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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1990-04-04 PZC MINUTES• •• • D R A F T CITY OF ENGLEWOOD PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION APRIL 4, 1990 1. CALL TO ORDER. The regular meeting of the City Planning Zoning Commission was called to order by Chairman Tom Gerlick at 7:00 P.M. City Clerk Patricia Crow administered the oath of office to the newly appointed member, Roger Lewis Shoop. Members present: Members absent: Also present: Daviet, Fish, Gerlick, Glynn, Schultz, Shoop, Tobin, Wanush, Ex-officio Becker and Covens H.J. Stitt, Planner; Members of the Housing Task Force: Berl~n, Dinkel, Kelley, Sanger, and Shaffer From the Regional Transportation District: Cleveland Brown and Mark Imhoff II. APPROVAL OF MI NUTES March 20, 1990 Chairman Gerlick stated that the Minutes of March 20, 1990 were to be considered for approval. Fish moved: Schultz seconded: The Minutes of March 20, 1990 be approved as written. Ms. Tobin asked that the Minutes be amended to state that there was to be nothing else scheduled for the agenda of the meeting at which the Housing Task Force was to present its report. Other members of the Comm~ssion stated that in their opinion, the Minutes as written state the discussion that took place. Ms. Tobin stated she disagreed, but did not wish to pursue the amendment. AYES: NAYS: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: Davi et, None Becker, None Gerlick, Glynn, Fish, Schultz, Tobin, Shoop. Covens The motion carried . III. REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION DISTRICT. Mr. Cleveland Brown and Mr. Mark Imhoff, representing the Regional Transportation District, were introduced. Mr. Brown stated that he would discuss the future rapid transit corridors in the Metro Denver area and the rapid transit plans as they relate to the City of Englewood., Mr. Brown reviewed the history of the Regional Transportation District from the time it was created in 1969 until the present time. He discussed the changes in the philosophy of the RTD Board of Directors after the voters determined that the members should be elected rather than appointed to the Board. Mr. Brown also discussed the unsuccessful applications to the Ur ban Mass Transportation Authority for funding for some form of mass transportation. Mr. Brown then discussed the Regional Transportation Plan for several corridors which the Legislature asked that they develop. The alignment, design, cost, schedule of construction and the source of funding for each corridor is addressed in the Plan. The corridors include the East Airport corridor, the North corridor, the Qowntown Denver (CBD) corridor, the West corridor, the Northwest corridor, the Aurora South corridor, the Southeast corridor and the Southwest corridor. Policy groups have been established for each of the corridors and those persons are working with the R.T.D. staff. • Englewood is in the Southwest corridor and at least one study has indicated , ·- that the Southwest corridor should be moved from third to first priority. The RTD staff has applied to the Urban Mass Transportation Administration (UMTA) for sanction to prepare an alternative analysis for this corridor; however, the request has not yet been approved. The Colorado Legislature created the Transit Construction Authority to construct a light-rail system in the Southeast corridor and they have also applied to UMTA for funding. Mr. Brown indicated that one reason that UMTA has not responded is because two applications have been submitted for two different corridors by two different agencies. Both DRCOG and RTD are of the opinion that the Southwest corridor is the highest priority corridor in the Metro Denver area. Mr. Fish stated that one study after another has been undertaken but nothing seems to be resolved and asked if this is due to politics. Mr. Brown stated that dis-incentives to the use of the automobile need to be developed. Ms. Tobin asked that any examples be relevant to this area and not New York or a comparable city in the east. Ms. Tobin commented on the efficiency of the San Diego rapid transit system. Mr., Schultz discussed the "excellent" transportation system in British Columbia. He then agreed with Mr. Fish that RTD has studied the matter for 20 years and nothing has happened. • • • • Mr. Brown stated that any system will be very expensive and listed the . projects which have been undertaken including the availability of the total alignment for the Southwest corridor. The acquisition of the right-of-way for the West corridor and the design is in progress for the North corridor with construction of the Bus/High Occupancy Vehicle lanes to begin this year, etc . . Ms. Daviet commented that in her opinion, RTD has a ''credibility problem'' and ask ed the Board's position on public awareness. Discussion followed on the various plan s and the necessity for RTD to "sel l themselves" to the Legislature and the Public. Chairman Gerlick stated that it was 8:00 P.M. and the Co mm ission had other people waiting to discuss another matter. Mr. Brown stated that they would appreciate an opportunity to meet with the Com mission again to discuss the southwest corridor in more detail. Chairman Gerlick thanked Mr. Brown and Mr. Imhoff for attending the meeting and asked the staff to schedule another meeting to continue the discussion as s oon as it could be arrang ed . Mr. Gerlick declared a recess until 8:10 P.M . The meeting reconvened at 8:10 P.M. with the following members of the Commission present: Gerlick, Glynn, Fish, Schultz, Shoop, Tobin and Daviet. Ms. Becker and Mr.Covens we r e absent. IV. HOUSING TASK FORCE The following members of the Housing Task Force were present: Ray Berlin, Tom . Dinkel, Dennis Kelley, Fran Shaffer and Bob Sanger. Ms. Tobin served as Chairperson of the Task Force. The members of the Task Force identified the subcommittee on which they served: Ms. Shaffer, Increased Home Ownership; Mr. Sanger, Upper Income Housing; Mr. Kelley, Increased Home Ownership; Mr. Dinkle, Protecting Existing Housing; Mr. Berlin, Increased Home Ownership; Ms. Tobin reported that she had participated in several of the subcommittees. Ms. Tobin complimented the members of the Task Force and said that she has worked with a number of committees; but none more dedicated than this one. Ms. Tobin thanked Ms. Grimmett and Mr. Wanush for their support. Ms. Tobin then summarized the recommendations of the Housing Task Force as they are set forth in the report of the C~mmittee. They are: 1.) Maintain and improve the existing housing stock by: protecting existing residential areas, modifying the existing zoning regulations to encourage innovative development, identifying severely sub-standard units, revis ·ing the "Target Area" concept and by improving the visual quality of the City. 2.) Increase the level of home ownership by: promoting the Englewood public schools, promoting the City, establishing evening and week-end events and by targeting renters/buyers. The third recommendation is to maintain or establish suitable housing for the elderly and fourth, to provide housing choices for all income levels. Mr. Fish asked what was meant by "improving the housing stock''? Ms. Tobin explained that there are a number of small, older houses in the City and that it is necessary to bring the plumbing, heating and electrical service up to code and to make it easier for people to enlarge the houses to meet the current living standards., Mr. Berlin explained the WAND project undertaken by the Englewood Housing Authority, through which program, 21 houses have been either rehabilitated or replaced. This project is concentrated in the 3300 block of South Logan, Pennsylvania and Pearl Streets. Mr. Berlin then discussed the tour of the City which was taken by the Task Force. Mr. Berlin stated that Englewood won't attract the people with $200,000 to $300,000 income~ He added that there is higher-cost housing in the City; however, this is a very stable community and that housing is not on the market. Mr. Berlin contihued that a number of houses could have "cosmetic" improvements and a number which are dilapidated could be improved and expanded. Mr. Wanush stated that there are two aspects to be considered when discussing improving the housing stock; first the design Qf the houses don't meet the current life style and require additional bedrooms and bathrooms to do so, and many of the houses need to be rehabilitated. • Mr. Berlin stated that the image of the community is very important and that • accumulations of trash in the yards and alleys and derelict vehicles on the properties create a negative image. Mr. Berlin stated that he recommends that . the City adopt a rental inspection ordinance. Mr. Kelley stated that if a house is going to be enlarged or rehabilitated, it has to be basically sound and if the structure is not sound, it should be demolished, the site cleared, and a new house constructed . . Mr. Dinkel commented that this can create a very delicate situation; that most people have a pride in ownership and the City could tread on people's emotions. He continued that the obvious action is to go into some neighborhood and demolish the houses and start-over; but this would require considerable funding and it could have a negativ~ effect on the owner's emotions. He added the Committees' recommendations are necessarily broad. Ms. Daviet asked about the rental inspection program and commented that if the owner of the rental unit could not afford to bring it up t9 code, that it would be turned over to the bank. Mr. Berlin responded that the owner of a substandard rental unit could not expect the community to "bail him out". The problem of irresponsible renters was discussed. Mr. Wanush stated that the owners of some rental units might relinquish them because of the inspection program and it would then be possible to convert the unit to home ownership. At that point, some form of assistance could be given to first-time home owners; targeting persons who are renting. Mr. Kelley also recommeQded the rental inspection program, stating it would contribute to a safer living environment. • .... • •• • Ms. Daviet gave additional examples of property owners who have had to undertake major repairs to their houses each time renters move out. Mr. Dinkel discussed a renter/owner survey taken throughout the City and stated that there are not as many rentals in the City as had been estimated. Ms. Daviet raised the issue of houses that are owned by senior citizens who cannot afford or are not able to repair them. Ms.Tobin reported that Dr.Tom Synnott, the Principal of the Alternative High School, and a member of the Task Force, had said that the School District could assist the Senior Citizen in that instance, by assigning students to help with the repairs. Mr. Scultz asked if the Task Force had considered re-zoning any areas. Mr. Wanush suggested that the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance might be amended to permit more flexibility in setbacks, height, lot overage, etc. Mr. Wanush discussed the Urban Homesteading program and said that the City is looking at five HUD-owned properties that might be purchased very reasonably, the structures demolished and the sites redeveloped. He said that the City has contacted five single-family home builders about the program. The builders have pointed out that a $100,000 house cannot be constructed in a neighborhood with $70,000 houses and recommended that houses in the $80,000 to $85,000 bracket be targeted for the program. Mr. Wanush said that if five adjacent sites could be purchased, it might be feasible to construct four houses rather than five. Mr. Schultz asked about the persons who bought the WAND units from the Housing Authority and asked if they were two-income families. Mr. Berlin said the units were bought by first-time homeowners and there are both one and two income families. Mr. Berlin also reported that the Authority has determined that it is cheaper to build stick-built houses than to bring in modular units. Mr. Wanush discussed the Rehab program and said that with a $20,000 maximum loan per unit, the City would need "gigantic resources" to make a visible impact in the community. Mr. Dinkei, who works with the E.H.A. Rehab Loan Program, said the Housing Authority is going . to identify certain census tracts in which people would be encouraged to participate in the Rehab Loan Program. Mr. Dinkel added that he agrees with Mr. Berlin that the visual impact is important . and encouraged the enforcement of codes to clean-up the poorly maintained properties. Ms. Shaffer cited an instance in which persons are using wall furnaces and paying $183 per month for heat. These situations need to be inspected and corrected. She supported a program to encourage people to bring the .houses up to code before they are sold. Ms. Shaffer then discussed a Take Pride in Englewood program with contests for the Block of the Year in each Council District. She suggested that signs could be installed on each end of the block, identifying it as the best maintained block in the District. She said the same thing could be done with alleys to encourage people to improve their neighborhoods. Ms. Shaffer said that more needs to be done to publicize the City: to promote the Fall Parade, to publicize the Craig Olympics, to publicize the schools. She satd that neither the City nor School District is doing enough to get out to the people on a regular basis. Ms. Daviet said that the City needs to make it easier for people to provide input. Mr. Dinkel asked about rezoning properties such as the General Iron site from Industrial to Residential. Ms. Shaffer suggested that there should be more week-end events for the young people so that they don't have to congregate at the convenience stores and in the mall . She asked that we give thought to the fact that we do not offe~ people musical programs or art programs and in her opinion, the recreation center is too expensive for many of the young people and the hours are limited. The only program that is offered are the musical concerts in the Plaza in the summer. Ms. Daviet agreed that it is "discouraging" to have a teenager in Englewood. Ms. Tobin discussed a skateboard ramp that the Parker Fire Chief is working to provide for teenagers. Chairman Gerlick called attention to the hour and asked if the discussion should be continued at another time. It was agreed to do so and the staff was asked to make the necessary arrangements. Mr. Fish asked about the possibility of also meeting with the Economic Development team. Chairman Gerlick extended the appreciation of the Commission to Ms. Tobin and the members of the Task Force. V. DIRECTORS CHOICE Mr. Wanush had nothing to present. VI. COMMISSIONER'S CHOICE None of the members wished to speak. The meeting was adjourned at 9:10 P.M. ~~ Secretary Pro Tern ) • •• ••