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Home My WebLink AboutPACKET Estes Park Planning Commission 2023-04-18 This meeting will be streamed live and available on the Town YouTube page at www.estes.org/videos ADVANCED PUBLIC COMMENT By Public Comment Form: Members of the public may provide written public comment on a specific agenda item by completing the Public Comment form found at https://dms.estes.org/forms/EPPCPublicComment. The form must be submitted by 10:00 a.m., the day of the meeting. All comments will be provided to the Commission for consideration during the agenda item and added to the final packet __________________________________________________________________________ AGENDA PLANNING COMMISSION – TOWN OF ESTES PARK Tuesday, April 18, 2023 1:30 p.m. AGENDA APPROVAL PUBLIC COMMENT (Please state your name and address). CONSENT AGENDA 1. Planning Commission Minutes dated January 17, 2023 2. Planning Commission Study Session Minutes dated January 17, 2023 3. Planning Commission Study Session minutes dated February 21, 2023 4. Planning Commission Study Session minutes dated March 21, 2023 ACTION ITEMS 1. Election of Officers DISCUSSION ITEMS: ADJOURN The Town of Estes Park will make reasonable accommodations for access to Town services, programs, and activities and special communication arrangements for persons with disabilities. Please call (970) 577-4777. TDD available. April 11, 2023 Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, January 17, 2023 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 January 2023. Committee: Chair Matt Comstock, Vice-Chair Matthew Heiser, Commissioners Joe Elkins, Howard Hanson, Chris Pawson. Attending: Chair Comstock, Vice-Chair Heiser, Commissioner Elkins, Commissioner Hanson, Commissioner Pawson, Director Jessica Garner, Senior Planner Jeff Woeber, Planner I Kara Washam, Recording Secretary Karin Swanlund, Attorney Dan Kramer, Town Board Liaison Barbara MacAlpine Absent: Elkins Chair Comstock called the meeting to order at 1:33 p.m. There were 12 people from the public in attendance. Chris Pawson, the new Commissioner, was introduced. The Town Board of Trustees appointed him in December. New Planner I, Kara Washam, was also introduced. AGENDA APPROVAL It was moved and seconded (Hanson/Heiser) to approve the agenda. The motion passed 4-0. PUBLIC COMMENT none CONSENT AGENDA APPROVAL It was moved and seconded (Hanson/Heiser) to approve the consent agenda. The motion passed 3-0, with Pawson abstaining. ACTION ITEMS Stanley Home Museum Amendment to S2 Special Review Senior Planner Woeber reviewed the staff report. The original Special Review for the Cultural Institution (Stanley Home Museum and Education Center) was approved by the Town Board on August 28, 2018. Woeber described the amendments proposed to five of the thirteen previous Conditions of Approval. The original conditions will remain unchanged. Condition No. 1: The applicant proposes allowing two tour groups of up to 12 people (the maximum currently allowed) to be on the property at the same time, but with more overlap than what is currently allowed. Currently, only “brief and incidental overlap” is permitted. The applicant notes 99% of tours have six or fewer people. Condition No. 2: Sunday hours are 12:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. The applicant proposes amending the Sunday hours to 9:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Mondays are closed under current Condition #2 unless it is a holiday. The applicant proposes expanding this to Mondays, which are a holiday or if a Special Event is scheduled. Condition No. 3: Special Events are a key component of the Stanley Home operation. Currently, there is a limit of two Special Events per month. The applicant proposes expanding this to four per month, with eight allowed during December. Outdoor Special Events are also proposed, up to one per month with a limit of four during a calendar year. Condition No. 10: Currently, tour attendees must use a shuttle to visit the Stanley Home from May 1 to October 31. The applicant proposes allowing attendees to park on-site year- round. There are eleven existing parking spaces, with five additional spaces proposed. Shuttle service would continue to be used for Special Events. dra f t Planning Commission – January 17, 2023 – Page 2 Condition No. 11: The eleven existing parking spaces are designated for employee parking, in addition to one ADA Handicap space, from May 1 to October 31. The applicant proposes allowing these and the five proposed spaces to be used by tour attendees year-round. DISCUSSION: David Batey, the Historic Stanley Home Foundation Chair, was available for questions. Regarding the Conservation Easement requirement, there was a requirement to initiate this, but it was determined it was not feasible. Vice-Chair Heiser suggested removing this item from the conditions. The increased number of tours and parking was reviewed and deemed appropriate. Tour times will not overlap. Outdoor special events are still required to conclude by 8:00 p.m. Public Comment: none It was moved and seconded (Heiser/Hanson) to forward a recommendation of approval to the Town Board of Trustees of the Special Review Amendment with the findings and condition of approval recommended by Staff, suggesting that Staff look at all conditions of approval which are still relevant. The motion passed 4-0. REPORTS: The Comprehensive Plan is complete and accepted by all bodies. Hard copies are available if wanted. There being no further business, Chair Comstock adjourned the meeting at 2:07 p.m. _______________________________ Chair Comstock Karin Swanlund, Recording Secretary dra f t Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado January 17, 2023 Minutes of a Study Session of the PLANNING COMMISSION of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado. The meeting was held in the Town Board Room, 170 MacGregor Avenue in said town. Commission: Chair Matt Comstock, Vice-Chair Matthew Heiser, Commissioners Joe Elkins, Howard Hanson. Chris Pawson Attending: Comstock, Hanson, Heiser, Pawson Also Attending: Director Jessica Garner, Senior Planner Jeff Woeber, Planner I Kara Washam, Town Attorney Dan Kramer, Town Board Liaison Barbara MacAlpine, Recording Secretary Karin Swanlund Absent: Elkins Chair Comstock called the meeting to order at 12:30 p.m. New planner Kara Washam and new Commissioner Chris Pawson were introduced. Consultants Mike Scholl and Matt Ashby from Ayres gave a report on medium-density housing, or “The Missing Middle.” This has been an ongoing discussion, beginning in August of 2021. It has been delayed due to the Comprehensive Plan rewrite and the new Housing Needs Assessment (HNA). The new HNA suggests 2,700+ housing units are needed in the Estes Valley. Medium density is the blending of single-family housing and large, high-density apartment complexes. This is in contrast to the traditional lots or units-per-acre practice. The community decides the definition of “middle” and establishes the rules. Benefits of medium-density housing options: Workforce Different stages of life Support for transit options Walkability Improved neighborhood character Opportunity for more attainable housing Diverse price points Multi-step process: New zone district Rezone applications platting/site planning Permitting dra f t Planning Commission Study Session January 17, 2023 – Page 2 There are at least two options on how to integrate current neighborhoods into higher density: -Missing Middle Open-higher scale, walkable/transit, more urban design, -Missing Middle Limited-less dense, lower scale, natural focal point, sensitive to existing development The process is about customization, rules you must follow, guidelines for consideration and adding details of how to make it work. -Determine where zoning designation is appropriate in the geographic component -Do areas correlate to all or a portion of the missing middle? -What checks and balances are necessary for each category? -Important to connect this process to the Comprehensive Plan Director Garner stated that diversity is needed at all levels: housing, income, and age. The accessible, easy places to build are no longer available, so we have to look deeper and get creative. This topic will be continued at the February 21 Study Session. Chair Comstock adjourned the Study Session at 1:30 p.m. Karin Swanlund, Recording Secretary dra f t Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado February 21, 2023 Minutes of a Joint Study Session of the PLANNING COMMISSION of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado. The meeting was held in the Town Board Room, 170 MacGregor Avenue in said town. Commission: Chair Matt Comstock, Vice-Chair Matthew Heiser, Commissioners Joe Elkins, Howard Hanson, Chris Pawson Attending: Comstock, Hanson, Heiser, Pawson, Elkins Also Attending: Director Jessica Garner, Town Attorney Dan Kramer, Town Board Liaison Barbara MacAlpine, Recording Secretary Karin Swanlund Absent: None Chair Comstock called the meeting to order at 12:00 p.m. There were four members of the community present. Housing Authority Executive Director Scott Moulton gave a presentation on the recently completed Housing Needs Assessment, focusing on some of the highlights. See the meeting recoding for detailed conversation. PowerPoint presentation attached. 1.Key Findings: age profile, job projections, housing stock (occasional use approximately 40%), price increases. 2.Data Analysis: The above findings lead to the “housing gap analysis,” with an acute need at the lower income levels. Right now, the total existing unit need is 1,220. The housing authority has over 1,000 people on a waiting list. 3.Strategic Plan Overview: preserve current housing stock and alter its use, not necessarily build hundreds of new units. This can be done through property acquisition, deed restriction buy-down, renovation and rehab, among many other options. Development Code updates to increase density and Development Project requirements to house employees are also needed. Using the estimated $5 million 6E funds will open up many opportunities. Discussion: Housing Authority must use these implementation plans to make housing available. What should be allowed as a “use by right” needs to be included in the Development Plan rewrite. The Planning Commission can focus on gauging projects that come across their path by keeping the future Code in mind. Some 6E funding could be used for the Code rewrite. Defining workforce, attainable, and affordable housing would be helpful. dra f t Planning Commission Study Session February 21, 2023 – Page 2 The Missing Middle discussion will be brought back to the Commission at a later date. There being no further business, Chair Comstock adjourned the meeting at 1:40 p.m. ___________________________ Recording Secretary Swanlund Link to recorded meetings: https://estespark.colorado.gov/videos dra f t Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado March 21, 2023 Minutes for the Study Session of the PLANNING COMMISSION of Estes Park. The meeting was held in the Town Board Room, 170 MacGregor Avenue in said town. Commission: Commission: Chair Matt Comstock, Vice-Chair Matthew Heiser, Commissioners Joe Elkins, Howard Hanson, Chris Pawson Attending: Comstock, Hanson, Heiser, Elkins, Pawson Also Attending: Director Jessica Garner, Planner Kara Washam, Town Attorney Dan Kramer, Town Board Liaison Barbara MacAlpine, Recording Secretary Karin Swanlund Absent: none Chair Comstock started the meeting at 10:30 a.m. There were five members of the community present. Planner I Washam gave an update to the Commission on Community Planning for Wildfires (CPAW). The CPAW program was paused due to staff changes and the completion of the Comprehensive Plan. The Memorandum of Understanding has been renewed until December 31, 2023. CPAW recommendations are intended to complement the other wildfire studies that have been done. Most of the changes can be integrated into the Development Code update, with a high priority on landscaping standards and plant suggestions. Chair Comstock noted that enforcement would be necessary for the implementation. Heiser asked that staff inform developers of this endeavor. There is guidance in the code that states that if you are accomplishing the same goals, you don't have to meet the exact standards, leaving some flexibility in the Landscape Code and balancing development standards. Ayres Associate Mike Scholl reviewed the most current findings regarding the Missing Middle code amendment. Per the Housing Needs Assessment and Strategic Plan, creating desirable and compatible neighborhoods is vital to the Missing Middle goal. The approach is to amend Chapter 9, Planned Unit Developments (PUDs) and establish two new zoning districts: Mixed Neighborhood Residential and Neighborhood Village. Due to its uniqueness, the standard code paradigm won't work in Estes Park. dra f t Planning Commission Study Session March 21, 2023 – Page 2 Purpose: to provide a compatible range of housing types within neighborhoods and projects based on plans that promote well-designed communities and integrate with surrounding development. Per Attorney Kramer, creating standards to help say Yes or No to a project is needed, with defined criteria and a multi-step process. Considerable discussion on PUDs and time frames was had. (see recording https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3ewUxmVIxU). Questions to consider for the subsequent discussion were given: Lot size minimums? Open Space types? Internal Circulation regarding street standards? Home sites related to open spaces? This topic will be continued at the April 16 Study Session. There being no further business, Chair Comstock adjourned the meeting at 12:10 p.m. ______________________________ Recording Secretary Swanlund dra f t