Historic Preservation Commission Meeting – January 28, 2026
Historic Preservation Commission Meeting – January 28, 2026
The Las Vegas Historic Preservation Commission met on January 28, 2026, with Chair Laramie presiding and a quorum present. The meeting included a staff report on the 2050 Master Plan's intersection with historic preservation and sustainability, approval of funding for commissioner attendance at a national forum, staff transitions, and updates on past projects.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes (December 10, 2025): Commissioner Harper requested a correction replacing “canal level” with “cantilever” in the section related to the Mob Museum design. The motion was amended and approved unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments were offered during either the initial or final public comment periods.
Discussion Items
6. Staff Report on 2050 Master Plan & Historic Preservation
- Marco Valada (Department of Community Development) presented the 2050 Master Plan’s role in historic preservation, sustainability practices (LEED buildings, solar, EV charging, net-zero city goals), water conservation, urban forestry, and transit-oriented development (TOD).
- He noted that the plan includes a specific historic preservation element required by NRS 278, with inventory of designated properties and actions to prioritize preservation education.
- Commissioner Questions & Discussion:
- Chair Laramie asked about annual updates; Valada confirmed yearly reports at masterplan.vegas.
- The chair raised concerns about high-rise development near John S. Park; Valada responded that TOD and form-based code restrict heights to 3–7 stories (maximum 7) along arterial corridors to avoid skyscrapers next to single-family homes.
- Discussion of the Vegas Vic sign: Valada said designation would require a Title 19 process through the commission.
- Commissioner Crant inquired about heritage trees; Valada noted the urban forestry management plan recommends a heritage tree program, but no update has been made yet.
- Commissioner Harper asked about a demolition by neglect ordinance; Valada said it is only at preliminary discussion stage.
- Commissioner Cosgrove noted tree planting conflicts with unhoused population concerns; Valada mentioned a future fee-in-lieu proposal for landscaping waivers.
- Commissioner Laramie asked about resource surveys along TOD corridors; Valada said Charleston and East Las Vegas have had some survey work, but further surveys could be pursued.
7. Funding for National Alliance of Preservation Commissions Forum
- Dr. Crant requested approval of up to $8,000 (fully reimbursed by SHPO) for herself and staff to attend the July 22–26, 2026 NAPC Forum in Minneapolis.
- Commissioner Moody asked about alternative conferences; Dr. Crant noted the Preserve Nevada conference is biennial and held in fall.
- Commissioner Cosgrove suggested gathering handouts and reports for the commission.
- Motion to approve carried unanimously.
8. Director’s Updates
- Director Seth Floyd announced that the commission’s permanent meeting location is this room (City Hall).
- Floyd stepped back from HPC duties; Michael Cunningham (Deputy Director & Building Official) will now serve as staff liaison starting next meeting, providing expertise on building codes and adaptive reuse.
9. Project Update List
- Old Mormon Fort National Register Update: Approved by state board, sent to Keeper of the Register in DC (45-day review).
- Floyd Land Park Historical Report: Completed by Commissioner Stodal earlier than planned; report sent for download by February 3. Will be used to update interpretive signage and park narratives.
- Mayor’s Urban Design Symposium (Jan 29, 2026): Michael Howe previewed the event (free, at Fifth Street School) with panels on education design.
- Historic Preservation Month Awards: Nominations due February 25, 2026; commission vote in April, ceremony in May.
- Commissioner Laramie suggested integrating annual master plan metrics into future project updates; Dr. Crant agreed.
- Red Rock Canyon Winter Gathering: Free event on February 14 (Valentine’s Day) with indigenous cultural workshops.
- Commissioner Serface mentioned Centennial Commission approval of updated City Historic Milestones timeline; staff will present once finalized.
10. Historic & Archaeological Resources in Local Media
- Staff provided a list of recent media coverage; no questions or comments from commissioners.
11. Future Agenda Items
- Commissioner Serface proposed exploring next steps for updating National Register nominations or surveys, particularly along East Charleston corridor (ahead of planned BRT).
- Commissioner Laramie suggested a presentation on building code nuances as they apply to historic properties, and discussion of possible CAMP training topics for the commission.
- No action was taken on these proposals.
Key Outcomes
- Minutes approved with correction to “cantilever.”
- Funding of up to $8,000 approved for NAPC Forum attendance (July 22–26, 2026), fully reimbursed by SHPO.
- Staff transition: Michael Cunningham introduced as new HPC liaison.
- Old Mormon Fort nomination sent to Keeper of the National Register.
- Floyd Land Park report available for February meeting; signage update to follow.
- Award nominations for Historic Preservation Month due by February 25, 2026.
- Future agenda: Commission will consider surveys on East Charleston corridor, building code presentation, and CAMP training options.
Meeting Transcript
We'll call the historic preservation commission meeting to order. Um we'll start with roll call. Now it's official, I gaveled okay. Chair Laramie here, Vice Chair Levine. He's supposed to be in the phone. Oh, thank you. Commissioner Stodle. Commissioner Hodgkiss. Commissioner Serface? Here. Commissioner Cosgrove? Here. Commissioner Palacios. Commissioner Moody? Here. Commissioner Purdue. Here. Commissioner Grimmer. Commissioner Harper? Here. Commissioner Crant? Here. Commissioner Gillespie? Here. Thank you. We do have a quorum. Great. Thank you. Our second item is an announcement regarding compliance with open meeting law. Are we in compliance? Yes, we are in compliance. Great. Thank you. Our third item is public comment. Comment during this portion of the agenda must be limited to matters on the agenda for action. If you wish to be heard, please come forward and give your name for the record. The amount of discussion as well as the amount of time any single speaker is allowed may be limited. Is there anybody here wishing to speak during public comment? Seeing no one, we will move on to item four, chair's announcement relative to the historic preservation commission. I have no announcements today. Item five is for possible action to approve the final minutes by reference of the regular meeting of December 10th, 2025. Do we have a motion or any comments on the minutes? Move to approve as it stands sold off for the record. Commissioner Harper for the record. In the minutes, there's uh one section that where I've asked a question about a cantilever option. And in the and in the minutes, yeah. It says canal level rather than cantilever. I just want to make sure that that's corrected. In the in the minutes? Yep.
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