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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Community Development & Community Services Committee 2010-07-22RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, July 22, 2010 Minutes of a Regular meeting of the COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT / COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE of the Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting held in Town Hall in said Town of Estes Park on the 22nd day of July 2010. Committee: Attending: Also Attending: Absent: Chair Levine, Trustees Elrod and Miller Chair Levine, Trustees Elrod and Miller Town Administrator Halburnt, Deputy Town Administrator Richardson, Directors Joseph and Kilsdonk; Manager Winslow and Deputy Town Clerk Deats None Chair Levine called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m. PUBLIC COMMENT. Marsha Hobert, County resident, expressed dissatisfaction with the banner code stating that it does not address the needs of Estes Park business people, community service clubs, and non-profit organizations. She said that in these difficult economic times, business owners must be innovative in their advertising practices and that the banner code should provide flexibility for creativity. She noted that business owners are confused by the enforcement of the banner code since the remainder of the sign code is currently not being enforced. Trustee Miller said that the revised sign code includes a provision for a flexible sign permit that would allow business owners to be more creative with their signage. Trustee Elrod noted that Larimer County’s sign code makes a distinction between signage for commercial and non-commercial enterprises. Dir. Joseph stated the banner portion of the sign code was approved by the Town Board and is being enforced proactively and by complaint. COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT- REPORTS. Reports provided for informational purposes and made a part of the proceedings. • Visitor Services - Mgr. Salerno noted that although visitation to the CVB on July 4, 2010, was the highest since the CVB was created, overall visitation for the first half of 2010 is down approximately 4% over the same period last year. • jyiuseum - The U.S. Premier of In the Footsteps of Isabella Bird was held at the museum on Friday July 16th and was well received. Mgr. Fortini noted that year- to-date attendance numbers are down for 2010. The Committee requested a breakdown of program attendance and gallery visitor numbers in order to analyze this downward trend. Mgr. Fortini reported that the museum received federal grant monies to be utilized to digitize the museum’s photo collection. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT- SIGN CODE REVISIONS. Dir. Joseph summarized the Sign Code Task Force’s objectives for the revision of the sign code as being to address temporary banners, create a creative sign program, accommodate temporary event signage, provide illustrations in the code, accommodate neon and new light-emitting diode (LED) technology with measureable illumination RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Community Development / Community Services - July 22, 2010 - Page 2 standards, relax general standards, provide for a staff level 10% variance process, housekeeping revisions, streamline and ramp up enforcement to level the playing field! and to create an informational sign code handbook for new businesses. Code language allowing temporary banners was added to the Sign Code and approved by the Board in December 2009. The draft version of the code presented at the meeting included annotated photos to illustrate regulations; a staff level variance of 10% prior to being referred to the Board of Adjustment (BOA); relaxes standards in the CO zoning district; increases the allowable size for real estate signs; allows for change of copy to joint ID signs without a permit and exempts them from the total signage area; increases the size measurement polygon from eight points to 12 points; allows wall sign placement on non-frontage walls; includes provisions for use of the banner poles at the Highway 36 and 34 intersection; exempts off-site posters, for events such as the rodeo and the duck race, which measure two square feet or less from regulation; and outlines a creative sign program. The Committee discussed the revisions focusing on the ability of local non-profits to advertise their special events, raffles, etc.; the proposed composition of the creative design review board; commercial and non-commercial signs; lighting regulations and reader board signs; the appropriateness of appeals being made to the Board of Adjustment; and whether signs need to be re-permitted for copy changes. The Committee requested staff revisit the code related to non-profit special events; define cornmercial and non-commercial signs; and revise the make-up of the creative design review board to include a resident who is a non-business owner, an artist or design professional, a variety of business people, and to remove the two Town trustees. PUBLIC COMMENT. Jack Vaughan, Town resident and Noon Rotary Club member, commended staff for their work on the sign code and proposed an increase to the length of time allowed for special event posters, such as the Duck Race posters, to be displayed. Marsha Hobert, County resident, commented that business owners in the County are allowed to do more in terms of signage than those merchants within the Town limits. She noted that not all banners contain temporary advertising for a special event but are of a more permanent nature, that banners are economical and draw attention to businesses, and that working together will help people succeed and stay in business. John Ericson, Town resident, spoke in favor of getting the sign code adopted and resuming enforcement of the code, and supported the inclusion of community members on the creative sign review board to provide a non-commercial perspective. Town Administrator Halburnt recommended the sign code be taken to a study session on August 10, 2010, to allow for review and discussion with the full Board and suggested not enforcing the sign code until after the summer season. Trustee Miller proposed looking into alternative enforcement techniques such as using volunteers to make initial contact with business owners who are violating the sign code. He said this method of enforcement was discussed at the Colorado Municipal League (CML) conference and has been used successfully in Pueblo, Colorado. REPORTS. Reports provided for informational purposes and made a part of the proceedings. • Community Development Financial Report. • Monthly Building Permit Summary. • Community Development Assessment Implementation Update - Planner Shirk provided an update on the implementation of recommendations from the assessment performed by Zucker Systems in September of 2009. He reported that, to date, 100% of the high priority recommendations have been started and/or completed. Town Administrator Halburnt noted that based on budget and administrative decisions, all of the recommendations contained in the RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Community Development / Community Services - July 22, 2010 - Page 3 assessment may not be implemented. • Skills & Knowledge-Based Qualifications for Contractor Licensing - An ordinance to adopt a process for contractor licensing will be brought forward by staff this fall. Contractor licensing, which was modeled after Larimer County’s licensing program, would become effective January 1, 2011. Larimer County recently adopted an experience-based qualification in lieu of testing and the proposed draft ordinance for the Town now contains a similar provision. • 2009 International Building Code Adoption — Discussion was continued to the September Community Development / Community Services Committee Meeting. Subject matter within the code that may require local amendments will be brought forward for direction from the Committee. PUBLIC COMMENT Mike Menard, President of the Estes Valley Contractors Association (EVCA), thanked Town staff for their efforts in scheduling meetings for public input during the code adoption process. He stated the EVCA is in favor of moving forward with the code adoption, supports experience-based contractor licensing and the idea of a construction advisory board. There being no further business. Chair Levine adjourned the meeting at 11:11 a.m. CyntKia Deats, Deputy Town Clerk APPROVED AUG 1 0 2010 TOWN OF ESTES PARK BOARD OF TRUSTEES