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Steamboat Springs — The year of painstaking efforts it took to create a new city historic preservation ordinance was reflected in the four motions it took to garner a majority vote of the Steamboat Springs Planning Commission on Thursday.

Three previous motions failed, 2-4, before commissioners ultimately voted, 4-2, to recommend that the Steamboat Springs City Council approve the ordinance that would create a mechanism for willing owners to preserve their properties and reduce the inconvenience for those with no interest in preservation. The motion also included a recommendation to revise the city's design guidelines for historic structures within six months.

That provision was included in an attempt to win a vote from Commissioner Brian Hanlen, who still voted against it. Commissioner Cedar Beauregard also voted against the motion. Beauregard opposed the fact that the ordinance would allow historic districts to be created with the approval of 80 percent of property owners within proposed boundaries. Beauregard said he thinks it should be unanimous.

"Everybody keeps bringing up that (preservation) is voluntary," he said, "but it's not voluntary for that other 20 percent."

Beauregard and Commissioner Rich Levy had supported a previously failed motion that recommended all property owners agree to the rules that would accompany a historic district. Their motion also recommended an increase from five to 10 in the maximum number of years that owners could be prevented from developing on lots where protected properties illegally were altered or demolished. The other motions that failed included one that recommended the ordinance be denied and another that recommended approval with no strings attached.

Commission Chairwoman Kathi Meyer had hoped to table the ordinance and spend more time on it, but Director of Planning and Community Development Tom Leeson said he was in the awkward position of having to take the ordinance before the Steamboat Springs City Council on Jan. 20 no matter what. That's because it was council that directed a citizens committee to create a new historic preservation ordinance to replace existing policies.

In more straightforward action Thursday, the Planning Commission unanimously recommended that City Council approve an ordinance aimed at improving city regulations for secondary residential units. Creation of the ordinance was driven by the death of a Steamboat man last year in a converted garage apartment that was not legally registered with the city and lacked smoke detectors. The man, David Engle, died of smoke inhalation.

The ordinance would close an enforcement loophole and require inspection for health and safety issues of secondary units, which are small, long-term rentals located on the same lots as principal dwelling units.

Commissioners also voted to recommend that City Council remove a requirement that the owners of such units live in the primary residence and not rent out both units. Leeson said that requirement was a sticking point when the city first passed an ordinance allowing secondary units eight years ago, because residents were concerned about neighborhood character.

Commissioners, however, thought the occupancy requirement might prevent the city from bringing as many properties as possible into compliance.

"If our whole purpose as a city was to increase safety, them hiding in the shadows is not going to help us," Hanlen said.

The secondary unit ordinance also will go before City Council on Jan. 20.