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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/01/2010City of l Wheat~idge PLANNING COMMISSION Minutes of Meeting April 1, 2010 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Chair MATTHEWS at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers of the Municipal Building, 7500 West 29s Avenue, Wheat Ridge, Colorado. ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS Commission Members Present: Anne Brinkman John Dwyer Dean Gokey Dick Matthews George Pond Commission Members Absent: Staff Members Present: PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Alan Bucknam Marc Dietrick Steve Timms Ken Johnstone, Community Development Director Sally Payne, Sr. Planner Sarah Showalter, Planner II Ann Lazzeri, Recording Secretary APPROVE THE ORDER OF THE AGENDA Commissioner GOKEY requested that Item No. 5 "Approval of Minutes" be removed from the agenda. It was moved by Commissioner DWYER and seconded by Commissioner BRINKMAN to approve the order of the agenda with the amendment requested by Commissioner GOKEY. The motion carried 5-0. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - March 18, 2010 (The minutes of March 18, 2010 will be considered at the next Planning Commission meeting.) Planning Commission Minutes 1 April I, 2010 6. PUBLIC FORUM (This is the time for any person to speak on any subject not appearing on the agenda.) There were no members of the public present. Commissioner MATTHEWS stated that he was invited to attend a meeting of the Mixed Use Zoning Task Force. He commented that members of the Task Force are experienced, professional and are devoting a lot of time and energy in making mixed use zoning something the city can be proud of. STUDY SESSION It was moved by Commissioner DWYER and seconded by Commissioner GOKEY to adjourn the regular meeting at 7:06 p.m. to conduct a study session. The motion carried 5-0. (This ended the broadcast portion of the meeting.) A. 38`' Avenue Subarea Plan This item was presented by Sally Payne. She reviewed the DOLA (Colorado Department of Local Affairs) report and presented an update on planning efforts focused on 38`h Avenue. The City received a small grant from Live Well Wheat Ridge to hire a facilitator to assist with planning efforts on 38th Avenue. Staff is working on a Scope of Work for a 38th Avenue subarea plan and requested input from Planning Commission. Commissioner GOKEY questioned how on-street parking might work. Commissioner GOKEY commented that more people are needed on the corridor through infill residential development of condos/townhomes. Commissioner POND commented that he liked the idea of an umbrella organization to coordinate all of the groups involved. He would like to see it formed early-on in the process and designed to have long-term continuity. Commissioner MATTHEWS commented that business improvement districts need to be revisited. Commissioner BRINKMAN commented that 38`h Avenue needs to be narrowed in order for the plan to work. Some lot widths would also be increased by narrowing the street. Commissioner DWYER asked the meaning of "declaring a main street." Sally Payne noted the DOLA report recommended a council resolution declaring 38th Avenue the city's main street. Planning Commission Minutes 2 April 1, 2010 Commissioner D WYER asked if the plan would include city-initiated zoning along the 38`h Avenue corridor. Ken Johnstone commented that this is under consideration. This is one of the questions that will be discussed at a public meeting with property owners to be held on April 8. Commissioner GOKEY commented on the empty windows and outdated buildings along 38th. It is important to look at the city's financial responsibilities associated with this idea. Commissioner MATTHEWS suggested that 38 h Avenue be double branded with Prospect Street, which was the original name of the street. B. Mixed Use Zoning Project This item was presented by Sarah Showalter. She attended the first meeting of the Mixed Use Zoning Task Force yesterday. The task force is comprised of eight members including designers, architects, developers, property owners and real estate brokers. This first meeting focused on market realities. Ms. Showalter discussed the first draft of the mixed use zoning code and invited discussion by the Commission. An interactive website has been established where citizens can take a survey and make comments about what types of mixed use development they would like to see in Wheat Ridge. A second draft of the code should be ready by early May and will be placed on the website. In response to a question from Commissioner DWYER, Ms. Showalter explained that if a conflict arises in stories versus feet, the most restrictive limit would apply. If we add street-to-building height ratios, they could be different height ratios for different subdistricts. Street width will be considered in relation to building height. Commissioner BRINKMAN commented that it is important to listen to businesses regarding the types of entrances that work best for their particular needs. Screening of parking lots was discussed. Commissioner DWYER commented that security would be increased by having permeable hedges. Commissioner GOKEY commented that landscaping needs to be maintained and that he would prefer to see less landscaping. Commissioner POND commented that he favored the 42-inch limitation for walls and noted that walls, trees, or other vertical elements help define the street wall. Drive-up businesses were discussed. Suggestions from the task force included placing space limitations between drive-up businesses. Another suggestion was to disallow fast-food drive-ups on 38`h Avenue in the MUN district. Commissioner BRINKMAN commented that there are various drive up Planning Commission Minutes 3 April 1, 2010 businesses including pharmacies and liquor stores. She didn't necessarily think it was necessary to restrict all drive-up business on 38th. These could be limited to a certain number per type of use. Minimum linear distance between drive-up businesses could be required. Screening could be used successfully for these types of business. Commissioner MATTHEWS also thought "kiosk" type businesses could spring up if build-to lines are not enforced. Commissioner DWYER commented that narrowing 38th Avenue would be self-limiting to drive- through businesses. The number of drive-up lanes for banks was discussed. The first draft allows for one drive up lane in a mixed use district. This would be too restrictive for the interstate and MUC districts. TOD and MUN could be more restrictive. The task force suggested that drive up lanes could be incorporated into the design of the building or screening could be used. Commissioner POND stated he was in favor of allowing site-specific flexibility for drive up lanes for banks. Commissioner GOKEY asked if infrastructure has been addressed in increasing density. Mr. Johnstone stated that staff has had conversations with providers regarding this project. Commissioner BRINKMAN expressed concern about the proposed requirement that illuminated signs be turned off when a business is not in operation. This would prevent some businesses from advertising in the evening hours. Ms. Showalter invited Commissioners to contact her with other suggestions via phone call or e-mail. These suggestions could then be discussed at a future study session. 8. ADJOURNMENT OF STUDY SESSION It was moved by Commissioner DWYER and seconded by Commissioner MATTHEWS to adjourn the study session at 9:10 p.m. The motion carried 5-0. Dick Matthews, Chair Ann Lazzeri, eci t Planning Commission Minutes 4 April 1, 2010