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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/18/1999ORIGINAL CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE PLANNING COMMISSION Minutes of Meeting November 18,1999 1. CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order by Chair BRINKMAN at 7:30 p.m. on November 18, 1999, in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building, 7500 West 29th Avenue, Wheat Ridge, Colorado. 2. ROLL CALL: Commission Members Present: Anne Brinkman Dick Doyle Dean Gokey Don MacDougall Nancy Snow Janice Thompson Commission Members Absent: Staff Members Present: Jerry Collins (excused) Alan White, Planning Director Meredith Reckert, Sr. Planner Ann Lazzeri, Secretary 3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The following is the official set of Planning Commission minutes for the public hearing of November 18, 1999. 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. APPROVAL OF ORDER OF THE AGENDA It was moved by Commissioner SNOW and seconded by Commissioner THOMPSON to approve the order of the agenda. The motion passed by a vote of 6-0, with Commissioner COLLINS absent. 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES It was moved by Commissioner MACDOUGALL and seconded by Commissioner SNOW to approve the minutes of November 4, 1999. The motion passed by a vote of 5-0, with Commissioner GOKEY abstaining and Commissioner COLLINS absent. 6. PUBLIC FORUM There was no one signed up to speak before the Commission on unscheduled matters. Planning Commission Page 1 November 18,1999 7. PUBLIC HEARING A. Case No. WZ-99-12: Application by Roger Loecher for approval of a zone change from Residential-Two to Restricted Commercial-One for the purpose of building a 4,200 square foot credit union and office building on property located at 3502 Wadsworth Boulevard. Because the drainage report has not yet been approved, staff requested continuance of this case. It was moved by Commissioner SNOW and seconded by Commissioner GOKEY that Case No. WZ-99-12 be continued to December 2, 1999 to allow the drainage report to be completed. The motion passed by a vote of 6-0 with Commissioner COLLINS absent. B. Case No. ZOA 99-06: Application by the City of Wheat Ridge amending Section 26 (c) of Appendix A of the Wheat Ridge Code of Laws/Zoning Ordinance establishing the point in the development process when the right to develop is vested as mandated by new state legislation. Alan White stated that staff is withdrawing this case based upon City Council's decision that, since the City of Wheat Ridge is a home rule municipality, vesting property rights is a matter of local interest and cannot be mandated by the State. City Council has chosen not to change existing legislation at this time. 8. CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING Chair BRINKMAN declared the public hearing portion of the meeting to be closed. 9. ELECTION OF OFFICERS The Commission placed ballots for selection of Chair and Vice Chair according to By- Laws with the following results: Don MacDougall was elected as Planning Commission Chair. Anne Brinkman was elected as Planning Commission Vice Chair. At this point in the meeting, Commissioner BRINKMAN handed the gavel to Chair MACDOUGALL. 10. OLD BUSINESS C. Northwest Fruitdale Circulation Plan: Chair MACDOUGALL opened discussion between the Commission, the public and staff regarding the need for, and the possible design of a circulation master plan for the area generally bounded by West 44th Avenue Planning Commission Page November 18, 1999 on the south, I-70 on the north, Tabor Street on the west and Robb Street on the east. Alan White summarized comments from the November 4th meeting and presented three alternative designs which incorporate suggestions and comments received at that meeting. Commissioner THOMPSON stated her opposition to alternative C which would allow a through street between 44th and 46th. She expressed concern that if the vacant property on the east side of Tabor Street develops, commercial traffic could be dumped into a residential neighborhood. She preferred a cul-de-sac to service the Turgeon and Fightmaster properties. Commissioner BRINKMAN commented that Option C does not seem to be very useful unless Simms Street is built to connect with 461 Avenue. She expressed concern that any plan may not meet the needs of the entire neighborhood and not just the presently undeveloped properties. Commissioner THOMPSON commented that perhaps no plan is better than a plan which would negatively impact the existing neighborhood. Chair MACDOUGALL invited comments from the public. Herb Fightmaster 11641 West 44th Mr. Fightmaster stated that he never said he would dedicate right-of-way for Swadley along his western property boundary. He only said that he had a preference of Swadley over Simms and any right of way acquisition on his property would have to take place through condemnation. He made it clear that he is definitely not dedicating any land. He objected to the fact that the first application with a cul-de-sac off 46th was approved and is now the subject of controversy. Commissioner SNOW reminded Mr. Fightmaster that the city can require dedication as a result of the application. Mr. Fightmaster asked if a traffic study had been done. Meredith Reckert replied that a traffic study and report was submitted as a part of the Turgeon application. George Jorgenson 4515 Robb Street Mr. Jorgenson agreed with Commissioner THOMPSON that there is no need for a plan at this time. He felt the only pressing need in the neighborhood is that Tabor be improved and commented that there is no real traffic problem in the neighborhood. He felt the development should service itself with a cul-de-sac. He was not in favor of a through street. Planning Commission Page 3 November 18, 1999 Kim Stewart 11700 West 46th Avenue Ms. Stewart stated that there is a traffic problem in the neighborhood and that she was opposed to vacation of street right-of-way for Simms adjacent to Mr. Fightmaster until there is a firm commitment to replace it with another access point onto 44th Avenue. She favored widening the present lanes on Tabor rather than adding a third lane. She was opposed to a through street from 44th to 46th and was in favor of the plan providing access to west 44th by cul-de-sac. She asked the Commission to approve a plan that will not impact West 46th and the future of other neighbors. Chair MACDOUGALL asked if there were others present who wished to address this matter. There was no response. Mr. White commented that this is not an attempt to reconsider the application which is before City Council, but rather an attempt to do some neighborhood planning to see what impact additional development will have on the present road system. He stated that a traffic impact study was performed as part of the application and reviewed by the traffic engineer in which there was concurrence that there would be an insignificant impact to the existing road system. Commissioner SNOW commented that City Council directed staff to meet with the neighborhood to work out traffic issues before Council's final consideration. Commissioner THOMPSON expressed concern that if traffic from the proposed development empties onto 46th Avenue that there is no guarantee that this neighborhood will not bear the impact of traffic generated by development on other vacant parcels of land in the area. Commissioner SNOW moved and Commissioner THOMPSON seconded that option A (cul-de-sac from 44th Avenue in Swadley alignment) be adopted as access to the parcels tinder consideration. Commissioner BRINKMAN asked if consideration could be given to withdrawing the motion because there is not enough information at this time and as properties are developed, better consideration could be given to the traffic situation. In response to a question from Commissioner THOMPSON, Mr. White stated that the traffic analysis determined that 46th Avenue could handle the traffic from the developments (i.e., Turgeon and Fightmaster properties). Commissioner THOMPSON stated that she would like assurance that the cul-de-sac bulb would never open up to service other development. Planning Commission Page November 18, 1999 Alan White suggested a conceptual plan that would provide for any future development along 44th Avenue to have access to 44th. Commissioner GOKEY stated he would not support the motion because a traffic study had been done and the plan was approved based on that information. He did not support any of the three alternatives. Commissioner BRINKMAN stated she would vote against the motion because she favored the idea of approving a conceptual, rather than specific, plan. The motion failed by a vote of 2 to 4 with Commissioners BRINKMAN, GOKEY, DOYLE and THOMPSON voting no and Commissioner COLLINS absent. Commissioner SNOW moved and Commissioner THOMPSON seconded that any development, other than single family, on property abutting 44th Avenue have its access solely to 44th Avenue so that it does not impact lower density neighborhoods; and that the subject properties be considered as one parcel fronting on 44th as required at its original rezoning. The motion failed by a vote of 3 to 3 with Commissioners GOKEY, BRINKMAN, and DOYLE voting no and Commissioner COLLINS absent. Commissioner DOYLE suggested that, after hearing public discussion, Tabor be widened and a traffic light be placed at 44th. Commissioner BRINKMAN moved and Commissioner GOKEY seconded that a recommendation be made to City Council that a traffic light be placed at 44th and Tabor at the earliest possible convenience after the warrants so justify; and that the Planning Commission and Public Works Department consider the widening of Tabor. Commissioner SNOW stated that, although she would support the motion, she did not feel that this presented a solution for pending development but would be helpful in alleviating current traffic problems. The motion passed 6-0 with Commissioner COLLINS absent. It was moved by Commissioner THOMPSON and seconded by Commissioner BRINKMAN that if a cul-de-sac is built on the Turgeon property, it will never open to the south to tie into West 44th Avenue resulting in a through street. The motion passed by a vote of 5 to 1, with Commissioner GOKEY voting no and Commissioner COLLINS absent. Planning Commission Page 5 November 18, 1999 Commissioner SNOW moved and Commissioner GOKEY seconded that the police department make efforts to enforce the weight and speed limits and that a weight limit sign be placed on Tabor. The motion passed by a vote of 6-0 with Commissioner COLLINS absent. (Chair MACDOUGALL declared a recess at 9:20 p.m. The meeting was reconvened at 9:30 P.M-) 11. NEW BUSINESS D. Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) 5-Year Plan - Discussion of the City's 5-year CDBG Plan. As a participating jurisdiction in the CDBG program, the City is required to have a consolidated plan prepared listing the City's goals for the program for the next five (5) years. Alan White presented this item and asked for discussion and suggestions from the Planning Commission regarding allocation of the CDBG funds. The funds have to be directed to low and moderate income areas of the city. The following allocations were suggested: • Enhance senior transportation services. • Waive fees to the new recreation center to places such as senior centers, nursing homes, and subsidized day care centers. • Helping Hands food bank. • Credit counseling programs for low and moderate income citizens. Water taps for properties with wells as only source of water. It was moved by Commissioner SNOW and seconded by Commissioner THOMPSON that funds be allocated for disabled persons who live in rental properties to renovate those properties for handicapped accessibility. The motion passed by a vote of 6-0 with Commissioner COLLINS absent. Staff will research suggestions made by the Planning Commission. 12. COMMISSION REPORTS There were no commission reports. 13. COMMITTEE AND DEPARTMENT REPORTS There were no committee and department reports Planning Commission Page 6 November 18, 1999 14. ADJOURNMENT It was moved by Commissioner DOYLE and seconded by Commissioner BRINKMAN that the meeting be adjourned at 10:02 p.m. The motion passed unanimously. R d L s✓ 42~~' Don MACDOUGALL, 117 r Ann Lazzeri, Recording ecretary C:\B.b..\PCRPTS\PLANGCOM\PCMMTE\ 1999\991118.wpd Planning Commission Page November 18, 1999