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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-04-22 PZC MINUTES• • • ti Pl ann ing and Zo ning Srud y Sess ion A pril 22, 20 08 Page l of 5 CITY OF ENGLEWOOD PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION April 22, 2008 I. CALL TO ORDER The re g ular meeting of the City Planning and Zoning Commission was called to order at 7 :07 p.m . in the Community Development Conference Room of the Englewood Civic Center, Chair Bleile presiding. Present: Absent: Staff: Brick, Knoth , Roth , King, Welker, Bleile Myers (alternate) Calonder, (Excused ), Fish (Excused ), Krieger (Unexcused ) John Voboril, Long Range Planner Nancy Reid , Assistant City Attorney II . APPROVAL OF MINUTES April 8, 2008 Mr. Brick moved: Mr. Knoth seconded: TO APPROVE THE APRIL 8, 2008 MINUTES Chair Bleile asked if there were any modifications or corrections. There were none. AYES : NAYS: Brick, Knoth , Roth , King, Welker None ABSTAIN: Bleile ABSENT: Calonder, Krieger, Fish Motion carried . Ill. APPROVAL OF FINDINGS OF FACT Case #2007-05 Mr. Knoth moved : Mr. Roth seconded : TO APPROVE THE FINDINGS OF FACT FOR CASE #200 7-05 Ch ai r Bleile asked if there were any modifications or corrections. There were none. • 1 Planning and Zoning Stud y Se ss ion April 22, 2008 Page 2 of5 AYES: NAYS: ABSTAIN: ABSENT: Brick, Knoth, Roth , King, Welker None Bleile Calonder, Krieger, Fish Motion carried . IV. ENGLEWOOD MEDICAL DISTRICT SMALL AREA PLAN REZONING Mr. Voboril stated the Medical District and Downtown Small Area Plan process be gan in the fall of 2006. The document was eventually approved in the spring of 2007. Since that time, he has been working on zoning and development regulations for both districts, but tonight's discussion will focus on the Medical District only as that is the area where more extensive changes are proposed . He stated he held several sessions with the Community Development staff to gain their input. The next step is to bring the information that has been gathered to the Planning and Zoning Commission for discussion. He said tonight he will present the "big picture " and how we got to this point. Within the next few months we will be going into greater detail. After we have consensus from the Planning and Zoning Commission we would take it back out to the stakeholders again for their input. The last step would be to make the changes to the City's Code. • Mr. Voboril introduced himself to Mr. King and Mr. Myers, who were not on the Board during the last round of discussion on the Downtown and Medical District Plans. • Mr. Voboril began the PowerPoint presentation . In 2003 the City developed a new Comprehensive Plan. The old plan had been in effect since 1979. All of the City's planning efforts done today are related to the 2003 document. The 2003 plan envisioned and identified Englewood 's best areas for strengthening the overall community. Two of those areas were downtown Englewood and the Swedish /Craig Medical Center. In the spring of 2006 the new City Council stated one of their priorities was economic development. These two districts were chosen because they were identified as having numerous development projects. Invitations were sent to stakeholders (property owners, residents and business owners ) in the two districts as well as to stakeholders one block beyond the boundaries in all directions. Approximately 300 people registered for the process. At the meetings staff asked what types of improvements they would like to see, what areas they would like to see stay somewhat as is , etc. That feedback was used to begin developing a vision and goals and objectives for the two areas. The Medical Center vision summary states in part: "Over the next twenty years , the Swedish-Craig Medical Center district will continue to serve as one of the most significant medical complexes in the Rocky Mountain region. The mission of the two hospitals will broaden over time, creating opportunities for research labs, and expand ed medical services and specialties ". For the development focus for areas of change, Old Hampd e n Avenue will • • • 'Planning and Zoning Study Session April 22 , 200 8 Page3of5 continue to serve as the focal point of the district. The City's chief tool to realize this vision is the creation of zoning development regulations that are designed to encourage and promote new development. In terms of infrastructure improvements and amenities the Old Hampden corridor will be redesigned with significant streetscape improvements, including benches, banners, lighting, signage, bicycle racks, trees, flowers and art. The chief tool to make this vision a reality will be public and private investments in higher quality infrastructure and amenities. Efforts will be made to revitalize the surrounding residential streets with a specific focus on home ownership, property maintenance, code enforcement and existing housing stock upgrades. The chief tools the City has now are the home rehabilitation program and the paint-up fix-up program. Mr. Brick suggested Code Enforcement be added along with the rehabilitation and paint-up fix-up programs. He asked if the final outcome of this presentation will eventually go to City Council. Mr. Voboril stated it would. Tonight's focus will be primarily on zoning and development regulations designed to encourage and promote new development. The City also hopes to hire a consultant to help out and provide ideas for making infrastructure improvements. We will also be working on the preservation focus in the future . Mr. Voboril shared with the Commission selected stakeholder's vision statements concerning development. Goals and objectives were then developed from the vision statements . They were presented at the second stakeholders meeting. Mr. Voboril also shared those with the Commission. The stakeholders were not opposed to hospital expansion, but wanted to make sure the hospitals provide sufficient parking. Mr. Welker said there is hospital parking in that area and parking for people who live in the area, but not much for people who may want to go to a restaurant or a flower shop. If we want those to be viable businesses we also need to look at providing parking that isn't hospital related, for residents who live in the area or on-street parking . Mr. Voboril stated he was interested in seeing what happened in that area after 5:00 p .m. He made several trips to the area after work and said there is plenty of parking available after 5, but the need for parking is there during business hours. The Commission discussed the shuttle and the need to keep it running. Mr. Welker said he believes the shuttle is one of the most successful things that have happened in the downtown/medical area . Mr. Voboril reviewed slides regarding how the stakeholders see the Medical District today and tomorrow and defining boundaries for areas of stability and change. Discussion ensued on several sub-areas. Chair Bleile said he takes exception to the sub-area 5 goal which reads: Strengthen and stabilize the neighborhood character of the existing residential portions of sub-area 5 through revitalization and reinvestment strategies. Mr. Voboril said he understands his point, but it should be open for discussion . Chair Bleile said he believes the Commission 's goals should be us living in the present, do we have the foresight to look out ten to fifteen years and say is this going to be what we • • • ' Planning and Zo nin g Srud y Session Apri I 22, 2008 Page4of5 want o ur children to grow up in or is it what people that are not even living and working here yet...is this going to be a place they want to live and work? Mr. We lk er said we are trying to look at the future, best use, corridors of transportati o n, noise, height of buildings, etc. that have an impact on the City. Mr. Voboril discussed properties that h ave been identified to have hi gh development potential, of which there were 140 such properties. Ownership patterns and parcel siz e was discussed w ith regard to the 140 properties. Current zoning barriers and constraints to pedestrian-oriented development were discussed. The MU-B-2 land strip along Old Hampden is very narrow; only about 100 feet deep on either sid e. The MU-R-3-B zone district does not allow retail at all. Lot size and residential density was discussed. Existing residential building densities reach up to SO /units per half acre. The current MU-R-3-B maximum density is only 13 units per half acre. T he c urrent minimum lot size for office use is 24,000 square feet. Setbacks are an issue. Currently they are at 15 feet for front and side and 25 feet for the rear. This is to o confining. Th e current hei g ht requirement of 60 feet constrain s the hospitals from building upwards on top of existing buildings without going throu g h the PUD process and preclude s high quality, mid-rise concrete building construction with underground or structured parking. The Commission felt the last two statements regarding parking requirements need to be explored further in the future. Landscapin g and non-conformities were the final two is su es addressed in this section. The next section re v iewed was zoning alternatives. Do we have an existing zoning district that fits? The only district that possibl y could fit would be the MU-B-1 District. Ad vantages and disadvantages were noted. M r. We lker asked about creating a new zone district. Mr. Voboril said the next fe w slides addresses that idea. Overlay zoning versus establishing new zone districts with supporting overlay transition zones was discussed. H e noted plannin g staff favored rezonin g. The Commission also favored that alternative. The final few slides showed how issues described previously may be addressed. T op ics were land use issues , density and minimum lot size, setbacks , hei g ht, parkin g, landscaping and non-conforming structures. Mr. Brick suggested the Keep Englewood Beautiful board be con sulted regardin g p a rking and landscaping issues. Mr. Welker said he felt the Commission needs to have a discu ss ion on environmenta l issues when we get into water use . Increasing requirement s for landscaping is fine as long as it doesn 't consume a great deal of water. We n eed t o consider other options such as xeriscaping. That concluded the slide sho w. Chair Bl e il e th anked Mr. Voboril for his present ation . Mr. Voboril asked the Commissioners t o provide feedback on what the y liked and what they have the most concerns with. '* Planning and Zoning Study Session April 22, 2008 Page 5 of 5 • Feedb ack included the following: • • Hei gh t and density was good • Make sure what is built can withstand both boom and bust economic cycles • Do we ha ve the financial demographics to support the proposed retail • Additional medical specific zones are a priority • Transition areas are good • Stability and change areas are good Mr. Bleile said for discussion purposes the Committee needs to look at this process as a blank sheet. What do we want to see, what do we want to build? Let 's put the vision out there. The Commission owes it to the Committee, to the City, the citizens and to the future generations to look at this wholeheartedly. Mr. Voboril thanked the Commission for their comments. Ms. Reid exited the meeting at this time. V . PUBLIC FORUM There was no one present to address the Commission . VI. DIRECTOR 'S CHOICE Director White was not present. V II . A TIOR N EY'S C HOI C E Ms. Reid had exited the meeting. VII I. ST A FF 'S CHOI CE Staff had nothing further for the Commission. I X. CO MM I SS IO N ER 'S CHOICE Chair Bleile stated he received a packet of information from Laura Bartnick. The other Commissioners received packets also. He asked that staff let the Commission know at the next meeting if there is any direction they need to take. He thanked everyone for a great discussion tonight. He thanked Mr. Voboril for a good job on his presentation . • ;z::~ Barbara Krecklow, Rj/ording Secretary