Boulder City Council · Document
Call-Up Agenda Memo
Regular Meeting, May 21, 2026 · item 4B: Consideration of a motion by the Landmarks Board to not approve an application to designate the property at 990 Arapahoe Ave. as an individu… · 4 pages
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City of Boulder City Council Call-Up Agenda Item Meeting Date: May 21, 2026
Agenda Title Call-Up Consideration of a motion by the Landmarks Board to not approve an application to designate the property at 990 Arapahoe Ave. as an individual landmark under Chapter 9-11 "Historic Preservation," B.R.C., 1981
Staff Contact • •
Marcy Gerwing, Principal Planner, Planning & Development Services Brad Mueller, Director of Planning & Development Services
Executive Summary The purpose of this item is for City Council to review the decision of the Landmarks Board on a proposed landmark designation. At its May 6,2026 meeting, the Landmarks Board voted (4-1, M. Ray dissenting) to not approve an individual landmark designation application for the property at 990 Arapahoe Ave. (HIS2026-00113). The Landmarks Board’s decision is subject to a 45-day call-up period by City Council, no later than June 20, 2026.
Council Action Options Option
Outcome
Call up the application
To call up the application, council must pass a motion. Suggested motion language: Motion to call up individual landmark designation application HIS202600113. Called-up item will be scheduled for a public hearing at a future council meeting within 75 days of the Landmarks Board’s decision (before July 20, 2026).
Do not call up the application No council action is needed. Decision of the Landmarks Board stands.
Landmarks Board History •
On Dec. 3, 2025, the Landmarks Board voted (4-1, C. Castellano dissenting) to place a 150-day stay-of-demolition on an application to demolish the building (HIS2025-00273), finding the building may be eligible for designation and contributes to the character of the neighborhood, and it had not been demonstrated to be impractical or economically unfeasible to rehabilitate the building. See Dec. 3, 2025 Landmarks Board Minutes and 990 Arapahoe Ave. Memo to Landmarks Board 12.03.2025 (link).
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On Dec. 8 and Dec. 15, representatives of the Landmarks Board, staff, applicant and ownership groups met to discuss alternatives to demolition. Approximately four community members attended a site visit and a virtual meeting where the applicants presented an assessment of alternatives (Link to applicant materials presented at the Dec. 15 meeting).
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On Jan. 7, 2026, the Landmarks Board voted (5-0) to schedule a hearing to consider whether to initiate landmark designation or to issue a demolition permit for the building at 990 Arapahoe Ave. See Jan. 7, 2026, Landmarks Board Meeting (link).
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On Jan 20, 2026, the applicants submitted a Concept Plan application (LUR2026-00001). Planning Board reviewed the application in a public hearing on April 7, 2026 (link).
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On Feb. 25, 2026, the Landmarks Board voted (4-1, C. Castellano dissenting) to initiate the process for landmark designation, finding that it meets the criteria for such initiation pursuant to Section 9-11-3 “Initiation of Designation for Individual Landmarks and Historic Districts” of the Boulder Revised Code 1981, and, in balance, is consistent with the goals and policies of Section 2.27 of the Boulder
Valley Comprehensive Plan. At the same hearing, the Landmarks Board voted to not initiate the designation process for three adjacent properties at 976, 986 and 1004 Arapahoe Ave. The historic preservation demolition approvals were conditionally approved at the end of the stay of demolition on March 26, 2026. •
On May 6, 2026, the Landmarks Board voted (4-1, M. Ray dissenting) to not approve the proposed designation of the property at 990 Arapahoe Ave. as a local historic landmark, finding that the proposed designation does not meet the standards for individual landmark designation in Sections 9-11-1 and 9-11-2, B.R.C. 1981.
Public Input Process At the Landmarks Board Dec. 3, 2025, public hearing, 10 members of the public spoke to the application. Five spoke in favor of a stay of demolition to explore alternatives to demolition and five spoke in favor of demolition. Refer to the Dec. 3, 2025 Landmarks Board Minutes and meeting recording. During the stay of demolition, the Landmarks Board received one letter (link) regarding the application, five members of the public spoke during open comment at the Jan. 7, 2026 Landmarks Board meeting (link), and four members of the public spoke during open comment at the Feb. 4, 2026 Landmark Board meeting (link). Twenty-two members of the public spoke at the Feb. 25, 2026, Landmarks Board hearing to consider initiation of the landmark designation process or issuance of the demolition application. Seventeen people spoke in support of demolition of the building, and five spoke in support of initiating the landmark designation process. Refer to the Feb. 25, 2026 Landmarks Board Minutes and meeting recording (link). Two members of the public spoke at the May 6, 2026 Landmarks Board meeting to consider landmark designation of the property. One person spoke in support of the designation and one person spoke in opposition. Refer to the May 6, 2026 Landmarks Board meeting (link).
Analysis – Alignment with Relevant Portions of Boulder Revised Code The decision was based upon the board’s consideration that the proposal is inconsistent with the purposes and standards of the Historic Preservation Ordinance, and adopted the following findings: 1. While the designation of the property at 990 Arapahoe Ave. would protect, enhance, and perpetuate a property reminiscent of a past era of history and
preserve an important example of Boulder’s historic architecture, and foster knowledge of the city’s living heritage, it would not maintain an appropriate setting and environment for the building, as the historic preservation demolition approvals have been conditionally issued for the three adjacent buildings eligible for designation. 2. Historic preservation of the building has been carefully weighed with other alternatives, and in this case, designation over the owner’s objection would not draw a reasonable balance between private property rights and the public interest in preserving the city’s cultural, historic and architectural heritage.
Next Steps for City Council The City Council may call up the application. If the application is called up, the City Council will be the decision-maker on the application and will review it at a future public meeting. If the application is not called up, the Board’s decision is final.
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