HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Estes Valley Planning Commission 2019-10-15RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Estes Valley Planning Commission
October 15, 2019
Board Room, Estes Park Town Hall
Commission: Chair Bob Leavitt, Vice-Chair Sharry White, Commissioners Steve
Murphree, Frank Theis, Nick Smith, Dave Converse
Attending: Chair Leavitt, Vice-Chair White, Commissioners Murphree, Theis,
Smith, Converse
Also Attending: Director Randy Hunt, Senior Planner Jeff Woeber, Planning
Technician Claire Kreycik, Recording Secretary Karin Swanlund,
Town Board Liasion Eric Blackhurst, Town Attorney Dan Kramer
Absent: None
OPEN MEETING
Chair Leavitt called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. There were approximately 8 people
in attendance.
APPROVAL OF AGEND A
It was moved and seconded (Theis/Murphree) to approve the agenda as
presented and the motion passed 6-0.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None
CONSENT AGENDA
1. Study Session Minutes dated September 17, 2019
2. Meeting Minutes dated September 17, 2019
It was moved and seconded (White/Murphree) to approve the consent agenda
as presented and the motion passed 5-0 with Converse abstaining.
ACTION ITEMS
1. AMENDED PLAT, 321 4TH STREET, Steve Ferrante, Owner
Senior Planner Woeber explained that the property containing the Church (340 S
St Vrain) and residence has been under one ownership and has been considered
one parcel for many years. The current owner intends to transfer the residence
(Lot 9) to a different owner and with the configuration of an established fence
line, and is proposing to slightly rearrange the rear lot line to match the fence
location. Lot 9 is zoned R-Residential and will have a small piece of RM-Multi-
family residential zoning added to it. Split zoning is not ideal bud does not run
counter to Code requirements.
Public Comment: None
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Estes Valley Planning Commission
October 15, 2019
Board Room, Estes Park Town Hall
It was moved and seconded (Murphree/Smith) to APPROVE the Preliminary
Amended Plat of Lots 5, 7 and 9, and the Southwesterly 57 feet of Lot 6, all
within Block 6 of the Reclamation Subdivision, as described in the staff
report, and recommended by staff. The motion passed 6-0.
2. CODE AMENDMENT; CHANGE OF USE IN DEVELOPMENT PLANS
Planning Technician Kreycik reviewed the proposed Code Amendment to
Chapter 3.8, Table 3-3 regarding Development Review requirements in
certain cases of Changes in Use. Changes in use may create impacts that
are appropriate to address through development plan reviews. This text
amendment would add a provision for evaluating nonresidential projects that
constitute a change in use that could change character or intensity, thereby
impacting surrounding property owners.
It was moved and seconded (Theis/Smith) to continue the code amendment
to a future meeting. The motion passed 6-0.
3. PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING TIMES
Director Hunt noted that this is not Amending the Bylaws, just changing the
meeting times as allowed in the Bylaws. Leavitt stated that this has been a
good experiment and even though the numbers haven’t changed much,
giving the 6:00 p.m. start time a chance through the winter may produce
better attendance. This will place the next meeting-time discussion in May
2020.
It was moved and seconded (Leavitt/White) to continue the Planning
Commission start times of 6:00 pm for an additional six months. The
motion passed 6-0.
4. ADVISE AND DISCUSS: Ground lease agreement with Park R-3 School
District for the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Building
Director Hunt discussed the new CTE building being proposed by Estes Park
High School. The property is on Town-owned land and will be leased by the
Park R-3 School District. The ground lease was approved by the Town Board
of Trustees on October 8, 2019. Final approval authority for the project
resides with the District Board of Education; no formal action is needed by the
Planning Commission.
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Estes Valley Planning Commission
October 15, 2019
Board Room, Estes Park Town Hall
Chuck Scott, High School Principal, spoke on the project. It was passed as a
mill levy in the 2016 election. There will be an auto bay, woodshop, welding
shop, office, classroom and workroom, along with a 1500 square foot
greenhouse. There will be a small amount of room for students to work
outside, which will also house two composting machines. A grant for a plastic
recycler is in the works to make shredded plastic for 3D printers. The goal is
to make the CTE Building as technical and as green as possible. There will
be a crosswalk and the property will be fenced and gated. Work-based
learning is being emphasized at the High School. There are plans for
construction, automotive mechanics and culinary classes to be offered.
Ground-breaking is set for October 17.
The Commission asked a number of questions and shared thoughts
regarding building and site design, programming, and need in the community.
Verbal comments indicated in general support for the project.
5. ALPACA FARMS/FERGUSON SUBDIVISION: hearing of concerns
(Comments are summarized)
Trudy Ester, 1070 Griffith Court, questioned why Griffith Court residents
weren’t given the same courtesy the Upper Broadview residents were given
previously for public comment and traffic concerns. Griffith Court can not
handle the number of cars this project will bring. There seems to be two sets
of rules: Larimer County and Estes Valley.
Seth Hanson, Property Owner, agrees that it is a confusing process.
Accommodations in A1 zoning is a right by use, as is a duplex on the A1 lot.
Individually selling a duplex requires a subdivision process if all code
requirements are met. That is what has happened with all previous
developments.
Lonnie Sheldon, Van Horn Engineering, noted three things: 1) there is no
increase in density, 2) the lots meet minimum lot size for A1 zoning, 3) fire
truck turn-around is afforded by the use of hammer-head driveways.
Attorney Kramer cautioned the Commission that this could come back to
them as a Subdivision Plat and they should save their project-related
comments for that future date.
Director Hunt proposed facilitating a face to face meeting with all involved
parties.
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Estes Valley Planning Commission
October 15, 2019
Board Room, Estes Park Town Hall
REPORTS
• Planner II position will be filled by Alex Bergeron on November 1.
• Upcoming IGA dates: October 22 Town Board Meeting discussion item and
November 14 Joint meeting with Town Board and County Commissioners to vote
on the future of the IGA. County staff is working on their own discussion items.
• The PUD Amendment will be Denied Without Prejudice at the County
Commissioners meeting on October 21 due to discussion needed regarding the
conflict involved with Vacation Home rentals.
• The Parking Study with Public W orks is being pushed into 2020 due to funding
issues for future studies.
• Member Thies noted that the Estes Park Annexation Plan, which was distributed to
the Commission at today’s study session, was created by Frank Theis and is in no
way related to the Town of Estes Park.
ADJOURN
There being no further business Chair Leavitt adjourned the meeting at 7:22 p.m.
_________________________________
Bob Leavitt, Chair
_________________________________
Karin Swanlund, Recording Secretary