Historic preservation panel recommends Centennial Plaque Program to La Plata council

The La Plata Historic Preservation Commission voted on Jan. 14 to recommend that the town council adopt a Centennial Plaque Program to recognize buildings, structures, objects and sites at least 100 years old.

Planning staff presented a staff report (dated 01/14/2026) and described program eligibility criteria and a proposed bronze plaque. Don Dooley, staff, said the Commission had been supportive of the draft and noted staff had modified the plaque material to bronze based on cost considerations. He told commissioners that the town could process applications at staff level if documentation met the program guidelines, or retain a requirement that the Commission review each application.

Commission members discussed implementation and public oversight. One commissioner said staff-level processing would speed approvals; others preferred keeping Commission review for public discussion and to help prioritize a likely small number of plaques (the draft budget assumed about five plaques per year). The Commission then voted unanimously to recommend the program to the town council; Mr. Hootenberg moved the recommendation and Marybeth seconded.

Staff will bring the adoption recommendation and the HPC work plan to the town council, likely in February, for final action and any funding decisions. Dooley noted that council approval will be required for budget allocations tied to plaque production and a future historic resources survey.

The Commission asked staff to preserve documentation of donated artifacts and loaned items if those items are used in exhibits tied to the program.