Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/16/2003 qTY OF WHEAT RIDGE PLANNING COMMISSION Minutes of Meeting January 16,2003 ORJGINA L 1. CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER The regular meeting of the Wheat Ridge Planning Commission was called to order by Chair WEISZ 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: Paulette Cooper John McMillin Marian McNamee Phil Plummer Nancy Snow Paula Weisz Kevin Witt Staff Members Present: Meredith Reckert, Senior Planner Ann Lazzeri, Recording Secretary 3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Following is the official set of Planning Commission minutes for the public hearing of January 16, 2003. A set of these 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. APPROVE ORDER OF AGENDA It was moved by Commissioner SNOW and seconded by Commissioner PLUMMER to approve the order of the agenda. The motion passed 7-0. S. APPROVE MINUTES - December 19, 2002 Commissioner SNOW questioned the third condition of her motion on page three where the minutes reflect: "The maximum height of buildings be limited to fifty feet." She recalled that she placed a condition limiting the height of buildings to thirty-five feet and that it was her intent to limit the height to thirty-five feet. Ms. Reckert stated that staff listened to the tape . several times which indicated she did say "fifty feet" in her motion. Commissioner SNOW indicated that she would make a motion later in the meeting to reconsider the case and change that portion of her motion. It was moved by Commissioner McMILLIN and seconded by Commissioner WITT to approve the minutes of December 19, 2002. The motion passed 4-1 with Commissioner SNOW voting no and Commissioners COOPER and McNAMEE abstaining. Page] Planning Commission January ]6, 2003 6. PUBLIC FORUM There were none present to address the Commission during this portion of the meeting. 7. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. Case No. WZ-02-14: An application filed by Craig Molenaar for approval ofa rezoning from Commercial-One (C-I) to Residential-One (R-IC) for property presently known as 6015 West 40th Avenue. B. Case No. MS-02-08: An application filed by Craig Molenaar for approval of a 2-lot minor subdivision plat on property presently known as 6015 West 40th Avenue. Due to a publication error, it was staffs recommendation to continue the above cases to February 6, 2003. It was moved by Commissioner McNAMEE and seconded by Commissioner COOPER that Case No. WZ-02-14 and Case No. MS-02-08 be republished and continued to February 6, 2003. The motion passed 7-0. C. Case No. WZ-02-1S: An application filed by H&L Architecture for Exempla Healthcare for approval of an amendment to a Planned Hospital Development final development plan for the purpose of constructing a 13,400 square foot addition to the existing power plant and constructing a 63,000 square foot medical office building on property located at 8300 West 38th Avenue and zoned Planned Hospital Development (PHD) Prior to staff presentation, Commissioner McNAMEE declared that she and her husband are employed by the applicant; however, staff agreed that their employment presented no conflict of interest in this case. The case was presented by Meredith Reckert. She advised the Commission that all noticing requirements had been met and there was jurisdiction to hear the case. She entered all pertinent documents into the record which were accepted by Chair WEISZ. Ms. Reckert reviewed the staff report and gave a digital presentation. Staff recommended approval of the application for reasons and with conditions as outlined in the staff report. Ms. Reckert distributed copies of notes from a neighborhood meeting conducted by the applicant. These notes were reviewed by the Planning Commission at this time. Commissioner SNOW expressed concern that adequate walking paths be available from the proposed parking lot to the new medical buildings as well as the hospital and questioned why the applicant did not complete sidewalks as required when the previous application was approved in 1992. Commissioner McMILLIN expressed concern about the helipad location. Ms. Reckert explained that Lutheran is not a trauma hospital and therefore the applicant has reported they have only two or three helicopter landings per year. Planning Commission January ]6,2003 Page 2 Everett Allan Davis Lutheran Medical Center Mr. Davis, Director of Facilities for Lutheran Medical Center, was sworn in by Chair WEISZ. In answer to a question from Commissioner COOPER, Mr. Davis stated that property has been acquired on 32nd A venue to provide a new entrance into the facility. In response to a question from Commissioner McMILLIN, Mr. Davis stated that the applicant would definitely meet the staffs requirements for pedestrian connections. Chair WEISZ asked why pedestrian connections required in 1992 were never completed. Mr. Davis replied that he understood that pathways and sidewalks which were constructed at the time met all requirements of their agreement. Commissioner McMILLIN asked if there were future plans for increased helicopter use. Mr. Davis replied that there are no plans to become a level one trauma center which is the only reason helicopter traffic would increase. Commissioner SNOW asked Mr. Davis to comment on the noise factor. Mr. Davis replied that the proposed cooling towers will be 150 feet closer to the hospital and will also have less noise level than the existing towers. Commissioner McMILLIN asked what future plans have been made to improve the parking situation and provide more close-in parking. Mr. Davis replied there are no plans at this time. Commissioner McMILLIN commented that other hospitals the size of Lutheran have parking structures. Mr. Davis replied that this is probably due to the cost involved for parking structures. Commissioner SNOW asked what percentage of handicapped parking is planned. Mr. Davis replied that handicapped parking is planned to exceed the percentage required by ADA. Gilbert Allan Hack H&L Architects Mr. Hack was sworn in by Chair WEISZ. He stated the proposed cooling towers will be 16 decibels less than the existing towers. The proposed generators will also produce less noise than existing generators. He stated that two or three helicopter flights are made each year for patient transport and the same approach will remain so the helicopters will not come in over a residential area. Commissioner McMILLIN asked if there would be a problem with moving the helipad further from the southern neighborhood perimeter. Mr. Hack replied that they would have to look at all aspects associated with such a move. One ofthe considerations is that they want the helipad close as possible to the emergency room. In response to a question from Commissioner McNAMEE, Mr. Hack stated that the present cooling units are not adequate. Page 3 Planning Commission January 16,2003 David Schafer Oz Architecture Mr. Schafer was sworn in by Chair WEISZ. He stated that handicapped parking requirements will be exceeded. Richard Salmon 3525 Allison Court Mr. Salmon was sworn in by Chair WEISZ. He stated he is the closest neighbor to the hospital and spoke in favor of the plan and believed the proposed location of the additions is excellent. He also commented that he enjoys watching the helicopters which make two or three trips per month. Gene Pastor 3815 Carr Street Mr. Pastor was sworn in by Chair WEISZ. He expressed concern about parking and stated there have been problems in his neighborhood with employees parking in front of homes in his neighborhood. He asked if the additional parking will include space for employees. Meredith Reckert advised Mr. Pastor that she will look into the parking problem in his neighborhood and report back to him. In response to a question from Commissioner McMILLIN, Ms. Reckert stated that the plan calls for 160 more spaces than required. Bonnie Pastor 3815 Carr Street Ms. Pastor was sworn in by Chair WEISZ. She urged the applicant to consider constructing a parking garage to alleviate parking problems in the area. Everett Allan Davis Commissioner McMillin questioned the discrepancy between the number of helicopter flights reported by Mr. Davis and Mr. Salmon. Mr. Davis stated he may have had tile wrong information but would have the actual number of logged flights available for the City Council hearing. Commissioner SNOW asked if the hospital had received noise complaints. Mr. Davis replied that he has received no complaints concerning helicopter noise. He has received occasional complaints about generator test runs on Sundays and construction noise. Commissioner McNAMEE asked if patients are charged by helicopter distance or time and expressed concern that moving the helipad could be more costly for a patient. Commissioner McMILLIN commented that it wouldn't be much farther away than it is now. Mr. Davis stated there is concern about a ravine and trees that could cause approach problems for the helicopter pilot ifthe helipad is moved. He will check into these concerns. Chair WEISZ asked ifthere were others present who wished to address this matter. There was no response. Planning Commission January 16,2003 Page 4 It was moved by Commissioner COOPER and seconded by Commissioner SNOW to recommend approval of Case No. WZ-02-15, a request for approval of an amendment to a Planned Hospital District final development plan for property located at 8300 West 38th Avenue, for the following reasons: 1. All requirements for a Planned Hospital Development District final development plan have been met with the exception of pedestrian links approved in 1992 and not yet constructed. 2. All minimum specifications of the Planned Hospital District have been met or exceeded. 3. All outside agencies continue to serve the property with improvements at the owner's expense. With the following conditions: 1. Sidewalk be constructed along the west side of Lutheran Parkway West between the southern limit of the parking lot south of building N and the intersection with Lutheran Parkway prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy. 2. Sidewalk be constructed along the east side of Lutheran Parkway from the curb cut to West Pines north to the south side of the eastern parking lot for the main hospital prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy. 3. A deceleration lane for the West 32nd Avenue entrance be constructed upon acquisition of property at 8321 West 32nd Avenue. 4. The applicant work with the city engineer to determine the best location for the hospital sign on West 32nd in conjunction with construction of the deceleration lane. 5. Review and, if necessary, comply with ADA requirements for handicapped hospital parking. Commissioner McMILLIN expressed concern about the proximity of the proposed helipad to residential areas. He commented that his proposal would not move the helipad much farther from the emergency room. Commissioner SNOW asked the applicant if any objections to the helipad had been received at the neighborhood meeting. The applicant replied that no objections were received. Commissioner McMILLIN moved to amend the motion to require the application to prepare an option for the helipad to be located south and east of the outfield of the existing baseball field before the City Council hearing. The motion died due to lack of second. A vote was taken on the main motion which passed 6-1 with Commissioner McMILLIN voting no. Commissioner McMILLIN explained that he voted against the motion because of his concern to placing a helipad so close to a residential neighborhood. (Chair WEISZ declared a brief recess at 8:43 p.m. The meeting was reconvened at 8:50 p.m.) Planning Commission January ]6, 2003 Page 5 8. OLD BUSINESS . Commissioner SNOW commented on the amendment passed by City Council regarding the regulation of psychic advisors, etc. and stated that psychotherapists are not licensed in the state of Colorado. She stated that she would fax the appropriate information concerning this matter to Meredith Reckert. . It was moved by Commissioner SNOW and seconded by Commissioner PLUMMER to reconsider Cases WZ-02-09 and MS-02-0S. The motion passed 5-0 with Commissioners McNAMEE and COOPER abstaining. It was moved by Commissioner SNOW and seconded by Commissioner PLUMMER to change the third condition of approval for Cases WZ-02-09 and MS-02-0S to read 35 (rather than SO) feet. The motion passed 5-0 with Commissioners McNAMEE and COOPER abstaining. 9. NEW BUSINESS . Commissioner McMILLIN asked if there were plans for Planning Commissioners to attend the American Planning Association 2003 national conference to be held in Denver. Meredith Reckert replied that, due to budget constraints, there are no funds available to send Planning Commissioners. Staff is looking into the possibility of volunteering to serve during the conference. She was not sure whether volunteers would have the registration fee waived. Commissioner McMILLIN stated he felt it was a shame that Planning Commissioners will be unable to attend the national conference, especially when it is being held in Colorado. . Meredith Reckert announced that Tim Paranto has been hired as Public Works Director for the City. 10. COMMISSION REPORTS There were no Commission reports. 11. COMMITTEE AND DEPARTMENT REPORTS There were no committee or department reports. 12. ADJOURNME.NT It was moved by Commissioner McNAMEE and seconded by Commissioner COOPER to adjourn the meeting at 9:04 p.m. The motion passed 7-0. f i pimla Weisz, Chair '" CL(/)~ Ann Lazzeri, Recording Secretary Planning Commission January 16,2003 Page 6