HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/17/151.
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City of
Wheat Pidge
PLANNING COMMISSION
Minutes of Meeting
September 17, 2015
CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Chair BUCKNAM at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council
Chambers of the Municipal Building, 7500 West 291h Avenue, Wheat Ridge, Colorado.
ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS
Commission Members Present:
Commission Members Absent:
Staff Members Present:
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Alan Bucknam
Emery Dorsey
Donna Kimsey
Scott Ohm
Dirk Boden
Steve Timms
Amanda Weaver
Pam Olson
Meredith Reckert, Senior Planner
Steve Art, Economic Development & Urban
Renewal Manager
Lisa Ritchie, Planner II
Tamara Odean, Recording Secretary
APPROVE ORDER OF THE AGENDA
It was moved by Commissioner Ohm and seconded by Commissioner Dorsey to
approve the order of the agenda.
Motion carried 7-0
5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES — August 6, 2015
It was moved by Commissioner Ohm and seconded by Commissioner Dorsey to
approve the minutes of August 6, 2015, as written.
Planning Commission Minutes
September 17, 2015
Motion carried 5-0-2 with Commissioners Weaver and Timms abstaining.
6. PUBLIC FORUM (This is the time for any person to speak on any subject not appearing
on the agenda.)
No one wished to speak at this time.
7. PUBLIC HEARING
A. Case No. WZ-15-06:
Ms. Ritchie gave a short presentation regarding the zone change process and the
application. She entered into the record the contents of the case file, packet materials,
the zoning ordinance, and the contents of the digital presentation. She stated the public
notice and posting requirements have been met.
The applicant is requesting approval of a zone change from Residential -One (R-1) to
Mixed Use -Neighborhood (MU -N) for the property located at 10191 W. 38th Avenue.
The applicant has no specific redevelopment proposal at this time. This request is in
response to redevelopment in the area: The recently opened Starbucks, Sprouts and
Morningstar Senior Living which is currently under construction.
The current zoning, R-1, only allows single family residential. The proposed change,
MUN, allows residential, commercial or mixed use (live/work). It is possible nothing
will change on the lot with this request, but a zoning change allows possibilities for the
future. The size of the property is less than 'h acre which somewhat limits potential
development on the property.
A neighborhood meeting was held July 28'2015. Six people from neighborhood
attended with no objections to the rezone. One neighbor submitted a written objection,
but only if marijuana is allowed, which it is not.
Commissioner TIMMS had a question regarding Exhibit 3 — Aerial Photo in packet.
He is wondering how to access the property located to the North and if the rezone
would affect the access to this site.
Ms. Ritchie stated there is currently no access to that parcel, and it may not be
developable because it is in a flood zone.
Ms. Reckert stated that a majority of the site is in a floodway so no structures will be
built.
Commissioner OHM had a question regarding Exhibit 2 in the packet. He wanted to
know if the R-1 zoning is on 38th Avenue.
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September 17, 2015
Ms. Ritchie stated this happens often in Wheat Ridge and the zone district goes to the
center line in the road. Ms. Reckert agreed.
Commissioner OHM was concerned the dentist office zoning line doesn't extend to the
middle of the road.
Ms. Reckert stated that this will be corrected.
Chair BUCKNAM asked if it will go to the center line.
Ms. Ritchie confirmed that when the rezoning map is redrawn, the zone district line
will go to the street center line.
Chair BUCKNAM wanted to know if city staff received any concerns from Parks and
Rec or any other agencies related to the 50'height for other uses in a MU -N.
Ms. Ritchie said there were no concerns.
The applicant, Michael Buck, had nothing to add.
Chair BUCKNAM opened the Public Hearing
No one came forward to speak.
Chair BUCKNAM closed the Public Hearing
It was moved by Commissioner TIMMS and seconded by Commissioner OHM to
recommend approval of Case No. WZ-15-06, a request for approval of a zone
change from Residential -One (R-1) to Mixed Use -Neighborhood (MU -N) for
property located at 10191 W. 38th Avenue, for the following reasons:
1. The proposed zone change will promote the public health, safety, or welfare of
the community.
2. The proposed zone change is consistent with the goals and objectives of the
City's Comprehensive Plan.
3. The zone change will provide additional opportunity for redevelopment in the
area.
4. The criteria used to evaluate a zone change support the request.
The motion was approved 7-0
8. OTHER ITEMS
A. Resolution 02-2015. Mr. Steve Art, Economic Development and Urban Renewal
Manager, gave a short presentation regarding Resolution 02-2015.
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3_September 17, 2015
Mr. Art requested the Planning Commission to adopt Resolution 02-2015 for a
property on the northwest corner of 38`h Avenue and Upham Street. The developer has
requested the use of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) for the development which
requires a substantial modification to the Wheat Ridge Town Center Project Urban
Renewal Plan. The Planning Commission is asked to adopt the resolution stating the
development conforms to the comprehensive plan for the City of Wheat Ridge.
This area is on West 38`h Avenue and was bought by Wazee Partners. The parcel has
2 vacant residential buildings and 1 vacant auto shop. Wazee Partners approached the
property next door (Vectra Bank) to inform them of the proposed project. Vectra
inquired to Wazee the possibility of purchasing their parcel and constructing a new
bank. The plan would be to build the new bank first then build new retail and housing
components.
The site is zoned Mixed Use -Commercial (MU -C)
Commissioner OHM asked for clarification of the proposed site legal description as
contained in Attachment A.
Mr. Art stated this is the 4`h amendment for the entire project and that Attachment A is
a legal description of the parcel they will control.
Commissioner OHM inquired why there were discrepancies between land areas in the
attached documents.
Tyler Downs — Wazee Partners (Applicant)
Mr. Downs with Wazee Partners states the zone lot description doesn't match because
the parcel is measured to the middle of the street zone.
Ms. Reckert clarified that the legal description contains the full width of the right-of-
way for both West 38`h Avenue and Upham Street.
Commission OHM wants to know if this is a Mixed Use -Commercial (MU -C) zoning
and if height can go up to 50'.
Mr. Downs stated the height limit is 6 stories or 75 feet.
Commission TIMMS asked if there will be any age restrictions similar to 44`h and
Wadsworth multi -family development.
Mr. Downs stated there will be no age restrictions.
Commissioner TIMMS asked what is time frame is in terms of phasing and whether
they are asking for TIF for both the property tax and sales tax. Mr. Downs said that is
correct.
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4_September 17, 2015
Mr. Downs stated they need to accommodate a new bank building for Vectra to house
the safety deposit boxes which cannot be temporarily stored. Once the new building is
complete and the old one demolished then the rest of project will break ground in late
2016, early 2017 with 18 months of construction. The two multi -story buildings will
be built simultaneously.
Commissioner TIMMS wanted to know potential uses for the commercial building.
Mr. DOWNS stated the preferred uses would be a local dining based entertainment
node with a local coffee shop, local ice cream shop and a local sit down restaurant and
bar.
Commissioner TIMMS questioned the staff of discussion about potentially moving
WR City Hall to this area as this is identified in the comprehensive plan.
Mr. Art stated it was identified in the 38`h Avenue Corridor Plan. At some point there
is still plenty of room that a civic component could be part of this project.
Commissioner KIMSEY asked if there is any plan in mind for building materials yet,
even though they are in the site development design phase.
Mr. Downs stated that the corridor has a lot of great tan and red brick elements. Red
brick will probably be used in the building elevations, with stucco.
Discussion continued regarding placement of the structures, the potential for
subsidized housing, parking and whether the new bank will have a drive-through.
Commissioner BUCKNAM asked if there is any comment from the Jefferson County
School District in relation to this resolution.
Mr. Art stated that once the Resolution is adopted, then the county and school district
will be notified and they will have 30 days to comment.
Commissioner BUCKMAN wanted to know how this resolution applies to improving
the coordination in transportation improvements.
Mr. Art stated there will be a bus stop adjacent to the project and the on-site parking
area will take congestion off the street.
Commissioner BUCKNAM asked if bike parking be included in the project.
Mr. Art indicated it would.
Commissioner BUCKNAM asked how a healthy/active community will be created.
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5_September 17, 2015
Mr. Art stated there are preliminary plans for a swimming pool, a work out center,
urban gardens, and solar options.
Commissioner BUCKNAM opened Public hearing and no one came forward to speak.
It was moved by Commissioner OHM and seconded by Commissioner Weaver to
adopt Resolution 02-2015, finding the Fourth Amendment to the Wheat Ridge Town
Center Project Urban Renewal Plan for the northwest corner of 38`n Avenue and
Upham Street is in conformance with the Wheat Ridge Comprehensive Plan,
Envision Wheat Ridge.
The motion was approved 7-0.
B.
Ms. Reckert introduced, Lisa Ritchie, as a new Planner and Tammy Odean as the new
Administrative Assistant to Community Development. She also mentioned a new
Planner Technician will be starting Wednesday, September 23 and that the planning
division will now be back to full staffing.
9. ADJOURNMENT
It was moved by Commissioner TIMMS and seconded by Commissioner
WEAVER to adjourn the meeting at 7:49 p.m.
Motion carried 7-0.
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Planning Commission Minutes
September 17, 2015
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Tamara Odean, Recording Secretary
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