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Boulder Landmarks Board reviews process changes and LDRC workload; appoints chair and vice chair
Summary
Board members and staff reviewed recent code and administrative changes that shifted many Landmark Alteration Certificate reviews to staff, reducing volunteer time and meeting frequency; the board also nominated Renee Golobek as chair and Michael Rave as vice chair.
The Boulder Landmarks Board used its May 7 meeting to review process changes intended to streamline historic‑preservation reviews and to nominate new leadership for the coming year.
Marcy (staff member) and Claire Brandt, historic preservation planner, summarized code and administrative updates that took effect earlier in the year. Staff said a council‑approved code amendment and accompanying administrative rule expanded the scope of work that staff may review without sending applications to the Landmarks Design Review Committee (LDRC). The changes also extended the initial review period for LACs and nondesignated demolition reviews from 14 to 21 days and extended approvals from six months to one year, staff said.
Staff presented early results: through the first four months of 2025 the department received 62 LAC applications compared with 45 during the same period in 2024, a 35% increase. At the same time staff reported that 60% of LACs are now reviewed at staff level (compared with about 33% previously) and that the LDRC’s share of cases has fallen from 67% to 39%. LDRC meetings were held 21% less often year‑to‑date and about 17 cases that previously would have gone to LDRC were resolved at staff level, a shift staff estimated saved roughly nine hours of volunteer review time per committee rotation. Staff said the average time to complete the initial review is now seven days.
Board members discussed scheduling and predictability for LDRC rotations and suggested continued adjustments to balance volunteer availability, design review value, and applicants’ expectations. Chelsea Castellano, Landmarks Board member, recommended right‑sizing staff presentations so straightforward projects require less presentation time while preserving robust presentations for complex cases. John Decker said the revised process has moved more straightforward work to staff while preserving LDRC’s collaborative design review role.
On governance matters the board nominated and voted to appoint leadership for the next term. Abby Daniels opened nominations and nominated Renee Golobek for chair; John Decker moved to nominate Golobek and Michael Rave seconded the motion. The board recorded a unanimous vote in favor. Renee Golobek will assume the chair role beginning with the June 4 meeting. The board then nominated Michael Rave for vice chair; Renee moved, John seconded, and the board again voted unanimously to appoint him.
Staff said they will continue to monitor the new procedures and provide periodic updates; they also noted ongoing work to migrate applications to a direct‑apply online system and to refine staff review workflows for types such as state historic tax‑credit applications that require additional paperwork.
Board members and staff agreed to revisit scheduling and agenda‑management practices in subsequent check‑ins and at future retreats to seek a predictable pattern that balances committee usefulness with volunteer time commitments.
