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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1985-07-02 PZC MINUTES" • • • I. CITY OF ENGLEWOOD PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION July 2, 1985 CALL TO ORDER. The regular meeting of the City Planning and Zoning Commission was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chairman Venard. Members present: · Barbre, Carson, Stoel, Allen, Venard. Member absent: Beier, Magnuson, McBrayer, Gourdin. Also present: Peter Vargas, Ex Officio Dorothy A. Romans, Assistant Director of Community Development Susan King, Senior Planner Nancy Reid, Assistant City Attorney II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES. June 18, 1985 Mr. Venard ·stated that the Minutes of June 18, 1985 were to be considered for approval. Carson moved: Stoel seconded: The Minutes of June 18, 1985 be approved as written. AYES: NAYS: ABSENT: Barbre, Carson, Stoel, Allen Venard. None. Beier, Magnuson, McBrayer, Gourdin. The Chairman ruled that the motion carried, and the Minutes were approved as written. Commissioner Gourdin entered, and took his place with the Commission. III. APPROVAL OF FINDINGS OF FACT. 3986 South Broadway Case #11-85 Mr. Venard stated that the Findings of Fact for Case #11-85 were to be considered for approval. Carson moved: Barbre seconded: The Findings of Fact for Case #11-85, 3986 South Broadway , be approved as written. AYES: NAYS: ABSENT: IV . Barbre, Carson, Stoel, Gourdin, Allen, Venard. None. Beier, Magnuson, McBrayer. Amendments to the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, Sections 16.2 - Administration of th e Ordinance, 16.3 -Procedure for Initial Zoning of Property and Rezoning, 16.4-17 -Fences and Retaining Walls, 16.4-18 -Landscape Ordinance, and 16.4-19 -Sign Code. • • • -2- Mrs. Romans was asked to explain the reasons for the proposed amendments. She stated that 16.2-8 b (1) (c) was inadvertently omitted during the various typings of the Ordinance; and when there was a request for a variance from the Sign Code, it was discovered that the four conditions necessary for granting a variance from the Sign Code were no longer in the Ordinance. This amendment will restore the conditions to the Ordinance. In reviewing Section 16.3, staff realized that no procedure for amending the Ordinance was included in the text. The amendments to Section 16.4-17 were proposed by the Commission concerning Fences and Retaining Walls. The proposed amendments to Section 16.4-18, Landscape Ordinance, are in accordance with previous discussions by the Commission and for clarification. The regulations would apply in all zone districts whenever there is a change of use or any new development. Because of difficulties encountered in determining how extensive remodelling is, the burden would be changed from the City to the applicant to give the valuation of the remodelling. It would further require the valuation to be based only on buildings and improvements, rather than including the value of the land. The formula supplied by Arapahoe County would be applied to a submitted value to determine the accuracy of the valuation; and the City could accept estimates from brokers, insurance records, and the Assessor's records. In addition, 16.4-18 d (1) (b) would amend the section of the Landscape Ordinance concerning the granting of a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy to permit landscaping to be installed at a later date, during a more suitable planting season. The amendment would include provision for an Instrument of Security of 200% of the estimated value of the landscaping to be submitted to the City prior to the issuance of the Temporary Certificate of Occupancy. There was some discussion by the Commission of this provision. Mr. Allen stated that placing a lien which would be superior to all other liens and encumbrances with the permission of the other debtors would be almost impossible. Mrs. Romans stated that this was offered as an _option; there are other methods of providing security. She stated that this method has worked for the City in other areas of enforcement, and the amendment was prepared by the Attorney's Office. Mr. Vargas said that the purpose of these provisions is to give the property owner an incentive to landscape. Mr. Stoel objected to the provision which requires 200% of the value of the landscaping improvements to be reserved. Mrs. Romans said that this amount is similar to the requirements of other cities in the area. Mrs. Romans stated that there is always the option of putting in the landscaping, and this provision seemed a lesser evil than forcing the owner to vacate an occupied building because the landscaping has not been installed. Mrs. Romans said that the next proposed amendment, Section 16.18 d (2) (e) (1), was in response to the Planning Commission's motion that 50% of the landscaping be required to be installed in the front portion of a building site for commercial and industrial zone districts. Because it may be difficult to determine what the "front portion of a building site" is, the staff suggested the wording be changed to "between the street line and the front building line." Discussion followed, and the Commission requested that the wording be changed to "between the street line and the front setback line", or "in front of the existing building ." Mrs. Romans said that Councilman Vobejda pointed out that it is difficult to understand the section of the Landscape Ordinance which requires one street tree for ea ch forty feet of frontage. She said that the Planning Office has , • • • -3- made a practice of requiring an extra tree for each twenty feet of frontage over the first 40 feet. The staff proposes the following wording: "If, when the total street frontage is divided by 40 feet, there is a remainder of 20 feet or more, an additional street tree shall be required." Mrs. Romans, in response to a question from Mr. Gourdin, stated that there will be a Landscape Brochure which contains suggestions for trees that grow well in our area, identifies drought-resistant plants, and lists difficult or undesirable trees. The Denver Water Board on West 12th Avenue has a model xeroscape display, and the Board publishes a pamphlet describing low- maintenance plants. The Englewood brochure will be similar. Mrs. Romans stated that the amendment provided for the Sign Code in Section 16.4-19-3 a provides for prohibited signs which are erected after the effective date of the Sign Code. Prohibited signs erected after the date of the Ordinance and hazardous signs would be required to be removed within five days of Notice. Mrs. Romans stated that these amendments are the last of the changes to the Ordinance of which the staff is aware. Mr. Venard said the changes had been discussed with him, and he had agreed that the Public Hearing should be held as soon as possible. v. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. Mr. Venard called for discussion on the 1986/1990 Capital Improvement projects. Mr. Gourdin said that Highway 285 by Cinderella City is in disrepair and asked whose responsibility it is to maintain the surface. Mr. Vargas said that this is a State Highway, and he would find out what the schedule for repair is . Mr. Venard reminded the Commission that there would be little money available immediately for Capital Improvements. Mr. Vargas said that some improvements may be made with funds from the budget. Mr. Venard said the purpose of the Program is to bring desirable projects to the attention of the City Council and City Manager. Mr. Allen suggested that the most important improvement needed in Englewood is trash removal and disposal. He said that he met during the previous week with Mayor Otis to make recommendations on this matter. Mr. Allen had contacted DRCOG and the City of Denver, and found no studies or programs in progress. Mr. Carson suggested forwarding all the projects which were mentioned in the Memorandum to the Planning Commission from Mrs. Romans to the City Manager. These are: 1. The trash collection and conversion program. 2. The Parks and Recreation Department's request for a nature center, possibly at Belleview Park. 3. The new City Hall and the possibility of moving the Court facilities to the Police/Fire Center. 4. 5. The parking lot at the P o lice station which needs redesi gnin g , correction of draina g e and resurfa c ing . Cooperating with the City of Sheridan in correcting drainage problems on South Clay Stre e t. 6. Enlar g ing th e Golf Cours e Club h ouse. • • • -4- 7. The Oxford Parkway . Mr. Carson suggested further that trash collection and disposal be made first in priority, and the golf course clubhouse expansion second. Discussion followed. Mr. Vargas stated that the City Manager would need recommendations from the Planning Commission by August. He said that the Commission might consider a request for $10,000 for further studies on the trash collection and conversion. Mr. Carson said that, in his opinion, the golf course clubhouse needs meeting rooms, locker rooms and a larger restaurant. Mr. Allen disagreed. Mr. Venard stated that the parking lot on the north side of the Police Station may be very important if the Police Department is to remain at its present location. Mr. Carson objected to the nature center at Maddox School and said he felt a permanent nature center should be provided. Stoel moved: Carson seconded: The Commission forward all the recomendations in the Memorandum ~xcept the construction of a new City Hall and the moving of the court facilities to the Police/Fire Center) to the City Manager. The request for a study of the AYES: NAYS: trash collection and disposal was to be listed as first in priority, and the others were given no order of ·priority . Barbre, Carson, Stoel, Gourdin, Allen, Venard. None. ABSENT: Beier, Ma gnu son, McBrayer. VI. DIRECTOR'S CHOICE. Mr. Vargas stated that the City Council passed the amendments to the R-3, B-1, Design Guidelines, I-1, Planned Development, Fences and Retaining Walls, and the Landscape Ordinance. The Council received the recommended B-2 ordinance, and the City Attorney will prepare it for the first reading sometime in July or August. Council also amended the project area for the Urban Renewal Program to include the Park Floral site and the old Safeway building. The Authority is in the process of preparing a proposal for developers. Mrs. Romans stated that Councilman Bilo appreciated the Planning Commission's work on the B-2 section of the Ordinance and asked that this appreciation be expressed to the Corrnnission members. She stated that Mr. Jha has employed an attorney to appeal the Conditional Use decision made by the Planning Commission. While they will file an appeal, they would prefer that the case be returned to the Planning Commission, because the attorney is of the opinion after reviewing the record, that the case was not presented in the best possible way. Mr. Dittemo re, the attorney will ask th at the fifteen- day notice to ceas e operation be withdrawn . VII. COMMISSION'S CHOICE. None. VIII. ADJOURNMENT. The meeting adjourned at 9:0 5 p.m. ,// . ,( ,A;t -o· -~