HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES CompPAC 2021-07-22 Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, July 22, 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 22 2021.
Committee: Chair Matthew Heiser, Vice-Chair Bob Leavitt, Members David Bangs, Eric
Blackhurst, Chuck Cooper, Kirby Nelson-Hazelton, John Schnipkoweit,
Dave Shirk, Karen Thompson, Rose Truman, David Wolf, Matt Comstock,
Mike Kennedy
Also Attending: Community Development Director Randy Hunt, Larimer County Community
Development Director Lesli Ellis, Trustee Barbara MacAlpine, Fire Marshall
Kevin Sullivan, Recording Secretary Karin Swanlund
Absent: Member Hazelton
Chair Heiser called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
It was moved and seconded (Kennedy/Cooper) to approve the agenda. The motion passed with
a visual thumbs-up vote.
PUBLIC COMMENT.
None
ACTION ITEM:
Approval of Minutes from July 8, 2021
It was moved and seconded (Blackhurst/Leavitt) to approve the minutes. The motion passed with
a visual thumbs-up vote.
DISCUSSION ITEMS: (all comments have been summarized)
1. Fire Chief David Wolf discussed the Estes Valley Fire Protection District (EVFPD) origins,
the scope of services, and the fire problem in the Estes Valley. The EVFPD consists of six
full-time employees and 40 volunteers and has been around since 1907. In 2010, they
became a “District.” Current projects consist of Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP),
participation in Community Planning Assistance for Wildfire (CPAW) program, Fire Wise, and
the “Ready, Set, Go!” program. All of the Estes Valley is in the Wildland Urban Interface
(WUI). Landscaping codes should be reviewed and reformed to help prevent fires. Adoption
of the Property Maintenance Code would allow for proactive fire hazard mitigation. Future
needs are expanding services, updating fire codes, wildfire mitigation, sorting yard/slash
collection, and maintaining equipment and staff. The most significant prevention piece is
educating and working with the public.
2. On July 8, the Planning Commission and the Town Board had a joint meeting to discuss code
amendments during the Comprehensive Plan rewrite. Moving ahead as needed was the
overall consensus. Coordination between boards regarding significant code changes would
be beneficial. Code rewrites aren’t an either/or scenario, but a joint effort and cross-
communication is essential. Chair Heiser reviewed the current code amendments the
Planning Commission is discussing, including downtown building height and zone density
changes to help the housing situation.
3. Director Hunt informed the Committee that a poll would be sent to decide on in-person
meetings beginning in August. There is a high probability that the Planning Commission and
Town Board will be invited to the August 26 meeting.
There being no further business, Chair Heiser adjourned the meeting at 10:50 a.m.
Karin Swanlund, Recording Secretary