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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Estes Park Planning Commission 2020-11-17Town of Estes Park,Larimer County,Colorado,November 17,2020 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 17 day of November 2020. Committee:Chair Matt Comstock,Vice Chair Matthew Heiser, Commissioners Joe Skins,Howard Hanson,Steve Murphree. Attending:Chair Comstock,Vice Chair Heiser,Commissioners Skins, Hanson,Director Randy Hunt,Senior Planner Jeff Woeber, Planner II Alex Bergeron,Recording Secretary Karin Swanlund,Town Attorney Dan Kramer,Town Board Liaison Barbara MacAlpine Absent:Commissioner Elkins,Commissioner Murphree Chair Comstock called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. AGENDA APPROVAL It was moved and seconded (Heiser/Hanson)to approve the agenda and the motion passed 3-0. PUBLIC COMMENT. None CONSENT AGENDA APPROVAL It was moved and seconded (Heiser/Hanson)to approve the consent agenda and the motion passed 3-0. CODE AMENDMENT,Amended PlatlBoundary Line Adjustment Process Senior Planner Woeber reviewed the staff report.Currently,the Estes Park Development Code (EPDC)defines an Amended Plat,Boundary Adjustment,or a Land Consolidation Plat as a Minor Subdivision,requiring Planning Commission review and Board approval. As typically there is little or no impact from these “Minor Adlustment”processes,they can appropriately be reviewed and processed by staff The Code Amendment would also allow a more realistic time frame for receipt and recordation of Final Subdivision Plats from 60 days to 180 days.This Code Amendment was continued by the Estes Park Planning Commission (EPPC)from September 15 to November 17,2020.A primary concern expressed by the EPPC was that there was no public notice or public input proposed for a Minor Adjustment.Staff now proposes adding a department policy where any Minor Adjustment application would involve public notice. DISCUSSION: Chair Comstock and Vice-Chair Heiser suggested additional lines be added to Section 2.1 in the table to add that minor adjustments to be handled through staff review.Also, changing Section 12.1,referring appeals to the Planning Commission,not the Board of Adjustment.Director Hunt agreed with these propositions.Attorney Kramer stated that there might be a legal requirement written into Code and will look into it.Heiser noted that currently,when staff is the decision-making body for Development Plan reviews, appeals do go to the Planning Commission. Commissioner Hanson commented that adding the public notice alleviates concerns but possibly informing the Planning Commission of negative public input.Attorney Kramer discussed a call-out procedure,but that could delay things more than having an actual hearing,noting that this Amendments purpose is to simplify things.Trustee MacAlpine expressed her satisfaction with the inclusion of public notice. It was moved and seconded (Hanson/Heiser)to recommend that the Estes Park Town Board of Trustees APPROVE the text amendment,adding a line to table 2.1, RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Estes Park Planning Commission —NOVEMBER 17,2020—Page 2 to the Estes Park Development Code as presented in Exhibit A as recommended by staff,as well as the Community Development Department policy regarding public notice for Minor adjustments,with findings as recommended by staff.The motion passed 3-0. DOWNTOWN BUILDING HEIGHT DISCUSSION: Director Hunt reviewed the study produced by consultants Ayres Associates.Noting that it is still a work in progress,he touched on three arguments for increased height: 1)economics per square foot of the built area goes down 2)mixed-use development and 3)cost factors related to the floodplain and public subsidies. This study also touches on workforce housing issues,using background information on land economics. Heiser asked for a floodplain evaluation due to it being so closely tied to downtown development.Town Engineer Jennifer Waters agreed to a January Study Session date for this review. Hanson raised the issue of downtown parking if the building height is increased for workforce housing. In answer to Heiser’s question regarding misaligned boundaries in figure 4.6 of the downtown plan map,Hunt stated that a parcel by parcel alignment would be needed to make the map make sense. It was strongly recommended to find a way to make downtown upgrades economically feasible. Additional opportunity for public outreach and comment in 2021 was suggested. CHANGE OF MEETING TIMES: Due to Commissioner Skins being unavailable for meetings for the next few months,a change of meeting time was discussed.Staff recommended keeping the meeting time at 1:30 for continuity purposes.The commissioners agreed. OTHER: Floodplain,Loop,Transit and Downtown Parking reviews at the January study session. No meeting in December Planning Tech starting Monday,November23 There being no further business,Chair Comstock ad (<arm Swanlund,Recording Secretary 3:10 p.m. Ma99rftdck’