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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/20/2000 ORIGINAL CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE PLANNING COMMISSION Minutes of Meeting July 20, 2000 1. CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order by Chair MACDOUGALL at 7:30 p.m. on July 20, 2000 in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building, 7500 West 29th Avenue, Wheat Ridge, Colorado. 2. ROLL CALL: Commission Members Present: Jerry Collins Paulette Cooper Dick Doyle Dean Gokey Don MacDougall Marian McNamee Nancy Snow Jauice Thompson Staff Members Present: Alan White, Planning Director Meredith Reckert, Sr. Planner Greg Knudson, City Engineer Steve Nguyen, Traffic Engineer Mike Garcia, Development Review Engineer Ann Lazzeri, Secretary 3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The following is the official set of Planning Commission minutes for the public hearing of July 20, 2000. A set ofthese minutes is retained both in the office of the City Clerk and in the Department of Planning and Development of the City of Wheat Ridge. 4. APPROVAL OF ORDER OF THE AGENDA It was moved by Commissioner THOMPSON and seconded by Commissioner SNOW to amend the order of the agenda to include, under old business, a discussion of the map which shows the proposed I-70Noungfield interchange. The motion to approve the agenda as amended passed 8-0. Planning Commission July 20, 2000 Page I 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner COOPER requested an amendment to the fIrst page of the minutes to correct the spelling of her name. She requested a second amendment on page seven, fourth paragraph, to remove the word "on" from the sentence. It was moved by Commissioner SNOW and seconded by Commissioner COLLINS to approve the minutes as amended. The motion passed 7-0 with Chair MACDOUGALL abstaining. 6. PUBLIC FORUM There was no one signed up to speak before the Commission on unscheduled matters. 7. PUBLIC HEARING A. Case No. SUP-OO-Ol: A Special Use Permit application to allow casino bus drop-off and pick-up on Commercial-One (C-I) zoned property located at 12100 West 44th Avenue. The case was presented by Meredith Reckert. She reviewed the staff report and presented slides and overheads of the subject property. All pertinent documents were entered into the record and accepted by Chair MACDOUGALL. Ms. Reckert advised that there was jurisdiction for the Commission to hear the case. Staff recommended approval of the application with conditions as outlined in the staff report. Commissioner COOPER questioned the discrepancy in the number of parking spaces. The staff report indicated there were 233 spaces while a letter from the applicant's attorney indicated there were 215. Meredith Reckert stated that she arrived at the 233 fIgure from aerial photos as well as visual inspection of the site. In response to a question from Commissioner SNOW, Alan White stated the code limits idling time for buses to fIfteen minutes. Commissioner THOMPSON inquired about the complaint the city received against the application. Alan White explained that the complaint pertained to the use rather than the parking. Commissioner COLLINS inquired about the rating for Van Gordon Street in regard to the weight of the buses. Steve Nguyen replied that it is rated as a local street and not designed for trucks; however, there is light industrial use across the street from the hotel which necessitates truck traffic. Planning Commission July 20, 2000 Page 2 Brad Shefrin 555 East 8th Avenue, Denver Mr. Shefrin, attorney for the applicant, was sworn in by Chair MACDOUGALL. He stated that the requested use has been ongoing since 1993 and authorized by the Public Utilities Commission. Commissioner COOPER inquired as to the length of parking stay for those individuals riding the casino bus. Mr. Shefrin referred to the bus company's parking study included in the packet and noted that many of the bus patrons carpool to the parking lot which decreases the use of a number of parking spaces. The study only covered peak hour usage. In response to comments about the idling of buses, Mr. Shefrin stated that the bus company's policy is that no bus may idle over fIve minutes. Harry Fleshman 7980 West 41st Avenue Mr. Fleshman was sworn in by Chair MACDOUGALL. He stated that he and his wife have been Wheat Ridge residents for over fIfty years. He urged the Commission to approve the Special Use Permit because there are hundreds of senior citizens who take advantage of the casino bus ridership. These senior citizens contribute to the city's sales tax revenues by purchasing services and products within the city. He questioned the need for the application when the casino bus service has been in operation at this location for so many years. Arthur Trator 2449 Otis Street, Edgewater Mr. Trator was sworn in by Chair MACDOUGALL. He stated that he carpools to ride the casino bus. His group has been riding the bus every Tuesday for the past two and one-half years and he urged the Commission to approve the application. He stated that he has never seen a situation where the parking lot was full. He also pointed out that some of the buses which park along Van Gordon Street are not casino buses, but charter buses for various groups who stay in the hotel. He also stated that the bus service is very valuable to many senior citizens. Commissioner THOMPSON requested that staff investigate the situation where the charter buses are parking on Van Gordon. She also expressed concern about the possibility of the casino bus schedule increasing from one bus per hour in the future which could impact the parking causing it to overflow onto the side streets. Mr. Shefrin indicated that there were no plans for his client to increase the number of bus trips and he would not object to a condition being placed on the approval which would limit operations to one bus per hour. Commissioner SNOW suggested that parking spaces for the buses should be marked. Page 3 Planning Commission July 20, 2000 It was moved by Commissioner THOMPSON and seconded by Commissioner GOKEY that Case No. SUP-OO-Ol, a request for approval of a special use permit to allow casino bus pick-up and drop-off on C-l zoned property located at 12100 West 44th Avenue, be APPROVED for the following reasons: 1. The casino bus operation is providing a benefit to the general public by reducing the number of vehicles traveling to and from Central City and Black Hawk. 2. The bus operation has not created a significant number of accidents on adjacent public streets. With the following conditions: 1. That the special use permit be issued to Bart MacGillivray. 2. That no casino bus parking be allowed on adjacent public streets. 3. That the idling of buses be subject to the City of Wheat Ridge nuisance regulations (Section 15-26; Offensive Discharges) with the idling of diesel engines limited to a maximum of 15 consecutive minutes. 4. That a maximum of approximately one casino bus per hour be allowed in and out ofthe hotel. 5. That the casino bus loading/parking space be marked or signed. The motion passed 8-0. (Chair MACDOUGALL declared a recess at 8:35 p.m. The meeting was reconvened at 8:50 p.m.) B. Case No. WZ-00-05: Request for rezoning from Agricultural Two (A-2) to Restricted Commercial One (RC-1) zoned property located at 4288 YoungfIeld. The case was presented by Meredith Reckert. She reviewed the staff report and presented slides and overheads of the subject property. The purpose for the request is to allow construction of a model log home which would also be used for a design and sales office. All pertinent documents were entered into the record and accepted by Chair MACDOUGALL and Ms. Reckert advised that there was jurisdiction for the Commission to hear the case. Staff recommended approval of the application with conditions as outlined in the staff report. In response to a question from Commissioner McNAMEE, Ms. Reckert explained that if the site plan is recorded, any future change to the site plan would have to come before the Planning Planning Commission July 20, 2000 Page 4 Commission for approval. However, it could be converted to any use allowed in the RC-l zone district. Commissioner THOMPSON expressed concern that the proposed building should be set back further to accommodate for the future highway interchange at this location. She also questioned why 42nd Avenue has never been paved and suggested that it should be paved if this application is approved. Commissioner GOKEY agreed that 42nd Avenue should be paved, but not at the expense of the applicant. He expressed concern about "natural landscaping" . In response to drainage concerns expressed by Chair MACDOUGALL, Greg Knudson stated that an approved drainage plan is required for this project. Commissioner COLLINS inquired as to the reasons 42nd Avenue has not been paved. Greg Knudson replied that there are vacant properties along the street and, per development regulations, improvements can be put in when the properties are developed. Even though improvements are not being put in at this time, money is being escrowed for those improvements when 42nd Avenue is ultimately developed. The cost is extremely expensive with the price of oil and installation of curb, gutter and sidewalks. Steve Trout 23651 Golden Gate Canyon Rd., Golden Mr. Trout, the applicant, was sworn in by Chair MACDOUGALL. He stated that he plans to use the proposed log home as a model, design studio and sales offIce. There would be three employees. No materials would be stored on site. He believed the proposed use falls under the uses outlined in the Comprehensive Plan. Mr. Trout asked for a clarifIcation on the proposed condition asking that signage be limited to a monument sign not to exceed ten feet in height which would not be lighted at night. Meredith Reckert read the sign code requirements for the C-l zone district which would allow a freestanding sign with approximately 110 square feet per side. Commissioner MCNAMEE asked if Mr. Trout would be agreeable to a sign on the northwest side of the house not to exceed the height ofthe peak of the roof. Mr. Trout indicated that it would be acceptable to him. Commissioner GOKEY expressed concern about the natural landscaping. Mr. Trout stated that he plans to plant trees and would keep the natural grasses mowed. Planning Commission Page 5 July 20, 2000 In response to a question from Commissioner COOPER, Mr. Trout indicated that he was aware of the potential redesign of the I-70/Hwy 58 improvements and would consider moving the building footprint back to accommodate future changes in the roadway. Catherine Murphy 12710 W. 42nd Avenue Ms. Murphy was sworn in by Chair MACDOUGALL. She stated she was in favor ofthe application. She expressed appreciation that the applicant has taken the residents' concerns into consideration in planning this development. She felt that landscaping lights would be helpful in deterring crime. In response to concerns about lighting, Mr. Trout stated that he would position lighting in such a way that it would not shine into the residences. Anne Easley indicated that she did not wish to step to the podium but indicated she was in favor of the application. Eileen Wendell 3430 Vivian Court Ms. Wendell was sworn in by Chair MACDOUGALL. Her son lives on her property at 4225 Xenon. She has visited Modern Log Homes present location and feels Mr. Trout's development would be a good addition to this neighborhood. It was moved by Commissioner SNOW and seconded by Commissioner GOKEY that Case No. WZ-00-05, a request for approval of a rezoning from Agricultural Two to Restricted Commercial One for property located at 4288 Y oungfield be APPROVED for the following reasons: 1. The increased commercialization of and future changes to the Youngfield/I-70 corridor have rendered the property undesirable as a single family residence. 2. The proposed change of zone is consistent with both the newly adopted Comprehensive Plan and the Fruitdale Valley Master Plan. With the following condition: 1. The rezoning is conditioned upon the subsequent approval of the site plan to be recorded with the county. The motion passed 8-0. Planning Commission July 20, 2000 Page 6 It was moved by Commissioner SNOW and seconded by Commissioner THOMPSON that the site plan for 4288 Y oungfield proposed in conjunction with Case No. WZ-00-05, be approved for the following reasons: 1. The size of the building and materials proposed to be used are consistent with residential development and would not be incompatible with the neighborhood. 2. All requirements of the zoning code have been met and all minimums of the zoning code are exceeded. With the following conditions: 1. That the applicant work with the planning and public works staff to design the location, size and height of the sign so as not to be visible from neighboring residential properties and that this be determined prior to going before City Council. 2. That the sign be unlighted after 10:00 p.m. 3. If security lighting is used, it be on motion detectors. 4. A row of view-obscuring coniferous trees be planted along the eastern property line. 5. The site plan be recorded as a condition on the property and any future building additions or other changes to the recorded site plan must be approved by the Planning Commission and the City Council. 6. The landscaped areas along the street frontages be properly irrigated and maintained. 8. CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING Chair MACDOUGALL declared the public hearing closed. 9. OLD BUSINESS There was no old business to come before the Commission. 10. NEW BUSINESS Page 7 Planning Commission July 20, 2000 A. Pro Dosed Interchanl!e from State Hil!hwav 58 to Interstate 70 Commissioner THOMPSON invited Mr. Trout and residents from the neighborhood to stay for this discussion. Greg Knudson and Steve Nguyen reviewed the conceptual map showing the proposed interchange from SH 58 to I-70 and Ward Road. Phase I and II improvements are tentatively scheduled for 2003 to 2005. Steve Nguyen stated that the Highway Department is aware that there is strong opposition in Wheat Ridge to the removal of the Tabor Street bridge. Commissioner THOMPSON stated that she would like to see a wall on the south side of I-70 from YoungfIeld to the existing ramps on the east to mitigate some noise and visual impact. B. Improvements to 42nd Avenue - Commissioner THOMPSON moved and Commissioner SNOW seconded that the paving of 42nd Avenue be made a priority item. Commissioner GOKEY stated that he could not support the motion until studies are completed and it is known what will be involved in such improvements. The motion passed 7-1 with Commissioner GOKEY voting no. 11. COMMISSION REPORTS There were no commission reports. 12. COMMITTEE AND DEPARTMENT REPORTS A. Wheat Ridl!e Urban Renewal Authority (WRURA) Alan White reported that at the last meeting ofWRURA, it was decided to have the City Council representative ofWRURA make a request to City Council that staff be directed to hire a market feasibility consultant to look at redevelopment in the area bounded by Tabor, 44th Avenue and I-70. This would include the truck stop area. B. Case No. MS-00-03 Alan White reported that the applicant in this case, heard by Planning Commission on July 6, 2000, has withdrawn his application. Planning Commission July 20, 2000 Page 8 13. ADJOURNMENT It was moved by Commissioner GOKEY and seconded by Commissioner SNOW that the meeting be adjourned at 10:20 p.m. The motion passed 8-0. .Jf d~_ ~~A~ Ann Lazzeri, Recording ecretary Planning Commission July 20, 2000 Page 9