HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Planning Commission 1985-10-15BRADFORD PUBLISHING CO.RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
/ Planning Commission
October 15, 1985
Commission;
Attending;
Also Attending;
Absent;
Chairman Al Sager, Members Duane Blair, Mark
Brown, Mike Dickinson, George Hix, Steve
Komito, Richard Wood
Chairman Sager, Members Blair, Brown,
Dickinson, Komito. Wood
Town Administrator Hill, Town Attorney White,
Town Engineer Widmer, Town Planner Stamey,
Secretary O'Connor
Member Hix
1. Minutes of the Planning Commission meeting held September
17, 1985 and the Special Planning Commission meeting held
October 1, 1985 were submitted and approved.
2. COUNTY REFERRALS;
2.a. Bauer Exemption Request - Wildlife Lane and Carriage
Drive; Size of the site is 15.14 Acres; proposed number of
tracts; Tract 1 = 10.12 Acres, Tract 2 = 5.02 Acres.
Existing Zoning; Larimer County E-Estate. Bill Van Horn,
representing the owners, submitted the exemption request
stating the intent was to divide one lot into two lots, with
the existing residence to be located on the lot with 5.02
Acres. Planner Stamey read the staff report which advised
the proposed access to Tract 2 would be via a proposed
driveway paralleling the north side of Tract 1. This
driveway is 30' wide, and serves as frontage in Carriage
Drive for Tract 2. Wildlife Lane, which is a 50' wide
private street parallels the north side of this private
drive. Testimony was heard from adjacent property owners -
Lon Stratton, 2758 Carriage Drive, and Lori Turner, 775
Wildlife Lane.
Lon Stratton - expressed concern with proposed Tract 1
should the 10.12 acres be subdivided. Mr. Stratton added,
the 10-acre tract was initially to be used as a "mountain
park", and that Wildlife Lane was a private road and use by
Mr. Bauer would necessitate obtaining an easement.
Lori Turner - expressed concern with the possibility of
destroying the wildlife habitat and access.
Following discussion. Member Brown moved the Bauer Exemption
Request be favorably recommended to the Larimer County
Planning Commission with the following conditions;
1. The Estes Park Planning Commission does not desire
two parallel roads; the Commission would like to
see access to Wildlife Lane be negotiated to obtain
a common right-of-way.
2. Place a covenant on Tract 2 stating there can be no
further division of the 5-acre lot.
Member Komito seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
2.b. Tramway Restaurant Variance and Special Exception
Request; The location of the site is the upper terminal of
the Aerial Tramway on Prospect Mountain. The size of the
site is 250 Acres and existing Larimer County Zoning is
E-Estate. Water service is obtained though a well and
private pump system. The owners propose connecting the
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Planning Commission - October 15, 1985 - Page two
3.
sewer service to Upper Thompson Sanitation District. David
Habecker/Designer, representing the owner, stated the appli
cant is requesting a variance from the Larimer County Board
of Adjustment to permit a restaurant in the E-Estate Dis
trict. Existing retail space is 2,900 square feet. When
completed, the proposed restaurant would seat 120 people.
The two-story structure would be 68' in diameter and 24'
high. The first story would be a concrete structure and
would house the restaurant, observation deck and gift shop.
Should the second story prove feasible, it would be added at
a later date. Connection of a 6” sewer line to the Upper
Thompson Sanitation District would be completed prior to
opening of the restaurant. Access would be via the tramway
itself; the existing road traversing the south and east
portion of Prospect Mountain would be used by service
vehicles only. The service road is adequate for emergency
use. Louis O'Riordan addressed the Commission concerning
the impact on Town parking. Planner Stamey compared Town
parking standards to this request and advised Larimer County
has established parking regulations and standards for their
jurisdiction; their regulations and standards would apply in
this request. Discussion followed regarding liability, fire
suppression, water and sewer service. Member Dickinson
moved the Tramway Restaurant Variance and Special Exception
Request be favorably recommended to the Larimer County Board
of Adjustment subject to connection to public water and
sewer and mitigation of any wildfire hazards in the area of
the site. The Planning Commission also noted that the
current use of the service access road is private; the use
should continue in this matter. Member Brown seconded the
motion and it passed unanimously.
SUBDIVISIONS;
3.a. Rhoades Boundary Adjustment, portions of Lots 23 and
24, Riverside Subdivision (Tabled September 17, 1985); Bill
Van Horn, representing the owners, resubmitted Rhoades
Boundary Adjustment. The petitioner's property is a legal,
non-conforming use. The petitioner desires to bring the
property into conformance by submittal of the boundary
adjustment. Discussion centered upon the staff recommenda
tion that the petitioner dedicate 20' of right-of-way along
the west property line for East Riverside Drive. Mr. Van
Horn stated the recommendation would cause an undue hardship
and would take approximately 1/3 of the usable property; the
street right-of-way line would be located within 7' of the
front door of the existing residence. When the property
located to the north was platted for condominiums, 20' of
additional right-of-way was dedicated for East Riverside
Drive. Staff also requested a strip of land be dedicated to
the Town which would be used for Big Thompson greenbelt
purposes. The strip of land lies between the Big Thompson
River and the west side of East Riverside Drive and north of
the property located at 249 East Riverside Drive. Mr. Van
Horn stated the strip of land was not included in the
boundary adjustment and, therefore, was an unreasonable
request. Following further discussion. Member Wood stated
that the granting of the exception will not be materially
detrimental to the public welfare or injurious to other
property in the neighborhood in which the property of the
petitioner is situated or in conflict with the purposes and
objectives of Title 16, and moved Rhoades Boundary Adjust
ment be favorably recommended to the Town Board subject to
the following conditions;
1. The plat needs to be tied to a ^-section corner
with appropriate bearings and dimensions.
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Planning Commission - October 15, 1985 - Page three
2. The exterior dimensions of the lots should be shown
as one number and not two, which needs to be added
together to get a complete distance.
3. The title of this boundary adjustment should be
"Amended Plat of Portion of Lot 23 and 24, River
side Subdivision."
4. The deed dimensions in the dedication should be
shown on the plat with appropriate legend. The
area in the dedication is 0.440 acres.
5. The last sentence in the "Boundary Adjustment
Statement" should be removed from the plat.
6. Dedicate 20' of right-of-way along the west proper
ty line for East Riverside Drive.
7. The 10' utility easement along the west property
line should be labeled as a 20^' utility easement
(according to scale).
Member Dickinson
unanimously.
seconded the motion and it passed
4. OFF-STREET PARKING REGULATIONS - REQUEST TO REVIEW;
As referred by Mayor Dannels, the Planning Commission
reviewed a request submitted by Mike Haber to review the
"Off-Street Parking Regulations." Planner Stamey read a
staff report which listed current regulations and parking
alternatives. Chairman Sager read excerpts from various
municipal parking ordinances currently adopted by Vail,
Steamboat Springs, cities in California and Illinois. Mike
Haber, Oriental Rug and Auction Gallery, 144 VIest Elkhorn
Avenue, addressed the Commission seeking support to repeal
the $2,000/parking space regulation. Mr. Haber did not
agree with the formula used to calculate the parking space
fee and felt the fee itself hindered the sale of downtown
businesses. Mr. Haber recommended Mayor Dannels appoint a
committee comprised of twelve members which would represent
each facet of the business community. Two members of the
Town Board should also be included. Chairman Sager advised
the Off-Street Parking Regulations were originally repealed
in 1979. Upon the recommendation of the Briscoe/Maphis
Study, the process was initiated to adopt a new set of
standards. The Off-Street Parking Regulations were adopted
in 1985. Planner Stamey read a letter dated August 28, 1985
submitted by the Association of Responsible Development
which recognized parking as a problem. Further testimony
was heard from Charlotte Miller, Louis O'Riordan, Ross
Brown, Seymour Graham, Ralph Haber, Jim Good, and Rowland
Retrum. Discussion followed concerning a Special Improve
ment District, vacant business buildings, discouraging
development, on-site parking, and the hesitation by
investors to pay for parking spaces which may be several
blocks away from their storefront. When asked if funds were
in fact "earmarked" for parking when the Urban Renewal
Authority was formed. Executive Director Anderson replied
the Plan speaks of the acquisition of two downtown locations
for parking and addressed outlying parking. Additional
questions of this nature should be addressed to the Urban
Renewal Authority Board. With no further testimony. Member
Brown moved the Estes Park Planning Commission recommend the
request for repeal of the Off-Street Parking Regulations be
denied. Member Komito seconded the motion and it passed
unanimously.
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Planning Commission - October 15, 1985 - Page four
Following completion of all agenda items, the Planning Commission
adjourned to Study Session.
Vickie O'Connor, Secretary