HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Study Session EP Planning Commission 2021-02-16
Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado February 16, 2021
Minutes of a Study Session meeting of the PLANNING COMMISSION of Estes Park, Larimer
County, Colorado. Meeting held virtually on Google Meet.
Commission: Chair Matt Comstock, Vice-Chair Matthew Heiser, Commissioners Joe
Elkins, Howard Hanson
Attending: Comstock, Heiser, Hanson
Also Attending: Director Randy Hunt, Senior Planner Jeff Woeber, Planner II Alex
Bergeron, Trustee Barbara MacAlpine, Planning Technician Charlie
Rugaber, Recording Secretary Karin Swanlund
Absent: Commissioner Elkins
Chair Comstock called the meeting to order at 11:00 a.m. This study session was held virtually via
ZOOM and was streamed and recorded on the Town of Estes Park YouTube channel.
Comstock explained that the purpose of this Study Session was to cover the processes and
procedures for the new Comprehensive Plan.
Director Hunt began the conversation by stating that the next step in the process is appointing a
selection committee to pick the consultant. There was an informational meeting for consulting firms
on February 11, and over 20 firms were in attendance. The proposals are due at 2:00 p.m. on
February 25. From February 26 to March 11, the applications will be reviewed by the selection
committee. The interviews will be recorded (but not live-streamed) and available to view after they
have all been completed. This retains the transparency of the process. If any of the Planning
Commission members want to see the candidate's proposal, there is time between March 11 and
April 12. The Town Board will vote on the proposal at their April 13 meeting. Sample Comp Plans
from four communities will be posted on the website for review (www.estes.org/comprehensiveplan).
The advisory committee will focus on the policy direction and has a life span that will last through the
entire rewrite process.
Hunt stressed that Comp Plans should not rely only on the opinions and views of residents but
include visitors and other stakeholder groups.
Vice-Chair Heiser preferred that the Planning Commission have a stronger voice in the advisory
committee over the selection committee.
Highlights of the RFP
• Will set the stage for Corridor plans, which will be one of the steps after the comp plan so that
each corridor can have its own plan.
• NOT looking for Neighborhood Plans
• Analyzing build-out data and infrastructure needs
• Bang the Table, a public engagement consultant, has been retained as the on-line public
Planning Commission Study Session January 19, 2021 – Page 2
engagement platform facilitator ($11,000 for the first year)
• Refine Community Vision: ideas refined into goals, objectives and implementation strategy:
things that need to be called out in the Development Code
• Code rewrite will be the first step after the Comp Plan and be very extensive. Code rewrite 16-
18 months after Comp Plan completion (Fall of 2024)
• Background Infrastructure research (i.e., water system)
• Analytical, informational graphics (not just text)
• Summary of the plan on a poster
• Climate Change
• Wildfires, Flooding and other natural hazards
• Additional Zoning district (open space?)
• Larimer County involvement, along with input from Boulder County, National Park Service and
US Forest Service
• Larimer County will be part of the selection committee and will work with the consulting firm to
adopt a parallel plan
• Thorough list of stakeholders, affirmative outreach
• Proposed completion date of December 31, 2022
• Budget of $164,000 (65% of the $300,000 total minus the Bang the Table budget)
Comments on what role the Planning Commission should have in the process:
• PC heavily involved in the whole process
• How many members of the PC?
• Eleven members seem big. 7-9 is a better working number
• Representation from the entire Estes Valley
• Not too heavy on town-government, need outside involvement
• Clarification on how the quorum rule will work
Vice-Chair Heiser adjourned the study session at 1:03 p.m.
Karin Swanlund, Recording Secretary
_____________________________________
Matt Comstock, Chair