HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Estes Park Planning Commission 2025-01-21 Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, January 21, 2025
Minutes of a Regular meeting 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 January 21, 2025.
Commission: Chair Charles Cooper, Vice Chair David Arterburn, Dick
Mulhern, Chris Pawson, Jeff Robbins
Attending: Commissioners Cooper, Arterburn, Pawson, Mulhern,
Robbins, Senior Planner Hornbeck, Planner Kara Washam,
Town Attorney Dan Kramer, Recording Secretary Karin
Swanlund, Community Development Director Steve Careccia,
Town Board Liaison Frank Lancaster
Absent: None
Chair Cooper called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m.
INTRODUCTIONS
AGENDA APPROVAL
It was moved and seconded (Arterburn/Robbins) to approve the agenda. The motion
passed 5-0.
CONSENT AGENDA APPROVAL
It was moved and seconded (Mulhern/Robbins) to approve the consent agenda. The
motion passed 5-0.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Jed Eidi, 607 Longs Drive, expressed his confusion over the current definition of
workforce housing, emphasizing the need for affordability in housing development.
Kristine Poppitz, 650 Devon Drive, raised concerns about the time of day Planning
Commission meetings are held, which often hamper public participation. Many citizens
cannot attend meetings during working hours, indicating a need for better scheduling
and notification practices to enhance community involvement. She also reiterated her
desire to be on the Development Code rewrite committee.
DISCUSSION:
Staff provided the Planning Commission with an overview of the criteria established in
the Development Code for the review of code amendments (rezonings) and then
solicited Commission discussion and feedback. As this was an information item, no
formal action from the Commission was required or taken.
The Commission discussed the review criteria and other matters, as summarized below:
Criteria for Rezoning: A few Commissioners mentioned that the rezoning criteria are not
specific enough, leading to varying interpretations among staff, public and Commission
members. A more precise, detailed framework is needed to guide decision-making and
ensure consistency in evaluating future proposals.
Misalignment of Definitions: The current definitions of workforce housing do not
adequately address affordability, leading to confusion. One Commissioner commented
that the term "workforce housing" has been misinterpreted as an increase in density
rather than a means to provide affordable housing options for essential workers.
Developer Interests vs. Community Needs: A Commissioner stated that Developers
often leverage workforce housing provisions to increase housing density, which can
benefit them financially but does not necessarily meet residents' needs. The Planning
Commission must ensure that such developments align with community affordability
goals.
Planning Commission – January 21, 2025 – Page 2
Economic Justification Required: A Commissioner stated that the Commission's ability
to make informed decisions is impeded by the absence of economic data to support
claims about housing needs. Future proposals should include comprehensive economic
analyses to justify density increases and housing developments.
The Role of the Comprehensive Plan: Staff stated that the Comprehensive Plan is an
essential document for guiding development, but as an overall aspirational vision, it
requires interpretation and application to specific zoning cases. The Commission
discussed that they must evaluate how the Plan's goals translate into actionable plans
for individual properties.
Need for Development Code Clarity: As the town prepares to update the Development
Code, there is an opportunity to refine definitions and criteria to better align with the
Comprehensive Plan, community values and expectations. This could help avoid
confusion and ensure that future developments are appropriate and beneficial to the
community.
There being no further business, Chair Cooper adjourned the meeting at 2:37 p.m.
_________________________________
Chuck Cooper, Chair
Karin Swanlund, Recording Secretary