HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Estes Park Planning Commission 2022-04-19Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, April 19, 2022
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 19 day of April
2022.
Committee: Chair Matt Comstock, Vice-Chair Matthew Heiser,
Commissioners Joe Elkins, Howard Hanson, Janene
Centurione.
Attending: Vice-Chair Heiser, Commissioner Centurione, Commissioner
Elkins, Commissioner Hanson, Director Jessica Garner,
Senior Planner Jeff Woeber, Planner II Alex Bergeron,
Planning Technician LJ Baur, Recording Secretary Karin
Swanlund, Town Attorney Dan Kramer, Town Board Liaison
Barbara MacAlpine
Absent: Chair Comstock
Vice-Chair Heiser called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m.
AGENDA APPROVAL
It was moved and seconded (Centurione/Hanson) to approve the agenda. The
motion passed 3-0. Commissioner Elkins was not available.
PUBLIC COMMENT none
CONSENT AGENDA APPROVAL
It was moved and seconded (Hanson/Centurione) to approve the consent agenda.
The motion passed 3-0. Commissioner Elkins was not available.
ACTION ITEMS
1.Raven Rock Development Plan Planner II Bergeron
Planner Bergeron reviewed the staff report and the history behind the Raven Rock
Development Plan. This proposal includes 38 townhomes that present as duplexes
(19 buildings), spread over approximately 10 acres and zoned Accommodations (A).
The units are to be sold as residential dwellings to individual owners. The owners
would be able to use their properties as short-term rentals. The townhomes and out
lots contained therein are platted and recognized by Larimer County and the Town
of Estes Park. Staff recommended approval of the development plan.
DISCUSSION:
Vice-Chair Heiser asked about the easements on the plotted lots.
Owner/Applicant James Mackey was available for questions and presented a short
slide show explaining the background and current plans for Raven Rock.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Bob Shafer, 508 Promontory Drive, expressed concern with traffic. The traffic study
was done in February, which is very different from a summer month.
Sherry Flannery, 565 Lakewood Court, asked if dark sky lighting would be enforced
with the development.
Rick James, 305 Kiowa Drive, asked if a crosswalk would be installed to access
Mary's Lake.
Kevin Conrad, 2240 Arapaho Road, had concerns about the outflow from detention
ponds which will flow into the Arapaho Meadows subdivision.
Michael Keilty, 2441 Arapaho Road, stated that drainage flow drains into his
property from the proposed development plan. Trespassing is another concern.
Claire Ray, 2461 Arapaho Road, expressed the same concerns as Michael Keilty.
Planning Commission – April 19, 2022 – Page 2
STAFF RESPONSE:
Planner Bergeron confirmed that Dark Sky requirements would be enforced.
Jennifer Waters, Public Works Engineer, stated that the traffic study was done in
February 2022, and no other traffic elements were needed. The traffic study did not
predict much pedestrian traffic, but Public Works could have further discussion on
installing a crosswalk. She also noted that any land disturbance would need to be
accompanied by storm drainage best practices.
Joe Coop, Van Horn Engineering, spoke on the drainage issues. The drainage swell
is part of phase one, and a detention pond on the north will collect most rainfall
during large storms, thus helping the Arapaho Meadows subdivision with heavy
storm runoff.
It was moved and seconded (Heiser/Centurione) to recommend approval of the
development plan in accordance with the findings as presented. The motion
passed 4-0.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
1. Senior Planner Woeber reviewed the Stanley Home Museum annual review. As
a part of the Board of Trustees' request for a Special Review Use (S2)
Application filed by the Historic Stanley Home Foundation for the property
addressed 415 Wonderview Avenue on a parcel zoned E-1 (Estate), the
operation was subject to 13 conditions. Condition 13 stated that "an initial annual
review shall be given to the Planning Commission after one year of operation."
The submitted report outlined the other 12 conditions.
RJ Lara, Executive Director of the Stanley Home Museum and Education Center,
was available for questions and highlighted the compliance with the conditions.
One of the main differences is that the tours are restricted to 8 people per tour
instead of the 12 suggested. Conservation talks were initiated, as requested.
2. Planner II Bergeron gave a brief update on CPAW. There has been some
organizational turnover which may affect the timeline. CPAW is looking for a
consultant to help update our Code on landscaping and plant lists. Other Code
elements will likely wait until the post-Comp Plan overhaul.
3. Director Garner discussed having a special study session in May to review and
learn more about the RM-2 Code Amendment or Commissioner training.
Consultants Ayres Associates are not available on the scheduled May 17
meeting date and have requested a virtual meeting on May 10 at 3:30 p.m. as an
alternate. Heiser stated that he would prefer the training to come first.
4. Discussion on returning to in-person meetings was had. Training will have to
take place for staff and the Commission. Having no projects coming to the
Commission in May, it will likely be June before the first in-person meeting.
5. May 12 will be a community-wide event on Choices for the CompPlan. This will
be bi-lingual and will take place at the Elementary School gym.
There being no further business, Vice-Chair Heiser adjourned the meeting at 3:00 p.m.
_______________________________
Vice-Chair Heiser
Karin Swanlund, Recording Secretary