HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Estes Park Planning Commission 2022-11-15Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, November 15, 2022
Minutes of a Regular meeting of the ESTES PARK PLANNING COMMISSION of the
Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting was held in said Town of Estes
Park on the 15 day of November 2022.
Committee: Chair Matt Comstock, Vice-Chair Matthew Heiser,
Commissioners Joe Elkins, Howard Hanson
Attending: Chair Comstock, Vice-Chair Heiser, Commissioner Elkins,
Commissioner Hanson, Director Jessica Garner, Senior
Planner Jeff Woeber, Larimer County Community
Development Director Lesli Ellis, Recording Secretary Karin
Swanlund, Town Attorney Dan Kramer, Town Board Liaison
Barbara MacAlpine
Absent: none
Chair Comstock called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. There were 18 people from the
public in attendance.
AGENDA APPROVAL
It was moved and seconded (Hanson/Heiser) to approve the agenda. The motion
passed 4-0.
PUBLIC COMMENT none
CONSENT AGENDA APPROVAL
It was moved and seconded (Hanson/Elkins) to approve the consent agenda. The
motion passed 4-0
ACTION ITEMS
Comprehensive Plan Director Jessica Garner
Miriam McGilvray, consultant and project manager from Logan Simpson, was
present and reviewed the entire process and steps of forming the Plan and
shared a 31-page PowerPoint presentation that covered the what/where/why and
how of the newly written Comprehensive Plan. The four chapters of the Plan
were briefly discussed. It was stressed that the future land use map (FLUM)
does not alter, circumvent or supersede established zoning districts; it is
aspirational. The new Plan has consolidated the previous 18 future land use
areas into 10.
Additional recommendations from the Estes Valley Planning Advisory Committee
(EVPAC) were to include language relating to the preservation of historic venues
in the County and the heritage of the community. Also, add language to the
three subjects under the Health and Social section to mirror the Larimer County
Comprehensive Plan. And to remove the Future Study Area noted on the south
end of the Opportunity Areas that are within the Larimer County unincorporated
area.
DISCUSSION:
Vice Chair Heiser questioned Director Ellis about the deletion of the south-end
study area. Ellis answered that it is not intended to be a growth area per the
Larimer County Comp Plan. Director Garner stated that it would be agreeable to
scale the study area back but was opposed to removing it. Regarding the
Health and Social recommendations, Chair Comstock asked why they needed to
be changed since the language is advisory and not binding. Ellis answered that
this wording would mirror the Larimer County Plan.
Planning Commission – November 15, 2022 – Page 2
PUBLIC COMMENT:
The following town citizens spoke in opposition to the Suburban Estate Future
Land use category, stating that ¼ acre lots should not replace 1+ acre lots in the
current E and E1 zoning and reducing the size of the lots won't fix the housing
problems.
Rebecca Urquhart, Connie Phipps, John Phipps, Pat Newsom, Kevin Smith,
Wayne Newsom, Dick Spielman.
Dave Shirk, town citizen, asked why the Plan had to go before the Town Board.
Town Attorney Kramer answered that while the Planning Commission adopts the
Plan, it is still subject to approval by the Town Board per state statutes.
It was moved and seconded (Heiser/Hanson) to amend the document to include
the language requested by the EVPAC, revising policy BE 3.5 on page 26: "The
Town and County support opportunities for historic preservation, rehabilitation, and
adaptive use of historic structures and sites in development review and land
conservation activities to preserve the heritage of the community." The motion
passed unanimously.
It was moved and seconded (Hanson/Heiser) to amend the document to include
the language requested by the EVPAC, revising policy HS 2.1 on page 42: The
Town and County encourage expansion of health care and improve social services
including availability, affordability and access to medical services in Estes Park.
The motion passed unanimously.
It was moved and seconded (Heiser/Hanson) to amend the document to include
the language requested by the EVPAC, revising policy HS 2.2 on page 42: "The
Town and County encourage partnerships between public not-for-profit and private
health care provider clinics in the hospital in Estes Park and permanent supportive
housing to provide a valuable resource and appropriate medical care for the community
including vulnerable populations." The motion passed unanimously.
It was moved and seconded (Heiser/Hanson) to amend the document to represent
the diagram shown in option 2 to reduce the size of the Future Study Area on the
south end of the Opportunity Area map. The motion passed unanimously.
It was moved and seconded (Heiser/Elkins) to correct the Scribners errors on
pages 2, 3, 11, 29 and 84, 90. These include changing all dates from 1997 to 1996,
changing Planning Department to Planning Division, adding Department after
Community Development, adding Park after Estes, changing visioning by the numbers
to engagement by the numbers, and changing the map color in chapter 2, County
Policies, to orange. The motion passed unanimously.
Heiser acknowledged that he was listening to the public, there was extensive public
comment over the past 18 months, and all comments have been considered. Trustee
MacAlpine suggested the commission address the public comments regarding the ¼ lot.
It was moved and seconded (Hanson/Elkins) approval and adoption of Resolution
#01-22 for the Estes Forward Plan as amended, which will proceed to the Town
Board for approval on December 6. The motion passed unanimously.
REPORTS:
Thanks were given to the CompPAC and all involved other the past 18 months to get us
to where we are today.
Planning Commission – November 15, 2022 – Page 3
Chris Pawson will be considered for an appointment as a new Commissioner at the Town
Board meeting on November 22. If approved, he will be at the next meeting.
There will not be a Planning Commission meeting in December.
There being no further business, Chair Comstock adjourned the meeting at 3:00
_______________________________
Chair Comstock
Karin Swanlund, Recording Secretary