Historic Preservation Board Meeting - June 10, 2026

The Golden Historic Preservation Board met in a regular session at 6:31 PM on June 10, 2026, at City Hall, 911 10th Street. Seven members were present (two absent). The board approved the agenda and the minutes of May 13, 2026, noting a discrepancy: the minutes provided in the packet are dated May 13, 2025, while the agenda and transcript both refer to May 13, 2026. The primary agenda item was HPB 26-03, a Certificate of Appropriateness for demolition and new accessory garage at 1735 Ford Street. A study session followed on the Historic Preservation Design Guidelines (second review).

Consent Calendar

• Agenda Approval: Motion by Trout, second by Cook; passed 6-0 voice vote.
• Minutes Approval: Motion by Trout, second by Cummings; passed 6-0 voice vote. Note: The minutes packet is dated May 13, 2025, but the meeting action approved minutes for May 13, 2026.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comment was offered for non-agenda items.
• For HPB 26-03:
  • Phil Kriz (504 18th St, owner): Described the garage's structural unsoundness, stating that the tile block material crumbles and that moving the structure is not feasible. He supported demolition.
  • Brian Donohoe (509 18th St, neighbor): Expressed support for the project, noting the material's unsoundness and the design's compatibility with the neighborhood aesthetic.
  • Lloyd Athearn (written comment): Did not oppose demolition but raised concerns about the potential future ADU contributing to short-term rentals rather than long-term housing, and lacked dedicated off-street parking. He noted that parking on Ford Street will be eliminated for a bike path, increasing neighborhood parking pressure.

Discussion Items

• HPB 26-03 – Demolition and New Garage at 1735 Ford Street: Senior Planner Lauren Simmons presented the staff report, recommending a 64-day stay of demolition until August 12, 2026, to allow Planning Commission to rule on the driveway access. The existing garage (1945, tile block construction) is considered a contributing structure. Applicant Erin Elston (TKP Architects) and owner Phil Kriz presented structural engineering and contractor letters showing significant damage, including foundation failure, cracking, bowing walls, and roof reinforcement. They proposed a new 1.5-story, 2-car garage with wood siding, standing seam metal roof, and future ADU capability. The board discussed design refinements:
  • Simplify window muntins and both man door and garage door.
  • Match the front gable apron of the garage to the house.
  • Remove scallops on the gable treatment.
  • Use horizontal Hardie Board siding with V or U groove (flush application) instead of lap siding.
  • Salvage as many tile bricks as possible for potential museum or decorative use. The board also recommended retaining the side-street orientation (18th Street) to preserve neighborhood fabric and noted the height increase from 12–13 ft to ~20 ft, which is subject to Planning Commission review.
• Other Matters:
  • Update on HPB 26-01 (612 10th Street demolition): The ad hoc committee continues working; a letter was sent to City Council; AC DevCo is advertising the building for moving and assessing structural feasibility.
  • Past Forward Update: Public engagement on design guidelines is ongoing. A survey and paper responses have been collected. A focus group is planned for late July/early August to discuss board authority and zoning questions. City Council study session is set for September 2026.
• Study Session – Historic Preservation Design Guidelines (Second Review): Staff provided an overview of the form-based code (FBC) and how zoning requirements affect historic district cases. Board members discussed the need for input on scale, setbacks, and lot coverage, noting that their recommendations are often incorporated (staff estimated ~80% acceptance). No formal action was taken; discussion will continue at the July meeting.

Key Outcomes

• HPB 26-03: A motion by Trout, second by Cook, was approved (6-0 roll call) to impose a 64-day stay of demolition until the August 12, 2026, HPB meeting. The stay includes conditions to be incorporated into the resolution and forwarded to Planning Commission:
  1. Simplify windows (muntins) and doors (man door and garage door).
  2. Match the front gable apron of the garage to the house.
  3. No scallops on the gable treatment.
  4. Horizontal siding: Hardie Board with V or U groove (flush application).
  5. Salvage as many of the tile bricks as possible.
• Study Session: No decisions; the board will continue discussing design guidelines and board authority at the July meeting. A focus group on zoning and authority is being organized, with involvement of former planning commissioners and community members.