residential historic preservation tax credits, noting that while he has not yet seen uptake, he is testing the process for future guidance.

Discussion Items

  • Training Coordination: Staff proposed organizing an in-person training session with Lindsay Welling from the State Historic Fund focused on best practices and outreach. The Board discussed scheduling a second meeting in February to avoid conflicts with a mandatory city furlough day and the Colorado Preservation Inc. (CPI) annual event, tentatively settling on the week of February 17–19 at 5:00 PM.
  • Mesa Road Project Update: Board member Judy presented significant updates on the effort to designate Mesa Road as a historic linear resource. She outlined the project's alignment with Ute Indian trails and its historical continuity from pre-statehood surveys. She expressed strong support, noting City Council member Donaldson had indicated he could see no reason for the council to deny the project, and confirmed the project's viability based on research by Ron Sladick.
  • Ivy Wild School Designation: The Board discussed the Ivy Wild School's history and eligibility. Staff and Board members clarified that while the building has been significantly modified (additions and changes), it remains a candidate for designation and that tax incentives are available. The Board agreed to share information regarding these benefits with the property owners.
  • Potential Construction Issue: Board member Matt raised a concern regarding a property at 1608/1609 Tejon Street where significant exterior alterations (ripped-off walls/porch) were visible. The Board agreed to investigate if building permits were issued for the work.
  • Board Leadership Transition: Vice Chair Baumgartner announced his impending relocation and departure. Chair Lowenberg expressed a desire to step down as Chair in the future to allow others to take the lead, prompting a discussion on identifying potential future candidates for Chair and Vice Chair positions.

Key Outcomes

  • Minutes Approval (Oct 6, 2025): The minutes for the October 6, 2025 meeting were approved unanimously (5 in favor). The Board member who missed the meeting abstained.
  • Minutes Deferral (Nov 3, 2025): The minutes for the November 3, 2025 meeting were deferred to the February meeting due to lack of prior review by the Board.
  • National Register Nomination (Unanimous Vote): The Board unanimously voted (5 Ayes) to support the nomination of the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind to the National Register of Historic Places.
    • Condition: City staff will submit the review form to the Colorado State Historic Preservation Officer on behalf of the Board.
    • Next Steps: The nomination will be considered by the State Historic Preservation Commission on January 16, 2026.

Meeting Transcript

Let's go ahead and get started then. I don't have the script in front of me, but I am gonna roll with it. So with that, let's go ahead and call the meeting to order. I don't, you know what? I actually just realized I don't have the words in front of me since I had planned to be there. Do you need me to read into the record that we're a group of volunteers of professionals? We serve in a volunteer capacity. We don't have any volunteer to meet you. Judy, if you would like to read that, go ahead. I'll read it. So Judy's gonna read. Thank you. Um all meetings are open to the public. Those who wish to participate may do so in person or by phone. And then it has a dialogue number. If you would like to comment on the agenda item, please contact the case planner for item. And the wrong one, huh? Sorry. Okay, let's try this again. Good afternoon and welcome to Colorado Springs Historic Preservation Board meeting for January 5th, 2026. The historic preservation board is comprised of seven members appointed by city council to administer the historic preservation code. Historic preservation board members are community volunteers who express with expertise across a wide variety of disciplines. Each member acts independently, carefully assessing all the evidence presented to make their decision. And then it says clarify any ground rules for public attending or how public comment may be handled for all items on today's agenda, but we don't need we need that for full. Okay, so if we could go continue with um roll call, Chair Lowenberg. Present. Board member Fitzsimmons. Or member Potter. Board member Bugal. Here and board member Heinz. Here. Thank you. We have five members person. Right. Christina, I have the agenda in front of me. So the next item is changes to agenda and postponements. We have no uh changes to the agenda. Okay, great. Thank you. Um number three on the on the agenda or communications. Uh first uh is our communications from city staff. And um the next would be uh any communications from uh historic preservation board members today. Um so I'll guess I'll go ahead and get get started. Um so I guess happy new year and welcome to the uh first meeting of 2026. Um I do not um have a whole lot um planned for you because it is the first Monday after the big holiday season. Um but um to um kick off the the new year, I would like from the historic preservation board um some help with the training that we had discussed with Lindsay Welling from the state um historic fund. And that was um best training that related to best practices for historic preservation board and commissions, um, and then also work on uh uh education and outreach. And I know that the board had said that they were all um interested in this. Uh Lindsay is also uh very interested in doing this, but I do think that it would be uh best if this um training was done in person. And I would also like to uh recommend that um we do the training um on a night where we don't have a historic preservation board meeting.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com