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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-08-04 PZC MINUTES• • • [?] CITY OF ENGLEWOOD PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS August 4, 2015 I. CALL TO ORDER The regular meeting of the City Planning and Zoning Commission was called to order at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers of the Englewood Civic Center, Chair Fish presiding. Present: Absent: Staff: ~ Bleile, Brick, Freemire, Kin g, Kinton, Knoth, Townl ey, Pittinos (arrived 7:05), Fish Madrid (Excused) Mike Flaherty, D eputy City Manager Chris Neubecke r, Senior Planner Jo hn Voboril, Planner II Harold Stitt, Senior Plann e r Du gan Com er, Assistant City Attorney II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES • July 21, 2015 Minutes Knoth moved: King seconded : TO APPROVE THE JULY 2 1, 2015 , MINUTES Chair Fish asked if there were any modifi catio ns or corrections. Th e re were non e. AYES: NAYS: ABSTAIN: ABSENT: Motion car ri ed. [?] Brick, King, Kinton , Knoth, Townley, Fish Non e Bleile, Freemir e Madrid Ill. FINDINGS OF FACT CASE #USE2015-01O3555 SOUTH CLARKSON STREET, SIGNATURE SENIOR LIVING Knoth moved; King seco nd ed: To approve the Findin gs of Fact Case #USE2015-010 3555 South Clarkson Street, Signature Sen ior Living as amend ed . Chair Fish asked that #4 , Conclusions, be c hanged to read "Th at th e height of the new structure would be in character with the building he i ght limits." AYES: NAYS: ABSTAIN: Bri c k, King, Kinton , Knoth , Townley, Fi sh None Bleile, Freemire • • • ABSENT: Madrid Motion carried. [t] Ill. PUBLIC HEARING #2015-03 NEXT STEPS STUDY Brick moved; Freemire seconded: To open the Public Hearing for Case #2015-03 Light Rail Corridor Next Steps Study AYES: NAYS: ABSTAIN: ABSENT: Motion carried . ~ Bleile, Brick, Freemire, King , Kinton, Knoth, Townley, Fish Non e None Madrid Staff Presentation John Vobori l, Planner II, was sworn in. Mr. Voboril asked the Commissioners to correct dates and information on the staff report he prepared. The changes do not have an effect on the case. [t] Staff recommends the following findings to the Commission: 1) That case 2015-03 was brought before the Planning and Zoning Commission by the Community Development Department. Notice of the public hearing was publ i shed in the Englewood Herald July 23, 2015, and on the City website from July 15 to August 4 , 2015 . 2) That City Council voted to enter into an Intergovernmental Agreement with the Regional Transportation District (RTD) to develop a follow up Next Steps study on the original Englewood Light Rail Corridor Station Area Master Plan on first reading May 19, 2014, and second reading June 2, 2014. 3) That the Englewood Light Rail Corridor Next Steps Study was advertised in conjunction with The Englewood Forward Planning Campaign in the Englewood Citizen Newsletter in September and November 2014, and January, March, May and July 2015. A postcard mailing to 596 property owners with properties abutting proposed locations for transportation improvements was conducted in January 2015. 4) That e-mai l notices of each Englewood Light Rail Corridor Next Steps Study meetings were sent via the City's e-notifier system. 5) That three meetings were held by project consu ltants Felsburg Holt Ullevig with the purpose of gathering public input on the transportation infrastructure feasibility alternatives design analysis. 6) That the Englewood Light Rail Corridor Next Steps Study conforms to the vision, goals and objectives outlin ed in Roadmap Englewood: 2003 Englewood Comprehensive Plan as well as the upcoming 2016 Englewood Forward Comprehensive Plan. 7) That Planning and Zoning Commission study sessions were held on February 25, 2015, jointly with City Council as a project progress update and on July 7 and 21, 2015, to review the development and fina l draft of the Englewood Light Rai I Corridor Next Steps Study, and that City Council study sessions were held October 20, 2014, and February 25 , April 13, July 6 and July 13, 2015, to provide updates on project progress and review the development of the final draft of the Englewood Light Rai I Corridor Next Steps Study. 2 • • • 8) That the Englewood Light Rail Corridor Next Steps Study be adopted as a supplementary planning document in support of Roadmap Englewood: 2003 Englewood Comprehensive Plan as wel l as the upcoming Englewood Forward 20 16 Englewood Comprehensive Plan. ~ Mr. Vobori l provided the Commission with background information on station area master p lanning activities. The Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) secured funds from the Federal Government to fund station area master planning to further the goals of MetroVision , the regional planning vision for the entire metro Denver area. These studies are intended to maximize the utili zatio n of the investments made in the Light Rail system. In addition, DRCOG felt that this would help to minimize future traffic co ngestion and its effects on air quality in the region. ~ The City of Englewood chose to take the opportunity to enhance the station areas as they are recognized as a n asset to the City as well as being the primary growth areas. The or iginal Station Area Master Plan was a development and preferred land use scenario and identification of major transportation infrastructure that wou ld be necessary to implement the land use scenario . ~ The City became eligib le for funds to conduct a Station Area Master Plan and DRCOG requested that Englewood a ll ow the City of Sheridan to become a junior partner to the Englewood planning project. ~ The study was comp leted in conjunction with the En glewood Forward plann in g process and reinforced by the Walk and Wheel Master Plan and the Comprehensive Plan update. The City was well funded to complete the three planning projects in a short amount of time . [?J) The projects were well publicized and promoted in the Englewood Citizen newsletter. The key public meetings were held on November 12, 2014, February 11 and June 20, 2015. The June 20 111 meeting took place at the Walk and Wheel Fest event where al l three projects were able to gather public input. ~ The consultant team was led by Felsburg Holt Ullevig and utilized Bachman PR, Toole Design Group (b i cycle planning specialists), Arland (land us e econom ics) and Design Workshop. [?J) Mr. Vobori l reviewed the meeting process and the information that was disseminated and gathered through the public meetings. The Next Steps Study cons isted of two main components which were examination of the major transportation co nn ectio ns that were identified in the origina l Station Area Master Plan and the Real Estate Development Feasibility Analysis. The four areas of study included the north area near General Iron Works, the south neighborhood including Oxford station, the west neighborhood west of Santa Fe and the City Center neighborhood including areas south of Hampden and east of Elati Street. Mr. Voboril presented the Commission with a map of the four areas. ~ The major areas identified in the feasib ility study include the Rail Trail which is the City's top priority project. The trail will serve the redevelopment that i s currently under way at the Oxford station and General Iron Works properties. The plan in cludes three bridges over Hampden Avenue, Oxford Avenue and Dartmouth Avenue. Add iti ona l projects examined through the feasibility process include the Oxford-Dartmouth-Clarkson protected b ikeway loop, the Southwest Greenbelt trail improvements and exte nsion into the future Rail Trail, the Floyd Avenue extension 3 • • • and the associated Englewood Parkway extension and piazza redesign. Mr. Voboril listed the ancillary projects that were identified in both Englewood and Sheridan. ~ The projects were prioritized by cost and benefit to the identified neighborhood areas. Mr. Voboril outlined the costs associated with each project including the Oxford station bicycle/pedestrian bridge, the pathway extension to the south to the Bi g Dry Creek trail , the section of trail from General Iron Works to Bates Avenue and trail development from Oxford station to Englewood Station to Little Dry Creek. ~ Mr. Voboril described the enhanced off street bike path alon the Sheridan section of Oxford Avenue. The bike loop will be implemented by the use of signage and road markings. A shared bicycle/parking lane as they are used in Denver may be an option for creating th e bicycle route on Dartmouth Avenue. ltl1 The Floyd Avenue extension is not an option due to prohibitive construction costs. A pedestrian bridge would be viable at a lower cost. The Oxford station pedestrian access across Santa Fe from the west is not an option due to the lack of a "landing spot" on the west side of Santa Fe. The City of Sheridan expressed that because the majority of their citizens are further west along Oxford, they did not see a benefit in moving the bridge to the north. The Regional Transportation District (RTD) has long term plans to build overpasses at Dartmouth and Oxford along Santa Fe, which would solve the problem. ~ Twenty five additional enhancement projects were identified during the study and were classified by short, medium and long term projects with potential sources of funding. Th e real estate feasibility study indicates that the north and south areas are ready for redevelopment due to the number of projects currently underway. Mr. Voboril listed the recommendations from the consulting team. ltl1 The consultants recommended a shared use parking plan with RTD for the Oxford station, potentially at the current location of Sam's Automotive at Oxford. Intersection improvements were also recommended. The west neighborhood is not ready for redevelopment at this time; property owners in the area are amenable to improvements but expressed that they are not ready to sell their properties. ltl1 City Center is not currently considered ready for redevelopment as there are not many infill opportunities. It was determined that the area is saturated with regards to retail. A recommendation was made by the consultants to create a Downtown Development Authority to include City Center and South Broadway to unify the downtown areas and assist with financing public improvements. ltl1 Short term suggestions include bicycle improvements to Floyd Avenue from Sherman Street to Inca Street to create an east-west route and continued support for residential infill developments. Bicycle improvements should commence later this year. ltl1 Additional funds may be available from DRCOG for the Next Steps II and Next Steps Ill planning projects. The Next Steps II study wi 11 include 100% engineering of the three rai I trai I bridges and Next Steps Ill will be for a variety of projects . ltl1 4 • • • The Next Steps Study conforms to Roadmap Englewood: 2003 Englewood Comprehensive Plan . Mr. Voboril listed the goals of the Comprehensive Plan and the specific outcomes of the planning project that are in conformance. l/J Comments by the Commission Mr. Brick asked when the marketing of the plan will begin. Mr. Voboril responded that it is not too soon in his opinion to begin marketing employment opportunities, specifically near the General Iron Works property. ~ Ms. Townley asked if there will be education regarding the bike lane usage. Mr. Voboril replied that there will be a white paper advocacy and incentive program to assist with the education effort. Ms. Townley also confirmed with Mr. Voboril that the the Next Steps Study is an addition to the original Station Area Master Plan. ~ Mr. Kinton asked if a bike sharing program is being considered. Mr. Voboril explained that the density is not yet to the point where a bike share program would be feasible. A bicycle "library" may be an alternative. l?] Public Comment No members of the public were present to comment. King moved; Townley seconded: To close the Public Hearing for Case #2015-03 Light Rail Corridor Next Steps Study AYES: NAYS: ABSTAIN: ABSENT: Bleile, Brick, Freemire, King, Kinton, Knoth, Townley, Fish None None Madrid Motion carried. Knoth moved; Brick seconded: To approve Case #2015-03 Light Rai I Corridor Next Steps Study and forward to City Council with a favorable recommendation. Bleile -Yes, the consultants have identified good opportunities for the City to implement. Brick -Yes, the adherence to the Comprehensive Plan and the regional cooperation with Sheridan are satisfactory. The opportunities for public input were appreciated. Freemire -Yes, these are the next logical steps for the City. King -Yes, the study is consistent with the direction of the new Comprehensive Plan. Kinton -Yes, the study is consistent with the planning process and the goals of the City and will improve access to transit. Knoth -Yes, he is looking forward to implementation. Townley -Yes, the plan addressed complex issues and has solid, implementable projects and good vision. It is well aligned with the Comprehensive Plan . Fish -Yes, concurs with the previous comments and feels that it will provide the Commission with good direction. 5 • • • AYES: NAYS: ABSTAIN: ABSENT: Motion carried. l?ll Bleile, Brick, Freemire, King , Kinton, Knoth, Townley, Fish None None Madrid IV. PUBLIC FORUM No members of the public were present l?1l V. ATIORNEY'S CHOICE Assistant City Attorney Comer did not have any comments for the Commission. ~ VI. STAFF'S CHOICE Michael Flaherty reminded the Commission that one of their duties is to review the Capital Plan and he will bring it forward to the Commission in the near future. Chris Neubecker reviewed the upcoming topics for the Commission. Accessory Dwellin g Units , th e AirBnB short term rental issue and cannabis social club regulations. Chair Fish asked if th e Commission will be examining regulations regarding historic designations; Mr. Neubecker responded that if it becomes a priority in the Comprehensive Plan or arises as an issue community wide, it may be considered by the Commission. l?ll Commissioner's Choice Mr. Brick commented on the crosswalk at Federal and Bellewood and feels that it enhances safety near the intersection. Ms. Townley updated the Commission on the 100 Poppies art installation at Broadway and Englewood Parkway. The meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m . 6