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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/21/2009 City of `Wheatjdge PLANNING COMMISSION Minutes of Meeting May 21, 2009 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Chair REINHART at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers of the Municipal Building, 7500 West 29th Avenue, Wheat Ridge, Colorado. ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS Commission Members Present: Jim Chilvers Marc Dietrick John Dwyer Henry Hollender Dick Matthews Davis Reinhart Commission Members Absent: Staff Members Present: PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Anne Brinkman Steve Timms Ken Johnstone, Community Development Director Meredith Reckert, Senior Planner Jeff Hirt, Planner II Ann Lazzeri, Recording Secretary APPROVE THE ORDER OF THE AGENDA It was moved by Commissioner MATTHEWS and seconded by Commissioner DWYER to approve the order of the agenda. The motion carried 6-0. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - April 16, 2009 It was moved by Commissioner HOLLENDER and seconded by Commissioner DWYER to approve the minutes of April 16, 2009 as presented. The motion carried 4-0 with Commissioners DIETRICK and MATTHEWS abstaining. Planning Commission Minutes 1 May 21, 2009 6. PUBLIC FORUM (This is the time for any person to speak on any subject not appearing on the agenda.) There was no one to address the Commission at this time. PUBLIC HEARING A. Case No. WZ-09-04: An application filed by K&C RV Centers dba Camping World for approval of an outline development plan amendment to allow additional land uses of RV sales and rental for the property zoned Planned Commercial Development and located at 4100 Youngfield Street. Prior to presenting the case, Meredith Reckert was sworn in by Chair REINHART. She entered all pertinent documents into the record and advised the Commission there was jurisdiction to hear the case. She reviewed the staff report and digital presentation. Staff recommended approval for reasons, and with conditions, outlined in the staff report. The staff report explained that in 2008 K&C RV applied to the City for business licenses for RV sales and rental. These licenses were approved by the Community Development Department in conflict with approved zoning on the property. Based on issuance of licenses, a Camping World sales facility located on Colfax was closed and the existing inventory and sales personnel were relocated to the Wheat Ridge Store. When staff became aware of the error, K&C RV was notified and the process for requesting an amendment to the property's zoning was initiated. Commissioner DWYER stated that he had no problem with the application. He asked if any new procedures have been implemented to prevent a similar error from occurring in the future. Ken Johnstone explained that sales tax licenses are handled in the finance department. A procedure has been set in place for the Community Development Department to track sales tax licenses through software and refer those licenses to a planner and the building inspector. Rod Anderson, the applicant was sworn in by Chair REINHART. He stated that in moving to the present location he closed an existing business upon approval of the licensing. It would create a hardship to the business if it could not operate in this location. Chair REINHART asked if there were members of the public who wished to address this matter. Hearing no response, the public hearing was closed. Commissioner MATTHEWS commented that he didn't see a purpose in limiting sales to RV's only. Planning Commission Minutes 2 May 21, 2009 It was moved by Commissioner MATTHEWS and seconded by Commissioner HOLLENDER to recommend approval of Case No. WZ-09- 04, a request for approval of an amendment to the Youngfield Plaza ODP for Lot 2 to allow the additional uses of RV sales and rental on property located at 4100 Youngfield for the following reasons: 1. There is adequate parking on-site to accommodate the new uses. 2. It will legitimize the RV sales and rental occurring on the property. 3. The evaluation criteria support approval of the request. With the following conditions: 1. RV sales and rental inventory be located as specified on staffs exhibit No. 6. 2. All required fire lanes be kept clear of obstruction. In response to a question from Commissioner CHILVERS, Ms. Reckert stated that the public hearing was advertised for the sale and rental of RV's only; however, it could be modified at first reading. The property owner to the south was supportive of RV sales and rental. It would be necessary to talk with that owner to get his concurrence to allow the sale and rental of other types of vehicles. Commissioner DWYER offered a friendly amendment to add a third condition as follows: 3. The sale and rental of other types of vehicles is not allowed on the subject property. The amendment was accepted by Commissioners MATTHEWS and HOLLENDER. The amended motion carried 6-0. 8. STUDY SESSION Jeff Hirt presented the staff report and invited discussion on a Mixed Use Development District prior to moving forward with drafting an ordinance. Specific policy direction was requested on (1) number of districts; (2) mix of land uses; (3) density; (4) site plan approval; (5) nonconformities; and other standards and policies that should be considered for the district. Comments included: Planning Commission Minutes 3 May 21, 2009 • A third district could be added that would be similar to mixed use commercial but more aggressive with mandatory uses. This could address transit oriented development. • Transit oriented development is unique in itself and would not necessarily require a third district. It may not be beneficial to draft a district for only one location in the city (one light rail station). • Overlay districts can also be brought into play. • Uses have to be market driven. Mandates must be looked at very carefully. Providing incentives would be a good idea. • Maybe number of districts could be determined after Wadsworth summit. • Density calculations should be consistent. • Transition from higher density to single family is important. • More intensive mixed use may be more suitable for north-south corridors and less intensive uses for east-west corridors. • A third district may have more incentives to add more retail, for example, one of the incentives could be for administrative site plan approval in the third, more "aggressive" district, while PC approval may be required with the other two more modest districts. • There should be a size threshold that would trigger a public hearing for site plan approval. Larger projects should automatically require a public hearing. Staff will do some research to arrive at a desired size threshold. • Nonconformities should not be allowed to expand more than one time. If a square footage maximum is specified (maximum allowed expansion of a nonconformity), there cannot be incremental expansions to circumvent the requirement. • A Wadsworth summit meeting with property owners along Wadsworth and other interested citizens will be scheduled to look at the possibility of city- initiated rezoning along that corridor. Feedback from that meeting along with Planning Commission comments will be considered in drafting the ordinance. 9. OTHER ITEMS There were no other items to come before the Commission. 10. ADJOURNMENT It was moved by Commissioner CHILVERS and seconded by Commissioner HOLLENDER to adjourn the meeting at 8:31 p.m. The motion carried 6-0. V V Davis Reinhart, Chair Ann Lazzeri, Secretary Planning Commission Minutes 4 May 21, 2009