HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Estes Valley Planning Commission Study Session 2019-04-16Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado April 16, 2019
Minutes of a Study Session meeting of the PLANNING COMMISSION of the Estes
Valley, Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting held in Rooms 202/203 of Town Hall.
Commission: Chair Leavitt, Vice Chair White, Commissioners, Foster, Murphree, Smith,
Theis
Attending: Leavitt, Theis, Murphree, Smith, White, Foster
Also Attending: Town Attorney White, Director Hunt, Planner II Hathaway Planner I
Becker, and Recording Secretary Swanlund, CCO Hardin.
Absent: none
Chair Leavitt called the meeting to order at 11:30 a.m.
There were 3 people in attendance. This study session was streamed and recorded on the Town of
Estes Park YouTube channel.
Code Amendment: Event Facilities in A Zoning
Director Hunt, filling in for Planner Woeber, reviewed the text amendment regarding Event Facilities,
allowing them by definition in A and CO zoning. These will be S1 reviews, which are more lenient
than S2 reviews. Leavitt questioned what kind of facilities would be allowed, stating inconsistencies
in some of the Tables. White mentioned lack of zoning buffers between A, C and R zones.
Discussion was had regarding the Lazy B, and the temporary use permit that was granted to them,
which made circumstances difficult. Hunt explained that there are a variety of uses allowed in Table
4.4 for A zoning. Changing a permitted use to a prohibited use is more burdensome. Attorney White
stated that a Purpose Statement is not a regulatory statement. Rather, it is a general statement
which may conflict with specific provisions in the code, especially as revisions to the code are made.
When this happens, the specific provisions in the code take precedence over the Purpose Statement.
Leavitt suggested that the staff and PC should clarify this issue and bring it to the attention of the
governing bodies.
Code Amendment: CO Removal from PUD’s
Director Hunt described the need to update the Code regarding Planned Unit Developments (PUDs).
Currently, a PUD is only allowed in CO zoning. A prime example of this need is Windcliff, which was
built as a PUD but was removed when the 2000 rezoning took place. Mixed use can be any
combination of Residential and Nonresidential, at least 2 principle uses, and a minimum amount of
three acres. PUDs frontload all of the information. Rezone with an overlay zone specific to the
project would be done as needed.
Park and Rec Code Amendment:
Trustee Norris explained the town board decision to continue the code amendment. The Board
asked for an inventory of existing uses of commercial operations in residential zones be presented at
the May 28 meeting. The moratorium has expired and will be reestablished at next week’s board
meeting.
Mountain Coaster appeal:
Planning Commission Study Session April 16, 2019 – Page 2
Attorney White reviewed the findings of the appeal. The Judge’s decision was 18 pages and very
thorough. The court concluded that it was not ambiguous and why the decision was reached. The
two use classifications were separate and distinct, and it was a low intensity use, which is consist with
RE zoning. The low intensity classification was based mainly on 3 acres of use on a 180 acre parcel.
Lunch break 12:25-12:35
Theiss Rezone
Planner Hathaway reviewed the project, which is a 10 acre parcel that is currently developed with one
single family home. The applicant desires to split the parcel into four 2.5 acre lots. This would
require a rezone from RE1, 10 acre lots to RE, 2.5 acre lots. 27 out of 38 lots surrounding the subject
property range from 2.5 acres to 3.74 acres. Theis speculated that the North End Property Owners
purposely made RE1 zoning to prevent overcrowding, knowing there were numerous nonconforming
lots.
Development Plan Review Requirements (Table 3-3)
Planner Becker explained the update to table 3-3, applying a broader scope to nonresidential parking
space requirements, dropping the number from 10 spaces to 3 for a development review. Leavitt
suggested a third level of decision making could be added at a future date allowing members of the
community to recommend a public hearing.
Neighborhood meetings update:
Planner Becker noted the corrections and clarifications for displaying signs and an update of which
projects need a community meeting. Leavitt pointed out that some of the use classifications may
need sign criteria associated to better inform citizens of the nature of the land use action.
Large Vacation Homes:
CCO Hardin reviewed the large vacation home applications.
Questions/Discussion/Future Items
Trustee Norris requested articles from Colorado Municipalities April magazine be disbursed to the
PC.
May meetings will begin at 6:00 pm. This information will be made public early May.
“Commissioners Talk” sessions to be discussed
Comp Plan meeting to be facilitated by Martin Currcason
Ayres Associates are working on the Zoning Map resolutions which should be ready for a study
session in May.
Chair Leavitt adjourned the meeting at 1:10 p.m.
_____________________________________
Bob Leavitt, Chair
Karin Swanlund, Recording Secretary