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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1987-06-16 PZC MINUTESJ • • • I. CITY OF ENGLEWOOD PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION June 16, 1987 CALL TO ORDER. The regular meeting of the Englewood Planning and Zoning Commis- sion was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chairman Carson. Members Present: Carson, Maunakea, Mulhern, Magnuson, Allen, Hanson. Romans, Ex-officio. Members Absent: Russell and Barbre. Also present: Senior Planner Susan Hirsch. II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES. June 2, 1987 Chairman Carson stated that the Minutes of June 2, 1987, were to be considered for approval. Allen moved: Maunakea seconded: That the Minutes of June 2, 1987, be approved as written . AYES: NAYS: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: Carson, Maunakea, Mulhern, Allen, Hanson. None. Barbre and Russell. Magnuson. The motion carried. III. LANDSCAPE ORDINANCE. Mr. Carson asked Mrs. Romans to summarize the meeting with the Englewood Chamber of Commerce. Mrs. Romans said there had been a meeting of the Governmental Liaison Committee and Mr. Carson, Mr. Hanson, Mr. Magnuson, Ms. Hirsch and Mrs. Romans, concerning the proposed changes to the Landscape Ordinance. She said that of special concern was how the applicability of the Landscape Ordinance is triggered. Under the proposed amendment, adding a wife's name to a business or property ownership or transferring ownership to children would require that the property be brought into conformance with the Landscaping Ordinance . Since it is difficult to know every time there is a change in ownership, enforcement of the Ordinance is selective. After going through the Ordinance with the Committee, it was suggested that Planning Commission ask City Council to table action on the proposed amendments to the Landscape Or- dinance and refer it back to the Commission for further study . -1 - The Chairman asked if there were representatives of the Committee or Chamber of Commerce who wished to address the Commission . Barry Coleman, 3305 South Broadway, said the aim of the Council and Commission should be to make good laws. It is difficult to consider all the ramifications of a law. The City should aim for a Landscape Ordinance that is fair and that will not injure the few as it to serves the whole. While beautifying the City is a good aim, it must be considered at whose expense the beautifica- tion will take place. He said that landscaping, in his opinion, benefits only the occupants of automobiles traveling along the street at the expense of property owners. Planning Commission should consider the injury· being done to the owners before the Ordinance goes to Council. Mr. Maunakea agreed that further study would be of benefit. Ken Hope, Chairman of the Governmental Liaison Committee said the committee agrees that maintaining and promoting aesthetics is important, but the Ordinance as it proposed to be amended is, in his opinion, ambiguous and will breed inequities. Further study could result in an ordinance clear and fair and financially acceptable. Maunakea moved: Mulhern seconded: That the Commission send a letter to the City Council requesting the Landscape Ordinance be tabled to permit further study by the Commis- sion of the proposed amendments to the Land- scaping Ordinance; and that members of the Commission attend the public hearing on June 29, 1987 to express their concerns; and fur- ther that a committee made up of members of the Commission and the Chamber and staff re- view the proposed amendments before the Coun- cil takes action in this matter. Discussion followed. Mr. Allen asked Mr. Coleman if he knew of any businessmen who would be put out of business by this Ordinance. Mr. Coleman said the Ordinance will cause severe hardship, at least. In his own case, he owns 12,000 square feet of property, and the landscape ordinance would require 1200 square feet of landscaping with con- tinuous maintenance. Other people who do not have the space he does, or the parking area, can spend 1200 dollars for the Fine Arts Fund, and never have to install or maintain landscaping. He said that he has been told it would require $5 a square foot to landscape, more to maintain, and he would lose parking spaces which help both his a nd the surrounding businesses. Mr. Coleman noted the difficulty of meeting mortgage payments, paying Down- town Development taxes, regular taxes, and staying in business. He said he cannot afford to landscape and would have to borrow . If he decides to retire, and his sons take over the business, they would be required to landscape under the proposed amendment, Mr. Coleman said. -2 - \ • • • • • • Mr. Hope said that, while no surveys have been made in the com- munity, the Landscape Ordinance will cause hardship, and in- creases the difficulty of attracting new businesses. In a soft economy, hardships should not be created for business and proper- ty owners. He said identical property elsewhere may have lower costs. Mr. Allen said that Denver and Littleton have similar ordinances. Mr. Hope said we do not have to have the same laws other Cities have if we are losing businesses. Of particular concern is the unfairness of applying the Ordinance and the language ambiguity. He said he is not asking that the Landscape Ordinance be elimi- nated, but only reworked. It was noted that there was a motion on the floor, which Mr. Mul- hern then seconded. AYES: NAYS: Maunakea, Magnuson, Mulhern, Hanson, Allen, Carson. None. ABSENT: Russell and Barbre. IV. PUBLIC FORUM. No one present asked to speak. V. DIRECTOR'S CHOICE • Mrs. Romans said that one member from the Planning Commission may attend the State APA meeting to be held in Grand Junction on June 25 and 26. Mr. Mulhern and Mr. Magnuson expressed interest, and one of them will attend the meeting. Mrs. Romans said that Susan Powers has agreed to serve as the Executive Director of the Denver Urban Renewal and that this will be a great opportunity for Ms. Powers professionally. She said the City is proud Ms. Powers was selected over so many candidates. VI. COMMISSION'S CHOICE. Mr. Allen said he has property he is considering selling, and the real tor told him he has too much landscaping, which may scare away buyers. VII. The meeting adjourned at 7:55 p.m. SheryJt1ROilsses, Recording Secretary -3 -