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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/20/2003 CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE PLANNING COMMISSION Minutes of Meeting March 20, 2003 ORIG'NAl 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: Karen Berry Kimberly Davis Marian McNamee Phil Plummer Michael Stites Paula Weisz Commission Members Absent: John McMillin (excused) Kevin Witt (excused) Staff Members Present: Alan White, Community Development Director Travis Crane, Planner Ann Lazzeri, Recording Secretary 3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Following is the official set of Planning Commission minutes for the public hearing of March 20, 2003. A set of these minutes is retained both in the office of the City Clerk and in the Department of Community Development of the City of Wheat Ridge. 4. APPROVE ORDER OF AGENDA Chair WEISZ requested an amendment to the agenda to postpone the study session and election of officers until the next meeting when all members can be present. It was moved by Commissioner McNAMEE and seconded by Commissioner PLUMMER to approve the order of the agenda as amended. The motion passed 6-0 with Commissioners McMILLIN and WITT absent. 5. APPROVE MINUTES - March 6, 2003 Commissioner DAVIS requested an amendment to the minutes as follows: Page two, third line of third paragraph under item B should read "38 inches between the outer edge of the alley and the neighbors' fences" instead of"38 inches between the building......." It was moved by Commissioner PLUMMER and seconded by Commissioner DAVIS to approve the minutes of March 6, 2003 as amended. The motion passed 5-0 with Commissioner WEISZ abstaining and Commissioners McMILLIN and WITT absent. Planning Commission March 20, 2003 Page I 6. PUBLIC FORUM There were none present to address the Commission during this portion ofthe meeting. 7. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. Case No. MS-02-09 (continued from March 6. 2003): An application filed by Neil Boucher for approval of a three-lot replat of properties zoned Residential-Two and located at 3240 Pierce Street, 3225 Otis Street and 6745 West 32nd Avenue. This case was presented by Travis Crane. He advised the Commission there was jurisdiction to hear the case. He then reviewed the staff report, digital presentation and entered all pertinent documents into the record. Staff recommended approval of the application for reasons outlined in the staff report. Neil Boucher 16869 West 55th Drive, Golden Mr. Boucher, the applicant, was sworn in by Chair WEISZ. Mr. Boucher explained that approval of his request would correct a problem with lots lines between the three lots. It was moved by Commissioner McNAMEE and seconded by Commissioner PLUMMER to recommend approval of Case No. MS-02-09, a request for a replat of properties located at 6745 West 32nd Avenue, 3225 Otis Street and 3240 Pierce Street for the following reasons: 1. The replat meets all requirements of a final plat. 2. All requirements of the zone district will be met. The motion passed 6-0 with Commissioners McMILLIN and WITT absent. B. Case No. WZ-02-12: An application filed by Hoss Electric for approval of a rezoning from Agricultural-One to Planned Industrial Development for approximately the northern portion of property located at 5130 Parfet Street. This case was presented by Travis Crane. He advised the Commission there was jurisdiction to hear the case. He then reviewed the staff report, digital presentation and entered all pertinent documents into the record. Staff recommended approval of the application for reasons outlined in the staff report. Commissioner BERRY asked if the Comprehensive Plan should be changed to reflect the changes in this area. Alan White explained that the Comprehensive Plan is reviewed on an annual basis to consider amendments in cases where rezoning has taken place that is not consistent with the Plan. She also expressed concern about some of the more intensive uses listed on the proposed plan. Planning Commission March 20, 2003 Page 2 In response to a question from Commissioner McNAMEE, Alan White explained that there will be a property line dividing the pm and A-I portions ofthe property when the application gets to the final development plan and plat stage. John Durham Norris Dullea Co., 710 West Colfax Mr. Durham, representative of the applicant, was sworn in by Chair WEISZ. He stated that the applicant is sensitive to concerns about uses to be allowed adjacent to the A-I zoning and has already removed some uses which he felt would be offensive. The application meets or exceeds all standards of the zone district. For example, the plan calls for 60% of open space which exceeds the 20% open space requirement. A 6-foot fence or wall will be installed between the industrial use and surrounding property. Parking requirements meet or exceed requirements. Existing access from Parfet will remain. In response to neighborhood concerns, no additional access to the property is planned. David Hoss 5340 Cole Circle, Arvada Mr. Hoss, the applicant, was sworn in by Chair WEISZ. In response to questions from Commissioner PLUMMER, he stated that the building is proposed to be one-story with a mezzanine and that there would probably be ten to twelve vehicles parked at the building. In response to a question from Chair WEISZ, Mr. Hoss stated that the lower lot will continue to be used to graze sheep which are owned by the neighbor. The applicant is also giving consideration to selling the lower lot to the neighbor who owns the sheep. Commissioner DAVIS commended the applicant for taking the neighbors' concerns into consideration. In response to a question from Chair WEISZ, Mr. Hoss stated they have not decided if they will keep lot one or sell it. Chuck Stiesmeyer 4996 Parfet Mr. Stiesmeyer was sworn in by Chair WEISZ. He stated that he has lived at his present address for five years and expressed concern about the trend toward more industrial uses in this area. He wants his property to remain zoned as Agricultural Estate. He disagreed that property east of Parfet is no longer compatible with Agricultural Estate because it is surrounded by industrial. He questioned the applicant's need for rezoning when existing industrially-zoned land is available for sale that could be purchased and used for his purposes. Frank Wehling 5006 Parfet Mr. WeWing was sworn in by Chair WEISZ. He stated that he would not oppose the application even though he agreed with Mr. Stiesmeyer that it would be nice if this area could remain as it is. He stated, however, that he realizes the area is changing. He expressed concern about possible street improvements that could affect his access to the ditch that runs through Planning Commission March 20, 2003 Page 3 the property. Alan White stated that no street improvements are planned and therefore ditch access would not be affected. Commissioner PLUMMER stated that, while he could sympathize with the nei~hbors, ~e area is surrounded with commercial property and a portion of the subject property wIll remalD as an agricultural use. It was moved by Commissioner PLUMMER and seconded by Commissioner DAVIS to recommend approval of Case No. WZ-02-12, a request for approval of a rezoning from Agriculture-One to Planned Industrial Development for property located at 5130 Parfet Street, for the following reasons: 1. The area is transitioning toward more commercialization. 2. The desirability of the property to be used for residential purposes is questionable. 3. The proposal is consistent with adjacent commercial uses. 4. There will be economic benefits derived from the zone change. 5. Staff concludes that requirements for an outline development plan have been met. 6. That item no. 45 regarding recreational vehicle storage, be removed from the permitted list of uses. 7. Buildings on lots one and two shall not exceed 10,000 square feet in size, and shall not exceed one story in height. Chair WEISZ re-opened the public hearing to hear comments from Mr. Durham. Mr. Durham requested that the mezzanine level, which is planned to be approximately twenty- four feet in height, be allowed. He indicated that a height limit of twenty-five feet would be acceptable. Commissioner DAVIS offered a friendly amendment to change reason numbers 6 and 7 to conditions 1 and 2 and that "one story" be changed to "twenty-five feet" in condition no. 2. The amendment was accepted by Commissioner PLUMMER. Commissioner BERRY offered a friendly amendment to exclude item no. 1 regarding veterinary hospitals with outside kennels from the permitted list of uses. This amendment was accepted by Commissioners PLUMMER and DAVIS. The motion passed 6-0 with Commissioners McMILLIN and WITT absent. C. Case No. ZOA-03-03: An ordinance amending Section 26-115 of the Wheat Ridge Code of Laws concerning objections to variances, temporary use permits, etc. This case was presented by Alan White. Staff has recommended changes to this section of the code oflaws as it relates to administrative review of variances and temporary permits. The existing legislation recognizes opportunities for objections to be filed regarding the application. When objections are stated, it puts the public hearing process into effect. However, many times the objections are not legitimate or of substance pertaining to the specific request. The proposed changes require that objections be put in writing and be directly related to the request. Planning Commission March 20, 2003 Page 4 Brief discussion followed. It was moved by Commissioner McNAMEE and seconded by Commissioner PLUMMER that Case No. ZOA-03-03, a proposed amendment to Section 26-115 VarianceslWaiversffemporary PermitslInterpretations of the Wheat Ridge Code of Laws, be forwarded to City Council with a recommendation of approval for the following reasons: 1. The proposed legislation requires objections to administrative variances and temporary permits be put in writing. 2. The proposed legislation specifies that the objection be directly related to the request. The motion passed 6-0 with Commissioners McMILLIN and WITT absent. 8. OLD BUSINESS There was no old business to come before the Commission. 9. NEW BUSINESS There was no new business to come before the Commission. 10. COMMISSION REPORTS There were no Commission reports. 11. COMMITTEE AND DEPARTMENT REPORTS There were no committee or department reports. 12. ADJOURNMENT It was moved by Commissioner PLUMMER and seconded by Commissioner McNAMEE to adjourn the meeting at 8:30 p.m. The motion passed unanimously. f\ U. Paula Weisz, Chair / I { ~. cLv Planning Commission March 20, 2003 Page 5