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Home My WebLink About09/06/2012The meeting was called to order by Chair TIMMS at 7:00 pm. in the City Council Chambers of the Municipal Building, 7500 West 29"' Avenue, Wheat Ridge, Colorado. �0 Commission Members Absent: Alan Bucknam Tracy Guildner Staff Members Present: Ken Johnstone, Community Development Director Sarah Showalter, planner 11 Lauren Mikulak, Planner I Deborah Baker, Recording Secretary 3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 4. APPROVE ORDER OF THE AGENDA I I I I I A. ' Case No. WZ-12-05: An application filed by the City of Wheat Ridge for a City- initiated rezoning of property located at 7750 Three Acre Lane to Mixed Use- Commercial (MU-C). This case was presented by Lauren Mikulak. She entered into public record the contents of the case file, zoning ordinance, Comprehensive Plan, and digital presentation. All notification and posting requirements have been met; therefore, there is jurisdiction to hear this case. Staff concludes that a City-initiated rezoning of the property will correct a past error, increase development opportunities for the property, and fulfill the original intent of the Wadsworth corridor rezoning. Because the zone change evaluation criteria support the zone change request, staff recommends approval. Commissioner BRINKMAN asked if the property owner has a development plan for the site that is consistent with the mixed use zoning. Ms. Mikulak explained that the property is currently on the market and staff is unaware of any development proposals for the site. Commissioner BRINKMAN asked if the minutes of the neighborhood meetings can indicate who is a property owner or who is a renter, to indicate their interest in attending the meetings. Ms. Mikulak explained that typically only name and address have been requested when attendees sign in at a neighborhood meeting, but in the future they can ask for more identifying information. Planning Commission Minutes - 2 — September 6, 2412 Chair TIMMS asked if the unimproved area between the fence and the street is part of the lot or part of the right-of-way. Ms. Mikulak explained the majority of this area is part of the subject property. u I I pi • , Motion passed 6-0. B. Case No. WZ-12-04: A City-initiated rezoning of the 38 Avenue Corridor to Mixed Use Neighborhood (MU-N). Prior to introduction of this case, Chair TIMMS requested that he be recused from the case because his property is surrounded on two sides by the rezoning area. It was moved by Commissioner WEAVER and seconded by Commissioner BRINKMAN to accept Chair TIMMS' recusal. The motion passed 54, with Commissioner MATTHEWS voting no. Commissioner TIMMS left the Council Chambers following the vote. This case was presented by Sarah Showalter. She entered into record the case file and packet materials, Comprehensive Plan, zoning ordinance, and contents of the digital presentation. Planning Commission Minutes - 3 — September 6, 2012 There was no one wishing to speak on this case. Commissioner MATTHEWS stated that he would like the wording on page 6 changed to be very specific that any request to be removed from the rezoning area within 30 days of the ordinance's publication will be approved. In reply to Commissioner MATTHEWS' question regarding property taxes in mixed development, Ms. Showalter responded that zoning does not impact the assessment of taxes. The property is valued as a whole, and the portion of the property that is commercial is taxed at the commercial rate, and the portion that is residential is taxed at the residential rate. Commissioner WEAVER asked about the implications to areas currently zoned R-3 if commercial uses were to encroach into neighborhoods. Ms. Showalter confirmed that could occur in a few places. For example, a comer coffee shop adjacent to a residential area would be desirable. The City wants to encourage development where people will enjoy getting out in their neighborhood and walking to nearby businesses. Planning Commission Minutes - 4 -- September 6, 2012 Commissioner WEAVER asked if there is a review process for uses such as drive-through business. Ms. Showalter responded that a drive-through would be required to have a conditional use permit, which requires additional review. Commissioner OHM referred to the City Ordinance in Exhibit 3, stating that the ordinance language protects the owners who want to be removed from the rezoning area, but he agrees with Commissioner MATTHEWS' recommendation to be specific in the revisions suggested on page 6. Commissioners MATTHEWS, BRIM AN, and WEAVER all asked for explanation for specific locations where the rezoning boundary does not appear to follow a clear line. It was moved by Commissioner OHM and seconded by Commissioner DURAN to recommend APPROVAL of Case No. WZ-12-04, a request for a City-initiated zone 1. The proposed zone change promotes the health, safety, and general welfare of t community and will not result in a significant adverse effect on the surroundin area. I Motion passed 5-0 with Commissioner TIMMS recusing himself Chair TIMMS returned to the Council Chambers at 7:59 p.m. C. Case No. ZOA-12-04: An ordinance amending the Wheat Ridge Code of Laws concerning industrial employment zoning. The City does not have much industrial zoning at the present time; it is presently north and mostly above the 1-70 corridor. The light purple areas on the map are where there is a planned industrial development with its own specific zoning. The dark purple areas indicate light industrial. Most of these areas correspond to the dark purple that are on the Planning Commission Minutes -5— September 6, 2012 structure plan map from our Comprehensive Plan. Ms. Showalter pointed out areas in dark purple on the map in which the City wants specifically to attract employment based uses. Some of these areas will be well covered by the zoning change because they have the existing I zoning. Staff is also proposing some updates to the development standards which is hoped will make new development easier and attract investment in some of these areas. One is a reduction in landscape requirements to 15% from 20%, which is appropriate for an industrial type development. Staff recommends approval of this ordinance. It changes the light industrial zone district so that it conforms with the goals set out in the Comprehensive Plan and overall it creates a more flexible and attractive industrial option. Commissioner MATTHEW S questioned whether it is common to have design standards for industrial in the zoning code, or is it more common to leave design standards for a Planning Commission Minutes - 6 — September 6, 20112 separate manual, Ms. Showalter responded that it is a little more common to use planned development negotiation as a way to negotiate design standards, or to usethe City's current model of a separate design manual that establishes guidelines. It was moved by Commissioner MATTHEWS and seconded by Commissioner WEAVER to recommend approval of the proposed ordinance amending Chapter 26 concerning the creation of industrial-employment zoning. 92MEMEEM There was no one to speak on this case. D. Case No. ZOA-12-05: An ordinance amending the Wheat Ridge Code of Lai pertaining to the review process for public schools. Staff recommends approval in order to comply with state law. Planning Commission Minutes - 7 — September 6, 2012 r - W73 - 11171 TUT"i Mr! • t t i onmussione"I to recommend approval of the proposed ordinance amending Chapter 26 concerning the review process for public schools. 92� #� Amflafflym Chair TIMMS closed the public hearing. There were no other items to come before the Commission. The next Planning Commission meeting is scheduled for October 4, 2012. 9. ADJOURNMENT I -Fqw IL -.7 Irr ' - . DURAN to adjourn the meeting at 8:28 p.m. Motion carried 6-0. Steve Timms, Chair Planning Commission Minutes September 6, 2012