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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES Community Development Committee 2010-03-04RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, March 4, 2010 Minutes of COMMITTEE held in Town Committee: Attending: Also Attending: Absent: a Regular meeting of the COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT of the Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting Hall in said Town of Estes Park on the 4th day of March 2010. Chair Levine, Trustees Eisenlauer and Miller All Town Administrator Halburnt, Deputy Town Administrator Richardson, Directors Kilsdonk and Joseph; Managers Mitchell and Winslow, and Deputy Town Clerk Deats None Chair Levine called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m. PUBLIC COMMENT None COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMFMT REPORTS. Reports provided for informational purposes and made a part of the proceedings • Fairgrounds and Events Quarterly Report • Senior Center Quarterly Report Mgr. Winslow stated staff is making preparations for the summer season at the fairgrounds w,th 25 events being booked, two of which are newto E^es Park COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMFMT SIGN CODE REVISIONS cnor!,hlnkry-nb9as0Jd2Sk,n' cL'e Tatkp6 S' °f the CommunitV Development Committee, a oomprehensiver^steoTtpra(TOsedrnrevisiOTSWtoBther<,signClc^e,nindudinges^nPcode fedSedTo6,"' me,h0dSK AS a reSUlt 0f the Task Force's revisions to theX Sdl related to temporary banners were approved by the Town Board with the adoption of toSmmrnda ton ofat,heeia°k Pmber 8; 2009 meetin9' Dir' ncJed toaUhe #f a fth L k Force " t0 create a flex'1516 section of code that wouid reward creative design - has yet to be addressed by staff. Trustee Miller Task Form member, added other items that are not 100% complete are: A review of the wording in the sign code to make it more user-friendly • Diagrams and graphics to illustrate the intent of the code provisions; ofTia7^1 0f outd?or disPlay of merchandise from the sign code and the creation of a land use code revision for this purpose; and lornn?631'00 an [nVentory of non-conforming signs which could trigger code compliance when a business license is issued. RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Community Development - March 4, 2010 - Page 2 Dir. Joseph stated that most of the changes to the code represent a relaxation of current standards providing more flexibility and greater freedom for business owners. He presented a detailed account of the draft changes to the sign code and related them to the Task Force’s recommended revisions. The Committee asked for clarification related to the definition of a local tax-exempt nonprofit organization and limiting the number of temporary special event posters; clarification of the appeal process as it relates to Municipal Court, the Estes Valley Planning Commission, and the Board of Adjustment; requested improvements to the Schedule of Requirements Table to make it more user friendly; and consideration of different requirements for signage in the CD and CO zoning districts. Chair Levine thanked Dir. Joseph and described the proposed changes as a major step forward in broadening and loosening restrictions in the sign code, and stated that more discussion is required. He requested that staff continue work on the code revisions with input from the Sign Code Task Force. PUBLIC COMMENT. The following residents and business owners commented on the proposed sign code revisions: Renee Hodgden, Karen Steadman, Bill Prohs, Art Blume, Paul Fishman, Tom Pugh, Kevin Schwery, and Mark Elrod. Their comments are summarized; d'ssatisfaction with the current sign code, proposed revisions, sign code enforcement and borrowing code language from other municipalities; the need to develop an image for the Town of Estes Park; the display of signs encourages business; provide for temporary signage for events sponsored by nonprofit organizations; a flexible component to the sign code needs to be addressed in a timely fashion; level the playing field to provide uniform and consistent enforcement of the sign code; and, as part of the municipal code, sign code exemptions and variances should be heard by a local entity. Chair Levine called for a five minute recess at 10:03 a.m. and the meeting resumed at 10:08 a.m. CONTRACTOR LICENSINC Subsequent to requirements recently implemented in Larimer County staff recommends revisions to the Municipal Code to incorporate qualification-based licensing of building contractors. Larimer County’s contractor licensing program which IS common to many Colorado jurisdictions, was used as a template for the transition. I he types of contractor licenses and licensing requirements shall be consistent with those of Larimer County, and testing-based or experience-based qualifications from Lanmer County, or any other Colorado jurisdiction that adheres to the same locally adopted standards, will be accepted by the Town to ayoid duplication of the testing conn655’ The annual business license fee for contractors will not increase, remaining at $200 per year. s Staff recommends requiring the qualifications-based licensing of contractors and all non-exempt applicants for building permits within the Town limits, with the following exemptions: a 1. Contractors requiring State licensing (architects, engineers, electrical, plumbing, sprinkler, elevators/conveyances and manufactured home installers, etc.) and/or approved pre-engineered/ proprietary certification (Ansul systems, EFIS, etc.), and projects where the scope of work is limited to such contractors, shall not require additional testing, but shall require Town licenses. Owners of structures regulated by the International Residential Code shall be permitted to work on their own home and accessory structures without required licensing, provided they occupy the dwelling. Exemption from required testing and/or licensing does not include exemption from any other requirements including but not limited to obtaining required permits. 2. RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Community Development - March 4, 2010 - Page 3 The Committee expressed concerns related to requiring proof of current insurance coverage, and the financial hardship to contractors related to testing requirements. The Committee asked staff to remove the insurance requirement provision; clarify the language related to the licensing fee in Section 14.48.080 B. and remove the last sentence in 14.48-080 C. related to the failure of the Chief Building Official (CBO) to issue the license in a specific period of time. The Committee recommends Contractor Licensing be included on a future Town Board agenda as an action item and requested that the Contractor’s Association be kept informed about when the item will move forward. REPORTS. Reports provided for informational purposes and made a part of the proceedings. • Community Development Financial Report • Monthly Building Permit Summary There being no further business, Chair Levine adjourned the meeting at 11:05 a.m. iiafoCynthiaMDeats, Deputy Town Clerk APPROVED MAR 2 3 2010 TOWN OF ESTES PARK BOARD OF TRUSTEES