HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Estes Valley Planning Commission 2013-05-21RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Regular Meeting of the Estes Valley Planning Commission
May 21,2013 -1:30 p.m.
Board Room, Estes Park Town Hall
Commission:
Attending:
Also Attending:
Chair John Tucker, Commissioners Doug Klink, Betty Hull, Joe Wise, Kathy
Bowers, Nancy Hills, Steve Murphree
Chair Tucker, Commissioners Klink, Wise, Bowers, Hills, and Hull
Director Chilcott, Planner Shirk, Code Compliance Officer/Planner Kleisler, and
Recording Secretary Thompson
Absent: Commissioner Murphree
The following minutes reflect the order of the agenda and not necessarily the chronological sequence.
Chair Tucker called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. There were approximately six people in
attendance.
1. PUBLIC COMMENT
None
2. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Approval of minutes, April 16, 2013 Planning Commission meeting.
It was moved and seconded (Hull/Hills) to approve the consent agenda as presented and the
motion passed unanimously with one absent.
3. WOODLAND HEIGHTS FIRE RESOLUTION
Planner Kleisler reviewed the staff report. He stated this was a request to extend the building
permitting period for nonconforming homes and structures destroyed by the Woodland
Heights Fire in June, 2012. Two maps were shown, indicating the fire area. The fire destroyed
24 homes, all within the Estes Valley Development Code (EVDC) area, and all but one in
unincorporated Larimer County. He clarified the Larimer County Building Department reviews
and issues building permits for those parcels in unincorporated Larimer County, with approval
granted by Community Development Department staff after review for compliance with the
EVDC.
Per Section 6.6 of the EVDC, owners of legal nonconforming buildings or structures destroyed
by fire have one (1) year to obtain a building permit to rebuild the same nonconforming
structure. Applicants would be allowed to rebuild with the same footprint (including height).
After approval of a building permit, the applicant must complete the rebuild within three (3)
years.
Staff are recommending this one-year permitting period be extended to July 30, 2015. This
proposed extension concludes the same date as the Larimer County High Park Fire Rebuilding
Program. Planner Kleisler clarified if a property owner sells the property prior to rebuilding,
the new property owner would be afforded the permitting period extension.
Planner Kleisler stated the Planning Commission would be the recommending body for this
resolution, with the decision-making bodies being both the Town Board of Trustees and the
Larimer County Board of County Commissioners.
Commissioner Klink suggested striking the second sentence in Section 4, Number 2 of the
resolution, stating the resolution should be an extension of the building permit issuance date
rather than the completion date of the rebuilt structure(s).
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Estes Valley Planning Commission 2
May 21,2013
Public Comment
None.
It was moved and seconded (Klink/Bowers) to recommend approval to the Estes Park Town
Board of Trustees and Larimer County Board of County Commission to extend the
permitting period for homes and structures destroyed in the Woodland Heights Fire, striking
the second sentence in Section 4, Number 2 of the resolution, and the motion passed
unanimously with one absent.
4. ESTES VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN MODERNIZATION
Planner Kleisler stated staff have been working behind the scenes the last few weeks, outlining
the current land uses outlined in the Community Policies chapter of the Comprehensive Plan, He
has worked with Jill Fischer, who the Town has contracted to update all the Global Information
Systems (GIS) software. They have been developing accurate maps with different criteria, which
allow analysis of the land use for each area. This is a very time-consuming process, but extremely
helpful for the modernization. Additionally, he has been updating the statistics and demographics
section of the Comprehensive Plan, and is reviewing the options for data analysis of the 2010
census data.
Discussion on the Comprehensive Plan timeline occurred between staff and the Commission.
Comments included but were not limited to: 1) Still on track to have the plan updated by year-
end; 2) A monthly visual report on a monthly basis was requested; 3) Discussion about the
review/approval process to ensure the public has the opportunity to comment, and hoping they
will be engaged in the process. 4) Clarification that this modernization was not changing the vision
or policy, but updating and eliminating irrelevant data; 5) Request to provide more detailed
information on the agenda about the monthly progress to encourage public participation; 6) The
Commission was concerned about receiving the entire plan at the end of the year to review and
vote on, and they would prefer to see small sections each month; 7) Previous GIS data was not
functional and the update was required prior to continuing with the Comprehensive Plan
modernization.
5. ESTES PARK HOUSING AUTHORITY
Request by Rita Kureija, Director, to postpone this item to a future date.
6. REPORTS
A. Pre-Application Meetings & Building Permits
1. Planner Shirk reported building permit volume is increasing, primarily within Town limits,
but also in unincorporated Larimer County. Fifteen (15) permits requiring plan review have
been submitted in the last three working days. Walk in customers are also becoming more
frequent.
2. A pre-application meeting for Tract 42, Fall River Addition was held, proposing a small
commercial accommodations resort (south of the river, south of Nicky's). The project
would be four units, and would include bridge work and a water main extension. The
current bridge is substandard for the proposed development. Zoned A-Accommodations,
the proposed design would be similar to four large vacation home units operated as
accommodations, and the current vacation home regulations would not be applicable.
A pre-application meeting was held for an amended plat on Community Drive. A deck was
built many years ago without a permit, and the new owners prefer to have a clean plat.
A pre-application meeting was held for a variance request to allow construction of a new
single-family dwelling in a portion of the wetlands on Kiowa Drive. The application was
withdrawn by the applicant due to opposition from the homeowners association.
B. Estes Valley Planning Commission Upcoming Reviews
1. Wildfire Development Plan and Rezoning Request. The Development proposes to improve
infrastructure in the area, and the rezoning would remove current restrictions for the CH-
Commercial Heavy zoned parcel. The property is also planning to annex into the Town.
2. Request to build a second dwelling on a single-family zoned lot. The owners of "The
Homestead Lot" in The Reserve would like to build an additional home on the existing
3.
4.
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Estes Valley Planning Commission 3
May 21,2013
seven-acre parcel instead of subdividing the property. The request is for a waiver of the
EVDC regulations for single-family lots.
C. Estes Valley Board of Adjustment
1. The Courtyard Shops' new owner is installing an automatic sprinkler system in the entire
building, and a riser room is required. A variance request to locate the riser room in the
setback has been submitted.
2. An application was submitted for a setback variance on Black Squirrel Drive in Little Valley.
The request is to allow construction of an attached garage to a home currently under
construction.
3. Staff approved a minor modification for a cabin remodel and expansion on upper Upper
High Drive.
D. Estes Park Town Board
1. Stonebridge Estates Supplemental Map #2 was approved on April 23, 2013.
2. Elkhorn Tubing Hill was denied on April 23, 2013. 6-0 vote. Chair Tucker expressed
appreciation for the cleanup work that has been done on the property thus far.
3. Wapiti Crossing Development Plan and Vested Rights Time Extension was continued to
May 28, 2013. This would be the second extension, and the request is for a one-year
extension.
4. Harmony Annexation and Lot consolidation plat to be heard May 28, 2013
E. Larimer County Board of County Commissioners
1. Planner Kleisler met with Larimer County staff, including the Code Compliance Officers.
F. Other
1. In response to Commissioner Hull's questions, staff will look into the building currently
being demolished close to The Neighborhood Subdivision.
2. There are underground electrical lines being buried near Steamer Drive.
3. The proposed parking facility near the Visitor Center will be reviewed by the Planning
Commission. Town Administrator Lancaster and Public Works Director Zurn are looking at
a different review model for that structure. It could be that Planning Commissioners and
Town Trustees would be actively involved in the design charrettes prior to the final design
being presented for approval. Any meetings would be public meetings, and most likely be
held at a time other than the regular Planning Commission meeting time. Final decisions
on the review process will be from Mr. Lancaster and Mr. Zurn. Director Chilcott stated it
was a positive way to have the ability to provide input during the initial design process.
4. Concerning quasi-judicial matters. Director Chilcott stated there will be email notifications
sent at the time a pre-application meeting is scheduled to alert Commissioners of the
quasi-judicial position on projects. Planning Commissioners and Town Board members are
not allowed to privately discuss with the general public projects formally submitted to the
Community Development Department for review.
There being no further business. Chair Tucker adjourned the meeting at 2:14 p.m.
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Betty Mull, Vice-Chair
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Karen Thompson, Redorjlihg Secretary