HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/05/151.
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City of'
Wheat PUdgre
PLANNING COMMISSION
Minutes of Meeting
November 5, 2015
CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Chair BUCKNAM at 7:01 p.m. in the City Council
Chambers of the Municipal Building, 7500 West 29`h Avenue, Wheat Ridge, Colorado.
ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS
Commission Members Present:
Commission Members Absent:
Staff Members Present
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Dirk Boden
Alan Bucknam
Emery Dorsey
Donna Kimsey
Scott Ohm
Steve Timms
Amanda Weaver
Meredith Reckert, Senior Planner
Zack Wallace, Planning Technician
Tammy Odean, Recording Secretary
APPROVE ORDER OF THE AGENDA
It was moved by Commissioner OHM and seconded by Commissioner KIMSEY to
approve the order of the agenda. Motion carried 7-0.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES — October 1, 2015
It was moved by Commissioner OHM and seconded by Commissioner DORSEY to
approve the minutes of October 1, 2015, as written.
Motion carried 4-0-3 with Commissioners BUCKNAM, TIMMS and WEAVER
abstaining.
PUBLIC FORUM (This is the time for any person to speak on any subject not appearing
on the agenda.)
Planning Commission Minutes
November 5, 2015
No one wished to speak at this time.
7. PUBLIC HEARING
A. Case No. WZ-15-08:
Ms. Reckert 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 Restricted Commercial
(RC) to Mixed Use -Neighborhood (MU -N) for property located at 4340 Harlan Street.
The purpose of the rezoning is to expand permitted uses to locate a daycare facility
with a residential unit toward the rear of the property and office space on the second
and third floor. A daycare is not a permitted use in the RC zone district.
Ms. Reckert stated that the primary difference between RC and MU -N zoning is MU -N
allows residential uses including live/work facilities. At this time there are no
proposals for redevelopment on the site. The applicants plan to modify the interior,
which at the time will require building permit approval. Ms. Reckert also pointed out
that this change in zone is in conformance with the City of Wheat Ridge
Comprehensive Plan which identifies Harlan as a Neighborhood Commercial Corridor.
A neighborhood meeting was held on June 16, 2015 which had no attendees and there
were no calls or letters of concern after the 15 day posting. Ms. Reckert stated that if
the zoning is approved there will be a site plan reviewed administratively to make sure
the parking area meets the standards, a plat, if required, and a building permit.
Commissioner DORSEY noticed the property is filled with a lot of building space and
is concerned if there is enough parking for the daycare clients along with the
residential parking.
Ms. Reckert stated this was also staffs concern. Staff recommended the applicants
work with an architect to lay out designs with modifications for the daycare parking so
they have adequate parking and there are no conflicts with pedestrians.
Commissioner TIMMS wanted to know what was on the other side of the tall
windows, in the building.
Klare Looney
4340 Harlan Street
The applicant, Ms. Looney, stated that it is one big room behind the window and to the
left is another big room. Both of which will be used for the daycare. The residence is
in the back and upper floor of the building.
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Commissioner TIMMS noticed a few other properties in the neighborhood have also
been rezoned to MU -N, and wondered if there is any chance the city has looked at a
city initiated rezoning for this area.
Ms. Reckert stated that staff and planning commission have talked about it and will
discuss it more after the first of the year.
Commissioner OHM asked because of the offices on the third floor if the zone change
will trigger ADA compliance or is it already ADA compatible.
Ms. Reckert stated she believed it is already ADA compatible and indicated that the
inspectors had already been out to look at structure.
Ms. Looney stated they are not going to move forward with the offices right now, but
that they have met with the inspectors and are complying with their requests.
CHAIR BUCKNAM asked if the structure will currently be under the maximum lot
coverage for MU -N which is 90%.
Ms. Reckert said yes the building structure will be under the 90% maximum lot
coverage.
Commissioner TIMMS asked about having an outdoor play area for the daycare
children.
Ms. Looney stated they are working with the adjacent property owner to get an
easement and that they are going to rent 750 sq. ft. from the neighbor to the south.
Commissioner TIMMS asked if the outdoor play area will be part of the site plan
review.
Ms. Reckert stated that an outdoor play area is not required by the city, only the state,
so it will not be part of the site plan review.
It was moved by Commissioner OHM and seconded by Commissioner Kimsey to
recommend APPROVAL of Case No. WZ-15-08, a request for approval of a zone
change from Restricted Commercial (RC) to Mixed Use -Neighborhood (MU -N)
for property located at 4340 Harlan Street, 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 reinvestment in the
area.
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4. The criteria used to evaluate a zone change support the request.
Motion carried 7-0.
B. Case No. WZ-15-04:
Ms. Reckert 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 Planned Commercial
Development (PCD) to Mixed Use -Neighborhood for property located at 10590 W.
44`h Avenue.
In 2001 the property was rezoned from Agricultural -One (A-1) to Planned Commercial
Development (PCD) with the intent of developing the property into a garden center.
No residential uses are included in the permitted uses. The applicant is requesting
MU -N for the flexibility of having commercial and residential uses allowed on the
property.
Ms. Reckert continued that the MU -N setbacks are more pedestrian friendly as
opposed to the PCD setbacks which place the buildings farther away from the street.
The change of zone is also in conformance with the City of Wheat Ridge
comprehensive plan goals because it will allow for a wider range of development
scenarios on the property.
A neighborhood meeting was held on April 13, 2015 in which no neighborhood
attendees were present. Also, there were no phone calls or letters received and no
concerns from city departments or agencies.
Slawomir Golabek
4745 S. Andes St., Aurora, CO
Plans for the site might be townhomes and construction would likely start in in 2016.
There were no questions from the Commission.
It was moved by Commissioner DORSEY and seconded by Commissioner
TIMMS to recommend APPROVAL of Case No. WZ-15-04, a request for
approval of a zone change from Planned Commercial Development (PCD) to
Mixed Use -Neighborhood (MU -N) for property located at 10590 W. 44"' Avenue,
for the following reasons:
1. The proposed zone change is consistent with Envision Wheat Ridge and the
Fruitdale Valley Subarea Plan
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2. Increasing the potential land use options will be a benefit for the city and may
serve as a catalyst for other property investment in the area.
3. The evaluation criteria support the zone change request.
Motion carried 7-0
8. OTHER ITEMS
Commissioner OHM asked if the city considered looking at the parking requirements at
retail areas; reducing the amount of parking requirements for areas like food
establishments.
Ms. Reckert stated that when the city adopted the mixed use zonings the parking
requirements were substantially reduced.
9. ADJOURNMENT
It was moved by Commissioner WEAVER and seconded by Commissioner OHM to
adjgfrn the meeting at 7:42 p.m. Motion carried 7-0.
Al cknam, haTamm
' y Odea cording Secretary
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