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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-04-08 ACE MINUTES• • • ALLIANCE FOR COMMERCE IN ENGLEWOOD April 8, 20 10 I. !llJ CALL TO ORD ER The regular meeting of the Alliance for Commerce in Eng lewood {ACE) was called to order at 11 :40 a.m. in the City Council Conference Room of the Eng l ewood Civic Center, Chair Lonborg presiding. Present: Lonborg, Schalk, Champion, Calonder, Sarconi Absent: McDermott, Vasilas Also present: Joe Jefferson, City Council Liaison Jim Woodward, Mayor Rosemarie Cavral Staff present: Alan Wh ite, Community Deve lopment Director Darren Hollingsworth, Economic Development Coordinator John Voboril, Planner Michael Flaherty, Deputy City Manager APPROVAL OF MINUTE S March 11, 2010 Chair Lonborg stated that the Minutes of March 11, 2010 were to be considered for approval. It was determined there was a quorum. Chair Lonborg asked if there were any changes or adjustments to the Minutes. There were none. Schalk moved: Champion seconded: THE M INUTES OF MARCH 11, 2010 BE APPROVED AS WRITIEN. The motion carried unanimously. l?1J Since this was Mr. Calonder's first meeting, Chair Lonborg asked everyone to introduce themselves. II. AC E BUSINE SS MU RALS lt11 Chair Lonborg asked if Staff had pulled from other communities what they are doing in regards to murals. Director White said yes , the information is included in the packet. Director White summarized what was in the table. In a majority of the cities looked at murals are exempt from the sign code in one of two ways: {1) Through a definition of what a sign is or (2) In a statement of applicability. For the most part, cities are not regulating murals as a sign as long as they contain no communication as to a product, business or a 1 • service being provided. There are a few jurisdictions that regulate size, location and approval process . Mr. Schalk said he would like to see more art in Englewood and fight graffiti in the process . Chair Lonborg asked if murals are considered art or signs in Englewood . Director White said under the current regulations murals are allowed only along South Broadway, are treated as signs , can be on only one wall of the building (not the front) and cannot exceed 125 square feet. Enforcement is currently suspended due to a moratorium. Chair Lonborg said in looking at the table of other jurisdictions the one thing that seems standard is a mural is considered a sign if it has a logo and a work of art if it doesn 't. She stated ACE's goal is to recommend to the Planning and Zoning Commission as to what would be best in the interest of the businesses in Englewood . Several members felt that if regulations are relaxed people will not go crazy. If a lot of restrictions are put on murals it doesn 't open up the door for creativity. Why stifle creativity when Englewood could be the most liberal, artistic community in Colorado. Mr. Champion said as long as it's artistic he doesn 't see that there's a problem with the business representing what it does. Ms . Sarconi said she felt a mural, as long as it does not have any type of verbiage on it or logo, should be able to represent what the business does. • Downtown Denver murals were discussed. Mr. Jefferson said in his mind it is very difficult to regulate the content, it is really how big, location on building, etc. • Chair Lonborg said ACE needs to determine if something is a sign or a mural. Mr. Schalk said he would hate to see restrictions put on the sign part of a mural. The sign is hopefully helping that business sell product and distinguish what that business does . Chair Lonborg asked Mr. Schalk if he was advocating that murals be allowed and to contain product endorsements, logos, etc. and they be considered a mural and not a sign. Mr. Schalk said yes. Chair Lonborg asked if anyone would like to make motion. Schalk moved: Champion seconded: The motion carried 4 to 1 . TO RECOMMEND TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION THAT THE CITY ALLOW MURALS AND THEY BE ALLOWED TO CONTAIN PRODUCT ENDORSEMENTS, LOGOS, ETC. AND THAT THEY NOT BE CONSIDERED A SIGN. 2 • • • The discussion moved to size, placement, etc. of signs. Mr. Schalk referenced a costume store on Broadway whose front fac;:ade is decorated. Ms. Mello said she is not sure she would want that look in downtown Englewood. Mr. Champion noted most downtown Englewood businesses would have no choice but to place a mural on the front of their building. Several members stated they had a problem with murals being located on the front of the store. Discussion ensued. The mural discussion will continue at a later date. Ms. Sarconi exited the meeting as 12:30. MEDICAL DISTRICT AND DOWNTOWN PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT FINANCING STUDY UPDATE [?] Mr. Voboril stated the financing study comes out of the Downtown and Medical District Small Area Planning process that began in 2006. The main strategy is to promote economic development in those two areas through zoning reform and public improvements. Through the public improvements Staff is trying to create a more positive public image that will attract new shoppers, residents, patients and new businesses to both downtown medical district areas. The two main corridors being focused on are Broadway and Old Hampden Avenue . In 2009 Britina Design Group was hired to help with the process. Several open houses were held to gain the public's preferences of what the improvements should look like. Improvements included new sidewalks, benches, street trees, better lighting and art. Britina laid out a series of steps for the City in order to get the public improvements in place. The first step Staff chose to work on was how do we pay for the improvements. Staff is currently working on the public improvement's financing study. Progressive Urban Management Associates (PUMA) has been hired to assist City Staff. Mr. Voboril outlined the steps that will be taken in the study. The study process is on-going and will not be completed for 6 to 8 months. Mr. Voboril will send ACE members a copy of the Britina study. Chair Lonborg thanked Mr. Voboril for his presentation. Ill. COMMENTS & EVENTS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ltlJ Ms. Mello said the dining guide is complete and will be distributed to businesses in the next few weeks. The Hat Affair Gala was held last week and was a big success. The Chamber has been putting out a newsletter for the last three months to all members. She had an example to show everyone. She noted if anyone wishes to receive it to send her their information. The next After Hours will be held at Vectra Bank on the 20 1h from 5 to 7. BID COMMENTS ltlJ Mr. Vasilas was not present. Chair Lonborg asked if anyone else had anything from the BID . Mr. Schalk said he sent out an email several days ago to everyone on the BID . As you know they are working on a website presence, which leads us to events. He said one of the issues he has brought up before with the City is how can we unify all the City events; we have a 3 • • • lot of small events. He cited Louisville as an example. They have a unified website that brings all the events together, brings business together and brings the city together. He doesn't feel like there is a unified front for Englewood . There should be a unified place where people can go to see what is happening in Englewood. At this point everyone is doing their own little thing. In unity we can be powerful; being separated we are just smal ler pieces of a puzzle that are not unified and together. He wou ld like ACE to try to figure out a way to br in g all the events under one umbrella to hopefu ll y be able to market and promote Englewood on a unified basis. We need to find a way to have events be sustainab le, make money and attract both the businesses, residents and neighboring communities. Chair Lonborg said she echoes the same thoughts and feels the Chamber shou ld be that umbrella organization. She said she spoke to Mr. Penn about that last year. She asked that this issue be placed on the May agenda. She asked Staff to put together a li st of events to be he l d in the next 9 months or so. It was noted that Englewood Days will not be held this year. ACE MEMBERS ~ Chair Lonborg welcomed Ms. Cavral and ACE's newest member, Mr. Calonder. STAFF COMMENTS ~ Mr. Hollingsworth noted three new businesses that are coming to Englewood: 1. A new bakery/cafe at Broadway and Bates 2. Pete's Cafe in the 3400 Block of South Broadway 3 . Copper Pot restaurant at 508 E Hampden Ave Ms. Mello n oted the Spicy Pickle restaurant has closed . Mr. Hollingsworth passed out a map of the Arapahoe County Enterprise Zone. He said the state legislature is looking at a matter that impacts Eng lewood in a very significant way. HB 1396 is looking to do away with the tax breaks offered through the Enterprise Zone, which are substantial. Eng lewood adm inisters the zone fo r the c iti es of Sheridan, Englewood and Littleton. Last year 56 businesses in Englewood claimed tax credits in the amount of $1.6 million. This is one of our primary resources for economic development to help retain businesses, to he lp businesses stay and grow and also when a new business is looking to move in. Cha ir Lonborg said she would ask the hospital 's lobbyist to help. Upcoming ACE business will include building codes for o ld er and historic structures and unifying events in the City . 4 • • • No further business was brought forth for consideration. The meeting was adjourned at 1:10 p.m. The next meeting is scheduled for May 13, 2010 . 5