Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1982-01-05 PZC MINUTESCITY OF ENGLEWOOD PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION January 5, 1982 I. CALL TO ORDER. The regular meeting of the City Planning and Zoning Commission was called to order by Chairman Judith B. Pierson at 7:05 P.M. in the Library Conference Room. Members present: Members absent: Also present: Allen, Barbre, Becker, Carson, Draper, McBrayer, Pierson, Senti, Tanguma Powers, Ex-officio None Assistant Director for Planning D. A. Romans Senior Planner Susan T. King Assistant Director for Housing Frances B. Jonas Housing Administrator Linda Knopinski Public Works Director Kells Waggoner Urban Renewal Authority Members Minnick and Dickinson Mrs. Pierson welcomed the staff members and Urban Renewal Authority ~-~bers to the meeting. II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES. 5 D Mrs. Pierson stated that there were several sets of minutes that were to be considered for approval, the first of which is from the meeting of December 1, 1981. Tanguma moved: Carson seconded: The Minutes of December 1, 1981, be approved as written. AYES: NAYS: Barbre, Becker, Carson, Draper, McBrayer, Pierson, Senti, Tanguma, Allen None The motion carried. Mrs. Pierson stated that the second set of Minutes to be considered for approval were from the meeting of December 8, 1981. Mrs. Pierson asked that the record reflect that Mr. Milton Senti did read the transcript of the portion of the meeting that he was unable to attend, and will, therefore, be able to vote on the approval of the Minutes. Mrs. Pierson also noted that Assistant Attorney Tom Holland has requested that the transcript of the Public Hearing be made a part of the official Minutes of this meeting. ·. \_ -2- Mr. Draper stated that he felt information regarding Mr. Deckard's lack of information and unwillingness to provide information re- garding the financial aspect of the Adult Center had been omitted from the Minutes as written. Discussion ensued. Mrs. Pierson pointed out that if the transcript of the Hearing is made a part of the official Minutes as has been requested, this should eliminate Mr. Draper's concern. Draper moved: Carson seconded: The Planning Commission approve the Minutes of December 8, 1981, as written, and that the transcript of the Public Hearing be made a part of the official Minutes of that meeting. AYES: Becker, Carson, Draper, McBrayer, Pierson, Senti, Tanguma, Allen, Barbre NAYS: None The motion carried. Mrs. Pierson stated that the third set of Minutes to be considered were from the Special Meeting .of December 15, 1981. Carson moved: Draper seconded: The Minutes of December 15, 1981, be approved as written. AYES: Carson, Draper, McBrayer, Pierson, Senti, Tanguma, Allen, Barbre, Becker NAYS: None The motion carried. III. FLOOD PLAIN/LITTLE DRY CREEK Case #1-82 Ms. Powers stated that Public Works Director Kells Waggoner has been invited to present the latest information on the Little Dry Creek Flood Plain. Ms. Powers pointed out the importance of this Flood Plain, because the present flood plain boundaries include most of the Downtown Area, and until there is a resolution of the flood plain problem, redevelopment of the Downtown Area is stymied. City Council has recently taken action regarding the type of control program that should be followed on Little Dry Creek and Mr. Waggoner is to explain that proposal. Mr. Waggoner stated that Little Dry Creek, which enters the City of Englewood at South Clarkson Street just south of U.S. 285, drains an area of approximately 25 square miles. Mr. Waggoner indicated on a handout given the members of the Commission the location of the Englewood Dam and of the Holly Dam. Mr. Waggoner stated that the City thought they had ownership of the Englewood Dam, but lost owner- ship in a Court case. The Urban Drainage and Flood Control District now has control of this dam. Mr. Waggoner stated that funds from the City of Englewood and other affected jurisdictions were used to refurbish the dam to carry the maximum probable flood; this improvement -3- now provides control for approximately nine and one-half square miles. Holly Dam controls approximately two square miles of drainage; this leaves approximately 14 square miles of uncontrolled drainage which comes into Englewood via Little Dry Creek. Mr. Waggoner stated that Little Dry Creek is in an open channel from its point of entry into the City and through the downtown area, until it enters a box conduit at the back of the Chamber of Commerce on West Girard Avenue. This conduit is 12 feet deep and 15 feet wide at the point of entry, and changes slope and size .at Cherokee Street, extending under King Soopers, going to Floyd Avenue and west along Floyd Avenue to Huron/Eastman where it reenters an open channel to the South Platte River. Mr. Waggoner stated that the conduit was constructed when Cinderella City was built, and was to accommodate a projected 5,000 cfs runoff, which capacity was approved by the Corps of Engineers. Plans were to continue the box to Sherman Street, and to line the channel of the Creek with concrete to South Clarkson Street. In 1974, a study was done by McCall-Ellingson, which projected that 7,000 cfs entered Englewood at South Clarkson Street via Little Dry_ Creek. Mr. Waggoner stated that the Holly Dam has been constructed since this study was done. In 1976, the City Council considered the possibility of making Little Dry Creek a "green strip" through the City. Sellards and Grigg did an alternative analysis that would keep part of the channel in grass. Several alternatives which were presented by Sellards and Grigg were discussed by Mr. Waggoner. The City Council chose an alternative for Little Dry Creek in 1978, which plan is to extend the box conduit to a point south of Hampden Avenue, with a grass-lined channel to South Clarkson Street, the two dams up-stream (Englewood and Holly), and the construction of a detention pond on the High School athletic field. The purpose of this proposal was to eliminate the flood plain for the 100-year flood through the downtown area of Englewood. Mr. Waggoner pointed out that construction can take place in a flood plain; however, the first floor would have to be raised one-foot above the flood plain elevation. Improvements to Little Dry Creek were begun in the lower reach, and were designed to carry the 7,000 cfs projected by McCall-Ellingson in 1974. However, there have now been modifications in the methods of calculating runoff and rainfall, and the present flow anticipated at Clarkson Street and Little Dry Creek is closer to 4,400 cfs rather than the previously projected-7,000 cfs. The boundary of the flood plain did not decrease with the change in calculations, because once the water is out of the channel, it will spread over the entire area, but it will not be to the depth projected with the 7,000 cfs runoff. Mr. Waggoner then discussed several alternates presently under consideration to control the drainage flow on Little Dry Creek. Mr. Waggoner stated that City Council has elected to use Alternative #~; this proposal will result in the construction of a deten.._tion pond on the High School Athletic field, the construction of a parallel cell and improvement of the open channel to carry an estimated 3,450 cfs runoff. Mr. Waggoner stated that the School -4- Board is meeting with their attorney and will let the City know if they will approve the use of the athletic field for the detention pond. The City has interviewed one Engineering Consultant, and will be interviewing five other firms on January 6th and 7th; he stated that he hoped a consultant would be chosen shortly, and that design of the Little Dry Creek improvements could begin. Mr. Waggoner stated that Urban Drainage and Flood Control District has $5,000,000 which they would provide for improvements on Little Dry Creek, and it is anticipated that an additional $242,000 would be available in 1985. The City Council does have monies in the Capital Improvement Fund which is earmarked for improvements to Little Dry Creek. It is proposed that bonds will be marketed to complete the construction and improvements on Little Dry Creek. The total project is esti- mated to be $9,300,000. Discussion on the matter of financing ensued. Mr. Waggoner stated that the Urban Drainage District tries to put back into a county the equivalent amount of money which has been received over a five-year period in ad valorem taxes. Mr. McBrayer commented that it appeared that approximately 50% of the drainage comes from the Tech Center area; he asked what impact the extensive asphalting of this developing area had on the cfs draining into Englewood? Mr. Waggoner stated that the developers have had to provide on-site detention up to a certain amount; this has been required by Greenwood Village. Mr. Draper asked whether debris flowing down Little Dry Creek would block the mouth of the conduit and cause greater flooding? Mr. Waggoner stated that a few years ago during a period of high water in Little Dry Creek, an old garage on South Bannock Street at West Hampden Avenue was washed into the channel; by the time the structure reached the mouth of the conduit at Bannock and Girard, there was nothing left but "splinters and toothpicks". He ac- knowledged that there is a possibility of something possibly blocking the mouth of the conduit during a period of high-water. Ms. Romans asked what would be required .in the way of right-of-way if a grass-lined channel were to be developed? Mr. Waggoner pointed out that this would depend on the slope and hydrolics of the designed improvements. He estimated that the width of the improvements would require a 100-foot right-of-way at least. Mr. Allen asked where the improvements would begin; on the east end where Little Dry Creek enters Englewood, or further down? Mr. Waggoner stated that work has already begun on the reach west of Santa Fe Drive. He stated that if the contractor chosen to do the work has sufficient personnel, work could be started and done on several reaches simultaneously. Mr. Allen inquired as to the location of the parallel cell which is proposed to be constructed. Mr. Waggoner stated that the parallel cell would be on the south side of the existing box conduit. Mr. Waggoner pointed out properties that would probably be included in an acquisition of right-of-way. Mr. Waggoner stated that the City must now get approval of the Federal Insurance Administrator on the projected drainage flow of 4400 cfs rather than the 7,000 cfs -5- previously approved. Further discussion ensued. ~ Ms. Powers pointed out that the improvement of Little Dry Creek is not only an engineering project; this improvement is also the first step in the downtown improvement plan and is the most expensive to undertake. Ms. Powers pointed out that a concrete- lined channel would not be aesthetically pleasing in the downtown area, and the engineering and design factors must be worked out and complement each other. • Ms. Pierson expressed the appreciation of the Commission for Mr. Waggoner's presentation. IV. PUBLIC FORUM. No one addressed the Commission at this time. V. DIRECTOR'S CHOICE. Ms. Powers stated that the Urban Renewal Authority is involved in the Little Dry Creek Flood Plain improvements, because they will be the body issuing the tax increment bonds to finance a portion of the improvements. Mr~ Carson asked the time element for completion of the walk-through in the downtown improvement area? Ms. Powers stated that the walk- through on the east side of South Broadway is moving along; no plantings will be done until spring. The City has made an offer for the property on the west side of South Broadway. Ms. Powers stated that she had nothing further to report on the Prowswood development. Ms. Powers stated that Cinderella City is proceeding with their plans for a food court by removal of the .fountain in the blue mall and opening this area up to the lower level. They have also dis- cussed sprinkling of the entire center. Nothing further has been presented on the parking deck adjacent to J.C. Penneys which was considered by the Planning Commission on November 17, 1981. Ms. Powers gave the Commission copies of the proposed Sign Code which will be considered at a Public Hearing on January 19, 1982. ·Ms. Powers ~tated that a staff r~port will be submitted to the Commission previous to the Hearing, as will a set of proposed Findings of Fact for the consideration of the Commission. Ms. Powers stated that Assistant Attorney Holland has expressed concern that the Commission makes a motion and votes on the motion without Findings of Fact before them at that time. Ms. Powers stated that postcards would be sent out to approximately 180 individuals announcing the date and time of the Public Hearing on the proposed Sign Code, and that the Sign Code itself would be sent to individuals on the City Council, the EDDA members, the Board of Adjustment and Appeals, and other individuals. Ms. Powers stated that she had met with Mr. Beattie of the Chamber of Commerce, and the individual who heads the Chamber Local Government Committee; both gentlemen were very supportive of the proposed sign code. Discussion ensued. • • -6- Ms. Powers gave Commission members copies of a District Court suit filed against the Planning Commission by Rocky Mountain Acquisitions/The Adult Center. This suit was served earlier on this date. Ms. Powers stated that she has discussed this with Assistant City Attorney Holland, and it is suggested that the Commission should meet with Mr. Holland regarding this lawsuit. It was suggested that perhaps the Commission could meet with Mr. Holland on January 19th at 6:30 P.M. prior to the regular meeting at 7:00 P.M. A joint meeting of the Englewood Planning Commission/Littleton Planning Commission has been scheduled for February 2, 1982. No agenda has been set at this point. VI. DIRECTOR'S CHOICE Mr. Carson inquired regarding .a rumor that the South Drive-In Theater was to be sold and developed with condominiums. It was pointed out that this site is not within the City limits. Ms. Romans stated that the owners of a scooter repair shop who had asked for approval of the use in the Hampden/Corona area, have now said they intend to repair large motorcycles. This matter may be on the agenda for the Planning Commission meeting of January 19, 1982. Ms. Becker inquired what steps should be taken to assure that the new kerosene heaters which are on the mark~t are legal in the City of Englewood? Ms. Powers stated that she would discuss this with the Code Enforcement Division. Ms. Becker noted that the new kerosene heaters are very efficient, but are not lawful at the present time. The meeting adjourned at 8:15 P.M •