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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Estes Valley Planning Commission 2015-01-06RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Estes Valley Planning Commission January 6, 2015 Board Room, Estes Park Town Hall Commission: Attending: Also Attending: Absent: Chair Betty Hull, Commissioners Doug Klink, Charley Dickey, Nancy Hills, Steve Murphree, Wendye Sykes, and Russ Schneider Chair Hull, Commissioners Dickey, Hills, Murphree, and Schneider Community Development Director Alison Chilcott, Senior Planner Dave Shirk, Planner Phil Kleisler, Town Board Liaison John Phipps, Larimer County Liaison Michael Whitley, and Recording Secretary Karen Thompson Commissioners Sykes and Klink Chair Hull called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. There were three people in attendance. Each Commissioner was introduced. A quorum was in attendance. Chair Hull explained the process for accepting public comment at today's meeting. She welcomed new appointee Commissioner Russ Schneider, a Town resident The following minutes reflect the order of the agenda and not necessarily the chronological sequence. 1. PUBLIC COMMENT None 2. ELECTION OF OFFICERS Chair Hull stated the Chair and Vice-Chair positions needed to be filled for two-year terms, expiring December 31, 2016. She requested nominations from the Commission. At that time. Commissioner Dickey recused himself and left the room. Commissioner Hills nominated Commissioner Hull as Chair. There were no other nominations. A vote of hands was conducted and the decision passed 4-0, with two absent and Commissioner Dickey not voting, to elect Commissioner Hull as Chair. For the position of Vice-Chair, Commissioner Huli nom'inated ommissioner Klink as Vice-Chair. There were no other nominations. A vote of hands was conducted and the decision passed 4-0, with two absent and Commissioner Dickey not voting to elect Commissioner Klink as Vice-Chair. There was a 10-minute recess to allow the secretary to program the voting stations. Commissioner Dickey returned to the dais. 3. CONSENT AGENDA Approval of minutes, November 18, 2014 Planning Commission meeting. r™- and/;rnd!d ,Hi"S/Murphree) ,0 aPPro''e the consent agenda as presented and the motion passed 4-1 with two absent and Commissioner Dickey abstaining. 4. HIGH DRIVE HEIGHTS AMENDED PLAT Planner Kleisler reviewed the staff report. The applicant, Stephen Wilson, desires to amend an mternal lot Ime to correct what is currently a zoning violation with a single family home; and to vacate an unused porfon of Larimer County right-of-way. The proposed amended plat will keep the two existing lots. The proposed shape of the lots is irregular, allowing proposed Lot 2A to include an existing water well. Planner Kleisler stated an access easement intended for Larkspur Road was platted in 1925 along the western end of the subject lots. Throughout time, the actual raveled way of Larkspur Road curved to the northwest outside of the original right-of-way ha<:V,w8 kPH0 >h 0f .th.ekplatted r,ght-°f-way unused and without public purpose. The applicant has worked with neighboring property owners to dedicate public access and utility easement along the actual traveled way of Larkspur Road. This amended plat will vacate the unused right- of-way on the High Drive Heights Subdivision. A private access and utility easement to Lot 1 will e dedicated to ensure that future development has a point of access and available public RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS — Estes Valley Planning Commission 2 January 6, 2015 Board Room, Estes Park Town Hail Planner Kleisler stated all affected agencies and adjacent property owners were notified. The Planning Commission is the recommending body to the Larimer County Board of County Commissioners. He stated the applicant has also submitted an application for a variance for the minimum lot width standards, in order ensure the existing water well is located entirely on proposed Lot 2. The application will be heard by the Estes Valley Board of Adjustment on March 3, 2015, if approved by the County Commissioners in February. Planner Kleisler stated the minimum lot size for the E-Estate zone district is 0.5 acres, but is increased to 2.0 acres if a private well or septic system is used. In this case, proposed Lot 2 would increase from 0.653 acres to 0.828 acres. While still undersized, staff views this as moving towards compliance. Additionally, once proposed Lot 2 connects to public water service, the minimum lot size decreases to 0.5 acres. Planner Kleisler stated the zoning violation exists because the existing dwelling currently extends over the interior lot line. Staff Findings 1. The Amended Plat application complies with EVDC Section 3.9.E Subdivision Standards for Review. 2. The Planning Commission is the Recommending Body to the County Commission for the proposed Amended Plat. 3. If revised to comply with recommended conditions of approval, the application will comply with the applicable sections of the Estes Valley Development Code. 4. Approval of this application will not be materially detrimental to the public welfare, injurious to other property in the neighborhood, or in conflict with the purposes and objectives of the EVDC. Staff recommended approval, with conditions listed below. Planner Kleisler stated some notes need to be added to the plat for future buyers. The applicant wants to leave an existing shed on the upper Lot 1 until it sells, and the Water Department requires the existing water well will either need to be abandoned or a backflow prevention device installed if either lot connects to public water service. He stated if the variance request is denied, the applicant would be allowed to revise the amended plat application to comply with the minimum lot width without coming before the Planning Commission again. Planner Kleisler stated Larimer County would need to approve the access and utility easements along Larkspur Road. Public Comment Amy Plummer/applicant representative stated the applicant is aware of the staff findings and conditions of approval and is in agreement with them. Public comment closed. Staff and Commission Discussion None. Conditions of Approval 1. The applicant shall add a note to the Final Plat and provide a disclosure document for recording that addresses the following: a. The existing shed, as labeled on the Preliminary Amended Plat, shall be removed and comply with applicable setback requirements prior to development permits for Lot lA; and b. Should Lot lA or Lot 2A connect to public water service, the existing well located on Lot 2A shall be abandoned or an approved backflow prevention device shall be installed. 2. Should the submitted variance request to lot width be denied, the applicant shall revise the application to comply with the minimum lot width requirement; 3. Larimer County approval and recording of proposed public access and utility easements along Larkspur Road; RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS — Estes Valley Planning Commission 3 January 6, 2015 Board Room, Estes Park Town Mali 4. Approval and recording of the private access and utility easement for Lot lA, and 5. Compliance with the following agenc/s comments: a. Town Utilities memo dated December 4, 2014 b. Estes Valley Fire Protection District memo dated December 5, 2014 c. Larimer County Engineering email dated December 9, 2014 d. Larimer County Health Department memo dated December 15, 2014 e. Town of Estes Park Community Development memo dated December 18, 2014 It was moved and seconded (Hills/Murphree) to recommend approval of the High Drive Heights Amended Plat to the Larimer County Board of County Commissioners with the findings and conditions recommended by staff and the motion passed 4-1 with two absent and Commissioner Dickey abstaining. 2. 3. REPORTS 1. Planner Shirk reported the Stanley/EPMC Wellness Center submitted an application in December expecting the scope to qualify for a staff-level review. After a thorough review, it was determined to not be in the scope for staff level review, and the applicant withdrew the application until further notice. Community Development staff and Stanley Hotel representatives met multiple times to discuss proposed plans, including joining the accommodations and wellness center buildings. Planner Shirk reported a new application was expected, and would likely go before the Planning Commission in March. Part of the application may include a height variance to the accommodations building. The regulations of the Stanley Historic District require height variances be reviewed to the Town Board. Planner Shirk reported the YMCA Mountain Center height variance request was approved by the Board of Adjustment in December. Planner Shirk reported the Courtyard Shops are moving forward with their riser room for the fire sprinkler system. The initial variance approval expired, and they resubmitted a new application that was approved by the Board of Adjustment in December. Planner Shirk reported Harmony Foundation submitted a request for a use classification for the Kingstone property on Big Horn Drive. Use classifications are provided when a use is unique. The applicant provides a detailed report for the proposed use, and staff researches it to ensure it complies with the Development Code. In this case, the main home on the Kingstone property was building in 1950 and has been used for various retreats over the years. Prior to being donated to the Harmony Foundation, the property was used by non­ profit groups. The new proposed use will be as a group home for clients in transition from residency at the Harmony campus to living independently. Planner Shirk reported there is an additional dwelling on the property that was damaged during the flood and has not been occupied for quite some time. The grandfathering allowance has expired on that structure. Director Chilcott introduced Tina Kurtz, the Environmental Planner hired with funds received from DOLA. She will be focusing strictly on flood recovery, resiliency, project funding. Master Plan implementation, etc. Community Development staff is excited to have her on board to help the Town reduce flood risks. She thanked DOLA for funding the two-year position. Planner Kurtz stated she was a frequent visitor to Estes Park from Scottsbiuff, Nebraska. Her background is geology and hydro-geology, policy-making, etc., and she is looking forward to working with the Town on flood recovery. Director Chilcott reported staff has been busy with the next round of grant applications to fund Master Plan implementation. The applications are due the end of January, including the neighborhood plans. Another application will focus on channel migration hazard mapping. Once the risks have been identified, we can determine the processes for mitigation. Director Chilcott explained the Town applied for $13.5 million in August for various projects. The state responded by saying the application met the requirements, but the state did not have the funding for the projects. In December, the state announced possible additional funding, and requested the Town submit a more focused application for the downtown area. Staff has been working with Walsh Environmental, Anderson Consulting, and the Public Works Department to complete the application. Director Chilcott reported an overview of the final Master Plan drafts will be presented by staff to the Town Board on January 13th. Staff will formally request a Letter of Support from the Town Board on January 27, 2015 and the County Commission at a 5. RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Estes Valley Planning Commission January 6, 2015 Board Room, Estes Park Town Hall later date. Those letters will go a long way with obtaining funding for the projects needed for better resiliency. The final drafts of the Master Plans are available at www.fallrivercoalition.com and www.fishcreekcoalition.com Commissioner Dickey thanked everyone for the opportunity to serve on the Planning Commission. He stated he was resigning from the committee due to personal conflicts, effective immediately. There being no further business. Chair Hull adjourned the meeting at 2:05 p.m. Betty Hull,phair Karen Thompson, R^ecordtilg Secretary