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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPACKET Town Board Study Session 2013-06-11* Revised NOTE: The Town Board reserves the right to consider other appropriate items not available at the time the agenda was prepared. STUDY SESSION TOWN BOARD Tuesday, June 11, 2013 4:30 p.m. Rooms 202/203 170 MacGregor Ave. AGENDA 4:30 p.m. Future Study Session Agenda Items. 4:40 p.m. Mayor Contingency Fund. 5:00 p.m. Break for Dinner. 5:15 p.m. Funding of Economic Development Council. 5:45 p.m. Development Plan Review Process. 6:30 p.m. Meeting Adjourn. To: Honorable Mayor Pinkham Board of Trustees Town Administrator Lancaster From: Jackie Williamson, Town Clerk Date: June 7, 2013 RE: Future Town Board Study Session Items June 25, 2013 Update on Insurance Coverage June 26, 2013 Pre Budget Meeting July 9, 2013 Proposed Amendments to Policy 101 – Board Assignments Other Items Not Currently Scheduled for Town Board Study Sessions • Revision to Stanley Historic District Agreement Town Clerk’s Office Memo Administration Memo To: Honorable Mayor Pinkham Board of Trustees Town Administrator Lancaster From: Lowell Richardson, Assistant Town Administrator Date: 6/11/2013 RE: Economic Development Task Force Background: The Economic Development Task Force is winding down its activity and is now engaged in one of their last tasks. They are meeting with identified community investors and requesting start-up capital for opening up the Estes Valley Economic Development office. As part of that process they are presenting a letter of request for funding from the Town of Estes Park. After crafting the budget, designing the organizational structure, completing the supplemental report to “The Path Forward” draft report, acquiring office space and outlining the benefits of Economic Development for the Estes Valley the Task Force is ready to move forward with a formal request of funding by the identified investors. Please see the attached letter which outlines the specifics of the request and other attachments deemed relevant to these next steps. The purpose of this brief presentation to the Board at this study session is to receive any comments or issues the Town Board wishes clarified prior to the June 25th Town Board meeting. It is the intent of the Task Force to make their formal request of the Town Board at that June 25th Town Board meeting. Development Review Process45minutestodiscussDevelopmentReviewintheEstesValley45minutestodiscussDevelopmentReviewintheEstesValley.Briefly describe the Why of Development Review, focus will be on theHow; the process.Who Reviews What?What are Staff’s and the Planning Commission’s roles?Whatdoweconsiderwhenreviewingaproposeddevelopment?Whatdoweconsiderwhenreviewingaproposeddevelopment?What about public comment?What is the review steps?What is working well?Wh tbid?Whatcanbeimproved?By the end of the discussion I hope to have provided a high-leveloverview of development review and obtained feedbackfrom Trustees.pIs there anything else about development review I should address? Why Development Review?To ensure the community develops as envisioned.DevelopmentreviewisacorelocalgovernmentresponsibilityandDevelopmentreviewisacorelocalgovernmentresponsibilityandaddresses community-wide needs including the safety and welfare ofcitizens and high-quality, consistent design and construction ofbuildings and public infrastructure. What is the Estes Valley Land Use Vision?ThisvisionisarticulatedintheEstesValleyComprehensivePlanThisvisionisarticulatedintheEstesValleyComprehensivePlanand codified in the Estes Valley Development Code.Thetwodocumentsworkhand-in-handtoguidedevelopmentinThetwodocumentsworkhandinhandtoguidedevelopmentinthe Estes Valley. These documents speak to what we want to beas a community.We are unique in that we have one unified land use vision for theentire Estes Valley, crossing jurisdictional boundaries.fCC ff fPrior adoption of the EVDC, the County had a different set of rules and regulations about what was to develop where, including the possibility of intense accommodations development that could have been out of character with the Townhave been out of character with the Town.References: Estes Valley Comprehensive Plan Chapter 6 Community-Wide Policies yp pyEstes Valley Development Code §1.3 Purpose and Intent Who Reviews What?Small projectsSmall projectsStaff is the decision-making body Example: Summit Coffee (Drive-Thru Coffee Shop) development Mi Aon Moraine AvenueLarger projectsPlanning Commission is the decisionmaking bodyPlanning Commission is the decision-making bodyExample: Wapiti Crossing proposed at Highway 7/Lexington LaneLarger projects where potential adverse impacts on nearby land uses, public facilities and services, and the environment are required to be mitigated to the maximum extent feasible.Town Board is the decisionmaking body for theseSpecial Review Town Board is the decision-making body for these Special Review applications.Examples: Elkhorn Lodge Tubing Hill, Open Air Adventure Park, upcoming EPIC Performing Arts Center What are Staff’s and the Planning Commission’s roles?Staff and Planning Commission serve in an advisory role to the Staff and Planning Commission serve in an advisory role to the Town Board and County Commission on development applications. While staff or Planning Commission may serve as a decision-making body, staff-level development plan decisions can be appealed to Planning Commission, and Planning Commission development plan decisions within Town limits can be appealed to the Town Board. SffStaff strives to be predictable, timely, logical, accountable and customer-focused. Staff’s goal is Estes Valley Development Code complianceStaff’s goal is Estes Valley Development Code compliance. What do we consider when reviewing a proposed development ?Codes RequirementsCodes RequirementsAdequate Public Facilities (standard through the US) Review for compliance with minimum standards for utilities, fire protection, and drainage/water quality, and transportation. Site Disturbance (recognizes unique values of the Estes Valley and surrounding public lands) Review for compliance with standards that protect the natural environment and aesthetics, and allows for recreational functions. Establishes standards for review of development on/near ridgeline, steep slopes, wetlands, significant native trees, and rock outcroppings.Landscaping and Buffers Review for compliance standards for restoration of disturbed areas and incorporating adequate landscaping into development.Exterior Lighting Review for compliance with exterior lighting standards to minimize effects on dj i d h i h k (d k k li h i )adjacent properties and the night sky (dark sky lighting).Off-Street Parking Review to ensure adequate parking is provided for peak demand.Operational and Performance Standards Additional conditions can be placed on a development to Operational and Performance Standards Additional conditions can be placed on a development to ensure that it is compatible with existing uses. There is discretion in the application of the standards. Special Review uses are held to a higher standard and must mitigate impacts to the Special Review uses are held to a higher standard and must mitigate impacts to the maximum extent feasible. What about Public Comment?P bli t h l t ff id th i t f j t Oft Public comment helps staff consider the impacts of a project. Often people that comment live in the neighborhood and are directly impacted by the proposed development. What are the Steps in Development Review?Standard Development Review ProcessStandard Development Review ProcessStep 1 Pre-Application ConferenceStep 2 Application/Completeness CertificationStep 3 Staff Review and ReportSt 4Et Vll Pl i C i i Step 4Estes Valley Planning Commission Action or RecommendationStep 5 Board of Trustees/Board of County Commissioners Review and Action What is Working Well? Community outreach has been well received and is ongoing.yggWe heard through Enhancing Planning and Building Services meetings that Community Development is a competent resource center. As a department we are through receptive transparent reasonable consistent and seek to find are through, receptive, transparent, reasonable, consistent, and seek to find commonality.Staff educates and assists the public, guides developers, makes recommendations to the Board on how to interpret and apply land use regulations. Development of customer guides are ongoing and will be combined into a Development Review Guide.Strong commitment to quick review of development applications. We review much more quickly that most communities. What is Working Well? Staff has changed review process to improve interagency and gp pgyinterdepartmental coordination and cooperation.Development Review Team meetings now occur weekly and have expanded to include outside entities (Fire District and Sanitation) include outside entities (Fire District and Sanitation). Ensure review agencies get complete and reviewable plans.Review is coordinated so staff consider moving parts and how they interrelateExample: Open Air Adventure Park street asphalt cut was minimized with a small change to a sewer line location. High quality street because less of the street cut (UTSD and Public Works discussion Development Review the street cut (UTSD and Public Works discussion Development Review Team – sitting at the table and discussion option).More predictability/consistency in how the code is interpreted and enforced in the Planning Division.Pre-application meetings are well attended, have set agendas to address all applicable aspects of the development review process with the applicant (avoid applicable aspects of the development review process with the applicant (avoid surprises). What can be Improved? St ff /Pl i C i i i tiStaff /Planning Commission communicationPlanning Commissioner training/orientation by staff will be more thorough.The Planning Commission Handbook will be rewritten and improved.The format of meetings between Planning Commission, Town Board and County Commission can be revised to allow for discussion and collaboration County Commission can be revised to allow for discussion and collaboration. The community wants quicker access to information. Without development review software, access to information is slower than many Colorado Front Range and mountain communities. Staff is exploring options and will work through the budget to address system needs.Staff welcomes any suggestions to make the development review process Staff welcomes any suggestions to make the development review process easier for all concerned.