HomeMy WebLinkAboutTB Study Session 2016-12-13
Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado December 13, 2016
Minutes of a Study Session meeting of the TOWN BOARD of the Town of
Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting held at Town Hall in the
Board Room in said Town of Estes Park on the 13th day of December,
2016.
Board: Mayor Jirsa, Mayor Pro Tem Koenig, Trustees Holcomb,
Martchink, Nelson, Norris and Walker
Attending: All
Also Attending: Town Administrator Lancaster, Assistant Town Administrator
Machalek, Town Attorney White, Director Hunt and Town
Clerk Williamson
Absent: None
Mayor Jirsa called the meeting to order at 4:45 p.m.
VISIT FROM SAM MAMET, CML EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
Sam Mamet/CML Executive Director CML recognized the Town for its efforts in bringing
forward legislative issues over the years. He further acknowledged the Town’s strategic
planning process. The League provides municipalities throughout Colorado training
opportunities, legislative publications, lobbying at the legislative level and legal
advocacy. Issues CML would address during the upcoming legislative session include
Downtown Development Associations, construction defects, post-traumatic stress
syndrome for police officers, transportation funding, affordable housing, etc. The Town
Board and staff commented on the broadband issue and the possible change to the
Tabor law to address overcollection issues. Mr. Mamet stated the County
Commissioners Association has proposed a bill be presented at the next session to
repeal SB 152. The Tabor issue may come forward for review; however, the issue
continues to be unclear and would require a constitutional amendment.
FINAL REVIEW OF TOWN BOARD’S 2016 STRATEGIC PLAN.
Administrator Lancaster reviewed the 2016 Strategic Plan and stated a number of
Board objectives were accomplished; several items were begun and would be carried
over to 2017 as the item would take multiple years to complete; and a few were placed
on hold due to unforeseeable issues, i.e. the sale of the Conference Center.
Board discussion was heard on the need to move the Downtown Estes Loop project up
from its current schedule of 2021. Town Administrator Lancaster stated the Board
would have further discussions on the topic to determine the best strategy to move the
project to 2019, the next funding cycle. The Board further acknowledged the strategic
planning process, including the mind mapping and the reporting structure.
PROPOSED EVPC VACATION RENTAL REGULATIONS.
Director Hunt reviewed the recommended vacation rental regulations from the Estes
Valley Planning Commission. The proposed regulations would be considered at an
upcoming special joint Town Board and County Commissioners meeting on December
15, 2016. The new regulations establish a cap of 588 vacation rentals for properties
zoned residential. Vacation rentals in commercial zoned districts would not be included
in the cap; however, they would be required to meet the other regulations established.
The cap was established as a percentage of the total number of vacation rentals
assumed to exist in the valley by iCompass. During the 2017 transitional year a three
tier system would be established to prioritize registration of vacation rentals: first tier are
Town Board Study Session – December 13, 2016 – Page 2
all currently permitted/licensed vacation rentals have until March 31, 2017 to renew;
second tier would be any vacation rental currently operating but not registered and can
provided a valid 2016 contract as proof; and tier three would consist of any new
vacation rental. An inspection of all vacation rentals would be required prior to final
registration and be required every third years thereafter. It was stressed the inspection
would not be a building inspection. For vacation rentals with more than three
bedrooms, a special review process to allow 9 or more occupancy would be established
and run from April 1 through June 1. No new large homes would be approved after
June 1, 2017.
Chief Building Official Birchfield stated the Board of Appeals (BOA) has requested
direction from the Town Board on Building Code impacts to vacation rentals prior to a
final recommendation from the BOA to the Board. The BOA would come back with
recommendations once the Town Board and County Commissioners have made a final
determination on the new regulations to address building issues, such as sprinkler
requirements.
Discussion by the Board followed on the timeframe to complete registration; concerns
with limiting rentals during the review process and possibly requiring property owners to
cancel reservations during the process; other communities have required individuals live
in the home for a period of time prior to becoming a vacation home; and a number of
smaller edits were suggested. Trustees would forward their concerns to staff for review
prior to the December 15, 2016 meeting.
Michael Moon/Estes Valley Planning Commissioner stated the Commission reviewed a
number of regulatory documents and determined a restrictive code tended to drive the
vacation rentals underground and became difficult to enforce. The Commission also
reviewed compliance as a metric, the residential versus commercial components, the
safety of the rentals, and ensuring the proper taxes were being collected and remitted.
TRUSTEE & ADMINISTRATOR COMMENTS & QUESTIONS.
None.
FUTURE STUDY SESSION AGENDA ITEMS.
Staff would add the review of a Request for Proposal for the Fish Hatchery property to
the upcoming study session list.
There being no further business, Mayor Jirsa adjourned the meeting at 6:40 p.m.
Jackie Williamson, Town Clerk