The ASCOM Local Server template is designed to allow multiple connections and multiple drivers to connect to the same hardware. The LocalServer exe provides shared resources - which could be a serial port or the entire hardware connection. All instances of the driver DLL connect to the shared resources. It also handles conversion between 32 and 64 bit drivers and applications.
It's not the most trivial of things to set up though and for Observing Conditions and Safety monitor using the Boltwood text file may be simpler.
Chris