HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Town Board 2025-01-28Town ofEstes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, January 28, 2025
Minutes of a Regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Town of Estes
Park, Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting held in the Town Hall in said Town
of Estes Park on the 28th day of January, 2025.
Present: Gary Hall, Mayor
Marie Cenac, Mayor Pro Tem
Trustees Bill Brown
Kirby Hazelton
Mark Igel
Frank Lancaster
CindyYounglund
Also Present: Travis Machalek, Town Administrator
Jason Damweber, Deputy Town Administrator
Dan Kramer, Town Attorney
Jackie Williamson, Town Clerk
Absent: None
Mayor Hall called the meeting to order at 7:06 p.m. and all desiring to do so, recited the
Pledge of Allegiance.
AGENDA APPROVAL.
It was moved and seconded (Cenac/Hazelton) to approve the Agenda, and it passed
unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENTS.
Tom Kaszynski/County resident stated while obtaining signatures for the current Protect
Estes Park (PEP) citizen initiated petitions individuals have commented on how upset
they are with the Town.
TRUSTEE COMMENTS.
Board comments were heard and have been summarized: Police Auxiliary completed the
Blue Santa program that served over 100 people; thanked staff for their efforts in snow
removal; acknowledged the inaugural Skijour event held at the Fairgrounds; the Estes
Park Planning Commission held a discussion on the criteria for rezoning; Colorado Area
Ski Towns (CAST) to hold August meeting in Estes Park; attended the Larimer County
Sheriff award banquet; attended the Mayor's summit held by Colorado Municipal League
(CML); Sister Cities to redo their website; the Regional Opioid Abatement Council would
complete a new distribution cycle of $8.2 million; Visit Estes Park (VEP) discussed
Placer.AI that collects data on visitors using geospatial data, holding a community
roundtable in February, and two CEO finalists to complete in person interviews and a
community meet and greet; EP Nonprofit Network would share information on the federal
funding freeze; the Estes Park Housing Authority Board has a board vacancy; the
Economic Development Workforce Council provides programs including the BASE
program, two hour events on various topics, trainings, and case work with individual
businesses; and a training to be held by Jeff Roberts on the Open Meetings and Open
Records Act and encouraged the community to attend.
TOWN ADMINISTRATOR REPORT.
Policy Governance Monitoring Report - Policy^^^^^^^^ Town Administrator Machalek
stated compliance and noted Section 3.3.6 Budget Contengency Plan had a gap in
reporting since late summer due to the Finance Director position being vacant.
Town Administrator Machalek thanked staff for their recent efforts during the electrical
outage at Town Hall. He noted the electrical panels are undersized for the building and
would be addressed in next few months.
Board of Trustees - January 28,2025 - Page 2
CONSENT AGENDA:
1. Bill.
2. Town Board Meeting and Study Session Minutes dated January 14,2025.
3. Estes Park Planning Commission Minutes dated November 19, 2024
(acknowledgement only).
4. Resolution 08-25 Contract with Everest Mechanical Estes Park LLC for On-Call
Plumbing Services in 2025.
5. Appointment of Reuben Bergsten to the Platte River Power Authority Board of
Directors for a 3- year term commencing January 1, 2025 and expiring December 31 ,
2027.
6. Acceptance of Town Administrator Policy Governance Monitoring Report.
It was moved and seconded (Igel/Hazelton) to approve the Consent Agenda,and it
passed unanimously.
REPORTS AND DISCUSSION ITEMS: (Outside Entities).
1. ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK UPDATE. Superintendent Ingram, Public
Affairs Officer Patterson, and Caleb Waters/Facilities Manager & Deputy
Superindentent provided updates on fuel mitigation, housing updates, transpoders,
Fall River entrance, and the Moraine Park campground. Recent and ongoing fire
mitigation has included actively burning piles and broadcast burning. Fire recovery
from the recent fires in the park has been ongoing with most trails reopened, exotic
plants monitoring and treatment, natural recovery and utiliizing natural processes, and
Colorado River District (west side) housing continues to be replaced. A housing
assessment for east side housing was completed with approximatey $70 million
designated to address housing needs. The Fall River entrance construction has been
completed with a transponder lane, fast pass lane, added. The Moraine Campground
improvements over the past two years include the replacement and rehab of the water,
electric, and wastewater systems, as well as improvements to accessiblity.
Superintendent Ingram thanked the Rocky Mountain Conservancy for their support of
the park. Board questions and comments were heard and summarized: questioned
what federal administration changes would do to staffing and guest experiences for
the upcoming summer; questioned what percentage of people make a time entry
reservation; and complimented the Park on the shuttle bus contractor and questioned
if there have been discussions on expanding the shuttle system.
PLANNING COMMISSION ITEMS:
1. ACTION ITEMS;
A. ORDINANCE 01-25. ZONING MAP AMENDMENT FOR 860 SOUTH SAINT
VRAIN AVENUE, CHARLES SANTAGATI, OWNER/APPLICANT. Mayor Hall
opened the public hearing. Director Careccia reviewed an application to rezone
860 South Saint Vrain Avenue a 0.98 acre site containing a home built in 1935.
The site was identifed in the 1996 Comprehensive Plan as an important wildlife
habitat area. The applicant requests to rezone the subject parcel from E (Estate)
to RM (Multi-Family Residential). The property was down zoned from R-1 zoning
which allowed two-family dwellings to a less intensity E zoning in 2000 during the
valley wide rezoning. The conceptual site plan depicts ten two-story townhome
units, each approximately 1,830 square feet in size. Each lot includes some
exterior open space and deck or patio, with lot sizes ranging from approximately
3,300 square feet to 4,000 square feet. The development would utilize the
workforce housing density bonus allowed by EPDC Section 11.4 to increase the
number of units allowed from seven units to ten units, an increase of 43%. Six of
the units would be deed restricted for 50 years to be sold or rented only to qualified
members of the Estes Valley workforce. The other four units would not be subject
Board of Trustees - January 28,2025 - Page 3
to the deed restriction. Staff reviewed the three criteria that must be met to rezone
the property, including a change in conditions in the affected area, compatible and
consistent with the policies and intent of the Comprehensive Plan and with existing
growth and development patterns in the Estes Valley, and relevant services
providers shall have the ability to provide adequate services and facilities. Staff
recommended that all three criteria were met due to changes in housing needs,
the limited RM zoned property within town limits, the focus on infill development,
policy to diversify available housing options, compatibility with the neighboring
property, adequate public services, and the property identifed within the mixed use
centers and corridors of the Estes Forward Comprehensive Plan. It was noted the
Estes Park Planning Commission forwarded the rezoning application with a split
vote or a neutral vote.
Charles Santigati/applicant presented the proposed rezoing stating he has been a
contractor in Estes Park for 25 years and owns Glacier Construction. He noted
the project would provide additional workforce housing and built to code. The
property was identified for the proposed development because of its accessiblity
to the schools, hospital, multi-modal transportation options, and its proximity to
town. Steve Lane/Basis Architect stated properties within the Estes Valley 2000
rezoning were rezoned based on use at the time with few properties identified as
multi-family through the process. The 2017 code change allowed middle tier
housing or attainable housing with up to 150% AMI. These conditions require a
developer to identify a property to meet the rezoning requirement and develop
around the code provisions.
Trustee comments and questions have been summarized: questioned the use of
the property to the south; questioned how the conceptual site plan meets the
current Comprehensive Plan mix use corridor; questioned the increased denisty of
the proposed development; and questioned the number of available workforce
housing units available for purchase. Staff noted the property to the south has a
deed restriction and development has been limited to a picnic shelter on the site.
The Development Code does not contain a definition of mixed use. It was noted
the valley currently has one workforce unit for sale.
Those speaking in opposition of the rezoning included Hannah Fields/Town
resident, Kristine Poppitz/County resident, Karl Kashe/Town resident, Jed
Eide/Town resident, and Randy Krumpeck/Town resident. Those speaking
commented the proposed development would not meet the three criteria for
rezoning, no transition from single family to the proposed density, no change in
conditions, need to conform to the Comprehensive Plan, unusally small lot for an
RM site, and the units would not be attainable.
Scott Molten/Estes Park Housing Authority Director and Town resident stated
those in need of housing were not represented tonight through the discussion. He
stated small infill development would be vital to the housing needs throughout the
valley. The most significant housing stock need in the valley continues to be home
for sale for the workforce.
Additional Board comments and questions were heard and summarized:
commented on the need to refine the rezoning criteria; questioned the change of
conditions; concerned with the density; the proposal promotes the Estes Forward
Comprehensive Plan; the proposal meets the criteria, would redevelop the
property, most compelling would be the infill development, and in alignment with
the other zoning in the area; and the proposal would be a suitable development for
the area, stated rezoning is not permanent but rather semi-permanent, and this
development makes sense in this location.
Mayor Hall closed the public hearing. It was moved and seconded
(Hazelton/Brown) to approve Ordinance 01-25, and it failed with Mayor Pro Tem
Cenac, Trustee Lancaster, and Trustee Younglund voting "No" and Mayor Hall
abstaining.
Board of Trustees - January 28,2025 - Page 4
It was moved and seconded (Younglund/Cenac) to deny Ordinace 01-25 based
on finding in favor of the comments in opposition of the application, and the
motion failed with Trustees Brown, Hazelton and Igel voting "No" and Mayor Hall
abstaining.
It was moved and seconded to reconsider the motion (Hall/Cenac) to deny
Ordinace 01-25 based on finding in favor of the comments in opposition of
the application with Trustees Brown, Hazelton and Igel voting "No".
ACTION ITEMS:
1. RESOLUTION 09-25 SUPPORTING THE ESTES PARK SALUD FOUNDATION
AND SALUD FAMILY HEALTH'S FUNDRAISING EFFORTS TO AVOID CLOSURE
OF THE ESTES PARK SALUD FAMILY HEALTH CENTER. Deputy Town
Administrator Damweber presented a resolution in support of the Salud Foundation
and Salud Family Health's fundraising efforts to avoid closure of the Estes Park Salud
Family Health Center. The situation at the Estes Park Center continues to face a
projected $1 million operating shortfall that may result in the need to close the clinic
as of May 31. The Estes Park Salud Foundation has expressed a commitment to raise
$1 million annually to support the operations of the Estes Park Center in order to keep
the Center open. Hannah Fields/Town resident stated support of the resolution. It was
moved and seconded (Igel/Cenac) to approve Resolution 09-25, and it passed
unanimously.
Whereupon Mayor Hall adjourned the meeting at 9:51 p.m.
GaryPsrti^Mayor
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t^kie Williamson, Town Clerk