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Home My WebLink About1998-08-18 PZC MINUTES• • CITY OF ENGLEWOOD PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION August 18, 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 Commu- nity Room of Englewood C ity Hall, Chairman Douglas presiding. Members present: Members absent: Secretary 's note : Also present: Rininger, Tobin, Weber, Welker, Dummer, Douglas Hayduk, Lathram (both members entered later in the meeting) Simpson, Ex-officio One vacancy Harold J. Stitt, Senior Planner II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES August 4 , 1998 Chairman Douglas stated that Minutes from the August 4 , 1998 meeting were to be considered for approval. Tobin moved: Rininger seconded : The Minutes of August 4 , 1998 be approved as written. AYES: NAYS : Rininger, Tobin, Weber, Welker, Douglas None ABSTAIN: Dummer ABSENT: Hay duk, Lathram The motion carried. III. FINDINGS OF FACT Newcomer Mortuary 3095 South University Boulevard CASE #PUD-98-01 Chairman Douglas stated that Findings of Fact on the PUD request for Newcomer Mortuary were to be considered for approval. Tobin moved: Weber seconded: AYES : NAYS : ABSTAIN : ABSENT: The Findings of Fact on Case #PUD-98-01 be approved as written . Rininger, Tobin, Weber, Welker, Douglas None Dummer Lathram, Hayduk The motion carried. IV. CINDERELLA CITY MALL REDEVELOPMENT Study Session • Mr. Hayduk entered the meeting and took his chair with members of the Commission. • • • Mr. Stitt distributed informational pages and architectural schematics on the proposed redevelopment of the 50+/- acre site . He stated that the Public Hearing process on the redevelopment plan will commence on September I, 1998, continue to September 9, and further continued to September 15. On September 22°d, the Commission may render a decision and approve Findings of Fact. The Public Hearing beginning on September l st will focus on the District Plan; the continued hearing on September 9th will focus on the Master Site Plan and Design Guidelines; the continued hearing on September 15th will focus on the Final Site Plan ; and the final phase of the hearing on September 22°d will be consideration and approval of Findings of Fact. Mr. Stitt stated that there are two ways that the Commission can approach the issue of the phased public hearing: One way is to render a vote on a particular topic (such as District Plan, Master Site Plan, etc .) at the end of that particular hearing, and then consider and vote on the final phase and overall plan on September 15th and on the Findings on September 22°d. A second way to '!f proach the issue is to have just one vote on the overall plan on September 15th, and the Findings on September 22° . Mr. Stitt emphasized the need for have a clearly worded motion to "continue the public hearing until the next meeting", and to cite the date . Mr. Stitt suggested that from a staff point of view, it could ease the work load if a vote were to be taken on each phase of the hearing as we proceed through the hearing process. Mr. Stitt stated that staff will be preparing staff reports and analyzing information on each phase of the proposal throughout the hearing process. Mr. Stitt stated that even ifthe Commission is to decide to vote on each phase of the plan as we proceed, testimony can still be taken from the general public if they want to comment on a previous phase of the Plan -the hearing will still be open , and the Commission cannot deny the right of an individual to speak. Mr. Stitt suggested that the Commission announce at the beginning of each phase of the hearing when they will be voting on that particular topic -that evening, or on September 15th . Ms. Lathram entered the meeting and took her chair with the Commission. Mr. Stitt displayed a large schematic of the overall proposal for the Commission, and cited the components of the redevelopment: civic/cultural; entertainment; residential/retail , and the retail/big box area. The RTD light rail sta- tion will be located on the extreme west side of the redevelopment. Mr. Stitt led the Commission through discus- sions on landscaping, treatment of streets into and through the redevelopment, bus routes and circulation patterns , parking structures and surface parking areas. Efforts to control traffic flow into the north Englewood residential area were also discussed; Mr. Stitt indicated the "frontage road" treatment along West Floyd Avenue, which will provide access to the residents in this area, but control through traffic into and out of the redeveloped mall area. Pedestrian access points were depicted and described . The impact that the extension of South Inca Street through the redeveloped site to West Dartmouth Avenue was dis- cussed . Concern was expressed that this street extension will negatively impact Cushing Park and contribute to in- creased traffic congestion in the immediate West Dartmouth Avenue/South Santa Fe Drive intersection. Discussion ensued. Ms . Tobin stated that staff and everyone who has worked to develop the proposed plan should be commended. She stated that it is evident a lot of work and thought has gone into the proposal. Mr. Hayduk asked ifthere is another such development anywhere in the country ; how do we know the various ele- ments of the proposal will mesh and work well. Mr. Stitt stated that the plan is not based on any one particular model; there are elements or components of the plan which are in place in other areas of the country , which have proven to work. Mr. Stitt stated that the transit-oriented/pedestrian-oriented direction of the proposed development is closely aligned with the "new urbanism" concept advocated by Peter Calthorpe, a well-known plan- ner/architect/author who is also a member of the consulting team for the redevelopment project. The parking issue was discussed in more depth. Mr. Stitt stated that the residential development will be required to provide adequate parking for their tenants; this parking will be on the first level , with residential units constructed atop the parking; however, the parking level will not be visible from the street frontage with the retail development fronting onto the street. Ms. Lathram asked if a list of prospective tenants is available . Mr. Stitt commented that typically tenants will not commit until they know zoning restrictions are in place, and what will be required of them in any particular location . 2 • • • Ms. Tobin commented that the proposal does not appear to be very "user friendly"; it appears that points of ingress are restricted, and the narrowed streets will make it difficult for traffic maneuverability . She stated that people are too used to using their cars, and questioned that the bus/shuttle systems will serve the everyday Englewood resident who may want to go to one of the stores or to the civic center. Mr. Welker pointed out that there will be full access intersections such as existed when the mall was open; however, he acknowledged that Ms . Tobin's point about reli- ance on motor vehicles is ingrained in people, and that people won't wait for a shuttle bus. Ms. Lathram stated that she thinks the proposal is "great", and that the implementation of a shuttle system will provide an easy means to get employees from the medical campus area into the redevelopment area on lunch hours, etc. Mr. Hayduk noted that the proposed Wal-Mart area has quite a bit of surface parking; people who want can do their shopping there, leave their car at that lot, and walk to other places of business or interest in the redevelopment. Further brief discussion ensued . Mr. Stitt reiterated that the Commission's meeting schedule for September is quite intensive -September 1, September 9 , September 15 , and September 22 -all meetings to be a public hearing fo- cusing on various components of the redevelopment plan . V. PUBLIC FORUM No one was present to address the Commission. VI. DIRECTOR'S CHOICE Mr. Stitt had nothing to bring before the Commission. VII. ATTORNEY'S CHOICE No one was present from the City Attorney's Office. VIII. COMMISSIONER'S CHOICE Nothing was brought up for discussion. The meeting was declared adjourned. ,,1 . .,. Gertrude G. Welty, Recording Secretary f:\dept\nbd\group\boards\plancomm\minutes 98\pcm 08-Sb .doc 3