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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-03-02 PZC MINUTES.. • I. CITY OF ENGLEWOOD PLANNING AND ZONING C01\1MISSION March 2, 1999 CALL TO ORDER The regular meeting of the City Planning and Zoning Commission was called to order at 7:00 p.m. in Conference Room A of Englewood City Hall, Chairman Douglas presiding. Present: Dummer, Lathram, Rininger, Stockwell, Weber, Welker, Willis, Douglas Absent: Hayduk Also present: Harold J. Stitt, Senior Planner Mr. Douglas welcomed Mr. Stockwell and Mr. Willis to the Commission . The Messrs. Stockwell and Willis were recently appointed to the Commission by City Council. II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES February 2, 1999 • Chair Douglas stated that minutes of February 2, 1999 were to be considered for approval. • Rininger moved: Weber seconded : The Minutes of February 2, 1999 be approved as written. AYES : NAYS: Lathram, Rininger, Weber, Welker, Douglas None ABSTAIN: ABSENT: Stockwell, Willis, Dummer Hayduk The motion carried . III. ELECTION OF OFFICERS Chair Vice Chair Mr. Douglas stated that he has served as Chair of the Commission for the last two years, and would like to pass this position to another member . He asked for a motion to open nomina- tions for the position of Chair. Welker moved: Rininger seconded: Nominations for Chair of the Planning Commission be opened . 1 Nominations were declared open . Weber nominated Mr. Welker for Chair. Dummer seconded the nomination . Rininger moved: Weber seconded : Nominations for Chair be closed, and Mr. Welker be elected Chair . AYES: NAYS : Lathram, Rininger, Weber, Willis, Dummer, Douglas None ABSTAIN: ABSENT: Stockwell, Welker Hayduk The motion carried. Mr. Douglas asked that nominations for Vice Chair be opened. Lathram moved: Stockwell seconded: Nominations for Vice Chair be opened. The nominations were declared open. Lathram moved: Dummer seconded : Douglas Rininger be nominated for Vice Chair. Stockwell moved: Weber seconded: Nominations be closed, and Mr. Rininger be elected Vice Chair. AYES : NAYS: ABSTAIN: ABSENT : Weber, Welker, Willis, Dummer , Lathram, Douglas None Rininger , Stockwell Hayduk The motion carried. Mr. Welker assumed the Chair . IV. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN Transportation Element Mr. Stitt stated that the Comprehensive Plan was last updated in 1979. Since that time, there have been a couple of amendments, one of which addressed development components in the Downtown Business element, and an update of the Master Street Plan. Mr. Stitt stated that with the improvements to the Santa Fe Drive corridor , and the light rail station due to open in .. • • July , 2000, it is time to look at the Transportation element of the Comprehensive Plan. Mr. • Stitt pointed out that the 1979 Transportation element of the Comprehensive Plan is a "circu- 2 • • • lator plan" -designation of streets as to arterial, collector, local street, etc. This is necessary to move traffic "through" an area; however, a Transportation element encompasses much more than a circulator plan. Mr. Stitt referenced the courses of action contained in the 1979 Comprehensive Plan -Trans- portation element, noting that several have been completed or are in process, and that only two of the proposed courses of action do not appear likely to be implemented. Mr. Stitt stated that the Transportation element must be considered as it relates to land use, specifically: 1) transportation as a service system to support activity patterns; 2) land use as a variable policy input to transportation planning; and 3) transportation as a determinant of land use. Mr. Stitt noted that changes in traffic patterns, characteristics, and impacts are on-going. Mr. Stitt commented that there has recently been considerable discussion regarding truck traffic in Englewood, particularly on West Union Avenue. West Union Avenue has been designated as a truck route for many years; however, the development adjacent to this street is comprised of a large park, residential, as well as industrial; these businesses rely on truck traffic. The im- pact of truck traffic on the residents of the area has been made known to City Council, and the determination was made at the Council level to eliminate the truck route designation from West Union Avenue. Some of the larger industrial businesses, such as Waste Management, have worked with the City and are asking their truck drivers to access the business on West Union going west from Santa Fe Drive , rather than using South Federal Boulevard and then east on West Union along the residential/park development. However, elimination of a truck route designation on one street will not solve the problem. Mr. Stitt emphasized that we must look at the transportation system or plan in a regional context, and pointed out the impact that the light rail station will have on the traffic within, into , and through Englewood. He also pointed out that Englewood has several major traffic carriers which bisect the City: South Santa Fe Drive, South Broadway, South Logan, South Clarkson, and U.S. 285 -certainly, the heaviest traffic carriers are Santa Fe, Broadway, and U.S. 285. Any change in designation on any heavily used "through" street impacts not only Englewood, but adjoining municipalities. Mr. Stitt cited South Clarkson Street, and noted that traffic has been slowed on this street only by the installation of "stop" signs at intersections with key east/west streets. Mr. Stitt stated that typically, traffic "plans" are designed by "traffic engineers" -not by "transportation planners". The mind-set of "wider, straighter, faster" does not alleviate traffic congestion -widening streets only entices more motorists to use that street. There are means through transportation "planning" to "calm" traffic -slow it down through use of visual im- pacts. Mr. Stitt cited the "bulb-out" at intersections as one means to calm traffic. Mr. Stitt stated that cul-de-sacs were in vogue back in the 60's and 70's; however, they do not "solve" traffic problems, because people looking to get through an area get into the cul-de-sac developments and create congestion and problems for the adjacent development. The grid street system is the best means for traffic control -logical street connections can be made to and from abutting jurisdictions. Mr. Stitt discussed the transportation ring around municipali- ties, such as the C-470 and E-470 highways. He predicted that the development which will 3 occur along this highway will be significant once the corridor is completed. This is an instance • wherein "transportation" is a determinant of land use. Englewood is landlocked, and does not have the opportunity to develop new highways. He reiterated that Englewood does have major traffic connectors in Broadway, Santa Fe and U.S. 285. Efficiency rating of highways was also noted by Mr. Stitt. An efficiency rating of "A" is good, but a rating of "F" reflects a very badly congested thoroughfare. Mr. Douglas asked about improvements to U.S. 285, and stated that traveling this highway from South Logan to Santa Fe is "awful". Will the transportation element address improve- ment along this street. Mr. Stitt responded that the City and State of Colorado have looked at this highway, and that medians have been installed for some part of the length through Englewood. However, traffic lights along this highway impact traffic movement, and there will be traffic lights at University, Ogden, Downing, Clarkson, Logan, Sherman, Cherokee, Elati, Galapago and Inca. The closure of some of the cross streets has been considered as a means to alleviate some of the congestion. The City proposed widening the South Broadway bridge, but the State has not granted approval to this proposal. The State has expressed the opinion that the rationale of the City to widen the bridge is increased capacity -not increased safety. Mr. Welker stated that the Broadway/285 intersection is a "choke point" along 285. Mr . Stitt reiterated that widening this area to accommodate three lanes would not change the congestion -only more vehicles would use this street. Mr. Douglas asked about a grant to study traffic; he understood that the City applied for a grant. Mr. Stitt stated that the City did receive a Smart Growth grant, which will be used to study transportation connections to the light rail station. Mr. Stitt emphasized the need to pro- vide adequate bicycle and pedestrian access, as well as bus and private vehicular access to the light rail station. Mr. Stitt stated that a "shuttle round-table" group was organized to study the possibility of a shuttle in Englewood to provide transportation to the redevelopment area -for instance, lunch time shoppers from the medical campus east of Broadway to the new redevel- opment area. This group has not been active in the last three or four months, but will be reac- tivated in the near future. Mr. Stitt stated that the City does not have personnel with the expertise to draft a transportation plan; therefore, the proposal is to hire a consultant to write the plan. Mr. Stitt stated that there are several firms in the Metro area who specialize in transportation planning, and will do a good job. A request for proposals (RFP) will be prepared by the City staff; responses to the RFP will then be reviewed in-house, the selection made and contract awarded. Mr. Stitt esti- mated that a transportation plan will not be ready for presentation to the Commission, and the hearing process, until late 1999 or early 2000. Mr. Stitt discussed the need to establish "de- sign standards" for traffic improvements, establishment of policies supporting existing land use, and proposed funding of improvements. Mr. Stitt stated that staff anticipates that devel- opment of the transportation plan will be accomplished with a high level of public input; it will be the responsibility of the consultant to contact the various groups -different boards and commissions, the Chamber of Commerce -to get input from the citizens and businesspeople . 4 • • - • Brief discussion ensued . v. DIRECTOR'S CHOICE Mr . Stitt stated that the City Council met in study session the evening of March 1 to consider the "group home" issue. Mr. Elliott was in attendance and discussed the issues with Council regarding Fair Housing Act, protected classes, discrimination, possibility of lawsuit , etc. Mr. Stitt stated that another draft of the proposed regulations will be brought to the Commission and we will then proceed to set date for Public Hearing. Mr. Stitt stated that City Council wants to have the regulations written as "tightly" as possible, with distance limitations im- posed . Mr. Willis asked if "protected classes" included parolees and convicts . Mr. Stitt stated it does not. Discussion ensued regarding the group home on South Corona Street. The maximum number of individuals to be housed in group homes was discussed. Mr. Stitt stated that one way to address the issue is by square footage -for instance, require 200 square feet of habitable living space per each individual housed in a group home. Further brief dis- cussion ensued. Mr. Stitt stated that it was pointed out during the discussion with the City Council that if a municipality is taken into Court, the judge may look at "background" infor- • mation -such as minutes of meetings -to determine the "intent" of an action . • Mr. Stitt stated that the Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PRO) proposed ordinance has been referred to the Parks & Recreation Commission for their input. He anticipated that a second draft of this proposal will come back to the Planning Commission, and then public hearings will be scheduled . Mr. Welker inquired about the Wal-Mart proposal. Mr. Stitt stated that negotiations are still on-going ; the latest he heard construction should begin late Spring or early Summer. Mr. Stockwell inquired about access directly from Santa Fe to the redevelopment site . Mr. Stitt displayed several of the architectural renderings , and suggested that even if direct access from Santa Fe were to be permitted, it would be a matter of "right-in, right-out". There are the rail lines -both light rail and heavy rail -that would have to be taken into consideration . VI. ATTORNEY'S CHOICE No one was present from the City Attorney 's Office. VII. COMMISSIONER'S CHOICE Mr. Welker extended a welcome to Mr. Willis and Mr. Stockwell, and asked that everyone introduce themselves, and provide a brief summary on their business/professional background . 5 Mr. Douglas inquired about the house on the southeast corner of the East Floyd A venue/South Downing Street intersection . This house has been under construction for a good number of • years. The owners have now placed landscaping timbers along the sidewalk , which appear to him to impede use of the handicapped ramp by wheelchair-bound individuals. Mr. Stitt stated he would see if someone could check this out. The meeting was declared adjourned. ertrude Welty, Recording Secretary, f:\de pt\nb d\g roup\board sl plancomm\minutes 99\pcm 03-99a.doc 6 • •