HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Study Session EP Planning Commission 2024-07-16Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, July 16, 2024
Minutes of a Study Session of the ESTES PARK PLANNING
COMMISSION of the Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado.
Meeting was held in said Town of Estes Park on the 16 day of July 2024.
Commission: Vice-Chair Chuck Cooper, Chris Pawson, David Arterburn,
Dick Mulhern
Attending: Cooper, Pawson, Arterburn, Mulhern
Also Attending: Director Steve Careccia, Planner Paul Hornbeck, Town
Attorney Dan Kramer, Recording Secretary Karin Swanlund
Absent: none
Vice Chair Cooper started the meeting at 12:30 p.m.
Planner Hornbeck gave a high-level description of Planned Unit Developments (PUDs).
It is a land use tool that can provide flexibility from standard district requirements. PUDs
are an overlying district, with the underlying zone district remaining in place. It
encourages innovative design and efficient use of open space, among other things, in
nonresidential districts.
The Comprehensive Plan, through the Future Land Use Map, calls out areas for mixed-
use centers and corridors.
Staff recommends giving the Town Board, rather than the Board of Adjustment, the
authority to increase density in commercial areas. The Planning Commission would
make the recommendation to the Town Board.
Summarized answers to questions from red-line changes to the code:
• Refinements to the Plat will take place during the review process
• PUD is essentially a rezoning. Preventing this as a workaround is essential.
• Open space reduction to 10% focuses on the quality, not size, for infill of open
space. A tiered approach could be considered.
• 42-foot height matches the Commercial Downtown height limit.
• 25-foot setback is more significant than the current setback for a 2-story building.
Be considerate of development adjacent or abutting residential zone districts.
More involvement from the Planning Commission makes this a better product. This
code amendment is an interim solution until the Development Code update is complete.
It was noted that the Wildlife Corridor Map update is needed.
There being no further business, Vice Chair Cooper adjourned the meeting at 1:25 p.m.
______________________________
Recording Secretary Swanlund