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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/06/2011City of W heatjidge PLANNING COMMISSION Minutes of Meeting January 6, 2011 1. 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 29` Avenue, Wheat Ridge, Colorado. 2. ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS Commission Members Present: Anne Brinkman Alan Buckram Dick Matthews Scott Ohm (arrived 7:12 pm) George Pond Steve Timms Commission Members Absent: Marc Dietrick John Dwyer Staff Members Present: Meredith Reckert, Sr. Planner Sarah Showalter, Planner II Ann Lazzeri, Recording Secretary 3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 4. APPROVE THE ORDER OF THE AGENDA It was moved by Commissioner BUCKNAM and seconded by Commissioner POND to amend the order of the agenda to consider Item 9(A) prior to adjourning to study session. The motion carried 5 -0. 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES — November 18, 2010 It was moved by Commissioner BRINKMAN and seconded by Commissioner POND to approve the minutes of November 4, 2010 as presented. The motion carried 4 -0 with Commissioner TIMMS abstaining. 6. PUBLIC FORUM (This is the time for any person to speak on any subject not appearing on the agenda. Public comments may be limited to 3 minutes) Planning Commission Minutes 1 January 6, 2011 There were no members of the public present. PUBLIC HEARING There were no items scheduled for public hearing. 8. OTHER ITEMS A. Resolution Designating a Public Place for Posting Notices of Public Meetings In accordance with the Colorado Open Meeting Law, Planning Commission must annually designate a public pace for posting notices of meetings. It was moved by Commissioner TIMMS and seconded by Commissioner BUCKNAM to approve Resolution No. 01 -11, a resolution establishing a designated public place for the posting of meeting notices as required by the Colorado Open Meetings Law. The motion carried 5 -0. 9. STUDY SESSION It was moved by Commissioner BUCKNAM and seconded by Commissioner POND to enter into study session. The motion carried 5 -0. A. Urban Agriculture This item was presented by Sarah Showalter. Her presentation included an overview of urban agriculture as it relates to planning and community development. She asked for discussion regarding how urban agriculture fits into the Wheat Ridge Community as well as input on proposed zoning code amendments related to urban agriculture. Comments included: • Should there be an exception for vegetables such as corn in relation to nuisance and weed height restrictions. • Parking requirements don't seem necessary for community gardens as most people would walk to them. • There should be allowance for small structures such as potting sheds. • Should the process be different for gardens on vacant lots between residential structures versus on school property, for example. • There should be no parking requirement for market gardens where produce is grown to be sold to restaurants, etc. • Produce stands should be required to be removed when the season is over. • Regulations regarding the growing of marijuana should be considered. Planning Commission Minutes 2 January 6, 2011 • Tall plants such as corn grown in front yards could detract from the character of the residential neighborhood. • Community gardens are sometimes jammed with cars, especially on weekends, so some parking regulations may be necessary. • Should hours and lighting be restricted in residential areas. • Requirements for asphalt paving would be cost prohibitive for produce stands, which are temporary uses, and for some community gardens. • Feed Denver organization has good resources about urban gardening. • Accessory structures should be regulated and temporary greenhouses should be exempt from the building code. Storage containers should be prohibited. • Urban gardening would be representative of the city's farming heritage. • City owned land could be used for community gardens. • A farmers market could be held in the park adjacent to the municipal building. • Once everything is finalized, publicity is important. • It would be nice to encourage "people's markets" that would involve local growers more than larger farms from outside the city. • Since some hand -made items could be sold at farmers markets, regulation of "flea market" type items should be considered. • Processed produce should fall under the produce category. 10. OTHER MATTERS Commissioner TIMMS suggested receiving code updates, etc. on CD rather than printing on paper. Meredith Reckert will look into this. Chair MATTHEWS informed that the entire city code is available on -line. 11. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:18 p.m. I ! 7/ &Z Oy/A4�= i Richard Matthews, Chair l/J i7/L� Ann Lazzeri, Secretai Planning Commission Minutes 3 January 6, 2011