HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Study Session EP Planning Commission 2021-08-17Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado August 17, 2021
Minutes of a Study Session meeting of the PLANNING COMMISSION of Estes Park,
Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting held virtually on Zoom.
Commission: Chair Matt Comstock, Vice-Chair Matthew Heiser,
Commissioners Joe Elkins, Howard Hanson, Janene
Centurione
Attending: Comstock, Centurione, Elkins, Hanson, Heiser,
Also Attending: Director Randy Hunt, Director Jessica Garner, Senior
Planner Jeff Woeber, Planner II Alex Bergeron, Planning
Technician Charlie Rugaber, Town Board Liaison Barbara
MacAlpine, Recording Secretary Karin Swanlund
Absent: Elkins
Chair Comstock called the meeting to order at 11:00 p.m. This study session was held
virtually via ZOOM and was streamed and recorded on the Town of Estes Park
YouTube channel. Jessica Garner, the incoming Director, was introduced.
Mike Scholl, consultant from Ayres Associates, began the discussion by presenting the
Lidar building height data in the downtown corridor. Two buildings are roughly 65 feet,
and a handful are above 30 feet but less than 42 feet. Vice-Chair Heiser asked for
clarification on Short Term Rentals vs. Hotel use above 30 feet. Liaison MacAlpine
asked for wording to encourage residential housing in the downtown corridor. After
considerable discussion, it was decided to add language to the Purpose and Intent
statement of the amendment.
The next CompPac meeting on August 26, facilitated by Logan Simpson, will be a joint
meeting. The Planning Commission is encouraged to attend. Different departments
have been guest speaking at the regular CompPac meetings, discussing their current
and future goals. All meeting recordings are on the town’s YouTube channel and
available for viewing. Public engagement opportunities will pick up in September. Data
collected by Logan Simpson will be available soon.
Upcoming code amendments were discussed. Having available the ability to provide
denser workforce housing development in a new zoning district (RM-2) by allowing
double density. Ayres Associates are looking into development standards related to
parking space ratios, building height and 32 units per acre (examples via video from
other communities).
Planning Commission Study Session August 17, 2021 – Page 2
Vice-Chair Heiser made it known that if any member of the public has concerns about
current issues, please reach out and let those concerns be heard. If there is an issue of
“crisis proportion,” it needs to be addressed sooner rather than later.
Planner II Bergeron spoke on Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and how they could
help resolve the current housing crisis. Proposed changes were reviewed that remove
some barriers to development and allow for a more straightforward process. As it
relates to attached ADU’s, it was stated that it is not intended to create a duplex. An
attached ADU may be up to 49% of the principal dwelling unit’s habitable square
footage (800 feet maximum) and must be fixed to a foundation. Occupancy
requirements were discussed at length. An analysis of how many single-family lots are
currently non-conforming was requested. Allowing tiny homes was discussed, and their
differences from ADUs were distinguished, along with the elimination of minimal width
for a dwelling unit.
Due to time restraints, the Report section of the agenda was tabled.
Chair Comstock adjourned the Study Session at 1:00 p.m.
Karin Swanlund, Recording Secretary