HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Estes Park Planning Commission 2020-08-18Town of Estes Park,Larimer County,Colorado,August 18,2020
Minutes of a Regular meeting of the ESTES PARK PLANNING
COMMISSION of the Town of Estes Park,Larimer County,Colorado.
Meeting held VIRTUALLY in said Town of Estes Park on the 18 day of
August,2020.
Committee:Chair Maff Comstock,Vice Chair Matthew Heiser,
Commissioners Joe Elkins,Howard Hanson,Steve Murphree.
Attending:Chair Comstock,Vice Chair Heiser,Commissioners Elkins,
Hanson,Murphree,Director Randy Hunt,Senior Planner Jeff
Woeber,Planner II Alex Bergeron,Recording Secretary Karin
Swanlund,Town Board Liaison Barbara MacAlpine,Town
Attorney Dan Kramer
Absent:None
Chair Comstock called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m.
PUBLIC COMMENT.
None
AGENDA APPROVAL
It was moved and seconded (Murphree/Heiser)to approve the agenda and the
motion passed 5-0.
CONSENT AGENDA APPROVAL
It was moved and seconded (Elkins/Hanson)to approve the consent agenda and the
motion passed 5-0.
LOCATION AND EXTENT:BIRCH RUINS
Planner Bergeron reviewed the staff report prepared by Ayres Associates requesting the
installation of interpretive signage and deck extension to the structure at the Birch Ruins,
a historic site located in the Knoll Willows Open Space.
Derek Fortini,Museum Director,explained that the lapse in time from when this project
was approved to now was due to grant money approval.No trails are proposed to be
impacted,including the “car tracks”visible on the satellite photo,which is accessible for
police and parks departments.There are no plans to rehabilitate this vehicle trail.
Mike Todd,Cornerstone Engineering,described the deck platform as being expanded
metal decking with steel railing.Viewshed of Longs Peak is one of the main reasons for
this expansion as is that the decking will preserve the site and make it safer.
It was moved and seconded (Murphree/Hanson)to approve the Location and Extent
Review for the Birch Ruins with findings and by staff.The motion passed 5-0.
CODE AMENDMENT:AMENDED PLAT REVIEW PROCESS
Senior Planner Woeber explained that this Amendment involves changes to the Estes
Park Development Code (EPDC),Chapter 3 “Review Procedures and Standards”and
Chapter 10,“Subdivision Standards”to allow for an administrative review and approval
process for minor adjustments to property lines or elimination of interior property lines.
Staff request continuance of this code amendment to allow for additional review by the
Town Attorney’s office and staff.
It was requested that the staff report for this be distributed to the Commission earlier than
the next meeting date for the Commission to have extra time to review.
It was moved and seconded (Heiser/Murphree)to continue the item to September
15,2020.The motion passed 5-0.
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Estes Park Planning Commission —AUGUST 18,2020—Page 2
REPORTS:
•Director Hunt explained that the proposed parking-realted Code amendmentwould
be delayed another month to provide staff more time to review.
•Downtown building height will be a discussion item in September.
Concepts for this proposed Code Amendment come from the 2017 Downtown
Plan.Downtown real estate is usually at a higher price point and going vertical is
a way to add square footage.The plan allows for a three-story maximum height
(38-40 foot limit)in certain core areas of downtown,and a two-story maximum
height along the river corridors.The traditional method for achieving this is to have
an overlay zone.
Discussion:
Commissioners Hanson and Heiser spoke on the complications of having a way
to implement “maximum elevation from sea-level.”
Public Works has a way of producing a map/inventory of downtown buildings by
using a theodolite.
In answer to Chair Comstock’s question as to why this amendment is needed,Hunt
responded with three reasons:
1)Add residential on top of commercial space
2)Downtown building stock is aging and there is increased interest in
redevelopment
3)Flood plain areas
Design standards and guidelines are discussed in the Downtown Plan.There was
considerable dialog on mandatory architectural styles.Unification from the public
will be a significant undertaking and extremely difficult.Sticking to building heights
will make the process easier.Director Hunt will reach out to the Town’s Public
Information Officer on ways to inform the public before the next meeting.
It was pointed out that the River Walk was not referenced in the downtown map
and should be updated.Vice-Chair Heiser requested that Trustee MacAlpine bring
this up in her report during a Town Board meeting.
•DOLA has pushed back the application deadline to October 1 for the
Comprehensive Plan
•Technical Review Commiffee public hearing meeting on Monday,August 24,to
review the Stanley Hotel Carriage House.
•County Commissioners appointed a Planning Advisory Committee for the
unincorporated Estes Valley.This committee may have the possibility of working
with the EP Planning Commission.
There being no further business,Chair ing at 3:12 p.m.
MaU
Secretary