HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Estes Valley Board of Adjustment 2011-03-11
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Regular Meeting of the Estes Valley Board of Adjustment
March 1, 2011, 9:00 a.m.
Board Room, Estes Park Town Hall
Board: Chair Wayne Newsom, Members Bob McCreery, John Lynch, Chuck
Levine, and Pete Smith; Alternate Member Jeff Moreau
Attending: Vice-Chair McCreery, Lynch, Levine, Smith, Moreau
Also Attending: Interim Director Chilcott, Planner Shirk, and Recording Secretary
Thompson
Absent: Chair Newsom
Vice-Chair McCreery called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.
The following minutes reflect the order of the agenda and not necessarily the chronological
sequence.
1. PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
2. CONSENT
Approval of minutes of the February 1, 2011 meeting.
It was moved and seconded (Levine/Smith) to approve the minutes as presented
and the motion passed unanimously with one absent.
3. LOT 15, WINDCLIFF ESTATES, 3RD FILING, TBD EAGLECLIFF DRIVE
Planner Shirk reviewed the staff report. The applicant requests a variance to Table 4-2
“Base Density and Dimensional Standards” of the Estes Valley Development Code to
allow a front yard setback of 10-feet in lieu of the 25-foot setback required to build a new
detached single family dwelling unit. The Windcliff Property Owners Association
Architectural Control Committee submitted a letter of support for this request; Planning
Division staff has not received any other neighborhood correspondence regarding this
matter. The lot is typical for a Windcliff lot: steeply sloping away from the road, long and
narrow in shape, with access from above. The variance is intended to keep the dwelling
as close to the road as possible in order to minimize site disturbance. Side yard setbacks
would be met, thus assuring adequate separation between houses. The site plan
indicates some grading work within the platted right-of-way. Staff suggests this variance
request is similar to others granted in the Windcliff subdivision, and will minimize overall
site disturbance without compromising the purpose and intent of the development code.
Planner Shirk stated the Larimer County Engineering Department deferred to the Windcliff
road maintenance crew concerning the proposed driveway and turning key, who had no
negative comments concerning the variance.
Planner Shirk stated there was an existing drainage culvert. When Eaglecliff Drive was
constructed, the historic drainage was rerouted; therefore, there should not be any
specific stormwater management problems that could not be addressed with the
construction plans.
Staff recommended approval with two conditions.
Public Comment
Steve Nickel/Applicant stated complying with the setbacks would probably double the
slope of the driveway and result in increased site disturbance. Another option was a three
and one-half story house, which could have resulted in a height variance request. The
proposed driveway will have a six to seven percent slope.
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Estes Valley Board of Adjustment 2
March 1, 2011
Staff and Member Discussion
Chair McCreery stated variances are common in Windcliff Estates, and commended staff
for their thorough staff report. Member Levine thanked Mr. Nickel for staking the property
adequately, which made the site visit easier. Planner Shirk added that variance requests
in Windcliff Estates are very common. One of the biggest concerns in that area is the
ability to maintain space between the adjacent structures.
Conditions:
1. Compliance with the site plan and building design as approved by the Board of
Adjustment;
2. Setback Certificate. Prior to final inspection, a registered land surveyor shall provide to
the Community Development Department a signed and stamped certificate that
specifically verifies that the structure complies with the approved variance, and
shall include a specific reference to the distance to property lines. Staff
recommends a surveyor set survey stakes for foundation forms to ensure
compliance with the approved variance.
It was moved and seconded (Levine/Moreau) to approve the variance request for Lot
15, Windcliff Estates 3rd filing, with the findings and conditions recommended by staff
and the motion passed unanimously with one absent.
4. REPORTS
The recently formed Creative Sign Design Review Board will be meeting at 10:30 a.m. on
March 1, 2011, to review a height variance for a sign at the Rocky Mountain Park Inn.
There being no further business, Vice-Chair McCreery adjourned the meeting at 9:17
a.m.
___________________________________
Bob McCreery, Vice-Chair
___________________________________
Karen Thompson, Recording Secretary