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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/04/2000 ORIGINAL CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE PLANNING COMMISSION Minutes of Meeting May 4, 2000 1. CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order by Chair MacDOUGALL at 7:30 p.m. on May 4, 2000 in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building, 7500 West 29th Avenue, Wheat Ridge, Colorado. 2. ROLL CALL: Commission Members Present: Paulette Cooper Dean Gokey Don MacDougall Marian McNamee Nancy Snow Janice Thompson Commission Members Absent: Jerry Collins (excused) Dick Doyle (excused) Staff Members Present: Alan White, Planning Director Mary Austin, Planner Greg Knudson, City Engineer Mike Garcia, Development Engineer Ann Lazzeri, Secretary 3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The following is the official set of Planning Commission minutes for the public hearing of May 4, 2000. A set ofthese minutes is retained both in the office ofthe City Clerk and in the Department of Planning and Development of the City of Wheat Ridge. 4. APPROVAL OF ORDER OF THE AGENDA Commissioner SNOW requested a discussion regarding the amount of paving required for driveways (Section 26-31(C)(6) of the code) be added under Old Business. It was moved by Commissioner SNOW and seconded by Commissioner COOPER to approve the order of the agenda as amended. The motion passed 6-0 with Commissioners COLLINS and DOYLE absent. Plamting Commission Page 1 May 4, 2000 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES It was moved by Commissioner GOKEY and seconded by Commissioner SNOW that the minutes of April 20, 2000 be approved as presented. The motion passed 6-0 with Commissioners COLLINS and DOYLE absent. 6. PUBLIC FORUM There was no one signed up to speak before the Commission on unscheduled matters. 7. PUBLIC HEARING A. Case No. CUP-OO-02: Conditional use permit to allow expansion of a Jefferson County School in an A-I zone and a 10-foot side yard setback variance from the required 30-foot side yard setback to construct an entryway vestibule. The case was presented by Mary Austin. She reviewed the staff report and presented slides and overheads of the subject property. She entered all pertinent documents into the record and advised the Commission that there was jurisdiction to hear the case. Staff recommended approval of the application with conditions outlined in the staffreport. In response to a question from Commissioner GOKEY, Ms. Austin stated building coverage on the property is 26%. He expressed concern about increased traffic on Miller which would result from the proposed development. Greg Knudson stated that the proposed pullout lane in front of the school should alleviate traffic congestion on Miller. In response to Commissioner GOKEY's question regarding a traffic signal at 44th and Miller, Greg Knudson stated the traffic engineer had determined traffic volume at this location did not warrant a traffic signal. Commissioner SNOW asked if a school signal could be placed at the intersection. Mr. Knudson stated that he would direct the traffic engineer to investigate this possibility. There was discussion regarding traffic circulation in the parking lot. Mary Austin commented that her observations revealed parents do adhere to the traffic circulation pattern. Commissioner THOMPSON also expressed concern about the traffic and suggested having a right-turn-only sign for parents exiting onto Miller Street as well as no-parking signs on Miller. She also expressed concern about the possibility of the school asking for another conditional use permit in the future to add onto the existing building to the east. Mary Austin explained that, under A-I zoning, the school will be at maximum percentage building coverage. Commissioner McNAMEE also expressed concern about traffic flow on Miller when a left turn lane is added and suggested that no parking be allowed on either side of Miller the distance of the left turn lane. She asked if a physical barrier could be placed in Miller Street to prevent left turns onto Miller from the school. Greg Knudson explained that there isn't room for a physical Plamting Commission Page 2 May 4, 2000 barrier or island. Further, parking would not be facilitated along that portion of Miller Street due to the design of the left turn lane. Commissioner SNOW commented that there were probably more students associated with the old Fruitdale school than there will be with the Compass Montessori school. Commissioner THOMPSON pointed out that Fruitdale involved walk-in students whereas the present school usually involves parents driving the children to school. She also commented that the former Garramone's Market generated a lot of traffic, especially during the fall season. Commissioner GOKEY expressed concern about having two different zonings on one property. Mary Austin noted that these types of situations are very common throughout the city. Mr. White stated that if the lots are not consolidated, the lots could possibly be sold separately at some time in the future. Richard Fulton 10545 West 46th Avenue Mr. Fulton, principal of Compass Montessori School, was sworn by Chair MACDOUGALL. He presented an overview of the charter school concept and stated that he believed the Compass Montessori school is an asset to Wheat Ridge. He explained the present traffic flow as parents drop students off and pick them up. In answer to a question from Commissioner COOPER, Mr. Fulton explained that the subject facility is planned for students through the sixth grade. Application has been made to Jefferson County for a secondary charter at another site for students from seventh through twelfth grades. Commissioner THOMPSON expressed concern about students crossing 44th Avenue to go to the park for activities and stated she was in favor of some sort of school signal or walk light at 44th and Miller. Mr. Fulton indicated his support for a signal. Greg Knudson stated he would discuss such a signal with the traffic engineer. Dan O'Brien 1861 Blake Street, Denver Mr. O'Brien, architect for the applicant, was sworn in by Chair MACDOUGALL. Commissioner GOKEY asked if the existing weeds would be removed and replaced with landscaping. Mr. O'Brien replied that they would be removed and replaced with landscaping. He gave an overview of the landscaping plans for the property. Commissioner MACDOUGALL asked if there were others present who wished to address this matter. There was no response. It was moved by Commissioner SNOW and seconded by Commissioner THOMPSON that Case. No. CUP-00-02, a request for approval of a conditional nse permit to allow expansion of a Jefferson County school in an A-I zone district at 10351 West 44th Plamting Commission Page 3 May 4, 2000 Avenne, be approved for the following reasons: 1. It will not be detrimental to the public's health, welfare and safety. 2. It will not adversely affect the adequate light and air to adjacent properties. 3. Traffic circulation will be improved with the closure of driveways on West 44th Avenue and the construction of a drop-off/pick-up lane along Miller. 4. A school use is consistent with, and complimentary to, the designation of residential use on the Comprehensive Plan. With the following conditions: 1. A consolidation plat combining the two parcels into a single parcel shall be recorded with Jefferson County. 2. A drainage report and construction plan for public improvements and the drop-off lane improvements shall be approved prior to commencement of construction. 3. All items listed in condition no. 2 above and landscaping shall be inspected and approved prior to occupancy of the building. 4. The one-way circulation plan be represented on, and be a part of, the approved site plan. Commissioner GOKEY indicated he would vote against the motion because he felt traffic solutions were not adequately addressed. Further, he did not believe the school provides an overall benefit to the community in that the site was previously occupied by a tax-generating business and the school does not provide income to the city. Commissioner McNAMEE indicated she would support the motion as it allows the current A-I zoning to stand. She believed the school use would be preferable over planned residential use as shown on the Comprehensive Plan. She commented that the city would have more control over the use ofthe land under a CUP than it would under residential or commercial zoning. The motion passed 5 to 1 with Commissioner GOKEY voting no and Commissioners COLLINS and DOYLE absent. It was moved by Commissioner SNOW and seconded by Commissioner COOPER that the Planning Commission request Public Works to consider the following items: 1. A possible no-n-turn or no-left-turn at the exit from the drop-off lane. 2. The posting of no-parking signs on both sides of Miller Street from 44th Avenue past approximately the limits ofthe school property. 3. The possibility of flashing school lights on 44th Avenne. The motion passed by a vote of 6-0 with. Commissioners COLLINS and DOYLE absent. Planning Connnission Page 4 May 4, 2000 It was moved by Commissioner THOMPSON and seconded by Commissioner SNOW that the reqnest for a 10-foot side yard setback variance from the 30-foot side yard setback requirement to allow construction of an entryway vestibule at 10399 West 44th Avenue, be approved for the following reasons: 1. It will not be detrimental to the public's welfare or injurious to other properties or improvements in the neighborhood. 2. The difficulty or hardship has not been caused by any person presently having an interest in the property. 3. It will not impair the adequate light and air to adjacent properties. With the following conditions: 1. The 10-foot encroachment into the side yard setback shall be only for the purpose oflocating an entryway vestibule at the west doors ofthe school. 2. No other encroachments shall be permitted to be constructed in line with the entryway vestibule. The motion passed 5 to 1 with Commissioner GOKEY voting no and Commissioners COLLINS and DOYLE absent. 8. CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING Chair MACDOUGALL declared the public hearing closed. (Chair MACDOUGALL declared a recess at 9:20 p.m. The meeting reconvened at 9:30 p.m.) 9. OLD BUSINESS A. Access to Public Streets - Nancy Snow stated that when amendments to Section 26- 30(N) were considered at the Council meeting regarding access to public streets, City Council directed the matter back to Planning Commission for discussion. The question concerned the width of a private drive off of a paved public street. Commissioner SNOW indicated she had no objection to the first twenty-five feet of a driveway being paved, but questioned whether the drive should be required to be twenty feet. Alan White commented that fire department regulations require twenty feet of unobstructed width. Commissioner MACDOUGALL commented that he felt this requirement should apply to new buildings also. There was a general feeling among the Commissioners that these requirements would be reasonable for situations where more than one dwelling unit shares the driveway; however, the requirements should not be applied to single family dwellings. Planning Connnission Page 5 May 4, 2000 Alan White commented that this regulation could be addressed at such time as the zoning ordinance is reconsidered. It was moved by Commissioner GOKEY and seconded by Commissioner SNOW that the ordinance be kept in its original context as presented to the Planning Commission and be forwarded to City Council. The motion carried 5-1 with Commissioner THOMPSON voting no and Commissioners COLLINS and DOYLE absent. Commissioner THOMPSON indicated that she didn't support the motion because it is in conflict with the other ordinance. 10. NEW BUSINESS There was no new business to come before the Commission. 11. COMMISSION REPORTS There were no Commission reports. 12. COMMITTEE AND DEPARTMENT REPORTS There were no committee or department reports. 13. ADJOURNMENT It was moved by Commissioner COOPER and seconded by Commissioner GOKEY to adjourn the meeting at 9:55 p.m. The motion passed 6-0 with Commissioners COLLINS and DOYLE absent. ~~~C))~ Don AC OUGALL, r cL.~ Ann Lazzeri, Recordi g ecretary c:\Barbara\PCRPTS\PLANGCOM\PCMINUTE\000504 Planning Commission Page 6 May 4, 2000