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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Estes Park Planning Commission 2020-10-20Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, October 20, 2020 Minutes of a Regular meeting of the ESTES PARK PLANNING COMMISSION of the Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting held VIRTUALLY in said Town of Estes Park on the 20 day of October 2020. Committee: Attending: Chair Matt Comstock, Vice Chair Matthew Heiser, Commissioners Joe Elkins, Howard Hanson, Steve Murphree. Chair Comstock, Vice Chair Heiser, Commissioners Elkins, Hanson, Murphree, Director Randy Hunt, Senior Planner Jeff Woeber, Planner II Alex Bergeron, Recording Secretary Karin Swanlund, Town Attorney Dan Kramer, Town Board Liaison Barbara MacAlpine Absent: none Chair Comstock called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. AGENDA APPROVAL It was moved and seconded (Murphree/Hanson) to approve the agenda and the motion passed 5-0. PUBLIC COMMENT. None CONSENT AGENDA APPROVAL It was moved and seconded (Heiser/Murphree) to approve the consent agenda and the motion passed 5-0. AMENDED PLAT: 258/260 STANLEY AVENUE, Mountain Wood Townhomes Town Attorney Kramer noted that he is a neighbor to this project but it does not impact him. Commissioner Heiser disclosed that he does business with this applicant but has had no conversations and has no financial interest. Senior Planner Woeber reviewed the staff report. He explained that when the project was developed, a below -grade patio for use by the unit on Lot 2 ended up being located partially on Lot 1. This was initially approved through a Minor Modification of the Development Plan. The current owners propose a slight rearrangement of the common lot line to contain the patio entirely on Lot 2. This involves a change of 140 square feet being added to Lot 2. Staff recommends the Estes Park Planning Commission forward a recommendation of approval of the Amended Plat. DISCUSSION: Chair Comstock shared his hopes that the Planning Commission can approve the administrative code amendment to allow cases like this to be staff -level decisions. It was moved and seconded (Heiser/Comstock) to recommend the Estes Park Board of Trustees APPROVE the Mountain Wood Townhomes Subdivision Amended Plat, to rearrange an internal lot line as described in the staff report, with findings as recommended by staff. The motion passed 5-0. MINOR SUBDIVISION: LOT 1, NORTH LAKE SUBDIVISION, Raven Avenue Vice -Chair Heiser disclosed that he had previously sat on the board for Habitat for Humanity. Planner II Bergeron reviewed the staff report. This Minor Subdivision would create a plat for two lots: (a) a western lot containing all of Northlake Condominiums and their common area including parking, and (b) a vacant lot consisting of the remainder of the original parent tract. The proposed plat would correspond to the 1980s-era deed RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Estes Park Planning Commission - OCTOBER 20, 2020 - Page 2 division, the legality of which is disputed by the Town and the applicant, except that the Northlake Condos (situated on newly -created Lot 1A) would include somewhat more area east of current development so that additional parking can be built there someday. I was noted that approval of this minor subdivision resolves the legal lot dispute. Should the Minor Subdivision of Lot 1, North Lake Subdivision be approved, the applicant proposes to further divide the newly created eastern lot (Lot 2A) into five or six single-family building lots, via a Subdivision process, with Habitat for Humanity building houses, over a period of time. Staff recommended approval of the Minor Subdivision. DISCUSSION: Planner Bergeron noted that the Board of Adjustment approved a density variance of 25 units per acre based on the entire lot's dimension. Director Hunt explained the processes this parcel has gone through to get to this point and that rezoning will not be necessary. Referring to the EVDC Chapter 10.5.D.2.a, Vice -Chair Heiser asked at what stage sidewalks would be required. Considerable discussion was had on this subject. Joe Coop, Van Horn Engineering, understood that sidewalk installation would be at the Habit for Humanity project stage. This was initially proposed to be an amended plat before it was realized that the lot might not have been legally subdivided as initially thought by the applicant. Dave Emerson, Director of Habitat for Humanity in the Estes Valley, stated that they are planning on five lots with single-family homes that would include sidewalks. It was concluded that the owner of Lot 1A (the Condos) would be responsible for the improvements if a development plan is required for the additional 19 parking spaces, which would be limited to that lot. Any further subdivision of Lot 2A would require the improvements to that entire frontage be guaranteed following the approval of that plat or development plan (if applicable due to a change of product concept). Commissioner Hanson asked for clarification on the increased density intentions for lot 2A. Cory Berg, Van Horn Engineering, answered that the variance on density granted by the Board of Adjustment would apply to Lot 1A which is already built over today's density standards and that development on Lot 2A by Habitat for Humanity would be within permitted density allowances. It was moved and seconded (Comstock/Murphree) to recommend that the Town Board APPROVE the Minor Subdivision of Lot 1, North Lake Subdivision Preliminary Plat, with the requirement that public sidewalk improvements for Lot 2A be guaranteed prior to the approval of a Development Plan or further subdivision, in accordance with the findings as presented by staff. The motion passed 4-0. Commissioner Elkins was unavailable. DEVELOPMENT PLAN, MAX Storage, TBD Mountain View Court Commissioner Murphree recused himself from this project as he is personally involved with this project. Planner II Bergeron reviewed the staff report. The owner proposes to construct a 14,800 square -foot, 12-unit self -storage facility. The subject lot is 1.01 acres, or 44,213 square feet, in size. The proposed building improvements are expected to cover 14,800 square feet and parking/drives are anticipated to cover 10,700 square feet. Staff recommended approval of the Minor Subdivision. DISCUSSION: Heiser questioned the definition of uses for mini self -storage vs. warehouse storage in this situation. Director Hunt explained that RV storage typically defaults to self -storage due to the uniformity of square footage needed. RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Estes Park Planning Commission — OCTOBER 20, 2020 — Page 3 It was moved and seconded (Heiser/Hanson) to APPROVE the MAX Storage development plan in accordance with the findings as presented by staff. The motion passed 3-0 with Murphree abstaining and Elkins unavailable. REPORTS: • Downtown Building Height was proposed to the public via a media release and an op-ed in the Trail -Gazette. Consultants are working on a report which should be ready for the November meeting. • The Comprehensive Plan grant has been filed. There were 43 applications submitted in addition to ours. • Planning Technician position should be filled in November. • Commissioner Elkins has an ongoing scheduling conflict with Planning Commission meetings. Options for allowing him to continue to serve include meeting at an alternative meeting time. To change the meeting time, the Commission Bylaws would need to be amended. Attorney Kramer noted that calling a series of special meetings is an option. There being no further business, Chair Comstock adjourned the rr�ting at 3:15 p.m. arin Swanlund, Recording Secretary