HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Estes Valley Planning Commission 2015-11-17RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Estes Valley Planning Commission
November 17, 2015
Board Room, Estes Park Town Hall
Commission:
Attending:
Aiso Attending:
Absent:
Chair Betty Hull, Commissioners Doug Klink, Nancy Hills, Russ Schneider,
Michael Moon, Steve Murphree, Sharry White
Chair Hull, Commissioners Hills, Schneider, Murphree, White, and Moon
Director Alison Chilcott, Planner Audem Gonzales, Town Board Liaison John
Phipps, Larimer County Liaison Michael Whitley, and Recording Secretary Karen
Thompson
Commissioner Klink
Chair Hull called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. There were six people in attendance. Each
Commissioner was introduced. Chair Hull explained the process for accepting public comment at
today's meeting. The following minutes reflect the order of the agenda and not necessarily the
chronological sequence.
1. PUBLIC COMMENT
2. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Approval of minutes, September 15, 2015 Planning Commission meeting.
It was moved and seconded (Hills/Murphree) to approve the consent agenda as amended and
the motion passed 6-0 in favor with Commissioner Hilis abstaining.
3. HUGHES-WEBER BOUNDARY LiNE ADJUSTMENT; Metes & Bounds Parcel located at 2041 & 2045
Devils Gulch Road
Planner Gonzales reviewed the staff report. This item is a request by property owners Deborah
Hughes and Leo Weber to adjust the boundary line between two existing parcels, resulting in two
legal lots. There are currently two parcels zoned RE-l-Rural Estate, each with a single-family
dwelling. It is proposed to build a new single-family dwelling on one of the lots after demolishing
the existing dwelling. In order to keep the new home out of the required 50-foot setback, the
boundary line needs to be shifted to the east. Both parcels contain steep slopes on the western
side. The preliminary plat for this proposed boundary line adjustment will establish limits of
disturbance to protect those steep slopes as well as a delineated wetland area on the property. A
private access easement and utility easements will also be noted on the plat. Both parcels will be
accessed by a shared driveway off of Devils Gulch Road. If the boundary line adjustment is
approved, both lots will still meet the minimum lot size requirement of ten acres. Planner
Gonzales stated there is a conservation easement on both lots, prohibiting any division or
subdivision of the existing lots. This easement also prohibits the two parcels to be separately
owned. Planner Gonzales stated the application was routed to affected agencies and notices were
sent to adjacent property owners. No significant comments or concerns were received.
Staff Findings
1. This boundary line adjustment application does not fall within the parameters of staff level
review, and will be reviewed by the Estes Valley Planning Commission. The Planning
Commission is the recommending body, the Larimer County Board of County
Commissioners is the decision-making body.
2. This request has been submitted to all applicable reviewing agency staff for consideration
and comment. All letters and memos submitted by reviewing staff, referred to in the staff
report are incorporated as staff findings.
3. Adjusting the boundary lines between the two parcels would not create non-conforming
lots nor would it go against the policies and guidelines of the Estes Valley Comprehensive
Plan.
4. This proposal complies with all applicable regulations set forth in the Estes Valley
Development Code.
5. Limits of site disturbance are to be delineated that protect steep slopes, wetlands and
significant trees.
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Estes Valley Planning Commission 2
November 17, 2015
Board Room, Estes Park Town Hall
6. A private access easement between the two lots will be recorded with this plat as well as
utility easements.
Planner Gonzales stated staff recommended approval of the boundary line adjustment with one
condition of approval, listed below.
Public Comment
Amy Plummer/applicant representative stated the applicant was supportive of the conditions of
approval.
Public comment closed.
Staff and Commission Discussion
None.
Condition of Approval
1. The proposed private access easement shall be submitted with mylars for recording. The
easement shall include a graphic description and include provisions for maintenance of any
common driveway.
It was moved and seconded (White/Hills) to recommend approval to the Larimer County Board
of County Commissioners with the findings and conditions recommended by staff and the
motion passed unanimously.
4. AMENDED PLAT OF LOT 2, CENTENNIAL HILLS SUBDIVISION, 2969 Little Valley Road
Planner Gonzales reviewed the staff report. In late 2014 the applicant, Eric Throne, applied for a
variance to construct a proposed garage in the required setback. At that time, it was determined
that a building envelope existed, which required an amended plat rather than a variance. The
variance request was withdrawn, and the application to expand the platted building envelope and
encroach into the required 50-foot setback is being presented today. The location for the
proposed garage will be over an existing gravel driveway, so impervious coverage will not change.
Planner Gonzales stated the building envelope would reduce the current setback on the south
property line for approximately 20 linear feet, while retaining the existing platted setback on the
north, east, and west property lines. The proposed change would widen the building envelope by
a maximum of seven feet ten inches on the south, with the proposed garage encroaching Just
under four feet into the 50-foot setback. Planner Gonzales stated grading and site disturbance
limits will not be exceeded. The encroachment into the setback is addressed through a minor
modification. The applicant has proposed to encroach Just under eight feet into the required 50-
foot setback. The application was routed to all affected agencies and adjacent property owners.
No significant comments or concerns were received. The project is in compliance with the Estes
Valley Comprehensive Plan.
Staff Findings
1. This boundary line adjustment application does not fall within the parameters of staff level
review, and will be reviewed by the Estes Valley Planning commission. The Planning
Commission is the recommending body, the Larimer County Board of County
Commissioners is the decision-making body.
2. This request has been submitted to all applicable reviewing agency staff for consideration
and comment. All letters and memos submitted by reviewing staff, referred to in this staff
report, are incorporated as staff findings.
3. Amending the building envelope for Lot 2 would not compromise the intent of the original
subdivision approval.
4. The requested Minor Modification concerning the 50-foot setback results in relief from a
practical environmental difficulty in developing the site.
Planner Gonzales stated staff recommended approval of the amended plat, with one condition of
approval listed below.
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Estes Valley Planning Commission 3
November 17, 2015
Board Room, Estes Park Town Hall
Public Comment
Lonnie Sheldon/applicant representative stated the applicant was supportive of the staff findings
and the condition of approval.
Public comment closed.
Staff and Commission Discussion
None.
Condition of Approval
1. Minor Modification approval for the building setback.
It was moved and seconded (Schneider/Klink) to recommend approval of the amended plat and
minor modification to the Larimer County Board of County Commissioners with the findings and
conditions recommended by staff and the motion passed unanimously.
5. AMENDED PLAT OF PORTIONS OF LOT 26, LITTLE PROSPECT MOUNTAIN ADDITION, 531
Highland Lane
Planner Gonzales reviewed the staff report. The property owner, Robert Shipman, desires to
remove an internal lot line to create one legal lot of record to construct a proposed detached
garage. Both parcels are owned by Mr. Shipman. Planner Gonzales stated the applicant applied
for a building permit for a new detached garage, and during the review process, it was
determined the proposed structure would not meet the setback requirements from the internal
lot line because the existing single-family dwelling currently straddles this internal lot line.
Planner Gonzales stated the site slopes from the south to the northeast. The proposed garage
would be built in an area that does not have many trees. The final plat will have two recorded
utility easements. The minimum lot size for this lot zoned E-Estate is 0.5 acre. One of the current
lots is less than the minimum lot size. The lot consolidation will bring the new lot into compliance
with the minimum lot size required. Additionally, with the amended plat, the applicant will be
able to comply with the setback requirements for the zone district.
Planner Gonzales stated the application was routed to affected agencies and adjacent property
owners. No significant comments or concerns were received.
Staff Findings
1. This boundary line adjustment application does not fall within the parameters of staff level
review, and will be reviewed by the Estes Valley Planning commission. The Planning
Commission is the recommending body, the Larimer County Board of County
Commissioners is the decision-making body.
2. This request has been submitted to all applicable reviewing agency staff for consideration
and comment. All letters and memos submitted by reviewing staff, referred to in this staff
report, are incorporated as staff findings.
3. Amending the plat to combine two parcels would not compromise the intent of the original
subdivision. It would bring the two parcels into conformance in regards to lot area
dimensions.
4. Utility easements on the newly created legal lot will be recorded with the final plat.
Planner Gonzales stated staff recommended approval with one condition of approval, listed
below.
Public Comment
Lonnie Sheldon/applicant representative stated this is a complicated process for a simple lot
consolidation. He would appreciate consideration of a simpler process to move through this type
of situation in less time.
Public comment closed.
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Estes Valley Planning Commission 4
November 17, 2015
Board Room, Estes Park Town Hall
Staff and Commission Discussion
None.
Condition of Approval
1. Relabel the preliminary and final plat from Lot 26A to a description not used on any
previous plat maps for this subdivision.
It was moved and seconded (Murphree/Schneider) to recommend approval of the amended plat
to the Estes Park Town Board with the findings and conditions recommended by staff and the
motion passed unanimously.
6. RIVERVIEW PINES DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2015-07 & PRELIMINARY TOWNHOME SUBDIVISION
PLAT, 1150 W. Elkhorn Avenue
Planner Gonzales stated the applicant has decided to make changes to the proposed
development, which will delay the review. The applicant has requested this application be
continued to the December 15, 2015 Planning Commission meeting.
It was moved and seconded (Klink/Hilis) to continue the Rivervlew Pines Development Plan and
Preliminary Subdivision Plat to the December 15,2015 Planning Commission meeting.
7. REPORTS
A. Director Chilcott reported the Estes Valley Board of Adjustment approved variance
requests for the Estes Park Transit Facility and Parking Structure.
B. Director Chiicott reported more than 20 applications have been received for the Downtown
Pian Advisory Committee. The selection process for eleven committee members wili begin
soon. There is an option to add four more members at a later date, if needed. A contract
with the consultant, Logan Simpson, is being negotiated.
C. Director Chilcott reported Karen Thompson and Environmental Planner Tina Kurtz attended
a Flood Hazard Mapping meeting on November 6th. It is likely the mapping process wili be
sooner than originally expected. Ultimately, the Town will have less time to complete
mitigation projects prior to new maps being drawn. The initial drafts show a much larger
increase in the mapped floodplain than what is currently adopted. There was brief
discussion about how flood insurance for property owners will be affected.
D. Director Chilcott reported Karen Thompson and Tina Kurtz, both Certified Floodplain
Managers, attended a week-long class on the Community Rating System. With information
we currently have, and if we were accepted into the program, it may be possible to begin
with a rating of eight or nine, meaning a discount on flood insurance premiums would be
available to property owners.
E. Director Chilcott reported there will be a Special Planning Commission meeting on
Wednesday, December 9, 2015. A study session will begin at 4:30 p.m., with the meeting
commencing at 6 p.m. Both meetings will be held in the Town Board room. Planner Mallory
Baker with McCool Planning & Development will be reviewing the project and providing
the staff report.
F. Director Chilcott reported the regular December Planning Commission meeting will be held
at the regular time of 1:30 p.m. Study Session time has yet to be determined.
There being no further business. Chair Hull adjourned the meeting at 1:58 p.m.
Betty Hull,
ding Secretaryaren Thompson, Rec