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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1980-09-08 (Special) Meeting Minutes [2]SPECIAL MEETING: COUNCIL CHAMBERS CITY OF ENGLEWOOD, COLORADO September 8, 1980 The City Council of the City of Englewood, Arapahoe County, Colorado, met in special session on September 8, 1980, at 7:30 p.m. Mayor Otis, presiding, called the meeting to order. Mayor Otis dispensed with the invocation and pledge of allegiance as they were delivered at the preceding meeting. No Council Member left the preceding meeting; there- fore a quorum was present. Council Member Fitzpatrick was on vacation and also absent from this meeting. * * * * * * Also present were: City Manager Mccown Assistant City Manager Wanush City Attorney Berardini Director of Public Works Waggoner Acting Director of Connnunity Development Romans Deputy City Clerk Watkins * * * * * * COUNCIL MEMBER HIGDAY MOVED TO OPEN THE MEETING ON THE SPECIAL ASSESSMENT DISTRICT FOR DOWNTOWN ENGLEWOOD. Coun- cil Member Neal seconded the motion. Upon a call of the roll, the vote resulted as follows: Ayes: Nays: Absent: Council Members Higday, Neal, Keena, Bilo, Bradshaw, Otis. None. Council Member Fitzpatrick. The Mayor declared the motion carried. Mayor Otis gave opening remarks concerning the purpose of this meeting and the forum under which the meeting would be con- ducted. Dorothy Romane, Acting Director of Conmunity Develop- ment, appeared before Council. In regard to this special assess- ment improvement district, Me. Romans explained what was con- sidered at the previous hearing on July 14, 1980, which was on September 8, 1980 Page 2 the creation of the district and then brought the project up to date. Ma. Romans diacuaaed the changes between the previous con- sideration and the new proposal; wherein, the new proposal re- duces the project and the coat by eliminating the Stoal and Sachter properties, reducing the aize of the parking lot, eli- minating the mini-park, widening the walk-through, and elimi- nating plans to bury the utility lines underground. Those pro- perty owners receiving greater benefit would be placed in a primary zone and those receiving leaser benefit in a secondary zone. Ma. Romana stated the total coat of the project would be $589,300. The City would contribute $135,000, the EDDA would contribute $70,000, and the remaining $384,300 would be assessed against the properties within the district. Ma. Romana further explained the parking lot assess- ment would be baaed on the number of parking spaces which are deficient when considering the minimum number of parking spaces required by the Comprehenaive Zoning Ordinance. No credit would be given if property owner• have surplus parking. The deficient spaces in the primary zone would be aaaessed at one and a half times the rate for the deficiencies in the secondary zone. The estimated coat for the parking in the primary zone would be $958.02 for each deficient apace and in the secondary $638.67 for each deficient apace. To determine the number of parking spaces required, in retail buaineaa if the property owner has under 7,500 square feet of gross floor are they are required to have an area equal to one half of that gross floor area. If over 7,500 aquare feet of gross floor area, the property owner has to have an area equal to that gross floor area. Restaurants, bars, lounges have to have one space for each 60 square feet of customer seating area. Aaaembly halls or lodges was one space for each 100 aquare feet of gross floor area. The walk-through asseaamenta would be againat all of the properties in the dis- traict excluding the City property and the property under option to the Englewood Houainf Authority. In the primary area, the aaseaament would be $0. 24 per square foot and in the secondary area, $0.083 per square foot. and ing the Rick Kahm, Office Engineer, appeared before Council presented a detailed breakdown for the method o~ determin- the coats of the aaaeaaments and those costs charged against primary and secondary zone. Following the preaentation, Mayor Otis asked if anyone in the audience wiahed to speak in favor of the proposal. September 8, 1980 Page 3 Barbara Holthaue, 3483 South Acoma, Chairman of the Englewood Downtown Development Authority, appeared before Coun- cil on behalf of the Authority. Ma. Holthaus thanked Council for their reeearch and their support for this project. Ms. Holthaua stated the Authority supported this new proposal and would fully cooperate wi t h Council on this reconmendation. Gordon Close, 3451 South Acoma, President of dba/ Englewood, appeared before Council. Mr. Close expressed sup- port on behalf of the dba Englewood on this proposal. There were no further conaents in favor. Mayor Otie aeked if there was anyone wishing to speak in oppoaition to the propoeal. W. A. Snell, property owner of 3458 -70 South Lincoln, appeared before Council. Mr. Snell discussed his concerns regard- time frame for aeeesement payment, the parking ratio for his apart- ments, what benefit would be derived by turning the property into a parking lot, and the parking lot requirements if the use of his building changes. Mr. Snell stated he did not find any value for him in thia project and would have to raise the rent of his tenants in order to pay the bill. C. Charles Bechler, attorney, appeared representing Albert J. Finer, 3500 block of South Broadway; Claude Shattuck; and Bechler Properties, Inc. Mr. Bechler stated he agreed with the method of aaaeaament for the walk-through which was the only part of the project aaaeaaible to these properties. Mr. Bechler expressed his concern• over the boundaries of the district. He stated part of his land lies outside of the 400 foot limitation. Mr. Bechler stated those properties that lie within 400 feet of the bounds of the improved area in any direction should be in- cluded within the district. Jim Petrock, attorney representing Fred Dransfeldt owner of property at 3421 South Broadway as well as the owners of the Odd Fellows Building at 3425 South Broadway, appeared before Council. Mr. Petrock stated these properties have the highest aaaeasment of any of the properties in the district. Mr. Petrock stated his clients object to the inclusion of the building• in district, particularly in the primary zone. He stated there would be no special benefit to these buildings. Mr. Petrock pointed out what he noted to be defects in the notice of public hearing, in particular, the legal description as being incomplete. Mr. Petrock stated the notice neither contained a list of the improvements that are suppose to be constructed nor the location of the parking lot. Mr. Petrock stated the Odd September 8, 1980 Page 4 Fellows building waa used primarly in the evening and there would be no benefit in view of the parking apacea that were available in the evening. The Odd Fellows have no way of pass- ing on the expense of the aaaeaament. The Dranafeldts would have to pass on the coats to their tenants and they were not in an economic position to absorb the costs. Fred Dranafeldt, Parker, Colorado, appeared before Council. Mr. Dranafeldt protested the assessment against the Odd Fellow Building at 3425 South Broadway and his own build- ing at 3431 South Broadway. Mr. Dranafeldt stated the assess- ment could not be paid under any circ\Dllstances. He asked for a list of each property and the assessments against each. Mr. Dransfeldt stated his tenants feel they would get no benefit from the parking and asked that the project not be funded in the manner proposed. In response to Council Member Higday's question, Mr. Dransfeldt stated he would not be able to change the use of his building. Robert Blannberg, 15703 West Wedge Way, Morrison, Colorado, appeared before Council. Mr. Blannberg stated he had a four-unit at 3441 South Sherman and provided parking for the apartments. Mr. Blannberg stated he could not see any benefit for the assessment when the parking was three blocks away. Council Member Bradshaw pointed out Mr. Blannberg was being assessed for the walk-through and not the parking lot. Mr. Blannberg stated even the walk-through did not benefit his property. Council Member Neal stated the assessment covered the landscaping, etc. and not the land acquisition. Mr. Blannberg stated he did not see where the beautifica- tion of the area would help his situation and for the use which his building serves now. Steve Erhart, representing Rocky Mountain Jewelry and Gift Mart at 3400 South Broadway, appeared before Council. Mr. Erhart stated he agreed with the concept to provide good parking area in the downtown area but his concerns were how to assess the properties, in particular, how the square footage would be deter- mined and definition of types of businesses, and how to control the parking lot. Mr. Erhart proposed that the City allow the Mart September 8, 1980 Page 5 to acquire the property in question or lease the property from the City annually and be responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the lot; to hire and pay the salary of some control people to make sure the cars were moving in and out and used by the people for the downtown area. Mr. Erhart suggested the beautification program coats of the walk-through be paid for by the City. * * * * * * There were no further coDlllents made in opposition. * * * * * * Mayor Otis stated individual assessments would be available following the adjournment of the meeting. * * * * * * Mayor Otis stated Council would take the coDlllents made at this meeting under advisement and another public hearing would be held. Mayor Otis stated technical questions could be directed to Ma. Romans of the Co111DUnity Development Department. * * * * * * COUNCIL MEMBER HIGDAY MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. Mayor Otis adjourned the meeting without a vote at 8:45 p.m.