HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Town Board Study Session 2026-06-23RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Town ofEstes Park, Larimer County, Colorado June 23, 2026
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 23rd day of June, 2026.
Board: Mayor Hall, Mayor Pro Tem Hazelton, Trustees Brown,
Eshelman, Igel, Lancaster, and Mieras
Attending: Mayor Hall, Mayor Pro Tem Hazelton, Trustees Brown,
Eshelman, Igel, Lancaster, and Mieras
Also Attending: Town Administrator Machalek, Deputy Town Administrator
Damweber, Attorney Kramer, and Town Clerk Williamson
None
Absent:
Mayor Hall called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
Business Support Strategic Objective.
Deputy Town Administrator Damweber outlined the current support the Town provides
to local businesses to address the 2026 Strategic Plan Objective to "Identify
opportunities to support an eclectic mix of business, including smaller 'mom and pop'
shops" including base funding for the Economic Development Workforce Council
(EDWC) which provides business support strategies currently employed by the
Chamber and the EDWC, with support from the Town. These services include
facilitation of networking and relationship building, visibility and marketing, education
and skill-building, and advocacy. Staff reviewed other potential strategies employed by
local governments including grant or microloan programs, fagade improvement
programs, and fee waivers for new businesses or business expansion/renovation. He
noted that each of the strategies would require program creation and administration,
and funding from the Town. Board discussion was heard and has been summarized:
questioned if analysis on what types of new businesses would be successful downtown
had been completed, it was noted no formal study had been completed; asked if staff
was seeing a demand for one of the options presented; questioned what challenges
businesses have with fees or other barriers, it was noted the cost of building fees have
been a issue for businesses, bridge loans are not uncommon for businesses to assist
with the off season; the Town should lean in on items that would stimulate business with
the fagade and sidewalk improvements being beneficial to address; noted a
philosophical concern with government involvement on how small businesses operate;
would like to understand how the fagade improvements would benefit the property
owners and the business owners and would support the program to improve
infrastructure that resides outside the downtown business corridor; assisting with
microloans/revolving loans as well as start ups would be of interest, however, concern
was expressed on whether the Town was the proper entity to implement such a
program; stated the Town should not be propping up businesses that are failing; the
Town should do no harm and should assist with Town processes, including a review of
planning processes and building requirements to assist new businesses and streamline
when feasible; and suggested a study be completed to compare the Town's fees and
timelines for development with similar communities. Staff confirmed consensus on
reviewing a fagade program and the cost associated, review and evaluate the level of
rigor required on the regulatory side for new business without the implementation of fee
waivers, and review partnerships and work with the Chamber to advocate microloans
through the local banks.
Rezoning Criteria.
Director Careccia stated rezoning criteria are established in the Estes Park
Development Code which outlines the need for a rezoning to show compliance with the
criteria. Staff reviewed the rezoning criteria often (10) other municipalities and noted
the major issue for Estes Park was the change in conditions. Three (3) rezoning criteria
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Town Board Study Session Minutes dated June 23, 2026 - Page 2
have been proposed: Review Criteria 1 - Consistency with the future land use plan,
Review Criteria 2 - Compatibility with surrounding area and mitigation of adverse
impacts, and Review Criteria 3 - Adequate public sen/ices. The change in conditions
would become a secondary review criterion under Review Criteria 1. The proposed
modification to the rezoning criteria would provide clarity for staff, stakeholders, and
decision makers. Board comments and questions were heard and summarized:
questioned how to clearly define "areas affected" within the change of use to provide
specificity; noted concerns with streamlining the process for both staff and the applicant,
Director Careccia commented in reviewing other land use codes he has not come
across a definition for a change in conditions that would provide the specificity
requested and noted it usually follows as a secondary condition or related to an error
that has occurred; it was noted a change in circumstance has been recommended and
would be in alignment with Larimer County; concern was raised on the use of the
phrase "close vicinity"; the governing body should be making decisions and have the
flexibility to make decisions which requires a level of vagueness of definitions; and the
consensus of the Board was to bring forward a Development Code revision to consider
amending the rezoning criteria prior to the completion of the Development Code rewrite
later in 2026. The item would be added to a future agenda as a report and discussion
item with public comment allowed and noted on the agenda.
Trustee and Administrator Comments and Questions.
None.
Future Study Session Agenda Items.
It was requested and determined to add a discussion on Micromobility to the August 25,
2026 meeting. Mayor Hall requested a study session on the old hydro plant on
MacGregor Ranch, the potential of giving the land to the Ranch, and the establishments
of easements to access areas of the Rocky Mountain National Park. Trustee Igel
requested a study session to discuss the structure of the Estes Park Housing Authority
Board and how to fill vacancies on the Board.
There being no further business, Mayor Hall adjourned the meeting at 6:49 p.m.
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Jgf6l<ie Williamson, Town Clerk