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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1980-06-17 PZC MINUTES• • CITY OF ENGLEWOOD PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION June 17, 1980 I. CALL TO ORDER. 5 A . The regular meeting of the City Planning and Zoning Commission was called to order at 7:00 P. M. by Chairman Pro Tern Becker. Members present: Becker, Carson, McBrayer, Senti, Tanguma, Barbre Romans, Acting Ex-officio Members absent: Draper, Pierson, Williams Also present: Associate Planner Alice Fessenden II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES. Mrs. Becker stated that the Minutes of June 3, 1980, were to be considered for approval . Carson moved: Tanguma seconded: The Minutes of June 3, 1980, be approved as written. Ayes: Carson, McBrayer, Senti, Tanguma, Barbre, Becker Nays: None Absent: Draper, Pierson, Williams The motion carried. III. SWEDISH MEDICAL CENTER Off-Street Parking Lot CASE #18-80 Mrs. Becker stated that the matter before the Commission is consideration of an off-street parking lot for Swedish Medical Center. She asked for the staff presentation. Mrs. Romans stated that Miss Fessenden will give the staff report, inasmuch as she has been working with the Medical Center on this matter. Miss Fessenden stated that the request is for review of an off-street parking lot for the Medical Office building being constructed by the Swedish Medical Center. Because the lot is designed for more than 50 cars, it must be approved by the Planning Commission . The Planning Commission may approve, conditionally approve, or refer the matter back to the applicant for revisions if they find the plan is not in order. This particular parking lot is on the Swedish Medical Center campus itself, and is on the north side of East Hampden Avenue between • • -~ South Washington Street, extended, and South Clarkson Street • The site has a slight slope to the south and west, and has been part of a landscaped area in front of the Medical Center. Across East Hampden Avenue to the south, the zoning is B-2, Business, and the development is primarily that of small busi- nesses. The zoning of the land on the north side of East Hampden Avenue is R-3, High Density Residence. This parking lot will be used for the patrons of the medical office building which is being constructed immediately to the west of the sub- ject site. The medical office building will require a total of 224 off-street spaces, of which 105 will be contained in the subject lot, 63 spaces in the lot on the northeast corner of South Clarkson Street and East Hampden Avenue, and the remainder in the parking lot which is to be constructed south of East Hampden Avenue at South Pearl Street. Miss Fessenden noted that matters to be considered by the Planning Commission in reviewing a parking lot are: ingress and egress, circulation and area for maneuverability, size of parking spaces, drainage and surfacing, lighting, barriers and screening . The only problem the staff found in the re- view of the plans for the parking lot was that the curb cut into the parking lot from South Clarkson Street was only 18 feet wide. Inasmuch as this curb cut is designated for two- way traffic and is the means of access by the Fire Department, it was felt that this curb cut should be widened to a minimum width of 24 feet . Mrs. Becker asked if there were any questions of Miss Fessenden? Mr. Carson asked if the hospital property is zoned R-3, High Density Residence? Miss Fessenden stated that it is. Mr. Cliff Johnson, Swedish Medical Center, displayed a plan of the proposed parking area, which plan depicted areas of greenery and landscaping that will be preserved. Mr. Johnson stated that this parking lot is designed around the compact and standard vehicle, 50% of the spaces being designated for com- pact cars. Mr. Johnson stated that the parking lot to the south of East Hampden Avenue is designated for parking for the medical office building ; the use of this entire lot will give a total of 246 off-street parking spaces for the medical office building. Mr. Johnson noted that attempts are being made to protect as many of the large trees on the lot as possible; he noted that these trees are very old, and some would have to be removed. Mr. Johnson stated that the Medical Center will in- crease the width of the South Clarkson Street curb cut from 18 feet to 24 feet as suggested by staff. Mrs. Becker asked if there were questions of Mr. Johnson? She asked if Mr. Johnson knew whether the fence that is in place along East Hampden Avenue would remain? Mr. Johnson indicated two sections that would have to be removed, and noted that the remainder would stay in place. • • -3- Mr. McBrayer asked i f the two large fi r trees that are in this area would be removed, or if they would be saved? Mr. Johnson stated that the Medical Center will try to save eight to ten of the trees that are in this area; he could not state which trees these would be . Mrs. Becker asked if there were further questions? McBrayer moved: Barbre seconded: on the north side Street, extended , condition: The Planning Commission approve the 105 space off-street parking lot to be located of East Hampden Avenue between South Washington and South Clarkson Street, with the following 1. The access to the parking lot on South Clarkson Street be widened to 24 feet . Ayes: McBrayer, Senti, Tanguma, Barbre, Becker, Carson Nays; None Absent: Draper, Pierson, Williams The mo t ion carried. IV. PUBLIC FORUM. Mrs. Becker asked if any member in the audience would like to address the Commission? Mrs. Eleanor Dunn 3430 South Pennsylvania Street -stated that Swedish Medical Center has removed 13 homes from the tax rolls of Englewood in recent weeks. Mrs . Dunn stated that Swedish Medical Center has ruined this community, and that she thinks someone in this City should wake up and stop the Medical Center from putting in parking lots everywhere. Mrs. Dunn suggested that the Medical Center be required to build a parking structure as the other hospitals do in Denver. She stated that a lot of the property which is purchased by Swedish Medical Center and removed from the tax rolls is vacant --they have moved the houses out, or torn them down. Mrs. Dunn reiterted that within the past week, 13 homes have left this City because o f Swedish Medical Center; she stated that the hospital owns 25 to 30 "little piddling parking lots", and that in her opinion , the Medical Center has ruined that part of the City . She asked why the Planning Commission and City is letting them put in these parking lots all over the City. Mrs. Dunn stated that i n her opinion, the Medical Center has ruined the tax base for the City . She stated that the hospital has paid several hundreds of thousands o f dollars for these homes; they bought a $60,000 home and it is being torn down. She stated that the City is out of line to let Swedish Medical Center "run the City." Mrs . Dunn cited the Ernie Anderson home as being torn down, and t he land left vacant . Mrs. Dunn stated that • • -4- regarding the parking lot which was approved by the Commission previously at South Logan Street, East Girard Avenue and South Pennsylvania Street, "there had better be a wall along the property line, and no light in her yard." Mrs. Romans stated that regarding Ernie Anderson's home, it was a requirement of Mr. Anderson that this structure be razed. Mrs. Romans stated that in regard to some of the other homes that have been purchased by Swedish, they are beyond the point where they can be rehabilitated. Attempts have been made to work out some problems with house movers so that some of these structures can be relocated in Englewood, but this is not always successful. Homes that can be relocated are relocated, but not razed. Mr. McBrayer discussed the matter of the small amount of tax base that is lost by the removal of these homes, and also the fact of Mrs. Dunn's aversion to the Medical Center. Mrs.Becker stated that it is hard to mesh something as large as Swedish Medical Center with the homes owned in the area; she noted that she worked for many years in the Colorado Boulevard - Colfax Avenue medical area, and the uses and developments sur- rounding this area changed. She stated that she felt decisions must be made: does the City want to maintain the homes, or let the Medical Center develop to its full potential? Mr. Senti stated that he has done a considerable amount of appraising for the Medical Center, and he has found them to be very fair in their treatment of the people whose homes they purchase. Mrs. Romans pointed out that the statements are made that the Medical Center is "purchasing $60,000 homes", while in reality they are paying the money for the land. This does set a price that other property owners cite. She acknowledged that it is a very difficult situation. V. DIRECTOR'S CHOICE. Mrs.Romans stated that the Capital Improvement Program will be discussed at a special meeting on June 24th at 7:00 p.m. Mrs. Romans referred to a report on Attached Single-family Dwelling Units, which was sent to members of the Commission in their packets. This report was prepared for presentation to the Board of Adjustment and Appeals to assist them in their consideration of requests by developers who want to sell the individual units of the duplexes and triplexes. This is the first time the Planning staff has prepared a report for the Board of Adjustment explaining their point of view, and in this instance, it was well-received. Mrs. Romans stated that she did tell the Board members that if they have questions about particular matters, the staff will try to do an in-depth study for them at their request. Mrs. Romans stated that ·' -5- this matter of attached single-family housing will be considered • further by the Planning Commissiono There being no further business before the Commission, the meeting was declared adjourned at 7:25 Pomo Mrs. Becker then showed slides of various park and recreation areas which were photographed on her trip to the APA Conference in San Francisco. Several different types of recreational areas were depicted, including one atop a water tower, and the one in Barcadero Park, which was financed and is maintained by the surrounding businesseso Several slides of parks created by the closing of a street were shown as well as the "vandal-proof" aspect of many of the parks. Several photos of the Japanese Gardens were also shown. Members commended Mrs. Becker for her presentation. Mrso Becker stated that she had some slides on solar energy, which she would like to present at a future date. Mrs. Romans sug- gested that possibly at the next regular meeting of the Com- mission on July 8th these slides could be shown. The meeting disbanded at 8:00 p.m. trude G. Welty , cording Secret y --