Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Planning topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Riverton council lowers threshold for historic‑site recognition from 75 to 50 years; council approves ordinance
Summary
The council voted to amend the city historic‑sites ordinance to allow properties 50 years or older to be eligible for the Riverton historic sites list, aligning the city practice with the Utah State Historic Preservation Office guideline and enabling the local commission to begin outreach and plaque programs.
Riverton planning staff brought forward an amendment to the city’s historic‑sites code to change the age threshold for designation from 75 years to 50 years. Ryan Carter, planning staff, said volunteers on the city Historic Preservation Commission had difficulty finding qualifying properties under the 75‑year standard and noted that the state’s preservation office uses a 50‑year threshold as the typical guideline.
Carter emphasized the amendment was intended to provide the commission with an inventory to work from and clarified that historic listing in the city code is primarily honorary: it does not prohibit owners from selling, renovating or making changes to their properties. Council members said they understood the proposal as a recognition program and that plaques and outreach would be driven by the commission and subject to available funding.
The council opened the public hearing; no members of the public spoke. Council voted on ordinance 25‑04 to amend section 18.63.040 (Riverton Historic Sites list) to change the age test to 50 years. The ordinance passed on a roll‑call vote; Council members recorded as voting yes in the minutes included Council Member McKay, Council Member Barroker, Council Member Hamon, Council Member McDougall and Council Member Perucci. The motion carried.
Why it matters: Lowering the threshold gives the local historic commission more properties to evaluate, allows the city to expand educational and preservation outreach, and provides a voluntary plaque/recognition program for eligible property owners.
What’s next: Staff said plaques and any recognition costs will be subject to funding availability; the historic commission plans to contact property owners along Redwood Road and other older corridors to solicit interest and begin a voluntary plaque program.
