Aurora advances Mount Nebo Memorial Park & Cemetery landmark nomination and UDO amendment to clarify local designation process

Chris Geddes, Historic Preservation Specialist for Library and Cultural Services, presented a nomination on Oct. 6 to designate Mount Nebo Memorial Park & Cemetery as a local landmark and a corresponding technical amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance to clarify local landmark procedures.

Geddes said the cemetery, founded in 1897 and associated historically with the BMH synagogue in Denver, contains ornate headstones, sculptural works, and notable burials including members of the Cook family and Dr. Manny Saltzman. She said the nomination met four of six criteria in the submitted nomination and that the Historic Preservation Commission reviewed the nomination on Sept. 9 and voted unanimously to recommend moving it forward. Geddes said current site features include a maintenance facility, restrooms, an office building and other support structures.

Geddes also presented a UDO amendment that the State Historic Preservation Office had requested during the city’s 2021 quadrennial review. The amendment would separate National Register listing from local landmark designation to make the local review process more transparent and avoid automatically subjecting National Register listings to local landmark review. Geddes said the change would help maintain the city’s Certified Local Government status and reduce confusion for property owners.

Sheila Abrahamson, representing the Mount Nebo board, was on the call and Geddes said the current cemetery board had been engaged in the process. Council had no objections to advancing both items to the regular session.