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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Town Board Study Session 2025-07-08RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Town ofEstes Park, Larimer County, Colorado July 8, 2025 Minutes of a Study Session meeting of the TOWN BOARD of the Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting held at Town Hall in the Board Room in said Town of Estes Park on the 8th day of July, 2025. Board: Mayor Hall, Mayor Pro Tem Cenac, Trustees Brown, Hazelton, Igel, Lancaster, and Younglund Attending: All Also Attending: Town Administrator Machalek, Deputy Town Administrator Damweber, Attorney Kramer, Police Chief Stewart, and Town Clerk Williamson Absent: None Mayor Hall called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. CLEAVE STREET REDEVELOPMENT UPDATE. Town Administrator Machalek introduced Wait Dietrich/Whimsadoodle Inc. to present a proposal to redevelop Cleave Street. The foundation was formed to continue the late Barb Marshall's efforts to enrich the cultural landscape of Estes Park and empower artist to thrive. Mr. Dietrich noted that Barb Marshall owned approximately 10 buildings, both residential and commercial, in and around Cleave Street. The proposal would be to collaborate with the Town as it considers the development of a parking garage on the corner of Cleave and Bighorn through the use of Town land, land owned by the Housing Authority, and properties owned by Whimsadoodle. The proposal would include retail space on the first floor, residences on the second floor would include one- and two- bedroom units, artist units, and 117 parking spaces. The corner of Cleave and Bighorn has been envisioned as a beacon drawing people to Cleave Street with space for food and beverage with outdoor seating, pop-up studio for art events, and additional retail space. A possible fourth level could add 45 parking spaces. The project would involve the three different entities working together to make the project happen. Board comments and questions were heard and have been summarized: the Board consensus was to continue to explore the project; the project could benefit the guest and resident experience and tie into the Downtown Master Plan; stated some concern with the fourth floor of parking; a rare opportunity to maximize on the limited land assets in the downtown corridor; the innovative project comes at the right time; and consideration for the architecture to include the Colorado mountain esthetic. BIG HORN PARKING STRUCTURE DESIGN UPDATE. Project Manager Pastor presented conceptual drawings of the parking structure completed by the consultant DESMAN. He noted during the pre-application meeting with Community Development several issues and concerns were raised, causing the project to pause until further information could be gathered and with additional Town Board guidance. The concerns raised included property line setback requirements for adjacent structures and right-of-way access, driveway access and spatial distancing, and pedestrian activation along Cleave Street. The setbacks along Big horn on the east and north are required at eight (8) feet and have led to a reduction in parking spaces of approximately 12-15 parking spaces. The Development Code requires driveways be spaced at least 150 feet from a collector street and comer lots shall have a setback of 15 feet from the property line at the comer for a driveway or a minimum of 30 feet from the cross-street curb line, whichever may be greater. The requirements are different from the Larimer County Urban Area Street Standards (LCUASS) which are less restrictive than the current code. The code requirements would eliminate an entire level of parking from Bighorn Drive as there would be insufficient distance and grade RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Town Board Study Session - July 8,2025 - Page 2 changes to meet the code and would require a variance. The Downtown Master Plan encourages pedestrian activations in any new building/designs such as incorporating windowed storefronts, landscaping, art and natural features on the ground floor. These are recommendations and not requirements. In designing for future uses of the parking garage, it was noted by Planning the bottom level would need 12 feet of clearance, the current design has planned for eight (8) feet six (6) inches. The additional height requirement would increase the height of the other levels and make entrances difficult and possibly eliminate the fourth floor due to height limits of structures downtown. The proposed design factoring in items discovered during the pre-application process and other design issues has the new garage with 110 total spaces, an increase of 55 spaces over the current parking lot. Board comments and questions were heard and summarized: noted the importance to ensure safety of pedestrians are addressed within and around the parking structure; questioned if the Board of Adjustment would have the authority to approve a variance to the spacing; questioned if staff considered digging down on Cleave Street to address the height issue; raised concern with Cleave Street becoming a pedestrian mail and the impact it would have to current businesses that use Cleave Street for access, deliveries, etc.; questioned the contract timeline with the design firm; stated the Town's code should be closely aligned with the street standards of Larimer County; and a parking structure would spur redevelopment in the area as it would become attractive to developers. The project would remain on pause as the Town continues discussions with Whimsadoodle on a possibility of including the land as part of a larger project. WATER MASTER PLAN - COLLABORATIVE DEVELOPMENT OF TREATMENT ALTERNATIVES. Director Bergsten stated the Glacier Creek Water Treatment Plant (GCWTP) has reached its useful life. The department has been working to address next steps including a decision on moving towards one year-round treatment plant or continue to maintain two separate treatment plants. The Town utilized a process of "Constructive Controversy" to determine the direction the department should consider. The process involved two teams to represent the two concepts. The one plant team found the budgeting, facility, and building costs would be lower; one plant would assist with planning for regulator compliance; plant operators would only need to become subject matter experts for one treatment process/a single set of standard operating procedures; focused O&M; increase inventory management and ordering efficiency; require a single site for disaster-hardening; would reduce risk management planning security and safety; and less compliance reporting and single location for planning compliance upgrades. The two plant team's finding included the importance of diversity of location; would support the existing systems; would reduce single point of failure in the water system; would emphasize the existing investments in the infrastructure; capitalize on the staff familiarity with the system; would utilize the current water rights located at each site; noted the Town's water system continues to be the only large public water system in the area with no potential emergency connections; geographic diversity adds natural disaster protection and the use of multiple raw water sources; historical the two plants have provided reliable service to the customers; and the distribution system has been structured for the two current locations to allow for gravity flow in many parts of the system. The consensus of the two teams was the need for redundancy in supply and treatment to provide reliable service; switching back and forth with different processes and location has been challenging for operators and water quality; the existing plants' configurations are not ideal as it relates to processes, expandability, and redundancy; and the cost to achieve high-quality and reliable service with the existing plants remains very high. The needs of the department could be met by bringing all the Town's water rights to a single plant location; construct a new expandable plant with multiple redundant treatment trains for year-round operations; complete required improvements and maintenance at Mary's Lake Water Treatment Plant (MLWTP) to allow for seasonal operation; and decommission the GCWTP due to the poor condition and declining functionality. The next steps would include new demand projections, completion of a Water Master Plan, develop cost estimates for improvements to the MLWTP and the proposed new plant, complete a preliminary study RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Town Board Study Session - July 8,2025 - Page 3 for MLWTP raw water pipeline, initiate planning and funding for MLWTP improvements and the new plant, and initiate a rate study. Board comments and question were heard and summarized: the multiple trains at a single plant were viewed favorably; questioned the timeline for completion of a new plant; and questioned the decommissioning of the GCWTP and whether or not it would be operational for the next five (5) to eight (8) years. Staff noted the completion of a new Water Master Plan and water rate increase would be necessary before a new plant could be built. Town Administrator Machalek further noted there would be a limit on the General Funds that could be used to fund a new plant because the department functions as an enterprise fund. MLWTP would be improved while the new plant was built for true redundancy and operation year-round. Once MLWTP reaches its useful life the Town would make a determination on the need for a second plant. FUTURE STUDY SESSION AGENDA ITEMS, It was requested and determined to schedule a discussion on Childcare Licensing Regulation and Childcare Exempt Providers and a review of the Climate Action Plan for August 26, 2025. Mayor Hall brought forward a request by the KOA owner/manager to discuss a potential amendment to the wildlife code to allow exemptions for securing trash receptacles during the day. The Board consensus was to schedule the item noting education may be the first approach, the need to address the issue without making individual accommodations for businesses, and requested the Code Enforcement Officer be present for the discussion. Mayor Pro Tem Cenac commented on the need to discuss the recent change to the parking ordinance that has impacted staff at the Post Office. The Board was supportive of holding the conversation at the end of the parking season to review data collected over the course of the parking season, and to fully understand the impact the change may have had on the operations at the Post Office. The item was approved as unscheduled until after the parking season has ended in October. COMMENTS & QUESTIONS. None. There being no further business, Mayor Hall adjourned the meeting at 6:27 p.m. -^^^\~-~. ^j, ^^~~'>^ Q Q j-^>. J^fkie Williamson, Town Clerk 1