Historic Preservation Plan
Historic Preservation Plan Overview
In 2023, the City of Steamboat Springs commissioned the first standalone Historic Preservation Plan to serve as a long-range planning tool that considers the importance of historic places and integrates them into the city's broader current and long-range planning initiatives. The plan is designed to facilitate preservation and enhance the distinct community character of Steamboat Springs as the community changes and grows. With an overarching theme of 'Building with History, Growing with Vision', the plan reflects on outcomes of the city's past preservation efforts, state and national preservation policy and planning goals, and outlines overall community values to help align responsible growth through retention of heritage and culture.
The Historic Preservation Plan documents the historic preservation program and identifies goals, recommendations, and strategies to improve current processes and policies. It provides recommendations with specific strategies that offer solutions to identified constraints that have hindered current program progress. The plan integrates state and national historic preservation strategies such that they support other city goals, recommendations, and strategies to enhance economic vitality, identity, sustainability, and quality of live in Steamboat Springs.
Throughout the course of drafting the plan, a wide variety of public engagement opportunities were implemented between January 2025 - October 2025.
Your Voice Matters: Provide Feedback on the Historic Preservation Plan
Final drafts of the Historic Preservation Plan and Historic Preservation Design Guidelines are now available for review. Community members are encouraged to share their thoughts using the online feedback form by Sunday, October 12, 2025. Input will be used to finalize the plan and provide public feedback during the Historic Preservation Commission meeting on October 13 and City Council meeting on October 21.
-
Your Voice Matters - We Want To Hear From You
Share Your Voice Matters - We Want To Hear From You on Facebook Share Your Voice Matters - We Want To Hear From You on Twitter Share Your Voice Matters - We Want To Hear From You on Linkedin Email Your Voice Matters - We Want To Hear From You link
This questionnaire follows the structure of the initial open house where the community was invited to share feedback regarding historic preservation in Steamboat Springs. The following questionnaire is intended to further articulate community ideas that were shared during the open house.
Fill Out The Historic Preservation Plan Community Questionnaire
-
Historic Preservation Plan Open House Set For June 11
Share Historic Preservation Plan Open House Set For June 11 on Facebook Share Historic Preservation Plan Open House Set For June 11 on Twitter Share Historic Preservation Plan Open House Set For June 11 on Linkedin Email Historic Preservation Plan Open House Set For June 11 link
Community Invited to Review and Shape Draft Recommendations
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, COLORADO-June 6, 2025-The community is invited to take part in the next phase of developing Steamboat Springs’ comprehensive Historic Preservation Plan during a public open house on Wednesday, June 11, 2025.
Hosted at the Tread of Pioneers Museum (800 Oak Street) from 4 to 6 p.m., the event will unveil the draft Vision and Goals, Program Constraints and Opportunities, and preliminary recommendations for the citywide plan. These elements are based on public feedback gathered during a previous open house and numerous stakeholder sessions.
“Historic preservation touches everyone in different and meaningful ways,” said Historic Preservation Planner Caitlin Berube-Smith. “Whether you’re a long-time local or new to the Yampa Valley, your voice is critical in shaping the future of preservation in our community.”
The evening will feature interactive activities that allow participants to provide input on the draft recommendations and help guide the development of the final plan. Representatives from Logan Simpson, a nationally recognized multidisciplinary consulting firm leading the project, will be on hand to share key findings and facilitate discussions.
Contrary to the idea of preserving everything old, historic preservation is a strategic tool that can support housing, recreation, sustainability, and community identity. By embracing adaptive reuse and creative placemaking, communities can thoughtfully integrate the past into a vibrant, resilient future.
Following this open house, the Historic Preservation Plan and updated Historic Design Guidelines will be finalized and presented to the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) in July. HPC will forward its recommendations to City Council in August, with a public hearing and formal adoption anticipated in September or October 2025.
The development of the Historic Preservation Plan and associated community engagement opportunities is funded in part by grants from the State Historical Fund and the Certified Local Government program.
Contact
Caitlin Berube-Smith, Historic Preservation Planner, 970-871-8228 or email
Rebecca Bessey, Planning & Community Development Director, 970-871-8202 or email
Michael Lane, Marketing & Communications Manager, 970-871-8220 or email
-
Results From Public Open House #1 - January 22, 2025
Share Results From Public Open House #1 - January 22, 2025 on Facebook Share Results From Public Open House #1 - January 22, 2025 on Twitter Share Results From Public Open House #1 - January 22, 2025 on Linkedin Email Results From Public Open House #1 - January 22, 2025 link
Open House #1 featured interactive opportunities for community members to provide input regarding multiple aspects of historic preservation in Steamboat Springs. Community members had the opportunity to share what aspects of historic preservation matter most to them, identify which parts of Steamboat Springs' history are significant to them, articulate which architectural designs they feel contribute to the character of the community, and provide feedback regarding what improvements in the historic preservation process they feel would benefit the city.
