Page 7 - Breckendridge, CO Design Standards

A series of models are included on pages 13-21 and illustrate
a variety of these concepts and recommendations to improve
additions to historic structures. Incorporating a series of
models into an updated Handbook that illustrate designs of
additions that may cause a property to slip a rating will be
helpful in assisting property owners to understand what types
of additions are appropriate. Along with the incorporation of
models and images, changing the point system to strongly
discourage an addition that is out of scale with the original
building is important. Changing the point system will also
support the recommendations provided in Issue IV that
changes the way UPA is measured in order to put a cap on the
allowed UPA for the Historic District.

VI. Issue: Loss of Planted Area on Site Due to Paving
Materials
In addition to new buildings and additions taking up more of
the open space on a site, paving materials used for driveways,
patios and other outdoor areas have also contributed to the
loss of open space.

Recommendation
Limit the amount of non-porous paving materials allowed on a
site in the Historic District. Require porous/permeable paving
materials on a site, and provide recommendations for materials
that would achieve the goal of reducing the visible impact of
paving on the site. Materials that allow grass to grow through
meet this requirement and include gravel, grasscrete, tire tracks
and small pavers with space in between. Finally, incorporating
negative points for solid paved areas will also encourage
property owners to incorporate paving materials that are more
porous and contribute to green, open spaces on a site.

VII. Issue: Moving Historic Buildings
Sometimes, a property owner requests to move a building
within a site to accommodate a large new addition or new
construction that is out of scale with the original building.
Moving a historic building, however, whether on the same
site or to another site within the historic district, diminishes
its integrity because it changes the relationship between
the structure and the site, and may also involve destruction
of an original foundation. With a move and the loss of
integrity, future surveys may downgrade the resource to non-
contributing status within the District.

Recommendation
Prohibit moving historic buildings. Do not allow a property
owner to move a building on or off site. Create a policy that
requires a variance to move a building, which can only be
approved if hardship is demonstrated. For instance, a hardship
could be an encroachment or a hazardous condition on a site. 7