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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-08-18 PZC MINUTES• • Pi'anning and Zon ing Commi ssio n Study Session Case #2 008-04 -Landscaping Amendments Aug u st 18, 2009 Page 1of4 CITY OF ENGLEWOOD PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING August 18, 2009 I. CALL TO ORDER ·18i j~ The regular meeting of the City Planning and Zoning Commission was call ed t o order at 7:08 p .m . in the Community Development Conference Room of the Engl ewood Ci v ic Center, Chair Bleile presiding . Present: Bleile, Roth , King, Krieger, Knoth, Brick, Calonder Kinton (alternate) Absent: Fish, Welker Staff: Tricia Langon, Senior Planner Brook Bell, Planner 11. APPROVAL OF MINUTES July 21, 2009 Knoth moved: Krieger seconded: TO APPROVE THE JULY 21, 2009 MINUTES Chair Bleile asked if there were any modifications or corrections. There were none. AYES: NAYS: Bleile, Roth, Krieger, Knoth, Brick, Calonder None ABSTAIN : King ABSENT: Fish, Welker Motion carried. lfl)· August 4, 2009 Roth moved: Knoth seconded: TO APPROVE THE AUGUST 4, 2009 MINUTES Chair Bleile asked if there were any modifications or corrections. • There were none. .t • • • .... Planning and Zoning Commission Study Session Case #2008-04 -Landscaping Amendments August 18, 2009 Page 2 of 4 AYES: NAYS: ABSTAIN: ABSENT: Roth, Krieger, Knoth, King, Brick None Bleile, Calonder Fish, Welker Motion carried. Ill. TITLE 16 LANDSCAPE AMENDMENTS -[fli The Commission continued their discussion of commercial and medical district zone standards. Ms. Langon referenced the information included in the packet that compares landscape standards in: 1. Commercial Districts 2. Medical District 3. Combination of the two districts She asked if any of the members had a chance to drive by the prop e rties on East Hampden and look at the streetscapes. Chair Bleile stated he had. Ms. Langon asked him for comments. He said he liked the bank landscaping, but wished the parking lot for the senior housing center was done differently ..... more of a barrier type landscaping or fencing along the street. Chair Bleile said he rarely sees more than a couple of vehicles in the lot. It was announced at the Board and Commission Appreciation Night that the Terraces on Pennsylvania is 100% occupied. Discussion ensued regarding the three different options. After discussion it was decided the size of the lot was not relevant and the third option, combining the two districts, was agreed upon. Ms. Langon and Mr. Bell toured various parts of Denver and several other municipalities and took pictures of both good and bad examples of landscaping. They will bring those photographs to the next meeting. They were surprised at how much landscaping the y saw and that more densely planted areas were much more effective than large areas with a tree or shrub every 25 feet. The inability to landscape when you have zero setbacks in the Medical and Downtown Districts was discussed . Options for zero setbacks need to be looked at. The fee-in-lieu cannot be used for 100% of the requirements. The current fee-in-lieu of $1.50 was discussed. City Council sets the amount. The Commission feels the fee should most likely be increased . Ms. Langon stated the Commission could make a recommendation to increase the fee when the landscaping amendments go forward to Council. Mr. Bell said one piece the Commission has not discussed is requirements in the right-of- way. Even if you have a zero setback you can still do some type of improvement that would • • • .. Planning and Zoning Commi ssio n Study Session Case #2008-04 -Landscaping Amendments August 18 , 2009 Page 3 of 4 be an amenity to the City. The fee-in-lieu could only be used to offset up to 50 % of the requirement. The pictures that will be shown at the next meeting will provide some options. Mr. Bell briefly talked about the problems with signage and trees. That issue will be discussed in greater detail at a future meeting. Ms. Langon noted last year Colorado passed a regulation stating that all commercial development and residential development consisting of more than four units will require a licensed landscape architect to draw up the landscape plans. Due to this new regulation , the City will now require a stamped set of drawings from a licensed architect for these types of development. Mr. Bell referenced two large drawings on the wall showing examples of how the current required land scaping percentage could be laid out versus the new requirements. Ms. Langon and Mr. Bell will work on refining the details of what options property owners have (fee -in-lieu, rooftop garden, planter boxes, etc.) and bring a draft of the Ordinance to the next meeting. Mr. Roth asked how the credit for a tree would be determined. Mr. Bell said that has not been determined at this point. Mr. Knoth said if you have larger trees in a walkable area you cannot see signs that are flat on the buildings, but if you turn the signs the other way (blade signs) people walking and driving down the street can easily see them. He asked if Englewood 's Code permitted such signs. Ms. Langon stated it does, they are called projecting signs. IV. PUBLIC FORUM .t?] There was no public present. V. DIRECTOR'S CHOICE ~ Director White was not present. VI. STAFF'S CHOICE ~! Ms. Langon thanked Mr. Calonder, Mr. Kinton and especially Mr. Roth for speaking at the Boards and Commission Appreciation Night. Mr. Brick and Mr. Kinton attended the DRCOG Planning and Zoning Commission Commissioner's trainin g last week. She asked if they would comment on what they l ea rned under Commissioner's Choice . Ms. Langon updated the Commission on future meetings and topics of discussion: )> September gth (Wednesday): Landscaping Amendments )> September 22 nd : Landscaping Amendments • • • Planning and Zoning Commission Study Session Case #2008-04 -Landscaping Amendments August 18 , 2009 Page4of4 );> The Octob er meetings will be reserved for the medical marijuana discussion Another issue that may be coming to the Commission is changes to the sign code . VII. ATTORNEY'S CHOICE ~ Ms. Reid was ill and unable to attend. VIII. COMMISSIONER'S CHOICE ·~ Mr. Brick and Mr. Kinton reported on what they had learned at the DRCOG training session. Mr. Brick asked the recording secretary to copy one of the handouts for all. They both felt the training was well worth attending. Mr. Brick informed the Commission that he has been chosen to take part in Englewood 's Citizen's Academy program and wo uld miss the next 4 to 6 meetings. However, if he is needed for a quorum for a public hearing, he will attend the Planning and Zoning meeting. Mr. King asked about the status of Kent Plac e. Mr. Knoth said he believed the project is on hold for now as the developer is putting all their money into their Union Station project. It appears all other projects are on hold until that one is comp leted . Everyone congratulated Mr. Knoth, who was married on August 3th . The meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m. Barbara Kreck! , w, Recording Secretary