Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1980-11-24 (Special) Meeting MinutesSPECIAL MEETING: COUNCIL CHAMBERS CITY OF ENGLEWOOD, COLORADO November 24, 1980 The City Council of the City of Englewood, Arapahoe County, Colorado, met in special session on November 24, 1980, at 7:00 p.m. Mayor Otis, presiding, called the meeting to order. The invocation was given by Council Member Thomas Fitzpatrick. The pledge of allegiance was led by Mayor Otis. Mayor Otis asked for roll call. Upon a call of the roll, the following were present: Council Members Higday, Neal, Fitzpatrick, Keena, Bilo, Bradshaw, Otis. Absent: None. The Mayor declared a quorum present. * * * * * * Also present were: City Manager Mccown Assistant City Manager Wanush Acting City Attorney DeWitt Director of CoDlllUnity Development Powers Assistant Director of Connnunity Development Romans Deputy City Clerk Watkins * * * * * * COUNCIL MEMBER KEENA MOVED TO OPEN THE CONTINUATION OF A PUBLIC HEARING OF OCTOBER 14, 1980, CONSIDERING THE ORDINANCE ON FINAL READING REZONING CERTAIN REAL PROPERTY WITHIN THE CITY OF ENGLEWOOD, COLORADO, FROM R-1-C, SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE, TO R-2-C, MEDIUM-DENSITY RESIDENCE, AND AMENDING THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAP. Council Member Fitzpatrick seconded the motion. Upon a call of the roll, the vote resulted as follows: Ayes: Nays: Council Members Higday, Neal, Fitzpatrick, Keena, Bilo, Bradshaw, Otis. None. The Mayor declared the motion carried. November 24, 1980 Page 2 Mayor Otis stated this meeting was a continuation of the public hearing of October 14, 1980, concerning rezoning of certain real property in the City of Englewood. The only thing to be discussed was the coat of demolishing the old structure, rebuilding, and financing new structures. Other items would not be considered. City Manager Mccown stated Council had had a hearing on this matter previously and at that hearing considered recom- mendations of the Planning and Zoning Co11111ission, heard from the applicants and from those who were opposed. During considera- tion of the ordinance on final reading, questions arose about redevelopment coats to tear down a piece of property and put up a single family house or duplex to sell. Mr. Mccown noted a report in the agenda packet from Ms. Dorothr, Romans, Assistant Director of Co11111Unity Development, entitled, ' Redevelopment of Property", dated November 20, 1980. Mr. Mccown stated Ms. Romans was present to answer any questions. Mr. Mccown then introduced Ma. Susan Powers who recently was appointed Director of Co11111Unity Development for the City of Englewood. Council Member Keena noted the report mentioned the rate of return or profit of investment of 17.3t on a single family unit and 241 for a two family unit. Ms. Keena asked Ma. Romane if thia waa the normal expectation. Me. Dorothy Romana, 3600 South Bannock, Assistant Di- rector of Comnunity Development, appeared before Council. Ms. Romane stated that was the determination made as a result of her research. There were no other questions from Council at this time. Mayor Otis asked if any one in the audience who wished to apeak on this subject. Mr. Donald Hanneman, attorney for the applicant Mr. Mike Cooper, appeared before Council. Mr. Hanneman submitted certificate• of posting of notice. Mr. Hanneman stated he was disappointed that thia matter had been relegated to how much profit hie client waa going to make. Thia was never his under- atandin,. He stated he thought the whole idea was to present to the lanning and Zoning Co11111iaaion how affordable housing in the subject area could be made available to buyers and how the area could be upgraded. November 24, 1980 Page 3 Mr. Hanneman submitted a map earmarking the 4700 block of south Bannock as a target area for improvements. Mr. Hanneman noted the map was dated December, 1960. He stated he and his client did not know of any substantial improvements made in this block since 1960. Mr. Hanneman submitted a list of homes showing single-family dwellings in the 4600 block of South Bannock. He noted the homes were built in the early 1950's and were similar in size, etc. Mr. Hanneman submitted a list of structures in the 4700 block of South Bannock. He noted this list indicated a "mesh-mash" of dwellings built from 1926 to 1958 and the ranges of values were lower than the 4600 block. Mr. Hanneman submitted an article from THE DENVER POST dated November 23, 1980, about a federal co11111ission reporting that the nation faces a housing shortage and the co11111ission was urging among other things allowing increased housing density and reducing the requirements for lot and yard sizes and street setbacks. Mr. Hanneman submitted a list of homes detailing the assessed valuations in the 4700 block of South Acoma. He noted some parts of the block had been upgraded which in turn raised the assessed valuation. Mr. Hanneman stated he under- stood these parts were deteriorated prior to new development. Mr. Hanneman stated because there exists peculiar conditions in the neighborhood with R-2 zoning to the east and R-4 zoning to the south, it was not strange to allow the R-2-C rezoning in this block. Mr. Hanneman stated he had been told by lenders, bankers, and realtors not to build single-family residences because it would not provide sensible, affordable housing. Council Member Keena stated there appeared to be a misunderstanding concerning the purpose of this hearing. Ms. Keena stated the point for getting into the development had nothing to do with rate of return. At the first public hearing, a statement was made in that it would take $20,000 to demolish the house on the property and it seemed unbeliev- able that it would take that much money. Therefore, Council needed clarification and correction of that statement. The second co11111ent made waa that financing for single-family had not been tried and the question of why it had not been tried came up. It was implied but never stated that the resulting house, if you were to build a single-family house, would be too expensive to finance in that neighborhood so there was a need for additional data, not because it was being stressed but only misunderstood. Also, a rate of return had to be figured into development costs in order to figure out the financing and marketability to a family. Ms. Keena further November 24, 1980 Page 4 stated at no time was the rate of return the single and only criteria. Council Member Neal stated several people who have requested rezoning applications have stated it was an economical hardship to leave a particular area R-1 as opposed to R-2. Mr. Neal stated he was really interested in knowing just how much of a hardship it really was. Mr. Neal stated what the real issue was of what use can this land be made. The change involves a philosophical shift from an emphasis on single-family residential to multi-family residential areas. Council Member Bilo stated he felt the whole issue was the rezoning not what was proposed to be built in the area. Ac- cording to the ordinance, the City should research the proposal of rezoning to see if the area should be rezoned under the good rezoning practices. The Comprehensive Plan presently zones the area single-family. Mr. Bilo stated in his estimation the Com- prehensive Plan should be changed if the area is to be rezoned. Mr. Bilo stated this rezoning deviates from the Comprehensive Plan which is a long-range plan. Mike Cooper, 3597 South Bannock, applicant in this matter, appeared before Council. Mr. Cooper submitted a list of real estate sales in the neighborhood during 1979 and 1980. Mr. Cooper stated he was a licensed real estate agent and made the comparable studies from multiple listing service for Denver area realtors. Mr. Cooper stated the list showed the average price of a house in the area sold for $55,000. Mr. Cooper stated when he testified to the $20,000 demolition figure he was including the coat with the land in order to have a site ready to build on. Mr. Cooper then explained the financing involved in mortgaging a single-family house in the area. Council Member Bradshaw asked Mr. Cooper if he had to deal with an existing structure on West Baker where he had built multi-family units. Mr. Cooper stated there was an exist- ing structure but the area was big enough to subdivide it and keep the existing structure. Council Member Bilo reiterated his thoughts on the issue as being rezoning and not what is proposed to be built in the area. Mr. Bilo stated Mr. Cooper could accomplish the same end result by going before the Board of Adjustment and Appeals. Not to rezone but to build the proposed dwelling. Mr. Cooper stated it was his understanding that that already been attempted. November 24, 1980 Page 5 Ha. Romana stated she sugfested to Mr. Hanneman when he first came in that this applicat on would not be a proper case for the Board of Adjustment and Appeals. Ms. Romans stated I it was a legtimate request for the Planning and Zoning Commission because there is R-2 zoning abutting this property on the east and it would be an extension of the R-2. Council Member Bilo asked if there was another approach that could have been taken rather than making a rezoning request and still accomplish what they wanted to build on the subject property. Ms. Romans stated in her opinion there was no other approach that they could take and be in conformance with the zoning ordinance. Mr. Cooper stated he had considered going to the Board of Adjustment and Appeals but in checking with the neighbors, he found out that 651 of the neighborhood themselves wanted to see the block rezoned. At the request of Acting City Attorney DeWitt, Ms. Romana entered into the record her memorandum dated November 20, 1980, and attachments. Mr. DeWitt asked that the publication notice be made a part of the record. Mr. DeWitt also asked Mr. Hanneman to enter into the record a complete set of exhibits he introduced to Council. Mayor Otis asked if there was anyone else wishing to speak on this matter as it concerned costs of demolishing, re- building and financing. Jeff Cook, 1801 South Dale Court, Denver, appeared before Council. He stated was the son of Robert Cook, property owner in subject block. Mr. Cook stated Mr. Hanneman implied that nothing had been done in the way of improving the block since the homes were built. Mr. Cook stated several of the homes had been remodeled within the last five to six years. Mr. Cook stated that the central issues were rate of return and rezoning. Mr. Cook then proceeded to give arguments concerning the appli- cant' a interest in making a profit and civic improvements. Council explained the purpose of meeting was to clarify I the statements made at the October 14th hearing concerning coats of demolition and redevelopment of subject property and could not accept Mr. Cook'• argument• on applicant's chances of making a profit and civic improvements as they were not specific to the purpose of this meeting. There were no further co11111enta made. November 24, 1980 Page 6 COUNCIL MEMBER BILO K>VED TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. Council Member Fitzpatrick seconded the motion. Upon a call of the roll, the vote reeulted aa follows: Ayes: Nays: Council Members Higday, Neal, Fitzpatrick, Keena, Bilo, Bradshaw, Otis. None. The Mayor declared the motion carried. * * * * * * Mayor Otia stated Council would consider the rezoning request and make a decision on December 8, 1980. * * * * * * COUNCIL MEMBER HIGDAY K>VED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. Mayor Otis adjourned the meeting without a vote at 7 :53 p.m. Dutjty er