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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Estes Valley Planning Commission 2019-11-19RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Estes Valley Planning Commission November 19, 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, Converse Also Attending: Director Randy Hunt, Senior Planner Jeff Woeber, Planner I Linda Hardin, Recording Secretary Karin Swanlund, Town Board Liasion Eric Blackhurst, Town Attorney Dan Kramer Absent: Commissioner Smith OPEN MEETING Chair Leavitt called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. There were approximately 14 people in attendance. Director Hunt introduced the new Planner II, Alex Bergeron. APPROVAL OF AGEND A It was moved and seconded (Murphree/Leavitt) to approve the agenda as presented and the motion passed 5-0. PUBLIC COMMENT Dawn James, 351 Kiowa Drive, stated that Raven Rock is now rumored to be a phased approach, which was not the original plan. She would like the documents made available to the public on the website. Richard Ralph, 395 Parkview Lane, requested the Commissioners sit in their assigned seats. (Commissioners Converse and Murphree then moved to the position associated with their nameplate). CONSENT AGENDA 1. Study Session Minutes dated October 15, 2019 2. Meeting Minutes dated October 15, 2019 It was moved and seconded (White/Theis) to approve the consent agenda as presented and the motion passed 5-0. ACTION ITEMS 1. CODE AMENDMENT: AMENDED PLAT REVIEW PROCESS Planner Woeber explained the current EVDC defines Boundary Line Adjustments (or Amended Plats), and Land Consolidation Plats as Minor Subdivisions, requiring Estes Valley Planning Commission (EVPC) review and Board approval. Typically there is little or no impact from these “Minor RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Estes Valley Planning Commission November 19, 2019 Board Room, Estes Park Town Hall Adjustment” processes and noted they can be appropriately reviewed and processed by staff. Public Comment: None Commission Discussion: Converse stated he is not quite ready to vote on this due to not knowing what the potential consequences are. Theis suggested separating out Minor Adjustments and Minor Subdivisions in Section D of the Code and separately defining them in the index. Consider the fact that officials may not want to act on a Code Amendment at this time due to the current uncertainty of the future of the Estes Valley Development Code. There is no timeline set on approving this amendment. Woeber noted that this has been discussed with County Staff, but no comments have been received. It was moved and seconded (Converse/Theis) to CONTINUE the Code Amendment to January 21, 2020, citing reasons of needing more clarity, definitions of items, and feedback from County Staff. The motion passed 5-0. 1. AMENDED PLAT: 1700 Big Thompson Avenue Planner Woeber reviewed the history of the Estes Park Resort Townhome Subdivision. The project is currently being developed and the owner/applicant determined a minor reconfiguration was desired, primarily to create a bit more distance between some of the planned accommodations units. The applicant is proposing to eliminate two of the 32 lots and slightly reconfiguring some of the adjacent lots. No other changes are proposed. Applicant Discussion: Jess Reetz, Cornerstone Construction, spoke on the requested changes and was available for questions. All setbacks and building envelopes will remain the same. Public Comment: None Commission Discussion: None It was moved and seconded (Smith/Murphree) to recommend APPROVAL of the Amended Plat to eliminate two lots from the Estes Park Resort Townhome Subdivision, as described in the staff report, with findings as recommended by staff. The motion passed 5-0. RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Estes Valley Planning Commission November 19, 2019 Board Room, Estes Park Town Hall 2. DEVELOPMENT PLAN: 3110 South Saint Vrain Avenue, Taharaa Mountain Lodge Planner Hardin explained that the owner is proposing to add 50 parking spaces to the property to accommodate additional restaurant patrons and wedding guests. The EVDC would require 58 parking spaces with 18 guest units (one per unit), two apartments (2 per apartment), 18 employees in peak season (1 per 3 employees), and a 3,000 square foot restaurant (1 per 100 sq. ft). This proposal would bring the total parking to eighty-three (83) spaces, exceeding the EVDC minimum requirement in anticipation of enough parking to accommodate event guests. An alternative landscape plan has been approved by staff, omitting the requirement of interior islands. Applicant Discussion: Thad Eggen, property owner, stated that 130-145 people has been calculated to be the maximum amount for an on-site event. Shuttle bus service is currently requested of customers to be used for events to alleviate parking problems. Measures have been taken to help icy driveway conditions. David Bangs, Trail Ridge Consultant Engineers, reviewed the parking requirements. He is proposing to increase the access drive to 24 feet. Considerable discussion was had on the steepness of the driveway road grade. A minor regrading is planned to help with icy/slippery roadways. Exit lane possibilities were considered, but they were not traffic-friendly. CDOT did not allow a turn lane. The owner is seeking an access easement with neighboring property. Landscape plans are being reconfigured to remove the interior landscape islands, but not decreased. This will create a buffer to the highway and neighboring properties. There is a small stormwater drainage pond on the northeast side of the parking lot connecting to the road-side ditch. Traffic site distance to the west is 600 feet, 1000 feet to the east. Public Comment: Richard Ralph, 395 Parkview Lane, expressed concerns with the Estes Valley Development Code and staff authorizing decisions regarding the alternate landscaping plan. He stated that a waiver is granted by the Board of Adjustment, not the Planning Commission. A request to table this application until the owner and staff can revise the plan to conform with the Development Code was made. RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Estes Valley Planning Commission November 19, 2019 Board Room, Estes Park Town Hall Applicant response: Bangs stated that Section 7.5.C.2 appropriately applies to alternative landscape plans. The interior islands are roughly 15% of the landscape area. Commission/Staff Discussion: Hunt stated that the Planning Commission’s primary criteria for landscaping requirements are the total quantity of landscaping and if it provides buffering. The 25% criteria in the Code pertains to minor modifications, not landscaping. It is within the Planning Commission’s authority to approve or not approve due to it being a discretionary matter. Attorney Kramer agreed with Hunt’s statements. Leavitt thought the alternative landscape plan was within the parameters of the Code. Converse requested input from the Fire Marshall before the start of development as that was not provided to the planning department. Theis stated that the applicant has improved emergency access, thus meeting their requirements. It was moved and seconded (Theis/White) to APPROVE the Taharaa Mountain Lodge application, according to findings of fact with findings and conditions recommended by Staff including the condition that the Development Plan meets Estes Valley Fire Protection District standards; though if a response is not received within 30 days, the application is approved without the added condition. The motion passed 5-0. REPORTS: • In answer to the public comment question related to Raven Rock, Director Hunt stated that they have applied for grading excavation permits for some of the infrastructure. Financial security for the entire infrastructure of the project has been put in place. It is common to stage construction projects with an approved development plan within two years. David Hook, Town Engineer, stated that the grading permit was not yet approved. The only thing that was approved was the stockpiling of dirt coming from the Estes Park Chalet. • Reminder about the free DOLA workshop in Greeley on December 7th. The registration deadline is December 1st. • The IGA with Larimer County has been extended to March 31, 2020. It is uncertain where things will go from there. RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Estes Valley Planning Commission November 19, 2019 Board Room, Estes Park Town Hall • The Stanley Hotel Art Center has not yet been filed. Permits for the new parking lot and moving of the Carriage House have been approved. • There are no required items for the December 17th meeting. It was decided by Chair Leavitt to forego the December meeting unless some unexpected, significant business arises. ADJOURN There being no further business Chair Leavitt adjourned the meeting at 8:05 p.m. _________________________________ Bob Leavitt, Chair _________________________________ Karin Swanlund, Recording Secretary