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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Estes Valley Planning Commission Study Session 2019-01-15Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado February 19, 2019 Minutes of a Study Session meeting of the PLANNING COMMISSION of the Estes Valley, Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting held Rooms 202/203 of Town Hall. Commission: Chair Leavitt, Vice Chair White, Commissioners, Foster, Murphree, Smith, Theis Attending: Leavitt, Foster, Theis, Murphree, Smith, White Also Attending: Town Attorney White, Director Hunt, Senior Planner Woeber, Planner I Becker, Town Board Liaison Norris, Code Compliance Officer Hardin and Recording Secretary Swanlund Absent: none Chair Leavitt called the meeting to order at 11:00 a.m. There were approximately 10 people in attendance. This study session was streamed and recorded on the Town of Estes Park YouTube channel. Mountain Coaster Discussion: Chair Leavitt addressed the comments made during the Board of County Commissioners hearing. Attorney White noted that attorneys try to raise issues, which is what Attorney Zier was doing. Director Hunt stated that from a staff point of view, the October 30 meeting was clear, thorough and gave staff and community good guidance. All hearings have been completed and there are two pending law suits going to district court. The Development Plan for the Mountain Coaster has been approved as of now. The property owner can begin development. Attorney White noted that it is possible that the district court could determine that a decision was not appropriate, which could remand the Mountain Coaster back through the process and to the Planning Commission. PC is still under ex-parte communication. Caution should be taken when discussing this, even within the PC. See attached statement from Chair Leavitt. By-Laws revision Planner Becker reviewed the updated By-Laws based on what was discussed at the December Study Session. Foster brought up consistency issues with Board vs Commission, Member vs Commissioner, and Chair vs Chairperson. Attorney White agreed with these comments. Also brought up was subdivision plats being approved within 30 days, which is Colorado law. Relevant and adopted policies should be written and voted on as they specifically relate to the PC and its members and formally adopted by both elected Boards. Hunt suggested circulation of the list of town policies to the PC for the next meeting. It was agreed that this not be voted on and adopted today due to the changes requested. Peak View Apartments: Planning Commission Study Session January 15, 2019 – Page 2 Planner Becker reviewed the Development Plan from the Estes Valley Housing Authority. The proposal is to demolish the current building and construct two multi-family buildings. There is an alternative parking plan being submitted. Theis asked if there is a fence proposed to prevent people from parking in the church parking lot and perhaps a shared parking agreement might be proposed. This is all workforce housing, not attainable housing, and will be deed restricted. Since the Housing Authority owns the building, Community Development will do a yearly audit making sure residents work in the Park School District boundaries full time. Foster wondered about the introduction of school age children that may be moving into the current workforce housing projects being constructed and how that could affect traffic and cross walks. Hunt recommended including the School District on Development Plans where children may be involved. Also brought up was the traffic safety concern across the street from the access point where Acacia and Avalon come together. Public Works has had communication with CDOT. It was suggested to run this by the PD and Schools. If staff sees a potential for families with children in a development plan, it should be addressed in the review stages. County Location and Extent Planner Woeber reviewed the Location and Extent for the proposed County Maintenance Facility located on a 10 acre parcel on Elm Road. The facility is in need of updating due to its age. There are numerous other projects connected with this site which will be applied in the next few months including a Boundary Line Adjustment, Right of Way dedication, and rebuilding the current CDOT facility. Vacation Homes CCO Hardin reviewed the requested recommendations from the December meeting. The following items were suggestions from the Town Clerks office and meeting discussion: o using the term relocate instead of transfer, o registrations not completed within ninety days will be voided and are subject to reapplication o use of the word renewal instead of reapplication o transfer of ownership as a separate item from property management o changes would be in effect starting with the 2020 calendar year o should there be an exception for the first calendar year someone obtains a license, especially if they get the license late in the calendar year o B & B’s can offer limited ancillary services to guests only o turn-around time for registrations is not currently an issue o any signage must meet the requirements of the respective jurisdiction; add a cross-reference o voting on individual proposals can begin at the February meeting o building codes will be going to Town Board on the 22nd to extend vacation home life safety inspection dates Lunch 12:15-12:30 Park and Rec Code Amendment Director Hunt discussed the recent history of the Park and Recreation Code Amendment and explained the 2017 revision was incomplete and needed an adjustment. This revision is to the definition only, with more revisions possibly to come. This changes the wording of low intensity and occasional and incidental use. The concept of this definition change is that it would not encompass something that is in operation continuously. There was discussion on “intensity” and how to be more Planning Commission Study Session December 18, 2018 – Page 3 specific with its use, with traffic and parking being the more obvious guidelines. S2 reviews could be a good tool to use. Too many exceptions require some body to look at the plan, that body is likely to be the PC. And amendment to reasonable parking and traffic thresholds needs to be looked at. Temporary Use permits were brought up as another option but they are only available for a total of one year. Foster suggested using the words limited to rather than including. We don’t want to increase the number of nonconforming uses with a simplistic solution. Norris reminded all that this is a process, not a done deal. Both elected boards would appreciate discussion with careful consideration of the pros and cons and asked that the PC report on what they see as the key fundamental underlying principles that need clarification. Historical commercial activity (grandfathering) would require more precision with intensity and amount of use. Comp Plan Consistency Code Amendment Director Hunt discussed the decoupling of the Development Code from the Comp Plan. Ministerial and Discretionary reviews have been sorted out. Ministerial (comp plan reference removed): variances, development plans, temporary uses/structures, public uses, final plats. Discretionary (continued comp plan reference): preliminary plats, rezonings, PUD’s, code changes. IGA discussion A joint Study Session between the TB and BOCC is scheduled for February 19 to discuss the future of the IGA. The comp plan rewrite cannot continue until a decision is made on whether or not the IGA is being continued. The current IGA expires February, 2020. PC members are allowed and encouraged to discuss their thoughts with elected officials. All town trustees should hear what the PC members and the public think on this matter. Going paperless Director Hunt proposed getting rid of the paper notebooks and move to electronic devices: Chromebook or IPad. Concerns about writing/taking notes and looking at drawings and plans were raised. Karin will send out a Doodle poll to get feedback. Due to time constraints, Chair Leavitt adjourned the meeting at 1:17 p.m. _____________________________________ Bob Leavitt, Chair Karin Swanlund, Recording Secretary