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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1980-11-05 PZC MINUTES• • • CITY OF ENGLEWOOD PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION NOVEMBER 5, 1980 .,,. I. CALL TO ORDER. 5 G ·~ The regular meeting of the City Planning and Zoning Commission was called to order at 7:00 P. M. by Chairman Judith B. Pierson. Members present: Senti, Pierson, McBrayer, Carson, Barbre, Williams, Tanguma Romans, Ex-officio Members absent: Draper, Becker Also present: Associate Planner Barbara Young II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES. Chairman Pierson stated that the Minutes of October 21, 1980, were to be considered for approval. McBrayer moved: Carson seconded: The Minutes of October 21, 1980, be approved as written. AYES: Tanguma, Senti, Pierson, McBrayer, Carson, Barbre NAYS: None ABSTAIN: Williams ABSENT: Draper, Becker The motion carried. III. BICYCLE TRAIL REPORT CASE 1132-80 Mrs. Romans stated that the meeting was planned as an informal work session, and that there is not a detailed staff report on the proposed bicycle trail system. Mrs. Romans reviewed the background and previous attempts to in- stitute a bicycle trail system in Englewood, noting that the preliminary report before the Commission at this time is an up-date of a 1974 report. Mrs. Romans stated that if the Commission felt the matter of bicycle trails should be pursued, this preliminary report could be used as the basis for a more in-depth study and report. Mrs. Romans stated that this preliminary report proposes the completion of a bicycle trail system using city streets, ditch easements, etc., to tie in with the Regional Bicycle Transportation Plan proposed by the Denver Regional Council of Governments. Mrs. Romans stated that this regional plan would result in a network of bicycle trails extending beyond the metro area. Mrs. Romans stated that there are some people who use bicycles for transportation on a state-wide basis • -2- Mrs. Romans stated that it has been suggested that the proposed bicycle lane system that would make use of city streets would be on South Sherman Street for the major north/south route. East/west routes would make use of Eastman Avenue, Mansfield Avenue, Stanford Avenue and Belleview Avenue. Mrs. Romans stated that the staff would like to know if the Commission wants to proceed with the proposed bicycle trail system. She noted that there was a Public Hearing held on a proposed bicycle trail system several years ago, and that there was strong opposition to the proposal at that time. Mrs. Romans stated that the staff does suggest that if the decision is made to proceed on the institution of a bicycle trail system, that it not be a plan "prepared by staff", but rather one that is prepared by the citizens who will be using the system or who would be affected by the system going through their neighborhood. This would, hopefully, assure support at such time as the Plan would go to public hearing before the Com- mission and City Council. Mr. Williams stated that he was in support of a bicycle trail system, and inquired about the financing of such a project? Would this be done by the Urban Systems funding? He asked what consideration had been given to the financial end of implementation of the system? Mrs. Romans stated that the matter of funding has not been explored to a great extent; she anticipated that perhaps the City Council would be re- quested to set aside funds for the implementation of the bicycle trail system. Mrs. Romans noted that at the last meeting, there was discussion on whether the on-street system would require the elimination of parking in the bicycle lane, or whether the parking could be combined with the bicycle lane. Mr. Williams stated that on Bowles Avenue and Belleview Avenue from Santa Fe Drive there are bicycle lanes that are combined with parking lanes, and they seem to work well. Mrs. Romans pointed out that at the Public Hearing held on the proposed bicycle trail system several years ago, the possibility of eliminating parking "was not popular." Mr. McBrayer noted that on streets that didn't carry much traffic, such as South Sherman Street, the bicycle lanes com- bined with the parking lanes probably wouldn't cause too much problem for bicyclists. Mrs. Pierson asked if a notice would be placed in the Englewood Citizen asking for volunteers to be on the special committee to come up with the bicycle trail system? Mrs. Romans stated that this is a possibility, and might give an indication of how much interest there is in the development of a bicycle trail system in the City. Mrs. Pierson noted that when the Commission was considering the Comprehensive Plan, each ad hoc committee had a Commission member as a liaison member. Inasmuch as Mr. McBrayer is a bicyclist, she suggested that possibly he would want to serve in this capacity on the Bicycle Trails Committee. Mr. McBrayer stated that he would do so. Mr. Senti stated that he, too, is very interested ip the bicycle trail ~ ~ system, and feels that it is very important and necessary that there be a connecting bicycle trail system in the metro area. • • • • • -3- Mr. Tanguma stated that he would like to volunteer his help on the committee to work 9n the bicycle trail system, also. He noted that bicycling is not only a means of conserving energy, b~t it is a healthful activity, also. Mr. Carson indicated that he was also interested in working with this com- mittee. Mrs. Romans asked if the staff should prepare something to publish in the Englewood Citizen? Mr. McBrayer stated that he felt there were a lot of areas around town where a circular or poster might be displayed, such as bicycle shops, etc. Mr. C~rson ,asked when the Public Hearing would be held? Mrs. Romans stated that there will be a Public Hearing eventually, but not until there is a proposed bicycle trail system that is acceptable to the committee and to the Planning Commission. Mr. McBrayer asked what was expected of the Committee? He noted that the Commission didn't want to make people think they are going to do something if they aren't. Mrs. Romans stated that she felt the Committee would have to come up with a bicycle trail system that is acceptable and suggest the means to implement it. Mr. McBrayer .stated that he felt continuity is an important factor and that perhaps streets that are used as bicycle lanes in Denver should continue through Englewood. He noted that on streets such as Eastman Avenue, there would be a problem for the cyclists attempting to cross Broadway without traffic control on Broadway. Mrs. Romans stated that these are matters that must be considered by the Committee. She emphasized that the Committee will have to come up with a trail system that they feel will work. The Planning Commission would have a Public Hearing on that Plan, and then refer the Plan to City Council. Mrs. Romans asked if the staff should proceed with a notice in the Englewood Citizen; she stated that she thought such a notice could be in the December issue. Mr. McBrayer stated that he would like to see the Committee formed as soon as possible; he felt that the Com- mittee should have at least one meeting before the Public Hearing. Mrs. Romans stated that she would anticipate that the Committee will have a number of meetings before the Plan is ready for Public Hearing. Mr. Tanguma stated that he felt Mr. McBrayer should be the Chairman of the Committee, and work with the staff on the proposed bicycle trail system. Mrs. Romans stated that the staff would proceed with the notice for the Englewood Citizen, and will plan on working with the Committee to be chaired by Mr. McBrayer, and that Messrs. Senti, Carson, and Tanguma would participate on the Committee, also. Mrs. Barbara Young presented several slides of areas along waterways and on-street where possible bicycle trails could be developed, as well as showing existing bicycle trails through some of the parks and greenbelt areas • IV. DESIGN REVIEW CASE #33-80 Mrs. Barbara Young presented slides depicting uses where design review has been used in other communities vs. Englewood businesses where there has been -4- no control exercised. Differences made by the use of textured walls vs. concrete walls, and by the use of coordinated colors, signing, etc. were all pointed out and contrasted to the developments with no controls. Mrs. Romans stated that the staff first proposed a Design Review Committee in 1970. The design review concept was also proposed to the Multi-Family Standards Review Committee, which committee was reviewing the medium-density and high-density zone districts in 1974 and 1975. This Committee was of the opinion that there were two ways to get better development in those zone district, those ways being: (1) Planned Development, or (2) Design Review. The Multi-family Standards Review Committee did, in fact, refer the matter of Design Review to the Planning Commission, but at the next meeting withdrew their recommendation, feeling that such a concept was not politically acceptable at that time. The design review concept would have been imposed only on the multi-family,business and industrial developments, not on single-family development. Mrs. Romans stated that she felt part of the previous criticism stemmed from the fact that people did not under- stand that it would not apply to single-family homes; they were afraid they would be told how they could build their homes. Mrs. Romans quoted the following paragraph from the AIA Journal of December, 1968, The Politics of Beauty by William F. Buckley, Jr.,: "If a homeowner desires to construct a huge Coca-Cola sign facing his own homestead rather than the public highway, in order to remind him, every time he looks out his window, that the time has come to pause and be refreshed, he certainly should be left free to do so. But if he wants to face the sign toward us, that is something else." Mrs. Romans stated that if what the developer proposes to build is visible to other people, those people must be considered. The design review con- cept is a means to assure that new development is in reasonable harmony with the environment of the community. Mrs. Romans stated that she would like for the Commiss i on to consider the effects of design review as presented in the slides shown to the Commission, and to consider the proposed draft of the guidelines which were sent to the Commission in their packets. Mrs. Romans stated that it is proposed that the individuals appointed to the Design Review Committee be professional people --architects, landscape architects, people in real estate or the building industries, and that those individuals would be responsible for reviewing the plans and working with the developers. Mrs. Romans stated that it is suggested that the -Chamber of Commerce submit names of individuals to the City Council for considera- tion, and that the City Council appoint the Design Review Committee, which would be comparable to the Board of Adjustment and Planning Commission. The proposed Design Review Committee would consider such things in making their decision as: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Height, bulk, and area of buildings. Setbacks and site planning. Exterior materials and colors. Type and pitch of roofs. Size and spacing of windows, doors ~and other openings. Towers, chimneys , roof structures, flagpoles, radio and antennae. television 7. Landscaping, parking area design and traffic circulation. ,. • • • • • 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. Location, height and standards of exterior illumination. Loc~tion and standards of utility installations . -5- Location and appearance of equipment located outside of an enclosed structure. Location and method of refuse storage. Physical relationship of proposed structures to existing structures in the neighborhood. Appearance and design relationship of proposed structures to existing structures and possible future structures in the neighborhood and public thoroughfareas. Proposed signing. Interior layout of all dwelling units. Mrs. Romans again asked that the Commission consider the written document that has been presented to them, as well as the effect which Design Review can have when implemented and be prepared to discuss their ideas at the meeting of November 18th. She noted that the Downtown Development Authority has proposed that a Design Review Ordinance be adopted, and she felt that possibly the Authority would be supportive if the Commission does determine that the design review concept should be pursued. Mrs. Romans stated that an ad hoc committee for consideration on the design review could be set up, or the Planning Commission may want to consider this matter themselves. Mrs. Pierson _ stated that she would rather keep consideration of the design review within the scope of the Commission. Mr. Tanguma agreed. Discussion on items before the Commission ensued. Mrs. Romans stated that at this point, the meeting of November 18th would be a work session, and nothing is scheduled for either of the meetings in December. However, if matters are submitted to the office, they will be placed on the appropriate agendas. Mrs. Pierson asked when the new Director would be assuming her office? Mrs. Romans stated that Miss Powers begins employment on November 24th. Discussion ensued. It was determined that the first meeting in December, December 2nd, be an informal dinner meeting at 5:30 p.m., and that Mrs. Frances Buck Jonas, the Executive Director of the Englewood Housing Authority, also be invited to attend. Mr. Tanguma asked if the staff had any information on file about what other design review committees in other cities have done, or what other cities plan to do? Mr. Carson asked if he had understood Mr. McBrayer correctly that Aurora had a Design Review Committee? Mr. McBrayer stated that he did not know if Aurora had an actual Design Review Committee, or whether it is someone on the staff that reviews the plans. He asked if there was a copy of the Aurora Zoning Ordinance in the office, and whether it did contain wording relating to signs, ground coverage, walkways, etc? Mrs. Romans stated that there is a copy of the Aurora Zoning Ordinance in the office. She further pointed out that Design Review is common in California, and is very acceptable there. The proposed ordinance, as presented to the Commission, is based on a California Design Review Ordinance • Mr. Tanguma reiterated that he would like to see what other cities are doing. He would like to look at some criteria and possibly come up with a way that the Planning and Zoning Commission could look at the plans and act as the design review connnittee rather than creating another committee. Mrs. Romans stated that this particular aspect has been considered pre- -6- viously and it has been recommended that professional people serve on the design review committee because of technicalities involved in working with developers. Mr. McBrayer stated that he would imagine such developments as the Pinery would have design review standards for their particular developments, and that possibly copies could be obtained. Mr. Tanguma stated that he wants to see something that has been proven to work in Colorado. Mrs. Romans stated that what may work in one particular area of Colorado may not, in fact, work well in another area of the state. She stated that it will be up to the Commission to develop something that will work in Englewood. Discussion ensued. Mrs. Romans pointed out that at the City Council meeting of November 3rd, one of the City Councilmen expressed concern that the proposed amendments to the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Regulations to require bicycle trails in new developments would increase the development costs in the City. Mrs. Pierson stated that she felt the Commission was appointed to do a job, and that if City Council wants to exercise its veto power it may, but the Commission should still do what they are appointed to do. V. PUBLIC FORUM. No one was present to address the Commission. VI. DIRECTOR'S CHOICE. Mrs. Romans stated that at the last meeting of the Planning Commission, she was asked to check with representatives of Swedish Medical Center on the matter of landscaping in the parking lots that were recently approved. Mrs. Romans stated that she has contacted the Medical Center, and was told that the Medical Center will begin the landscaping of the parking lots this week, but that the Buckthorn trees could not be planted until next Spring. Mr. McBrayer stated that he noted in late September that the parking lots were paved, striped, and ready for use, but were not finished so far as the landscaping, final grading, etc. were concerned. He feels that the Medical Center hurried to make the parking lots "usable", but there is much that is yet to be done to "finish" the parking lots to meet the approval of the Commission. He stated that he felt the next time approval of a parking lot is requested by the Medical Center, it should be required that the parking lot not be used until it is "finished". Mr. McBrayer asked Mrs. Young, a landscape architect, if Fall is not a good time of year to do planting and landscaping work? Mrs. Young stated that it is a good time of year for the most part; she did point out that a lot of the plant materials are ordered in the Fall, but are not delivered for planting until the next Spring, and that nurseries will not guarantee some plantings if they are planted in the Fall and do not live through the winter. Mrs. Pierson asked if it would be appropriate for the Commission to send the Medical Center a letter expressing the concern of the Commission, .,._ .. stating that it is hoped since the Medical Center and the Commission are working together for a better Englewood, that the Medical Center will complete the grading, clean up and preliminary planting of the parking lots. It was felt that such a letter would be appropriate to be sent from the Com- mission. , • • • • • -7- Mrs. Romans stated that work on the parking lot approved for the Downtown Developm~t Authority has started. The landscaping of the lot will not be done until next Spring. ·• .., VII. COMMISSIONER'S CHOICE. Mr. Tanguma asked if Mrs. Romans had contacted the City Council regarding the movie Mr. Keller wanted to show? Mrs. Romans stated that she had not. Mrs. Pierson stated that she does not remember ever having discussed civil defense at the Commission level; she asked if this was an appropriate area of concern -for the Planning Commission? Mrs. Romans stated that the Chief of Police is the Civil Defense Officer, and is so appointed by the City Manager. The meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m. trude G. Welty cording Secretary