HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Study Session EP Planning Commission 2023-03-21 Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado March 21, 2023
Minutes for the Study Session of the PLANNING COMMISSION of Estes Park. The
meeting was held in the Town Board Room, 170 MacGregor Avenue in said town.
Commission: Commission: Chair Matt Comstock, Vice-Chair
Matthew Heiser, Commissioners Joe Elkins, Howard
Hanson, Chris Pawson
Attending: Comstock, Hanson, Heiser, Elkins, Pawson
Also Attending: Director Jessica Garner, Planner Kara Washam, Town
Attorney Dan Kramer, Town Board Liaison Barbara
MacAlpine, Recording Secretary Karin Swanlund
Absent: none
Chair Comstock started the meeting at 10:30 a.m. There
were five members of the community present.
Planner I Washam gave an update to the Commission on Community Planning
for Wildfires (CPAW). The CPAW program was paused due to staff changes and
the completion of the Comprehensive Plan. The Memorandum of Understanding
has been renewed until December 31, 2023. CPAW recommendations are
intended to complement the other wildfire studies that have been done. Most of
the changes can be integrated into the Development Code update, with a high
priority on landscaping standards and plant suggestions.
Chair Comstock noted that enforcement would be necessary for the
implementation.
Heiser asked that staff inform developers of this endeavor. There is guidance in
the code that states that if you are accomplishing the same goals, you don't have
to meet the exact standards, leaving some flexibility in the Landscape Code and
balancing development standards.
Ayres Associate Mike Scholl reviewed the most current findings regarding the
Missing Middle code amendment. Per the Housing Needs Assessment and
Strategic Plan, creating desirable and compatible neighborhoods is vital to the
Missing Middle goal. The approach is to amend Chapter 9, Planned Unit
Developments (PUDs) and establish two new zoning districts: Mixed
Neighborhood Residential and Neighborhood Village. Due to its uniqueness, the
standard code paradigm won't work in Estes Park.
Planning Commission Study Session March 21, 2023 – Page 2
Purpose: to provide a compatible range of housing types within neighborhoods
and projects based on plans that promote well-designed communities and
integrate with surrounding development.
Per Attorney Kramer, creating standards to help say Yes or No to a project is
needed, with defined criteria and a multi-step process.
Considerable discussion on PUDs and time frames was had. (see recording
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3ewUxmVIxU).
Questions to consider for the subsequent discussion were given:
Lot size minimums?
Open Space types?
Internal Circulation regarding street standards?
Home sites related to open spaces?
This topic will be continued at the April 16 Study Session.
There being no further business, Chair Comstock adjourned the meeting at 12:10
p.m.
______________________________
Recording Secretary Swanlund