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Board discusses Rhyolite Butte landmarking, application process and potential grants
Summary
Board members discussed the historical importance of Royal Light/Rhyolite Butte and explored whether the town could pursue local landmark status; staff said property-owner consent (Parks Department) is required for an application and recommended a study session and possible CLG grant to fund surveys and plan updates.
A member of the Castle Rock Historic Preservation Board raised the possibility of pursuing local landmark status for the Royal Light area (Rhyolite/Royalite Butte) in Crystal Valley and the board discussed next steps and constraints.
Board members recounted the site’s local history — the arrival of the railroad in 1871 and discovery of Royalite stone in 1872 — and noted some ambiguity about whether a landmark application form was available on the town website. Staff said the process requires a property-owner application; because the butte is town-owned (Parks Department), the Parks Department or town council would need to initiate any landmark nomination. Staff advised the board that parks has historically been reluctant to initiate landmarking because some grants and landmark designations carry restrictions affecting interior work or future uses.
Staff confirmed the town’s current landmarking and demolition-review code has evolved from earlier language (the transcript references a 2010 code change replacing a community nomination route with demolition review). Staff suggested the board consider a work session to review criteria and process, and mentioned a cultural resource survey currently in progress. The staff member also said he has requested multi-year budget funding to update the 1996 Castle Rock style document and the historic preservation plan and suggested pursuing a Certified Local Government (CLG) grant in the future to help fund surveys and documentation.
Members asked for clearer application materials and for staff to provide the online link or the fillable form that had been moved during recent remediation of the town website. Staff said he would send the link and could present a short (15-minute) overview of the nomination process at an upcoming meeting so the board could consider a study session and potential recommendation to town council.
Board members and staff also discussed the role of the Design Review Board and the relationship between landmarking and potential grant opportunities, and noted that locally landmarking certain properties can affect eligibility and the terms of state grants.
The board agreed to keep the Rhyolite Butte item on a future agenda while staff gathers application forms, clarifies fees, and outlines a possible timeline for a work session and any grant applications.
