(Ed. note: Karl Lueders lived in Driving Park Historic District for more than 10 years and served on that neighborhood board as well as acted as a liaison to the Landmark Preservation Commission during that time.)

On September 18, 2012, the Denver Landmark Preservation Commission (LPC) will hold a public hearing to address the Community Planning and Development‘s proposal to change the process in which LPC reviews landmark designation applications.

Some of these proposed changes are administrative in nature, such as raising the fee for non-owner applicants to potentially designate certain historic structures (plus raise the buy-in). A more notable proposal, however, will require each application be sponsored by three people who either own or live in the City or County of Denver. This revision is likely in response to the current liberty that allows any Denver resident or property owner to submit a landmark designation application on any property in the city. There have been recent well-publicized accounts of this occurring, where the applications have allegedly been filed by non-owners to slow or stop potential development of certain Denver properties that did not have landmark designation protection.

There are several other proposals within the Community Planning and Development’s draft. If you live in one of Denver’s 50 historic neighborhoods, you should read the above proposal and consider attending the meeting on September 18, 2012, at 1 pm in Room 4.F.G in the Webb Building, 201 W. Colfax.

Owning a home in one of Denver’s landmark neighborhoods carries an additional responsibility from those that don’t, and as a homeowner or resident, you need to be aware of the policies that govern those areas.

Karl Lueders is a residential Realtor with Kentwood Real Estate. He has intimate working knowledge of the LPC and what it takes to make home improvements within those neighborhoods. Please give Karl a call if you have questions about whether you live in a historic area, are considering buying in a historic area or plan to make improvements to your home. You can reach him at 720-971-8267. You can also follow him on Twitter or find him on LinkedIn.

Read about the benefits of landmark designations by visiting Historic Denver.