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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Estes Valley Planning Commission Study Session 2018-07-17 Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado July 17, 2018 Minutes of a Study Session meeting of the PLANNING COMMISSION of the Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting held Room 202/203 of Town Hall. Commission: Chair Leavitt, Vice Chair White, Commissioners Schneider, Foster, Murphree, Hull, Theis Attending: Leavitt, Schneider, Foster, White, Theis, Murphree Also Attending: Town Attorney White, Director Hunt, Senior Planner Woeber, Planner II Hathaway, County Liaison Whitley, County Community Development Director Ellis, Town Board Liaison Norris, Code Compliance Officer Hardin and Recording Secretary Swanlund Absent: Commissioner Hull Chair Leavitt called the meeting to order at 11:30 a.m. There were approximately 13 people in attendance. This study session was streamed and recorded on the Town of Estes Park YouTube channel. Introduction of new PC Member and staff Frank Theis, who has a career in development, and has taught Community Planning. Lesli Ellis, new Community Development Director of Larimer County Cultural Institutions Code Amendment Planner Hathaway summarized the Code Amendment allowing Cultural Institutions in Residential Districts. Definition of Museums was reviewed. The code amendment is not specific to the Stanley Home, and could be used in other situations around town. Discussion was had on historically significant places being restricted to having a structure or not, with institution being the key word. Commissioner White stated that the Estes Park Museum has no historic landmark inventory for Estes Park, wondering who determines the “worthiness” of a historic property. Director Hunt informed that governing bodies can make distinctions from a procedural aspect, architectural preservation classes or university programs can help from a practical aspect. If more of these S2 reviews come up, an inventory would be good to have. Foster asked if there is a definition for Cultural Institution, pointing out that Colorado Revised Statutes thouroughly defines it, suggesting that definition be used in this Code Amendment. Also discussed was the wording of “site” vs “site and/or building structure”. Planning Commission Study Session July 17, 2018 – Page 2 Stanley Home S2-Special Review Planner Hathaway reviewed the S2 review regarding the Stanley Home, highlighting the 9 conditions recommended by staff. Dry Gulch Workforce Housing Withdrawal Director Hunt announced that the application was withdrawn without prejudice on July 12 This means if it is refiled at a later date, the requirement of waiting a full year would be waived. Town Board will be revisiting the application after a planned housing needs review. It was suggested that the Planning Commission may want to participate in this study session. Attorney White made note that this would be a limited review to see if the report was accurate, confirming the information in study and, not a rewrite. Trustee Norris will take up with the Town Board. Lunch break 11:55-12:15 Exparte communication clarification Attorney White explained how ex parte communication works with respect to projects that are appealed. Appeals can come back to the Planning Commission so do not talk about a project until the appeal process has run its course. Furthermore, it is unwise to talk about a project in its early stages before it becomes a formal application. Later, when the formal application reaches the Planning Commission, your impartiality may be questioned. Comprehensive Plan Resolution and Advisory Committee Director Hunt reviewed the resolution to have the 3 bodies responsible for the Comprehensive Plan revision (Town Board, Board of County Commissioners, Planning Commission) have the same content, which is taken directly from state statute. The Planning Commission intends to confirm the resolution and elect Commissioner Foster to serve on this board at today’s meeting. Hunt stated that grant funding will want a formal submittal having real value, not just symbolic value. Funding is not complete, but has been requested in the budget and the resolution will go to Larimer County on Tuesday, July 23. The resolution for 2018 is $10,000. Meetings will be open to the public, with the 5 appointees participating. Town Board has appointed Director Hunt as the staff member and Trustee Norris as the Town Board member, with Trustee Cenac as an alternate. Hunt noted that there will be homework on this Board and the first assignment will be reading and reviewing other comp plans, starting with Alachua, Florida, Park City Utah and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Trustee Norris requested Trustee Cenac be copied on all emails. Ayres Associates will be available for consultation and the Committee will be involved with the drafting of RFP/RFQ. Community/Neighborhood Meetings Code Amendment Discussion Director Hunt introduced the idea of a Code Amendment where early in the application process the applicant would conduct a Community meeting, using the same address Planning Commission Study Session July 17, 2018 – Page 3 perimeter list used for neighbor notifications. The earlier public has input, the better for all concerned. August is a feasible timeline for this with a continuance to September for refinement. Michael Whitley explained that in Larimer County, community meetings are subjective and up to the Planning Director, but if there are more than a hand full of public comments, a meeting most likely becomes a requirement. Vacation Home regulatory changes Concerns/ideas about licenses transferring with property, bear resistant containers, dark sky compliance, clustering, manager response time were issued raised. Commissioner White would like this to be addressed further in a future Study Session (October). Commissioner Comments/Questions Ziggy’s coffee did not go through a development plan because of Table 3-3 in Code that states less than 10 parking spaces and less than x amount of square feet goes straight to building permit stage. Hunt noted that this is not necessarily good planning practice. Hunt answered the question that yes, Dollar General will be required to replace their landscaping, and that a letter will be sent to them. Future Study Session Agenda items Process changes Mountain Coaster Vacation Home regulations-October Bottom thresholds for reviews-Table 3-3 Adjourn 1:20 There being no further business, Chair Leavitt adjourned the meeting at 1:20 p.m. _____________________________________ Bob Leavitt, Chair Karin Swanlund, Recording Secretary