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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/03/2006 ORIGINAL CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE PLANNING COMMISSION Minutes of Meeting August 3, 2006 1. CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER The regular meeting of the Wheat Ridge Planning Commission was called to order by Acting Chair McMILLIN at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers of the Municipal Building, 7500 West 29th Avenue, Wheat Ridge, Colorado. 2. ROLL CALL Commission Members Present: Anne Brinkman Jim Chilvers John McMillin Cassie Spaniel Kim Stewart Commission Members Absent: Phil Plummer Jerry Scezney Scott Wesley Staff Members Present: Alan White, Community Development Director Meredith Reckert, Sr. Planner Tim Paranto, Public Works Director Ann Lazzeri, Recording Secretary 3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 4. APPROVE ORDER OF AGENDA It was moved by Commissioner CHIL VERS and seconded by Commissioner STEWART to approve the order of the agenda. The motion carried 5-0 with Commissioners PLUMMER, SCEZNEY and WESLEY absent. 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - July 20, 2006 It was moved by Commissioner BRINKMAN and seconded by Commissioner STEWART to approve the minutes of July 20, 2006 as presented. The motion carried 5-0 with Commissioners PLUMMER, SCEZNEY and WESLEY absent. 6. PUBLIC FORUM There was no one present to address the Commission at this time. Planning Commission August 3, 2006 - I - A. Case No. WZ-06-04 - An application filed by the City of Wheat Ridge for approval of a rezoning from Agricultural-One (A-I) and Residential One (R-l) to Public Facilities (PF) for property located at 11210 West 45th Avenue with variances to the Development Standards for Public Facilities District (Section 26-215.B). 7. PUBLIC HEARING The case was presented by Meredith Reckert. She entered all pertinent documents into the record and advised the Commission there was jurisdiction to hear the case. She reviewed the staff report and digital presentation. Staff recommended approval for reasons outlined in the staff report. Commissioner STEWART asked ifthere would be 24-hour police presence on the site. Tim Paranto explained that there would be 24-hour security camera surveillance; however, there would not be 24-hour police coverage. Commissioner STEWART expressed concern about safety issues for neighbors. Mr. Paranto explained that the fence surrounding the police compound area would be topped with barbed wire. The existing wood fence would be removed to allow circulation around the facility and allow better visibility by police. Commissioner BRINKMAN asked if hazardous materials would be stored at the compound. Tim Paranto replied that he assumed the hazardous materials team would take appropriate measures to store hazardous materials in an appropriate manner. There would be indoor storage for impounded vehicles. In response to a question from Commissioner McMILLIN about compensatory landscaping, Tim Paranto stated there would be landscaped areas around the administration building and as the property is redeveloped, trees would be added around the perimeter of the police compound area. He also stated there would be landscaping outside the entrance gate to West 45th Avenue. Kent Young 11280 West 46th Avenue Mr. Young was sworn in by Chair McMILLIN. He lives to the north of the evidence compound and expressed several concerns about the plans which he believed completely ignored adjacent property owners. He stated that he was originally told the evidence compound would be housed in a one-story building and now it is to be a two-story building with surveillance. He further stated he didn't receive any notice of a hearing until this meeting. He was out of town when the June 6 neighborhood meeting took place. Planning Commission August 3, 2006 - 2 - In response to a question from Commissioner BRINKMAN, Mr. Young stated that light from the facility spills onto his property. He further stated that his property values would be decreased as a result of the building being surrounded by barbed wire. Even with trees planted on the perimeter, the barbed wire would be visible from his property. He asked what kind of safeguards there would be for adjacent neighbors when the administration building is constructed. In response to a question from Commissioner McMILLIN, Mr. Paranto replied that there would be some storage bunkers on the south end ofthe property but no additional buildings on the western parcel. He further stated that the barbed wire fence could be placed inside a wood fence; however, this scenario would change the possibility of planting trees in that space. Mr. Young commented that these changes would not affect the view from his side ofthe fence. In response to a question from Commissioner STEWART, Mr. Paranto stated that the police building construction began last fall and is not yet occupied. Further, the police could not use the building for evidence storage ifthere is no barbed wire. Alan White explained that any future building on the site would have to meet building code requirements. He also explained that public facilities are allowed in any zone district as a use by right and that neighbors do not receive notices when building permits are issued. Commissioner McMILLIN asked Mr. Young if landscaping, such as a large evergreen, at the northeast comer of the evidence building would help. Mr. Young replied that this would help. Mr. Paranto stated that the city wants to be a good neighbor and it would be possible to landscape the northeast comer. His department would also investigate the lighting situation to see if security could be accomplished without light spillage onto Mr. Young's property. There were no other individuals who wished to address this case. Commissioner CHIL VERS suggested that the city plant several trees on Mr. Young's property to mitigate the lighting and view of the barbed wire. Mr. Paranto stated that the city could not plant the trees on Mr. Young's property but would consider providing funds to Mr. Young to plant the trees. The other alternative would be to have a barbed wire topped chain link fence inside a wood fence. However, there would have to be enough space between the fences for maintenance. There was discussion about a variance to fence height to allow the wood fence to obscure the chain link with barbed wire fence. Planning Commission August 3, 2006 - 3 - Commissioner SPANIEL commented that she was in favor of mitigating the lighting and obscuring the view of barbed wire for Mr. Young in order for the city to be a good neighbor. Commissioner STEWART agreed that there is a need to mitigate the conditions. She expressed concern about accessibility and safety issues for the police property. Mr. Young expressed concern about the other sides ofthe building in addition to the north side. Tim Paranto suggested the city could look into placing the impound portion of the facility on the south side. There was discussion about fencing east from the garage door in order to allow the building to serve as its own fence. He also gave assurance that the city would plant trees on the city's side of the fence or provide funds so Mr. Young could plant trees on his side of the fence. Alan White and Tim Paranto will work on a new scenario for the property to include suggestions made during the meeting and present a new site plan to city council. It was moved by Commissioner BRINKMAN and seconded by Commissioner SPANIEL to recommend approval of Case No. WZ-06-04, a request for approval of a zoue change from Agriculture-One and Residential-One to Public Facilities district for property located at 11210 West 45th Avenue for the following reasons: 1. The proposed zone change will consolidate zoning on the property. 2. Although not consistent with the designation on the Future Land Use Map, it meets the goals and objectives of other provisions in the Comprehensive Plan. The motion carried 5-0 with Commissioners PLUMMER, SCEZNEY and WESLEY absent. It was moved by Commissioner BRINKMAN and seconded by Commissioner STEW ART to offer the following recommendations for City Council's consideration: (1) the city will reconfigure the site plan to show the northeast corner of the evidence building eastward with no barbed wire fencing north of the building; (2) the city will review lighting to eliminate any spillage onto adjacent properties; (3) the city will landscape the area adjacent to Mr. Young's property to obscure the view ofthe building and to prevent light spillage; and (4) irrigated planters will be placed at the entrance. Planning Commission August 3, 2006 -4- The motion carried 5-0 with Commissioners PLUMMER, SCEZNEY and WESLEY absent. It was moved by Commissioner BRINKMAN and seconded by Commissioner SPANIEL to recommend approval of variances to the development standards in the Public Facilities zone district for property located at 11210 W. 45th Avenue being considered concurrently with Case No. WZ-06-04, for the following reasons: 1. The variances will legitimize the existing conditions on the property. 2. There should be no additional impact on adjacent properties as a result of the variances. The motion carried 5-0 with Commissioners PLUMMER, SCEZNEY and WESLEY absent. (The meeting was recessed from 8:35 p.m. to 8:42 p.m.) B. Case No. ZOA-06-04 - An ordinance amending Chapter 26 ofthe Wheat Ridge Code of Laws concerning Section 26-603 (fencing regulations) and Section 26-204 (agriculture and public facilities use chart). The case was presented by Meredith Reckert. She entered all pertinent documents into the record and advised the Commission there was jurisdiction to hear the case. She reviewed the staff report and digital presentation. Staff recommended approval for reasons outlined in the staff report. Following brief discussion, it was moved by Commissioner CHIL VERS and seconded by Commissioner SPANIEL to recommend approval of Case No. ZOA-06-04 concerning Section 26-603 (Fencing) and Section 26- 204 (Agriculture and Public Facilities use chart). Commissioner STEWART offered a friendly amendment to require that, when a Public Facilities district is established, special consideration be given to minimize the impact on adjacent residential properties, including the use of landscaping and placement of fences to shield the view of barbed wire fencing. The amendment was accepted by Commissioners CHIL VERS and SPANIEL. The motion, as amended, carried 5-0 with Commissioners PLUMMER, SCEZNEY and WESLEY absent. Planning Commission August 3, 2006 - 5 - 8. OLD BUSINESS A. Lighting Standards Alan White reviewed an ordinance repealing and re-enacting Section 26-503 of the Wheat Ridge Code of Laws concerning exterior lighting standards. Following review and discussion ofthe proposed ordinance, staff was directed to schedule a public hearing on the ordinance. 9. NEW BUSINESS . Alan White reported that there were no scheduled cases for the meeting of August 17. Therefore, the August 17 meeting will be canceled. 10. COMMISSION REPORTS . Commissioner BRINKMAN stated that she would be unable to attend the September 21, 2006 meeting. Commissioner STEWART stated that she would be unable to attend the September 7,2006 meeting. 11. COMMITTEE AND DEPARTMENT REPORTS There were no committee and department reports. 12. ADJOURNMENT It was moved by Commissioner STEWART and seconded by Commissioner CHIL VERS to adjourn the meeting at 9:56. , v a~ ()y-L,,~~~ Ann Lazzeri, Recording'Secretary Planning Commission August 3, 2006 - 6-