HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES CompPAC 2021-07-08 Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, July 8, 2021
Minutes of a Regular meeting of the Comprehensive Plan Advisory
Committee of the Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting
held via ZOOM in said Town of Estes Park on July 08 2021.
Committee: David Bangs, Eric Blackhurst, Charles Cooper, Matthew
Heiser, Bob Leavitt, Kirby Nelson-Hazelton, John
Schnipkoweit, Dave Shirk, Karen Thompson, Rose Truman,
David Wolf, Matt Comstock, Mike Kennedy
Attending: David Bangs, Eric Blackhurst, Matt Comstock, Matthew
Heiser, Kirby Hazelton, Bob Leavitt, John Schnipkoweit, Dave
Shirk, Karen Thompson, David Wolf, Mike Kennedy,
Community Development Director Randy Hunt, Larimer
County Community Development Director Leslie Ellis, Trustee
Barbara MacAlpine, Senior Planner Jeff Woeber, Planner II
Alex Bergeron, Planning Tech Charlie Rugaber
Absent: Member Cooper
Chair Heiser called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
It was moved and seconded (Blackhurst/Hazelton) to approve the agenda. Chair
Heiser requested the following changes: Move discussion 5.a. ahead of 4.b. The motion
passed with a visual thumbs-up vote.
PUBLIC COMMENT.
None
ACTION ITEM:
1. Approval of Minutes from June 24, 2021
It was moved and seconded (Blackhurst/Wolf) to approve the minutes. The motion
passed with a visual thumbs-up vote.
DISCUSSION ITEMS: (all comments have been summarized)
1. Introduction of Assistant Town Administrator Jason Damweber by Director
Randy Hunt. Opening of discussion about the challenges of housing costs and
lack of childcare services. The Housing Needs Assessment (2016) identified
workforce housing as a significant issue in the Valley, recognizing the need for
about 1,600 more housing units. Not a lot of housing stock is being added aside
from Wildfire and Peakview Apartments. Lack of housing supply is being
compounded with labor shortage challenges.
Member Blackhurst explained that the housing authority has about 196 income-
restricted units. The Loveland Housing Authority has 50 Section 8 federal rent
assistance programs. A homeownership program with 35 units deals with the
area median income of 80% or below, 60% or below the area median income
for the income-restricted units. Legal status to apply for low-income housing
authority apartments is required. The 2016 housing study was the fourth study
since 1989. The Housing Authority has tried to replicate that study about every
ten years. Each study showed a need for increased housing. During 1989-1999
and 1999-2009, the development community exceeded what the identified
need was. Since 2016, the private sector has not been able to fill these needs.
Member Shirk asked about the impact of vacation homes on the
cost/availability of housing. Member Leavitt explained that limits were placed
on the number of vacation homes in response to housing availability. Member
CompPAC – July 8, 2021 – Page 2
Blackhurst explained that most vacation homes are second-home owners
supplementing income. Member Leavitt noted that many vacation homes could
be prospects for residents to buy and affect housing availability. There is an
unsustainable housing market with increases in prices and less time spent on
the market per listing.
Damweber reviewed the lack of availability of childcare services in a crisis.
There is $10,000 in the capital improvements budget to increase childcare
service capacity and a proposed tax initiative by Larimer County this fall.
Director Hunt mentioned a proposed childcare center to be built as part of The
Prospector Development. Members recognized the high cost of development
and operation of childcare facilities. Director Hunt explained that there aren’t
many resolutions for this through land use other than offering mixed-use
developments.
2. CompPAC members voted on Comprehensive Plan naming. With seven
options, Chair Heiser asked each member which option they were most in favor
of. Consensus voting selected “Estes Forward” as the name. Members were
asked for their opinions on the branding of the Comprehensive Plan. Member
Thompson asked for more recognition of tourism in the branding. Member Wolf
asked for more of a “human element” and to stick with the Town color scheme.
Town colors were clarified as olive green, medium royal blue, and maroon.
Chair Heiser recommended including the building environment in the logo.
Member Kennedy suggested not making the logo too complex. Director Hunt
will come up with multiple logo choices.
3. Director Hunt described the need for an audit of the previous (1996)
Comprehensive Plan. It was explained that the overall timeline of the plan
should look at a horizon of 20 years. Comp Plan industry best practice is to
review them every five years. Member Leavitt reminded everyone that
development code changes revolve around the comp plan as well. He also
recommended that significant development code changes be held off until the
comp plan is done.
4. Member Wolf recommended that meetings return to “in-person” soon. Director
Hunt explained that we are waiting on Town Board to return to “in-person” first.
The goal is to have hybrid meetings with both virtual and in-person
opportunities.
There being no further business, Chair Heiser adjourned the meeting at 11:03 a.m.
Charlie Rugaber, Recording Secretary