Historic Preservation Plan

Maintaining Crested Butte’s authenticity and unique character.

The Historic Preservation Plan (HPP) establishes how the Town wants to preserve its history and promote architectural diversity. The Town worked with Stan Clauson Associates to understand the historical and architectural attributes of the Town, as well as understand successful preservation strategies from other communities. 

HPP Goal: The goal of the HPP is to ensure the Town’s architectural identity is a reflection of Crested Butte’s deep sense of community and its evolution over time. 

Rooted in the Community Compass decision-making framework, the HPP builds on lessons from Crested Butte’s past, addresses contemporary preservation challenges, and establishes clear measures of success for the Town’s future. The HPP outlines a strategy to continue honoring Crested Butte’s mining heritage, while identifying its transformation into a ski and recreation-based community. The strategy includes:

Local Designation

  • Celebrate and preserve buildings from Crested Butte’s “Early Recreation Era” by adding a New Period of Significance (POS) between 1961 to 1984.
  • Enhance the visibility and significance of Crested Butte’s historic buildings by defining distinct boundaries and buffers for each POS, rather than encompassing the entire Town.

Zoning Regulations

  • Mitigate the risk of losing historic buildings through strengthening the Town's demolition regulations.

Design Standards and Guidelines

  • Outside of the Historic POSs, encourage architectural flexibility and variety while maintaining Crested Butte’s mass, scale, form and history of modest, affordable design.
  • Encourage more variety and creativity in materials that build on Crested Butte’s architectural vernacular and promote environmental sustainability and resiliency.

Incentives

  • Provide incentives to support property owners in the upkeep and maintenance of historic buildings and sheds.
  • Reward projects that adhere to the Design Standards and Guidelines by offering streamlined processes, including administrative review.


Check out the final adopted plan to the right to learn about Crested Butte's history and the preservation strategy moving forward.
 

HPP Implementation: Now that the HPP is adopted, what happens now? In 2025, a historic building survey will evaluate the recommended contributing structures and official boundary for the new early recreation era POS. Then, the HPP strategy will be implemented and codified as the Town updates its Zoning Code and Design Standards and Guidelines starting later in the year. Check out the action plan in the plan document to learn more about each action item. Check back here and stay tuned for updates in the Town's e-blast for 2025 implementation projects and how you can participate.