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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-04-21 PZC MINUTESj • • • CITY OF ENGLEWOOD PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION APRIL 21, 1998 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 Englewood City Council Chambers, Chairman Bill Douglas presiding . Members present: Dummer, Horner , Lathram , Rininger , Tobin, Welker , Douglas Simpson , Ex-officio Members absent : NOTE: One Vacancy Also present: Weber (with previous notice) Mark Graham , Community Coordinator Nanc y Reid , Assistant City Attorney II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES March 17 , 1998 Chairman Douglas stated that the Minutes of March 17 , 1998 were to be considered for approval. Tobin moved: Rininger seconded : The Minutes of March 17, 1998 be approved as written . AYES : NAYS : ABSTAIN: ABSENT : Horner , Lathram, Rininger , Tobin, Welker , Douglas None Dummer Weber The motion carried . m. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN North Englewood Small Area Plan CASE #CP-98-01 Mr. Douglas stated that the issue before the Commission is a public hearing on the North Englewood Small Area Plan which was continued to this date from January 20 , 1998. He asked for a motion to re -open the Hearing . Tobin moved : Welker seconded: AYES: NAYS : ABSTAIN : ABSENT : The Public Hearing on Case #CP-98-01 be reopened. Lathram, Rininger , Tobin , Welker , Dummer , Douglas Homer None Weber The motion carried . Mark Graham, Community Coordinator, was sworn in. Mr . Graham testified that the recommendation from staff is straight-forward: staff requests that the Planning Commission deny approval of the North Englewood Small Area Plan (NESAP) as an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan . Mr . Graham stated that staff had mailed over 1,000 postcards to all owners of record, and to anyone who had signed in during the course of previous meetings . • The postcards advised recipients of a neighborhood meeting held on April 14 at the Mayflower Church , and of the Planning Commission meeting this evening. The meeting at the Mayflower Church was well attended, and pro- vided residents and property owners an opportunity to discuss the Plan, and to ask questions of staff. The staff made it known at that meeting that the staff recommendation would be to deny approval of the Plan, and discussed the basis for this recommendation. Mr. Graham stated that the basis is that the staff and Commission have lis- tened to what the neighborhood has to say, and have listened to concerns and problems they have expressed. Mr. Graham stated that staff wants to reassure the members of the neighborhood -both residential and business own- ers -that the City does not want to take any action that will be detrimental to this neighborhood. The City does want to work with the neighborhood members, and build trust of the City in the neighborhood . Mr. Graham stated that City staff still believes there are terrific opportunities for this neighborhood. Mr. Graham stated that one of the major concerns expressed regarded the issue of traffic -how to deal with existing industrially- generated traffic, and concern about any increase in the volume of traffic. Staff will be working with the Public Works Department, and the Traffic Engineering Division , to address the concerns of traffic and transportation. Mr. Graham stated that staff is not initiating any action on the General Iron Works property , but will be working with the Atlas Metals Company , owner of the site. The property owner will be applying for Brownfields money to complete environ.mental assessment of the property; staff is very supportive of this effort on the part of Atlas Metals. Mr. Graham stated staff has gleaned many citizen-generated ideas from the hearing process , and from informal meeting/discussion sessions with members of the neighborhood. Mr. Graham reiterated the desire and willingness of staff to work with neighborhood members. Mr. Graham noted that staff has initiated amendments to the I-1 and I-2 Zone Districts to prohibit uses such as car crushing operations, and hazardous material storage . These proposed amendments are now at the City Council level , and will be heard at Public Hearing on May 4, 1998. Mr. Graham stated that these measures will provide some protection and assurance to members of the neighbor- hood. Mr. Welker asked the status of the moratorium . Mr. Graham stated that the moratorium on issuance of building permit and/or licenses to industrial properties will expire on July 13, 1998 . There is no proposal to extend that moratorium. Mr. Douglas noted that this is a continuation of a Public Hearing begun on January 6 , 1998, continued to January 20, 1998, and then further continued to this date. He stated that the Commission has heard two evenings of testi- mony; if anyone in attendance this evening has not previously testified , or has new information they want to pres- ent to the Commission, the Commission will be happy to hear them. He asked if anyone wished to address the Commission . Marvin Hall , 2800 South Elati Street, was sworn in . Mr. Hall stated that he understood that Ordinance #33 , of 1998 will expire on July 13 , 1998 . Mr . Hall stated that the Building Department has issued some permits in vio- lation of this moratorium. He asked why this was allowed. Mr. Douglas stated that the Planning Commission cannot answer this, and that Mr. Hall needs to explore this concern with members of the Building Department. Mr. Douglas asked if anyone else wished to address the Commission. No one else spoke . Welker moved: Tobin seconded: The Public Hearing on Case #CP-98-01 be closed. AYES: Rininger , Tobin , Welker, Dummer, Horner, Lathram, Douglas 2 • • j • • • NAYS: ABSTAIN: ABSENT: None None Weber The motion carried . Mr. Douglas asked the pleasure of the Commission . Horner moved: Tobin seconded: The Planning Commission accept the recommendation of NBD staff, and deny approval of the North Englewood Small Area Plan (NESAP). Ms . Tobin stated that she does not want anyone to think that nothing good came out of the hearing process on the proposed Plan; the neighborhood is now represented by a new person on City Council, and the proposed Plan did get citizens involved in the governmental process. Ms. Tobin thanked the audience for their participation and urged them to continue their interest in their neighborhood and in the governmental process. The vote was called . AYES : NAYS : ABSTAIN : ABSENT : Tobin, Welker , Dummer , Horner , Lathram, Rininger , Douglas None None Weber The motion carried. Members of the Commission thanked the audience for their attendance and interest. IV. PUBLIC FORUM Mr. Douglas asked if anyone wished to address the Commission. No one indicated a desire to speak. V. DIRECTOR'S CHOICE Mr . Simpson stated that the Public Hearing on the Landscaping Ordinance was held before City Council on April 20 , 1998 ; Council has made a couple minor amendments to the Commission 's proposal, and it will be back before Council for second reading in May . The Industrial Zone District amendments are scheduled for Public Hearing before City Council on May 4 , 1998 ; these amendments should be in place prior to expiration of the moratorium . A Public Hearing on the proposed Telecommunications Ordinance before Planning Commission has been sched- uled for May 5 , 1998. City Council will interview for Board/Commission appointments in June . If anyone is interested in serving on a Board or Commission , please call the City Manager 's office for an application. Mr. Simpson offered congratulations to Mr. Dummer on the birth of his second grandchild . Mr. Simpson thanked Ms . Tobin for bringing the pretty arrangement of apple blossoms . Ms . Tobin asked Mr. Simpson to comment on a recent article regarding Wal-Mart and the theater location on the Mall site . Mr. Simpson stated that a study session before City Council has been scheduled for May 11 , 1998 ; this is a 90-day midpoint review of the proposed development progress . The former Foley 's building is still being 3 considered as a location for City Hall, public Library , and Municipal Court facilities . A transit station for light rail will be part of the development plan, as will retail and residential uses and open space. Mr . Simpson stated • that negotiations are continuing with Miller/Weingarten . Mr. Simpson noted that Weingarten has replaced Kitchell as part of the redevelopment team. Negotiations are also underway to secure Wal-Mart as an anchor ten- ant , the Sony Theater as an anchor tenant, and City Hall will serve as the third "anchor" for the project. Mr . Simpson stated that Wal-Mart executives have expressed a clear interest in locating on the site , and have also ex- pressed a willingness to make site and design concessions to be part of the redevelopment. Mr. Simpson stated that Wall-Mart has a typical prototype structure and fac ade, and an expressed willingness to make concessions is a good indicator of their interest in this market area. Mr . Simpson stated that the ICSC conference will be in Las Vegas in May , and that Mr. Miller will be in atten- dance at that conference ; there will also be some City representatives in attendance . Mr. Simpson stated that the proposed redevelopment will be brought to the Commission -possibly as early as late May . We also need to move forward on the zoning process, which will probably begin in June or July, 1998 . City Council is also interested in beginning demolition of existing structures earlier than late 1998 . Mr. Simpson stated that there have also been meetings with RTD and FTA ; both organizations will be major players in the redevelopment project. There is need to building a parking structure , and the City is obligated to provide a specific number of parking spaces for the RTD park-'n-ride /light rail station . Ms . Tobin asked if consideration was being given to a bi-level parking structure. Mr . Simpson stated th at the structure would definitely be two le vels , and possibly three. Ms . Lathram asked if there was a target date for demolition. Mr . Simpson stated that there is no set date ; but City Council does want demolition to occur earlier than late 1998 or early 1999 . VI. ATTORNEY'S CHOICE Ms . Reid said she had nothing to bring before the Commission . VII. COMMISSIONER'S CHOICE Mr. Douglas stated that he had received some mail regarding the Citizen 's Planning Academy in Lakewood ; he asked if this is a follow-up to the course he took last year, or a new course. Mr. Simpson stated that he had not received any information on th is , but noted that Lakewood does do a Citizen 's Planning Academy on a yearly basis -it is a very popular , well-received program . Ms. Tobin and Mr. Rininger both expressed interest in attending if Lakewood is doing a new Academy program , and if Englewood can secure any spaces this year . Ms . Tobin commented that the workshop she attended last Fall was quite informative, also . Former Denver Mayor Pena was one of the speakers . Mr. Douglas asked about the DRCOG workshops for Planning Commissioners. Mr. Simpson stated that he has not seen anything on this workshop yet , but will notify the Planning Commission if something is planned. There being no further business , the meeting adjourned. Gertrude G . Welty , Recording Secretary f:\dept\nbd\gro up\bo ards\plancomm\minutes 98\pcm 04 -9 8a.do c 4 • •