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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-11-03 PZC MINUTES• • • ·J>tanning and Zoning Commis sion Study Session -Work Propo sal s for Medical District and Si gn Code Amendments November 3, 2009 Page 1of5 CITY OF ENGLEWOOD PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING November 3, 2009 I. CALL TO ORDER ~I The regular meeting of the City Plann ing and Zoning Commission was called to order at 7:04 p.m . in the Community Development Conference Room of the Englewood Civic Center, Vice Chair Knoth presiding. Present: Absent: Staff: Roth, King, Welker, Krieger, Knoth, Fish, Brick, Calonder Kinton (alternate) Bleile Alan White, Community Development Dire ctor Tricia Langon , Senior Planner John Voboril, Planner Nancy Reid, Ass istant City Attorney 11. APPROVAL OF MINUTES October 20, 2009 ~ Calonder moved: Krieger seconded: TO APPROVE THE OCTOBER 20, 2009 MINUTES Vice Chair Knoth asked if there were any modifications or corrections . Mr. King noted on page 9, 6th paragraph the word "because" be changed to "even though he feels ". Mr. Fish asked that on page 4, first line th e word circumference be changed to di ameter . Mr. Calonder and Ms. Krieger accepted the friendly amendments. AYES : NAYS : ABSTAIN : ABSENT: Roth, Welker, Krieger, Knoth, Fish, King, Calonder None Brick Bleile Motion carried . • • • Planning and Zoning Commission Study Session -Work Proposals for Medical District and Sign Code Amendments November 3, 2009 Page 2 of 5 ~ Mr. Knoth stated there were no Findings of Fact for Case #2009-04, Medical Marijuana, because there was no recommendation either way; the vote was a tie. 111. STUDY SESSION LONG RANGE PLANNING WORK PROPOSALS -MEDICAL DISTRICT ~ Mr. Voboril thanked the Commission for their comments made during the public hearing for the medical rezoning. Mr. Voboril said tonight's discussion will be the long range planning work program for Phase 2 of the Medical District. Last year's discussion was for the areas of change, which resulted in a rezoning of the medical district. What was not addressed in that phase was the areas of stability identified as areas the neighborhood did not want to see a lot of change in. Mr. Voboril referen ced the Medical District Small Area Plan map included in the meeting packet. In the course of the study sessions on the medical districts area of change there were some opinions expressed about other areas being possibly included. He reviewed those areas in Sub-areas 2, 3 and 5 . The Phase 2 process will begin in January 2010 and run through June 2011. Issues discussed will include areas of stability: Subareas 2, 3 and 5 and parking requirements in the district. Ms. Krieger asked if the Commission would be looking to remove hospital use from the MU-R-3-B zone district. Mr. Voboril said the Commission would have to consider that. Mr. Welker asked if the Commission would be looking at signage, landscaping and parking. Mr. Voboril said definitely landscaping and parking standards. The Commission is almost finished with the landscaping amendments; the parking amendments will take some time, but will be included in this Phase 2. TEMPORARY SIGNAGE, MURALS AND REDRAFT OF ENTIRE SIGN CODE .jlj Director White distributed Resolution #76, which established a moratorium on the enforcement of select provisions of the sign code pertaining to banners and portable signs for a period of four months. He referenced the chart Ms. Langon put together that was included in the meeting packet. The Commission cannot get through a series of study sessions and an ordinance process. in four months. At Council's reque st Staff is taking the issue to the Alliance for Commerce in Englewood committee to obtain the business perspective on banners and portable signs . Those recommendations will be brought to the Planning and Zoning Commission. The Commission will develop a preliminary set of • • l>l anning and Zoning Commission Study Se ss ion -Work Proposals for Medical District and Sign Code Amendments November 3, 2009 Page 3 of 5 recommendations. It needs to be decided if the Commission will work on those two issues only, look at all issues of temporary signs, or tackle the entire sign code. He estimated to tackle the entire sign code could take up to one year to complete. Ms. Langon said the sign code itself would not be that difficult, but it's the interrelated parts that you have to double check to make sure a change in one area isn 't creating a problem in another. Ms. Krieger asked Ms. Langon what the Commission should do ... piecemeal the amendments or look at the entire code. Ms. Langon said there are problems with every section of the sign code. Temporary signag e alone could be a big enough issue . She noted she ran comparables of a number of front-range communities on both th e banners and portable signs . The City of Englewood is not far off from anyone else. Ms. Krieger said she was surprised by the findings. Ms. Langon said it doesn't mean everybody is right and we can't look at some other things, but in regards to the temporary issue there could be som e thin gs done in short order to address some of the immediate business concerns . The mural issue is probably going to take longer, but does need to be addressed. She said she would prefer updating the entire code, but that may not be practical for now. Se ve ral Commissioners noted the sign code has needed to be addressed for man y years. Discussion ensued . Ms. Langon said the Commission needs to address the concerns of the citizens as well as what the City can enforce. Tonight she is looking to the Commission to provide some ideas before going into detail. Mr. Welker said the Commission has to reach a code that works. Mr. Fish said it would help him if Staff could break the Sign Code down into smaller topi c areas. The Commission could then tackle the problems by priority. Ms. Langon will provide a list of topic sections and priorities at the next meeting. Mr. Calonder said when the Commission discusses signage as a team , we need to try to k eep politics out of the discussion and look out for the business community, who n eeds the help right -now; not make the process cumbersome, make it quick so to they can do business. Mr. Welker said he se es it as: 1. What the business community legitimately needs ; 2. What the administration of the Code legitimately needs; and 3. A community standard, both citizenry and generally what we want to see. He felt too often the business point of view has been ignored . Several other Commission e rs • agreed. 'Planning and Zoning Commission Study Session -Work Proposals for Medical District and Sign Code Amendments November 3, 2009 Page 4 of 5 • The Commission asked if it was possible for the Alliance for Commerce group to meet with the Planning and Zoning Commission. Director White said that may be possible once the Commission gets into the process. Ms. Reid noted they can always attend a Study Session or testify at the public hearing. • • ~ Ms. Langon noted the courts found that the South Broadway Sign Code (C reative Sign Code) did not specify a timeframe for review or approval criteria. That needs to be corrected in the Code. Council had planned on doing a moratorium on enforcement of murals, but changed direction due to a secondary legal action. Ms. Langon reviewed six amendment options in regards to murals. The Commission discussed each option and decided Option #3 would be the starting point. Option #3 would add approval timeframe and criteria to the Policy (approval process) till sign code updates are completed, which would be a short-term fix to current legal issues. Mr. Brick said he favored Option #2 and not worry about politics . It was determined to work on the long-term fix in the Code once the current legal issues were addressed. IV. PUBLIC FORUM ~ There was no public present. V. DIRECTOR'S CHOICE . ~ Director White had nothing further to report. VI. STAFF'S CHOICE ~ Update on future meetings: November 17: Study Session , Sign Code Amendments December 8: Study Session, Priorities Discussion December 22: Meeting Cancelled VII. ATTORNEY'S CHOICE lf] Ms. Reid had nothing further to report. •• • • Planning and Zoning Commission Study Session -Work Proposals for Medical District and Sign Code Amendments November 3, 2009 Page 5 of 5 VIII . COMMISSIONER 'S CHOICE ·~ Mr. Roth asked that electronic billboards be discussed when amending the sign code . Mr. Brick thanked the Commission for allowing him to miss several meeting in order to participate in the C itizen's Academy. The meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m. Barbara Krecklow, Re