HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Estes Park Planning Commission 2021-09-211
Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, September 21, 2021
Minutes of a Regular meeting of the ESTES PARK PLANNING
COMMISSION of the Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado.
Meeting held VIRTUALLY in said Town of Estes Park on the 21 day of
September 2021.
Committee: Chair Matt Comstock, Vice-Chair Matthew Heiser,
Commissioners Joe Elkins, Howard Hanson, Janene
Centurione.
Attending: Chair Comstock, Vice-Chair Heiser, Commissioner
Centurione, Commissioner Elkins, Commissioner Hanson,
Director Randy Hunt, Director Jessica Garner, Senior Planner
Jeff Woeber, Planner II Alex Bergeron, Planning Technician
Charlie Rugaber, Recording Secretary Karin Swanlund,
Attorney Dan Kramer, Town Board Liaison Barbara
MacAlpine
Absent: none
Chair Comstock called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. Also attending were Logan
Graves and Mike Scholl, Ayres Associates consultants, and Brandon Ditman,
Telecommunications Special Counsel.
AGENDA APPROVAL
It was moved and seconded (Heiser/Centurione) to approve the agenda. The motion
passed 5-0.
PUBLIC COMMENT.
None
CONSENT AGENDA APPROVAL
It was moved and seconded (Hanson/Heiser) to approve the consent agenda, pulling
the Bylaws off the consent agenda and moving to an action item. The motion
passed 5-0.
ACTION ITEMS
1.Senior Planner Woeber explained that the proposed amendment to the Estes Park
Development Code (EPDC) primarily adopts a new Wireless Cell Facility (WCF)
Chapter. The amendment deletes the existing wireless section within Chapter 5 of the
EPDC and adds Chapter 14. To ensure consistency with the proposed new
WCF chapter, other Code sections require revision as well. WCF regulations
generally apply to facilities that involve “personal wireless services.”
Cellular/mobile (“cell phone”) providers construct and erect most of these
2
facilities, including antennas, base stations, support equipment, alternative tower
structures, and Towers. Section 14.1 gives a general overview of the code
amendment. The staff report was thoroughly reviewed.
The author of the WCF report, Attorney Brandon Ditman, explained what went
into rewriting the code amendment, much of which was required by state and
federal law. Town Attorney Kramer noted that it is vital to get these regulations in
place as soon as possible, as the current Larimer County regulations are no
longer in use.
Discussion: Any requirements in table 14.5.a can be waived as inapplicable.
Discretionary items are designed to go to the Planning Commission and Town
Board. Specific facilities, which can’t be denied, will be a staff-level review.
Federal law gives the provider the ability to provide service; thus, all zoning
districts are viable. Incentivising non-residential deployment is encouraged.
CDOT has authority in their right’s of way and preempts the local land-use
authority.
Public Comment:
Andrew Cole, Verizon Employee, stated that Verizon makes its facilities available
for colocation. Most jurisdictions prefer concealment over colocations due to
sizing for small cells in the right of way. Verizon agrees with the need to update
the Code and is in favor of this amendment.
,
It was moved and seconded (Hanson/Heiser) to recommend that the Estes Park
Town Board of Trustees APPROVE the code amendment to the Estes Park
Development Code as presented in Exhibit A as recommended by staff with
findings as recommended by staff. The motion passed 5-0.
2.Bylaws Update: Director Garner recommended modification of the language,
making the annual election of officers in April.
It was moved and seconded (Hanson/Centurione) to recommend approval to the
Town Board of Trustees, the bylaws as rewritten in section 4.b., elections. The
motion passed 5-0.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
1.Planner II Bergeron continued his discussion on Accessory Dwelling Units and
proposed changes. After analyzing data, the total number of parcels allowing
ADU’s would be around 59% in terms of minium lot size only. Considerable
discussion on the allowance of home occupations and parking related to ADU’s
was had. The development code does not allow tiny homes. A public Q & A
session will take place via Zoom on October 6 at 5:30 p.m.
2.Logan Graves, Ayres Associates, reviewed the research done on regulatory
incentives to create more opportunities for homeownership for more households
in more parts of Estes Park. In looking for strategies to increase attainable
3
housing supply, staff identified creating a new density bonus zone district as
one viable solution, RM-2. This zoning district would increase general housing
production and incentivize attainable housing development. Vice-Chair Heiser
suggested simplifying it to workforce housing, Commissioner Centurione
suggested “co-housing” units with a shared kitchen.
3. Director Hunt reviewed the RE-1 Zoning District, explaining that it is a residential
zoning district that requires a 10-acre minimum lot size. There are only three
parcels zoned RE-1, and all three are easily shifted to other suitable zoning
districts. Eliminating the RE-1 District could be considered “housekeeping” or
decluttering our Code. It was stated that fundamentally, in an environment where
attainable and workforce housing is a critical need, it is hard to see how a 10-
acre lot, single-family-only zoning district plays a role in the Town of Estes Park.
Our Town and vicinity have no shortage of sizeable single-family houses on large
individual lots -i.e., unattainable housing for most citizens or families. The
Commission requested this item be brought to the October meeting.
REPORTS:
Director Hunt displayed the new CompPac logo and asked the Commission their
thoughts on having one Comprehensive Plan or two (jointly with Larimer County).
Operating as a community with one document had the most support.
Phase II of the Comp Plan, public outreach and input, will be happening in the coming
months.
This meeting was the last for retiring Director Hunt and outgoing Planning Technician
Charlie Rugaber.
There being no further business, Chair Comstock adjourned the meeting at 4:25 p.m.
Matt Comstock, Chair
Karin Swanlund, Recording Secretary