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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993-06-22 PZC MINUTESI CITY OF ENGLEWOOD PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION JUNE 22, 1993 I. CALL TO ORDER. The regular meeting of the City Planning & Zoning Commission was called to order in Con- ference Room A by Chairman Lloyd Covens. Members present: Dummer, Garrett, Gerlick, Mason, Tobin, Covens, Cuesta (late) Merkel, Ex-officio Members absent: Shoop Also present: Economic Development Administrator Pamela Pepper II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES. June 8, 1993 Ms. Cuesta entered the meeting and took her chair with members of the Commission. Chairman Covens stated that the Minutes of June 8 , 1993 were to be considered for approval. Mr. Mason suggested that Page 6, last paragraph , be amended to read that Mr. Burlingame "acknowledged he would not be harmed", and stated that he wants to see the property given back to the owners. Garrett moved: Mason seconded: The Minutes of June 8, 1993 be approved as amended on Page 6. AYES: NAYS: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: Dummer, Garrett, Gerlick, Mason, Tobin, Cuesta None Shoop Covens The motion carried. ill. FINDINGS OF FACT Master Street Plan Amendment West Caspian Place CASE #6-93 Chairman Covens stated that the Findings of Fact for Case #6-93, the amendment of the Mas- ter Street Plan regarding West Caspian Place, were to be considered. Mr. Merkel stated that the Findings of Fact become part of the record of the Public Hearing, and will be forwarded to the City Council for their perusal. Mr. Merkel stated that City Council did receive the rec- ommendation of the Commission regarding the amendment of the Master Street Plan at their meeting on June 21 , and scheduled a Public Hearing on this issue for July 19. Individual no- tices will be sent to the property owners of record notifying them of the date for Public Hear- ing. Garrett moved: Mason seconded: The Planning & Zoning Commission accept the Findings of Fact on Case #6-93 as written . AYES: NAYS: Garrett, Gerlick , Mason, Tobin, Cuesta, Dummer None ABSENT: Shoop ABSTAIN: Covens The motion carried. IV. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Mr. Merkel introduced Economic Development Administrator Pamela Pepper to members of the Commission . Mr. Merkel commented that the tour scheduled for July 20 will include some of the economic development projects , and Ms. Pepper was invited to address the Commission to bring them up-to-date on economic development activities prior to the tour. Ms. Pepper discussed activities of the Economic Development Division from 1990 to present date. In 1990, the Economic Development Coalition was active; the membership of the Coa- lition was comprised of representatives from various groups , both civic and business , active in the City. The Coalition spearheaded the Economic Development Strategic Plan, which was completed in 1991, and has served as a guide for economic development activities since the adoption. Ms. Pepper stated that input from members of the business community, Chamber of Commerce , City Council, and any one else is always welcome. Ms. Pepper stated that in 1990, one-on-one interviews were conducted with all businesses with more than 100 employ- ees, and a mail survey/interview was sent to all other businesses. Ms. Pepper pointed out that Englewood has over 1,800 businesses, and 20 ,000 employees in these businesses. Ms. Pepper discussed the retail sector activities , pointing out that while Cinderella City Mall has declined in the number of tenants and leased space, the EURA redevelopment area vacancy rate has decreased from 23 % to about 12 % . Ms. Pepper discussed efforts to assist businesses interested in locating or relocating within the City. There is a small revolving loan fund which can be used for facade improvement or tenant finish (no operating capital loans), with a maxi- mum of $10,000 for low-interest loans; this generates four to five new loans per year, and was started with CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) funds a number of years ago. A second loan program for assistance to small businesses is the Englewood Small Business De- velopment Corporation (ESBDC), which has recently begun granting loans. This program has a loan maximum of $30 ,000. Ms . Pepper pointed out that in the metropolitan area, only 2 \ 1 Englewood, Denver, and Arvada have loan programs to provide assistance to their business community. Ms. Pepper discussed the concerns with Cinderella City Mall at length. The future of this Mall is very important to the economic well-being of the City. Ms. Pepper discussed meetings with the ownership of the Mall, and the recent MAS Marketing Survey on the Mall. This sur- vey indicates that the site is still a valuable retail site , but there may be a need for revision in the type of merchandising/marketing. Mr. Merkel also addressed the efforts of the City to be a viable entity in the rejuvenation of the Mall, and the current proposal from the ownership for sale of the Mall. Discussion ensued. Ms. Pepper discussed a study which is being conducted by Klipp , Jenks, Collusy & DuBois for the area from Floyd to Kenyon , from Swedish Medical Center west including Cinderella City. The purpose is to develop a framework to determine what may work , what may not work , etc. in the development of this central area. Ms. Pepper discussed the problems with trying to get Trolley Square out of the control of FDIC. The FDIC has continued to take rents from the current tenants , but will not allow negotiations with new tenants and has stymied all efforts to negotiate new leases. Ms. Pepper stated that King Soopers wants to expand the store, and suggestions have been made to raze the Broadway frontage and parking deck, and allow expansion of the King Soopers Store into this area. Ms. Tobin pointed out that Trolley Square is not handicapped accessible. It was pointed out that there is elevator service to the second level of the parking deck, and elevator access from the parking deck within the struc- tures; however , it does lack street-level entry access. Mr. Covens inquired about consideration of traffic in this area --was Klipp , etc. looking at traffic volume , traffic patterns, or what. Mr. Merkel stated that overall traffic patterns are being considered, but not trip generation features. Ms. Pepper addressed the southwest corner of Englewood Parkway and South Broadway , which is a vacant lot owned by the City . A proposal has been put forth to relocate the old Englewood Depot to this site and refurbish the Depot to serve as office space for the Engle- wood Chamber of Commerce. Ms. Pepper stated that staff position has been that this is a prime retail site, and the City Council is on record also supporting retail development of this corner. Ms. Pepper addressed the possible redevelopment of the east side of the 3300 block of South Broadway. The Eagles Lodge burned early this year, severely damaging buildings to both sides of the Lodge. The building on the corner of Broadway and Girard has been improved, and will be leased to a furniture business. The City is negotiating with the Eagles Lodge for purchase of the Broadway site. If the City acquires the Eagles site, it may be developed for parking for Broadway merchants/customers, and may in future be developed as a landscaped walkthrough much as is done on the east side of the 3400 Block South Broadway to provide access to parking at the rear. The City is negotiating for purchase of five properties on the east side of the 3400 block of South Sherman Street, which will be developed for parking. If this negotiation is successful, Orchard Place tenants can park there; Malley Center patrons can 3 take over the current Orchard Place parking area, and the City could use the current Malley Center parking lot on South Lincoln as a public parking lot to serve the 3300 block of South Broadway. Mr. Dummer would discourage development of a mid-block parking lot with access from Broadway; even if it is signed right-in/right-out, people will make left-turns across traffic to access the parking lot, and it will cause traffic jams and accidents. He cited problems on South Logan Street at Swedish Medical Center, as an example. Ms. Pepper then addressed the Brookridge Shopping Center at South Broadway and East Belleview A venue. This shopping center is now under new ownership, and the new owner wants to improve the general appearance and tenant mix. He has been discussing with the City use of the Revolving Loan Program to finance new signage for the existing tenants that will remain in the Center, and he is in Court to terminate the lease of the Paddy Boots restaurant. Belleview A venue is being widened and improved , and it is anticipated that possibly the serv- ice station will be removed as a result of this improvement program. K-Mart across to the west from Brookridge has recently undergone an extensive improvement program. Discussion ensued on the general development and improvement of this retail area. Ms. Pepper commented that Target Stores have said they are still interested in Englewood, if a location with good visibility and traffic flow can be found. Ms. Pepper stated that off-street parking is a primary concern for all Broadway businesses, and suggested that a proposal that may be before the Commission is that of a "fee in lieu" of each business providing parking. This would give the City a "pot of money" that could be used to acquire parking --such as the Sherman Street lots --to be for the benefit of several businesses. Ms. Tobin stated that a lot of the businesses along Broadway used to provide rear entrances for patrons who parked in alley parking areas. Ms. Cuesta cited security concerns for business- men, and this may be a factor in the rarely provided rear access to a store. Mr. Covens asked about the strip retail area from Kenyon south to Belleview; does this appear to be doing well. Ms. Pepper stated that if the downtown area is strengthened, and the retail area in Brookridge is improved, it is probable that this area will build up, and the image can be encouraged to improve. Ms. Pepper then addressed the industrial development in the City. She noted that there is a good mix of businesses in the industrial area --manufacturing, service, suppliers, etc. There is no industrial development in Littleton, and Englewood benefits from this. Ms. Pepper ad- dressed efforts to strengthen relations between the industrial community and the City, and cited tours of specific businesses for Council/staff, breakfast meetings to which industrial business representatives have been invited. A Business newsletter was written and included as part of the Englewood Citizen. Ms. Pepper suggested that on future tours, that members of the Plan- ning Commission might also be included. Ms. Pepper addressed efforts to assist industrial businesses who need to expand or have to relocate their business when suitable sites cannot be 4 ' t located within the City. Ms. Pepper cited one business who relocated to Aurora; this at least kept the work force within the Metro area versus the option of relocating out-of-state, and necessitating relocating of families, or loss of employment for those who chose not to move. The City has an "Enterprise Zone" which covers all of the industrially-zoned area in the City. Ms. Pepper reviewed the benefits and tax benefits that businesses can realize if they are lo- cated in an Enterprise Zone. The City of Englewood also approved a sales tax rebate program for businesses in the Enterprise Zone who purchase new equipment and machinery. This pro- gram has been extended to July 1, 1995. Ms. Pepper discussed participation in the Enterprise Zone marketing efforts through trade shows and written advertising. Ms. Pepper discussed the need for large industrial sites, and noted that the recent subdivi- sion/Planned Development approved for Don Cameron on South Santa Fe Drive just north of Big Dry Creek is one area that has unimproved "build-to-suit" sites available. Ms. Pepper dis- cussed the efforts of the City in working with Mr. Cameron to develop a special improvement district whereby the infrastructure would be installed, and assessed back to the devel- oper/owner of the site. The Lowdermilk site has recently been purchased by Alameda Nursery, which is doing very well. The General Iron Site is a 19-acre site which could be available for redevelopment. The ground is not contaminated; however, there will have to be extensive asbestos removal were the buildings to be remodeled or razed. The owner is asking 2. 7 Million for the entire site, and is not willing to divide the site into smaller areas. Ms. Tobin inquired how the proposed "head tax" would affect Englewood businesses. Dis- cussion ensued. General discussion ensued on various topics Ms. Pepper had brought up. Ms. Pepper noted that she is now working part time , but that Ms. Jacque Wedding-Scott is working for the City Manager's Office and Community Development on economic development issues also, and would be available to provide assistance. Mr. Covens expressed the appreciation of the Commission to Ms. Pepper for her attendance and presentation/discussion with the Commission members. V. PUBLIC FORUM. No one was present to address the Commission. VI. DIRECTOR'S CHOICE Mr. Merkel stated he had nothing to bring before the Commission. 5 VII. COMMISSIONER'S CHOICE Mr. Covens announced that he will be unable to attend the CML Conference on Friday , and asked if any other member would like to attend. The next meeting of the Commission is scheduled for July 20 . A tour has been scheduled beginning at 4:00 P.M. The regular meeting will begin at 7:00 P :M., at which time a Public Hearing on the South Suburban Park & Recreation District's proposal for a "Regional Park" on the former fairgrounds site has been scheduled. There was nothing further to come before the Commission , and the meet ing was declared adjourned. ertrude G . Welty , Recording Secre 6 ' .