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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-20-251. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. ♦�4I City of ]� Wheat�idge PLANNING COMMISSION Minutes of Meeting February 20, 2025 CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Vice Chair QUINN at 6:31 p.m. This meeting was held in person and virtually, using Zoom video -teleconferencing technology. ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS Commission Members Present: Commission Members Absent: Staff Members Present: PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Daniel Graeve Krista Holub Will Kerns Michael Moore Patrick Quinn Jonathan Schelke Kristine Disney Syrma Quinones Jana Easley, Planning Manager Scott Cutler, Senior Planner Tammy Odean, Recording Secretary APPROVE ORDER OF THE AGENDA It was moved by consensus to approve the order of the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES — February 6, 2025 It was moved by consensus to approve the minutes of February 6, 2025, as written. PUBLIC FORUM (This is the time for any person to speak on any subject not appearing on the Public Hearing agenda.) No one wished to speak at this time. 7. PUBLIC HEARING Planning Commission Minutes February 20, 2025 -1— A. Case No. WZ-25-02: A City -initiated zone change of the Lutheran Legacy Campus from Planned Hospital Development (PHD), Planned Commercial Development (PCD), Residential -Two (R-2) and Residential -One (R-1) to the Mixed Use Lutheran Legacy Campus (MU-LLC) zone district. Vice Chair QUINN opened the Public Hearing. Mr. Cutler gave a short presentation regarding the zone change and the application. He entered into the record the contents of the case file, packet materials, the zoning ordinance, and the contents of the digital presentation. He stated the public notice and posting requirements have been met, therefore the Planning Commission has jurisdiction to hear this case. Public Comment Anne Brinkman, resident 7420 West 34th Avenue Ms. Brinkman mentioned she served 10 years on the Planning Commission and said she is in favor of the zone change and is speaking on behalf of the ditch water rights. She wanted it known that the ditch area is not a recreational area and is owned by Rocky Mountain Ditch and the water rights owners. She said the ditch is an agricultural service right-of-way and it is important to keep it flowing for the people downstream because they rely on it. She also mentioned she is ok if it is piped underground. Betty Jo Page, resident 3945 Ingalls Street Ms. Page reiterated Ms. Brinkman's thoughts that the ditch is not a recreational area. Vice Chair QUINN closed the public comment and reopened it. In response to a question from Commissioner SCHELKE, Ms. Brinkman clarified that she was trying to explain that the ditch flow cannot be broken, for example into a detention pond. Commissioner KERNS mentioned that one of the long-term goals is to get a more formalized pedestrian and bicycle easement along the ditch so it can function as a high -line canal trail system. Ms. Brinkman said it will take a negotiation between the City and Rocky Mountain Ditch to create an easement for a trail. Mr. Cutler added that with any future development the City will refer the application to the ditch company and there could be a large easement that the ditch has control over. Planning Commission Minutes - 2 — February 20, 2025 Vice Chair QUINN closed the public comment. It was moved by Commissioner KERNS and seconded by Commissioner GRAEVE to recommend APPROVAL of Case No. WZ-25-02, a request for approval of a city -initiated zone change of the Lutheran Legacy Campus from Planned Hospital Development (PHD), Planned Commercial Development (PCD), Residential -Two (R-2) and Residential -One (R-1) to the Mixed Use Lutheran Legacy Campus (MU-LLC zone district, for the following reasons: 1. The proposed zone change will promote the public health, safety, or welfare of the community and does not result in an adverse effect on the surrounding area. 2. A future developer will be required to upgrade infrastructure and utilities to serve the types of uses allowed by the change of zone. 3. The proposed zone change is consistent with the goals and objectives of the City's adopted plans and policies, including the adopted Lutheran Legacy Campus Master Plan. 4. The zone change will provide additional opportunity for reinvestment in the area. 5. The criteria used to evaluate a zone change supports the request. Motion carried 6-0. Commissioner KERNS said he will be voting in favor of the motion and added he would like to see lower heights of buildings around the ditch; support for preserving the ditch and trail alongside it; he would like to see adaptive reuse of the current hospital and medical office buildings; include affordable housing within the development and diversity of housing types; street connections to existing neighborhoods in a grid system; support for bike/pedestrian connections to Crown Hill; and to preserve the tree canopy. Commissioner GRAEVE agreed with Commissioner KERNS and his comments. He mentioned this is an exciting time and there is a lot of work that lays ahead in the process and thanked staff for getting us to this point. He also encouraged the reuse of existing buildings, incorporating transit, and would like to see diversity in housing types. He added he will be voting in favor. Commissioner HOLUB mentioned her appreciation to the voters and the process and looks forward to what's ahead. Commissioner MOORE said this is a good thing and thanked the City and community for making it happen. Commissioner SCHELKE echoed the City to work with the ditch company to preserve a trail that all can be proud of. Planning Commission Minutes - 3 — February 20, 2025 Commissioner QUINN thanked staff for the big undertaking of this master plan for Lutheran Legacy Campus and for the two public comments. 8. OLD BUSINESS Ms. Easley thanked Commissioner KERNS for his service on the commission and looks forward to seeing him in the future. 9. NEW BUSINESS A. Upcoming Dates Ms. Easley mentioned there will be a meeting on March 6 to discuss the City Plan Phase 4, introduce new commissioners, and vote for Chair and Vice Chair. She added the meeting on March 20 is tentative. B. Project and Development Updates Ms. Easley announced that Lakeside Autowash is open and added the new ERP OpenGov permitting system went live at the first of the year. Commissioner GRAEVE asked if this new system will speed up the permitting process. Ms. Easley said that is the hope, but there will be a transition period to get used to. Mr. Cutler added the communication through the new system will be easier. C. Commissioner Updates Commissioner HOLUB mentioned she attended the City Plan Open House and would recommend the community take the survey in What's Up Wheat Ridge. She also encouraged people to weigh-in on the DRCOG survey regarding Sheridan Blvd. 10. ADJOURNMENT It was moved by Commissioner KERNS and seconded by Commissioner SCHELKE to adjouA the meeting at 7:20 p.m. Motion carried 6-0. Chair Tammy , Recording Secretary Planning Commission Minutes - 4 — February 20, 2025