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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Estes Valley Planning Commission Study Session 2019-02-19Town 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, Theis, Murphree, Smith, White Also Attending: Town Attorney White, Director Hunt, Senior Planner Woeber, Planner I Becker, Town Board Liaison Norris, County Liaison Whitley, Code Compliance Officer Hardin and Recording Secretary Swanlund Absent: Foster Chair Leavitt called the meeting to order at 11:00 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: Vacation Homes & Bed and Breakfast Inns Chair Leavitt noted that Town Clerk Jackie W illiamson has concerns about the amendments and would like a deferral on voting until March. Code Compliance Officer Hardin and Director Hunt agreed to continue the Code Amendment to the March 19 meeting however Hardin made note that she will not be in attendance for that meeting. Code Amendment: Consistency with Comprehensive Plan Director Hunt reviewed the Consistency with Comp Plan amendment, stating that it is the same material that was in the January meeting. Ministerial is not discretionary, no comp plan reference required. Legislative are discretionary proposals and would retain the comp plan reference. Chair Leavitt had several areas of concern, including wildlife corridors, making sure we don’t remove or replace things with regulatory implications, denied development plans need to have elements of the development code cited in the reasons, and whether or not the IGA will have an effect on this subject. The recommendation of not moving forward with this at this time was made as it is not holding up any current development plans. Michael Whitley explained that in Larimer County anything approved at staff level doesn’t require consistency with comp plan, the Development Code is the sole criteria. There was consensus to continue the amendment. Code Amendment: Park and Recreation Facilities (conceptual) Chair Leavitt made note that he was the author of the Conceptual Amendment, not Director Hunt or the Planning Commission. His motive for this was to keep consistency and generate discussion, and avoid contradictions and vagueness. The intent is a starting point for discussion. Today’s public hearing is not based on a full-fledged proposal but is a place to hear public comment. Last month this was only a discussion item, which was a new mechanism for the PC study sessions. Planning Commission Study Session February 19, 2019 – Page 2 Whitley explained that Larimer County handles code amendments with a monthly work session between Commissioners and Planning Commission. Often, the agreement is to not pursue the Code Amendment. For high-level amendments, the process is to get feedback, bring back for more discussion, have open house public meetings, bring back again for a public hearing. Conceptual idea is basically a laundry list of things to be done, leaning toward a narrower approach and make modifications if necessary. The intent is to steer away from special reviews by putting in code language that provides restrictions. Main public concerns are with the ambiguity of the terms commercial and noncommercial and the difference between public and private. Temporary uses have a lot of latitude. Contractors and developers are going to find loop holes. A possible solution for commercial entities may be a new Park/Recreation zone. Whitley stated that City of Greeley Regulations separate out true parks and rec facilities which allows taking non-park and rec out of certain definitions. Working with table 4.1, grandfathering and temporary use are the main goals. Moratoriums are temporary, you have to pursue a solution. It was agreed to continue the item to a later meeting. Lunch 12:05-12:25 By-Laws revision Planner Becker reviewed the updated By-Laws based on what was discussed at the December and January study session. There were no questions or comments on the new version. Meeting start times were discussed. Study session start time of 3:30 p.m., leaving a break for dinner, and regular meeting starting at 6:00 p.m. was agreed upon. A vote on this would make it a “normal” meeting time for the rest of the year. Public attendance will be tracked to see if the later time draws more interest with a review after six months. Plan is to begin the later meetings in April or May to give time for public notification. Becker also passed out handouts regarding parking thresholds and neighborhood and community meetings, which will be study session items in March. Joint Planning Area Resolution Leavitt wrote this resolution (attached) to let the Town Board know the Planning Commission’s thoughts on the IGA. The hope is to vote on this at the public meeting today, so it can be entered into the joint Town/County meeting being held this evening. It is hard to imagine planning without it being Valley wide. The issue is governance. There are plenty of reasons to keep the Joint Planning Area and losing it would be problematic for people living outside of town limits. Attorney White discussed what it was like prior to the IGA. RMNP kicked off the proposal due to the threat of development in the County. Citizens came up with the Comp Plan, funded through EPURA with help from a Consultant. The zoning plan was part of the comp plan, it was a 6 year process and implemented in 2000. Leavitt reviewed two components in addition to the resolution; modify the Development Code to have all projects with community wide impact be reviewed by the EVPC, and all appeals of Development Plan decisions be reviewed and approved by both the Town Board and County Commissioners. Attorney White stated that zoning power can’t be given to someone else therefore making component two likely illegal. Hunt added, from the role of the Department head of CD, that we are not compensated appropriately by the County, with 56% of work being in town and 44% county. Planning Commission Study Session February 19, 2019– Page 3 Consultant Report Woeber spoke on Ayres and Associates, the consultants that are working on our parking standards in the Development Code. A more detailed report will be available in March. Going paperless Director Hunt proposed getting rid of the paper notebooks and move to electronic devices: Individuals will be polled and asked which format they prefer. If electronic is preferred, the town will not be able to provide the hardware unless all members agree. Chair Leavitt adjourned the meeting at 1:15 p.m. _____________________________________ Bob Leavitt, Chair Karin Swanlund, Recording Secretary