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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-07-17 PZC MINUTES, • • • CITY OF ENGLEWOOD PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION July t 7, 2001 I. CALL TO ORDER The regular meeting of the City Planning and Zoning Commission was called to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Community Room of the Englewood Civic Center, Chairman Weber pre- siding. Present: Absent: Late: Waggoner, Welker, Krieger, Lathram, Rempel, Weber None Willis, Mueller, Stockwell Staff present: Tricia Langon, Senior Planner Bill Donnelly, Planner I II. APPROVAL Of MINUTES June 5, 2001 Chairman Weber stated that the Minutes of June 5, 2001 were to be considered for ap- proval. Lathram moved: Waggoner seconded: The Minutes of June 5, 2001 be approved as written. Mr. Weber asked if there were any amendments or modifications. No amendments or modifications were proposed . The vote was called: AYES: NAYS: ABSTAIN: ABSENT: Lathram, Waggoner, Weber None Welker, Krieger, Rempel Willis, Mueller, Stockwell Chairman Weber ruled the minutes stand approved. Ill. PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT Bond Issue Presentation /Discussion Mr. Willis entered the meeting and .was seated with the Commission. Mr. Jerrell Black, Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Englewood, introduced Gary Hultberg, Bob Leonard, and Brad Anderson , members of the Parks and Recreation staff. Mr. Black briefly addressed proposed improvements to the Englewood Recreation Center, the Malley Center, and development of an aquatic center adjoining Belleview Park. H IGRO UPIBOARDSIPLANCOMM\Minutcs\Minutcs 2001 \POA 07-1001A.doc • • • Mr. Black discussed a recently updated study of recreational facilities. Three key projects were extracted from this study and are the issues that will be on the November ballot. These issues are: 1) expansion of the senior recreation center (Malley Center); 2) expan- sion of the Englewood Recreation Center; and 3) development of an aquatic center adjoin- ing Belleview Park. Mr. Black stated that staff members would lead discussion on the three issues. Mr. Hultberg distributed copies of the Concept Design Report, dated April 18, 2001 by Barker Rinker Seacat Architecture. Mr. Hultberg discussed the background of the study, noting that a facilities analysis and demand study was done by BBC and Barker Rinker Sea- cat in 1996. This study was updated, and addressed the three issues cited by Mr. Black, as well as identifying a need for additional ball fields. Mr. Hultberg stated that since the report was initially done, fields have been added for both soccer and softball at Centennial Park expansion area, and at Clayton Elementary School. The staff is of the opinion that this issue has been addressed, and does not need to be part of the bond issue request. Mr. Hultberg discussed the need to have a firm idea of the proposals, and what could be done if the bond issue is approved by the voters . Mr. Hultberg stated that a citizens group is forming that will serve as an advisory/advocacy group, and promote the bond issues . Staff cannot promote the issue once it is approved for placement on the ballot. Mr. Hultberg stated that Mr. Leonard will lead discussion on the proposed improvements to the Englewood Recrea- tion Center . Mr. Leonard referenced the Concept Design Report, and discussed the proposed expan- sion and changes to the Englewood Recreation Center. An area is proposed as a "youth center" -a place where "kids can hang out with their peers". This will be developed in an existing fitness room, and the fitness area will be relocated. An aerobic room is proposed on the second level, and fitness equipment, free weights, and physical therapy areas will be on the first floor . Another proposed improvement will be development of "family locker rooms " -three cabanas will be built to allow a family to change in a common area . Mr. Stockwell entered the meeting and was seated with the Commission. Mr. Leonard discussed the addition of a body slide in the pool area, as well as the addition of a small party room and additional staff area. Mr. Hultberg noted that the Recreation Center is 16 years old ; there are some activities that hav e ::?5 man',' 2.5 100 v oun ~5ter s . The l0c;:iti0n of thp vn11th cpntPr in r.oniunction with the J ._.., I ii gymnasium will accommodate these activities. The gym can be partitioned and accommo- date more than one group . Mr. Black stated that Parks & Recreation has a youth advisory board. This board provides input on what the young people need and want for their rec- reation and activities . Mr. Black commented that the Department is fortunate to have this group of young people willing to give their time and assistance to the program. Mr. Stockwell asked how many of the lap lanes in the pool would be taken up by the body slide . Mr. Leonard stated that probably only one lane, possibly two, would be roped off when the slide is in use . Mr. Anderson noted that the lap lanes will still be open even when H:'GROUPIBOARDS\PLANCOMM\Minutcs\Minutcs 200 1\PCM 07-200 1A.doc • the body slide is used. The body slide will be 11 feet high, 77 feet long. Mr. Leonard stated that they have been trying to get a slide in the Recreation Center for a number of years. Ms. Lathram asked if the proposals are on the ballot, and are approved by the voters this fall , how long will it take to implement the improvements. Mr. Hultberg estimated a three- year build-out, but acknowledged that it will depend on available resources. Mr. Willis asked how patrons using the recreation center will be affected once construction begins ; will it be closed for a period of time . Mr. Leonard stated that a lot of the work can be done without impacting use of the pool area, for instance. Mr. Hultberg stated that there may be some short periods where use of an area will be impacted; they will be doing a lot of the work at night when the Center is closed; there should be minimal downtime. The cost of night-work was noted by Mr. Stockwell. Mr. Weber asked about the number of racquetball courts, wally-ball courts, etc. Mr. Leo- nard noted that there ma y be sometimes in the evenings when the courts are all in use ; howev er, demand for racquetball courts has dropped in the last f ew years, and wally-ball use seems to have increased. Mr. Hultberg stated that staff is confident that the demand for court space can be met, and in his opinion, the trade off for the family locker rooms is justified. • Mr. Hultberg stated that the cost estimate for the Recreation Center improvements is $1 , 900,000. • Improvements to the Malley Center were then discussed . Mr. Hultberg referenced the Concept Design Report, and displa y boards indicating the improvements. The improve- ments will allow ex pansion of computer lab areas , an work area for volunteers, an art room and kiln area , an improved library space, and two ne w meeting rooms. A gy mnasium ap- proximatel y half the size of the gym in the Recreation Center is planned, along with a fit- ness room. Mr. Hultberg stated that the Malley Center does have plenty of parking, and that the gymnasium construction will eliminate one row of parking on the north end of the building. Parking areas will be reassigned , with the remaining row of parking on the north end of the building assigned to staff members. Ms. Mueller entered the meeting and was seated with the Commission. Mr. Stockwell asked whether all improvements will be in compliance with ADA require- ments. Mr. Hultberg stated that all improvements will be in compliance; staff and the con- sultants are very conscious of such requirements particularly for the Malley Senior Center. Mr. Willis questioned the construction of the gy mnasium and removal of some parking and the landscaping. Mr. Hultberg stated that the landscaping, including mature trees, will be remo v ed along the north of the building; ho w ev er, a picnic area is proposed on the west side of the building facing South Lincoln Street; the y propose planting trees and other land- H:IGROUPIBO ARD SIPLAN CO MM\Minutcs\Minutcs 100 I IPC M 07-100 I A.doc • • • scaping in this area. The picnic area will be large enough to allow erection of large tents for outside activities. The Aquatic Center was then addressed. Mr. Anderson was staff lead on this discussion. He stated that a family aquatic center has been on the "wish list" for years. He advised that this proposed facility will not be another Water World -the City does not have land avail- able to allow such a development. The aquatic center will be a place where families with children of all ages can come for an enjoyable time in water. The site for the aquatic center is on the north side of Belleview Avenue, where Arapahoe Rental was located. The site is 5.5 acres in size. Parking for this facility, as well as providing additional needed parking, was a big issue; 310 parking spaces are proposed on-site in addition to the water features and sunbathing area. A trail system will also be developed, tying this area into existing Belleview Park facilities. Mr. Anderson discussed the size and depth of the pools -from zero depth to lap /competition lanes, and splash down areas. A "lazy river and adventure channel" is proposed, as are shade areas for patrons of the aquatic center. Mr. Anderson stated that swim lessons are a very big part of their program, and that the lap lanes can be used for the lesson area, also. A drop slide, flume slide, and 3-meter diving board and sand play area are proposed. Mr. Anderson discussed specifics of these proposed features. Locker rooms will be included in the bather prep structure. Mr. Anderson stated that the capacity of the proposed aquatic center is estimated at 1,200 per day; the Sinclair Pool would accommodate 260 patrons per day . Mr. Willis asked what the estimated admission fee might be. Mr. Anderson estimated that adults would probably be charged $4 to $5; there will also be discounted rates and family passes available. Mr. Black commented that the fee rates will be based on resident versus non-resident basis. Mr. Hultberg commented on the difficulty of "breaking even " on small facilities . This pro- posed aquatic center is a mid-sized facility, and staff is of the opinion that they can draw enough patrons to reach the "break even" point. This is not the case with the Sinclair Pool, however. Mr. Black clarified that "break even" is the balance of operating expenses versus revenues . Mr. Waggoner asked about a diving tower for the competitive lanes. Mr. Stockwell pointed out the depth of the pool is insufficient to accommodate a diving tower. Mr. Waggoner c:t'.:ltorl th'."l t ho 11nrlorctnnrJ c:;:ifptlf ic:C:l IPC: h1 rt Cl IGGP<:tPrl thic m ;:iv hP cnmpthincr ct;:iff Will W;:J nt ..,; ........ ........ ...... ... • ....... .. • • ..... ..... .............................. -· ........ , ........ I ..... --· -... , --· ---· u u --. --· .... -... -·I -----v to explore. Mr. Welker asked what the "season" is for operations. Mr. Anderson stated it will be from Memorial Day to Labor Day . He noted that the Parks & Recreation Department depend very heavily on the high-school/college-age population for summer employment. Mr. Welker asked about the traffic impact on Belleview Avenue. Will there be new signali- zation added to control the point of ingress/egress with Belleview Avenue. Mr. Anderson noted that signalization will have to be approved by the Colorado Department of Transpor- H:\GROUPIBOARDS\PLANCOMMIMinutcslMinutcs ~00 l\PCM 07 -200 I A.doc • • tation, because Belleview Avenue is a state highway. Mr. Hultberg stated that one point of entry will be right-in , right-out. The western-most point of access is at the top of a hill, and is proposed to allow turning movements. Mr. Welker stated that this is a problem area, and that the entrance/exit point is actually a little east of the hillcrest, and that people driving east-bound on Belle v iew Avenue will not be aware of turning vehicles until they are over the crest of the hill . This point of entry will be heavily used ; he suggested that there is need for more control at this interse ction . Mr. Black stated that this is a point that should be raised in discussions on the Transporta- tion Plan . Mr. Black indicated that there have been some discussions with South Suburban Metropolitan Parks & Recreation District, but no ag reement has been reached that is workable for both entities . Mr. Welker stated that there will be pedestrian and bicy cle traffic in addition to vehicular traffic; the safety factor for these people is of great c oncern to him . Mr. Stockwell questioned the sufficiency of the proposed parking. He noted that it was stated an estimated 1,2 00 people per da y will be at the proposed aquatic center, yet onl y 310 parking spaces are being provided . He stated t hat he did not think enough parking has been provided. Mr. Hultberg discussed the proposed parking. He noted that the pool site has been moved already to accommodate more parking spaces. Mr. Hultberg stated that the y are try ing to provide parking spaces for uses that are in existence in need of more parking, plus meet the requirements for what will be de v eloped . Mr. Stockwell reiterated his opinion that 310 parking spaces is insufficient. Mr. We lk er no te d th at if th ere hav e b een discus sions w ith South Suburban , possibly an ag reement can be reache d for parkin g us age. Mr. Black agreed , and stated that discussions are still on-going . Mr. Stockwell inquired regarding the location of the tunnel -where does it enter/exit. Mr. Hultberg stated that the tunnel goes between Belleview Park and Progress Park; it does not provide access to Cornerstone Park, or the proposed aquatic center. Mr. Welker suggested that this should be considered in the revision of the Comprehensive Plan -development of an overpass or tunnel between the aquatic center and Cornerstone Park . Mr. Black stated that once the aquatic center, if approved by the voters, is developed, he anticipated very heavy usage of the facility . Further discussion ensued regarding sufficiency of parking. Ms. Krieger pointed out that people probably aren 't going to sta y at the pool all day, and that even though 1,200 people ma y visit the facility in one day, they won 't all be there at the same time . Mr. Hultberg pointed out that it is to be a "famil y" aquatic center, and there ma y be four or five people • p e r ve h icle. H:IG RO UPIBO ARDSIPLANCOMM\Min utes\Mi nutes 2001\PCM 07-2001 A doc • • • Mr. Weber asked if there will be parking provisions for buses that bring groups to the facil- ity. Mr. Hultberg stated that no provision for bus parking has been made; but this is a point that should be considered. Mr. Willis asked about the hours of operation. Mr. Anderson suggested that the facility may be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Additional property in the immediate area that might be used for parking purposes was briefly discussed. Ms. Langon stated that South Suburban has submitted plans for addi- tional parking for their facilities. These are being reviewed by staff. Mr. Weber asked whether the Parks & Recreation staff think the bond issue will pass. Mr. Stockwell asked if there is a publicity budget. Mr. Black stated that there is no publicity budget; once the proposal is passed on second reading by the City Council, City staff can no longer take an active role in promotion of the bond issue . He reiterated his earlier statement that an advisory citizens group will assume promotional efforts regarding the bond issue. Mr. Black stated that the Parks & Recreation Department staff and Commission hope that the citizenry will approve the bond issue in November. The three projects will be on the ballot as one issue -a vote for one improvement is a vote for all three; and a vote against one improvement is a vote against all three . Mr. Black stated that the bonds issued for construction of the Recreation Center will be retired next y ear . Ms. Langon asked for an update on the Rockies field in Centennial Park expansion area. Mr. Hultberg stated that Mayne Field , a smaller softball field , parking, and a kayaking area, are under construction. The first phase of the improvements should be completed this fall, including all restroom facilities as required b y the City of Sheridan. There will be some light- ing and landscaping to be completed in Phase II , but 95 % of the total project is being done as part of Phase I. The y hope to ha v e an official ribbon cutting later this fall. Mr. Waggoner asked about a skateboard park. Mr. Hultberg stated that Cornerstone Park developed a skateboard park, and improvements and additions have been made to the Cushing Park skateboard area . He questioned the need for another skateboard facility in this immediate area. Mr. Bl ac k stated th at this c oncludes their presentation . He asked that an y Planning Com- mission members with comments or concerns feel free to call him. Ms . Langon thanked the Parks & Recreation staff for their presentation. IV. DIRECTOR'S CHOICE Ms . Langon introduced Mr. Kenneth Parks, recently appointed by City Council as an alter- nate member of the Commission. Ms. Langon also introduced Mr. Bill Donnelly, Planner I in the Community Development Department. Mr. Donnelly will be involved in work with the Planning Commission, as well as the Board of Adjustment & Appeals, and the Keep Englewood Beautiful Commission. H:IGRO UP'.BOARDSIPLANCOM M\Minu tcs\Minutcs :oo I I PC ~ 07 ·200 I A.doc • • • All members introduced themselves, and provided a brief background sketch. Ms. Langon stated that a written update from Ms. Dannemiller on the proposed shuttle ser- vice was included in the packet. Mr. Waggoner stated he was surprised that the proposed routing of the shuttle didn 't extend further east. Ms. Langon stated that she understood the initial phase was designed to serve the medical campus and provide circulation between the campus, downtown Broadway, and the CityCenter area. Mr . Stockwell stated that the shuttle should also have routes on South Logan Street, South Clarkson Street, Oxford Ave- nue -where RTD does not provide routing. The Commission asked that Ms. Dannemiller attend a future meeting to discuss the shuttle proposal. Ms. Langon stated that a brief report on the status of the Putt-Putt golf course at the Engle- wood Golf Course was also included. Ms. Langon distributed a packet of information on the upcoming State APA Conference, which will be held in Aspen in September. She stated that there are sufficient funds in the budget to allow two people to attend . She stated that the deadline for early registration is within 2 days; and the deadline for registration is August 1. She asked that anyone inter- ested in attending this conference to contact her . Mr. Weber asked what other training sessions might be scheduled in the near future that may be more appropriate and allow greater attendance. Ms. Langon stated that DRCOG frequently holds conferences for Commission and Board members . Mr. Rempel excused himself from the meeting. Mr . Willis suggested that the funds might be better spent on local conferences. Ms . Langon advised the Commission that the National APA Conference will be hosted by the City of Denver in Spring, 200 3. Commissioners should plan to attend that conference. Ms. Langon distributed a copy of an attendance policy that has been adopted by the City Council, and is applicable to all Boards and Commissions. She also distributed a copy of the current attendance polic y the Planning Commission uses . Ms. Langon stated that Assis- tant City Attorney Reid asked that discussion of the two policies be delayed to a future meeting w hen she is in attendance. Ms . Langon stated that the second round of meetings for the Transportation Plan has not yet been set. Mr. Stockwell inquired about the transportation plan subcommittee, and who was on that committee. Ms. Lathram stated that if there is such a committee, she is inter- ested in serving on it. Discussion ensued. Mr . Weber stated that no one was assigned to a subcommittee on Transportation , and no one was specifically assigned to attend the meet- ings bein g conducted by Public Works on the Transportation Plan. Members are free to attend those meetings if the y so desire. Ms. Krieger stated that she had attended one of the meetings on the transportation plan , and found it an interesting process . People made sug- H:IGROUP'BOARDSIPLA NC OMM\M inu1csl Minu1cs 200 ll PCM 07-200 1A .doc • • • gestions, or could indicate whether they agreed or disagreed with a list of suggestions made during previous meetings. She stated that it was a good forum; there were staff members and consultant staff present for people to talk to. Ms. Langon stated that when the second round of meetings are scheduled, the Commission will be notified. Ms. Langon provided a written CityCenter update, listing status of leasing efforts, and con- tacts. Discussion ensued. Ms. Langon stated that Miller Development will be relocating their offices to the second story area on the south side of Englewood Parkway. Ms. Krieger commented that she was pleased to see that Border's Books is not part of the develop- ment. Mr. Willis inquired about the status of the Elati Street site. He stated that the development of this site needs to come before the Planning Commission; this is a key component to tie the Broadway/CityCenter areas together. Ms. Langon stated that if the development pro- posal is for a use-by-right (a use that is permitted within that zone district), and the devel- oper chooses not to file a Planned Unit Development, it is unlikely that the Commission would be involved in the development process . However, should the developer file for PUD approval , the Planning Commission will have to review the plans, and hold a public hearing. Discussion ensued . It was suggested that at the very least, the Commission should review site plans prior to development. Mr . Willis stated that the Alexan Apartments developed along Englewood Parkway are pretty "luxurious". Ms. Langon suggested that a tour of the Alexan development might be scheduled for the next meeting if members are interested. Ms . Langon stated that the City Manager's Office is arranging an ice-cream social the eve- ning of August 30 1h in Cushing Park, between the hours of 6 and 8 p.m . This is to thank members of the Boards and Commissions for contributing their time to serve their City. V. A ITORNEY'S CHOICE No legal representative was present. VI. COMMISSONER'S CHOICE Mr. Willis welcomed Mr. Parks and Mr. Donnelly. He asked Mr. Welker if the Commission can say we want to see the Elati development proposal. Mr . Welker stated that if the de- velopment requires PUD approval, it would come before the Commission; but if the devel- opment is within the current zoning guidelines it will not come before the Commission. Ms. Langon stated that the RFP was issued in May, and three proposals were received; the proposal review is in progress at this time. Mr. Stockwell stated that if the property is of a certain size, it has to be considered as a PUD. Ms. Langon stated that property does not have to be developed as a PUD if it can be done within the parameters of existing zoning. If the proposal does not fit within the H:IGROUP\BOARDSI PLA NCOMMIMinu1csl Minu1cs "OO l l PC~ 07 -200 1A.doc • • • existing zoning restrictions, then yes, it will have to be considered as a PUD . Ms . Langon pointed out that every development proposal that comes in is taken through the Develop- ment Review Team, comprised of representatives from seven departments in the City. All facets of the development are reviewed: zoning restrictions as to use, setbacks, height, wa- ter, sewer, drainage, building code and fire code restrictions are some of the issues consid- ered by the Development Review T earn. Mr. Willis asked if staff tells a developer his proposal does not "fit" with the area. Ms. Lan- gon stated that if the use is "permitted" in a given zone district, staff cannot deny the use. Development standards were briefly discussed. Mr. Willis reiterated his opinion that if a developer proposes something that doesn't fit in with the development theme, the Com- mission should be able to consider it. He pointed out that CityCenter development is be- coming the heart of Englewood, and the Elati Street development should complement the style and theme of this area . He stated that Englewood is going through a very dynamic period , and consideration of compatibility should be addressed; there is a need to deter- mine if a proposed development is in the best interest of the City. Ms . Lathram pointed out that Englewood does not have design standards in place, and recited some of the frustra- tion developers and builders face when dealing with design standards. Ms. Langon dis- cussed the need to balance the development restrictions with private property rights. Further discussion ensued. Mr. Welker commented on his concern that Broadway and Hampden divide the City into quadrants, and how to facilitate ease of movement from one quadrant to another -not only for vehicular traffic, but also pedestrian and bicyclist move- ments . Ms. Krieger pointed out that the law of supply and demand will dictate development pro- posals . Mr. Welker stated that developers must be given some credit to determine what a market will support, and the design /orientation of the development. Mr. Weber pointed out that the Elati Street site, and the Acoma Street site, are owned by the City of Englewood . Ms. Krieger asked what a likely development scenario for the Elati Street site is. Ms. Langon stated that it will probably be an office/retail combination. Mr. Willis asked if further consideration of theater development has occurred. Ms. Langon stated that the theater market is down. Mr. Willis pointed out that there are small theaters that might be interested in locating in Englewood. Ms. Mueller stated that her firm has tried to work with smaller theaters , and they cannot offer the services of the larger multiplex sites to make them workable. Mr. Stockwell pointed out that a lot of theater headquarters are located on either coast, and the CEO 's have no concept of the distance between theaters in the Denver Metro area; a theater that might locate in Englewood could be a magnet to attract other development. Ms. Krieger pointed out that even the theater in Bear Valley failed . The status of the Uniform Development Code was discussed. Ms. Langon stated that an updated schedule was received by staff this week; new, revised sections will be received. H:IGRO UP\BOARDSIPLANCOMM\M inutcsl Minutes :OOl \PC~ 07.:00IA.doc • • • Ms. Langon stated that this project combines Title 10, the Subdivision Regulations, and Title 16, the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance. Right now, the combined Codes comprise roughly 300 pages; there is a lot of duplication that will be eliminated once the actual revi- sion work begins. She suggested that we may be able to see some information in Septem- ber. Ms. Langon briefly reviewed the format that the new UDC will have, including charts, matrix, etc. Mr. Stockwell stated that if additional computers are needed at the senior center, he has access to a stock of computers that are available. Mr. Stockwell discussed the drainage issue at Galapago Street and U.S. 285, and the flood- ing that always occurs at this intersection. He stated that he wants this project included as part of the capital project budget; he noted that this will be the third year that he has re- quested it. Local businesses and citizens are suffering because of this drainage problem. Mr. vVelker asked if the Commission will have another opportunity to discuss the MYCP . Ms. Langon stated that she understood the issue will be back to the Commission after new projects have been incorporated in the format. Mr . Stockwell reiterated his statement that the shuttle service should run where the RTD line does not run ; this is being overlooked in the design of the shuttle routes. Mr. Stockwell quoted from the June S1 h Minutes, Page 7, wherein Mr. Stitt pointed out that "it is still difficult for developers to buy into the pedestrian-oriented concept". Mr. Stock- well emphasized it is the responsibility of the City to make sure the Comprehensive Plan is followed, and that pedestrian-oriented development is encouraged and promoted. There was nothing further brought up for discussion. The meeting was declared adjourned. Gertrude G . Welty , Recording Secre H:IGRO UPIBOARDSIPLANCOMM\Minu1es\Minule5 ~OO l l PCM 07-200 1A.doc 10