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COMMISSIONERS PRESENT:
Rich Urbanowski, Chair
Tracy Sheffield
John Plotkin
Michael Rohr
George Brown
William Marino
Bunny Malm
STAFF PRESENT:
Gail Spencer, Administrative Manager
Mark Doering, Principal Planner
Ross Williams, Facilities Planner, Community Resources
Tina Dill, Associate Planner
Vicki Kaufman, Secretary to the Planning Commission
Following are the minutes of February 21, 2007 Lakewood Planning Commission
Public Hearing. A permanent set of these minutes is retained
in the office of the City Clerk.
ROLL CALL
The roll having been called, a quorum was declared and the following business
was conducted:
REDEVELOPMENT OF SURFSIDE PARK
ROSS WILLIAMS, Facilities Planner, entered into the record the staff report,
case file and associated materials for the Redevelopment of Surfside Park.
COMMISSIONER URBANOWSKI accepted the items for inclusion into the case records.
Public comment was opened at 7:17 P.M.
BOB FISHER, 880 Benton Street, Lakewood, Colorado 80214, is a section leader with the Two Creeks Neighborhood Organization whom he is representing. After the neighbors gave input at many meetings regarding the redevelopment of Surfside pool they are very pleased with the plan, realizing the pool was just not cost effective. They are also aware that the park won't be redeveloped at this time.
CARL MAYER, 5202 West 9th Avenue, Lakewood, Colorado 80214, stated he is concerned for his tenants. He isn't opposed to the plan, just concerned. He would like to see a Senior Center built at that location. He asked about the fee. He also suggested the city might buy his two-thirds of an acre and have more land for the park.
Public comment was closed at 7:22
COMMISSIONER MALM asked why a city owned property redeveloped with tax dollars would need to charge a fee at a park that doesn't have a recreation center or a pool? How much of a fee will there be? Is this park the draw for children's recreation in this area? Will there be consideration given to the fiscal constraints of the area?
ROSS WILLIAMS stated this is a recreation facility and would need to be manned around the open picnic area and the water area. At this point, it isn't possible to know what the fee would be or where funding would come from. Mulholm Park is in the area but the city is hoping the neighbors will want to use this park once it is redeveloped.
COMMISSIONER MALM stated that there was no referral list in the staff report.
ROSS WILLIAMS stated it was referred to the neighborhood, the neighborhood associations in the area, the Police Department sent a review and this plan did go through CPTED, it is too small an area to need review for drainage qualifications, West Metro Fire did not respond yet but they may want a fire hydrant and the planning department has taken a look at this.
COMMISSIONER MALM stated she did see where Article 15 Site Plan Review was mentioned but did not see the Performance Based Review Process mentioned.
MARK DOERING, Principal Planner, stated that once funding becomes available and this case does come to the Planning Department for Article 15 review, it would also be reviewed under the Performance Based Review Process. The case tonight is just to get comments to forward on to City Council.
COMMISSIONER MALM stated that the plan looks good and she knows there are a lot of families with small children who would benefit from the park.
COMMISSIONER SHEFFIELD asked for clarification on the parking area.
ROSS stated there are 31 spaces now but there will only be 27 spaces when finished because of landscaping requirements.
COMMISSIONER SHEFFIELD asked how many outdoor pools are in operation?
ROSS WILLIAMS stated Lakewood would operate four outdoor pools this summer.
COMMISSIONER PLOTKIN stated he is not sure why the city is going in this direction for this park. Has there been a market study to show this kind of park is in demand?
ROSS WILLIAMS stated that there was not a specific market study done. Splash playgrounds like this are fairly new. The city looked at splash playgrounds in Greeley where they have three splash playgrounds. Maybe the city should wait to see what kind of effect transit mixed use would have on this park.
COMMISSIONER PLOTKIN asked Mr. Fisher to tell the commission what other ideas the neighbors had for types of uses at this park.
BOB FISHER stated they really tried to look at what could be done with this
park. Board members talked to all the neighbors and considered ideas like a
senior center, a horseshoe pit, remodeling the pool, etc.
COMMISSIONER BROWN asked if there would be any night activities?
ROSS WILLIAMS said there would be potential for groups using the park at night. The ordinance specifies the hours as 6:00 AM until 10:00 PM.
COMMISSIONER BROWN asked if the water would be recycled? Also, what type of material is used on the splash pad surface? What about liability to the city?
ROSS WILLIAMS said it would by recycled through a 2,000 gallon holding tank underground as required by the water district. The material used for the splash pad is suggested to be a light broom finish on concrete with no rubber surface because of the water holes and no slick finishes.
COMMISSIONER BROWN asked what would happen to the park during fall and winter?
ROSS WILLIAMS stated there is nothing that could be done in the winter at this park.
COMMISSIONER ROHR asked if Xcel had any plans of burying the overhead electric lines as a part of the redevelopment?
ROSS WILLIAMS stated he has had no recommendation from Xcel for the lines, which run along the east side.
COMMISSIONER ROHR asked if there was a demographic study done to get an idea of how many families, children, would be willing to pay a fee? And if staff would make sure West Metro Fire District is on the review list?
ROSS WILLIAMS said no demographic study has been done. City Council would have to make a decision on how much of a fee to charge when the time comes. The city is aware of how many children are in the area and the financial demographic of the area.
MARK DOERING stated staff would make sure West Metro Fire does take a look at it.
COMMISSIONER MARINO stated his hope that some of the comments made tonight are useful. Clearly this is a long-range plan with no knowledge of what funds are going to be available, what the end result will be. A fee will help to keep the undesirables out and the park cleaner. From an operational standpoint, how would the fees be collected and what would be the capacity of people in the splash pool?
ROSS WILLIAMS stated there would be personnel there to collect the fees. They are so new there are no rules/guidelines on how many people can use the splash pool.
COMMISSIONER MARINO said he was pleased to hear that, as this moves forward, it will go through the Performance Review Based Process. Also that it might be useful to consider an interim use while the RTD transit area is being created, which might also provide some alternative uses. He applauds the neighborhood and the city staff who have worked so hard on this.
COMMISSIONER URBANOWSKI asked if it might be feasible to make this into a grassy playground area?
ROSS WILLIAMS stated Mulholm Park has grassy areas and a playground area and so that is really not what the neighbors wanted to see here.
COMMISSIONER URBANOWSKI asked if the commission request approval by City Council now and then another idea comes up, would this plan come back to the Planning Commission for review?
ROSS WILLIAMS stated if, down the road, the city would make some changes they would first go back to the neighbors and then come to the Planning Commission.
COMMISSIONER PLOTKIN made a motion for the Planning Commission to recommend adoption of Case Number PL-07-002, the Surfside Master Plan subject to the following concerns raised: Fiscal - is this a cost effect use of the property, whether fee structure makes sense for the neighborhood and if so, what fee structure makes sense; and Utility - can this area be broadened a bit for children's use by adding a playground, does that make sense? And considering the other concerns raised for the record, with that he would make a motion that Planning Commission recommend approval and send to City Council for it's approval.
COMMISSIONER MALM seconded the motion.
COMMISSIONER MARINO stated he liked the way the motion was made but would specifically mention light rail as a utility to also be considered. He will support this as a long-range plan and only ask that if there are any significant change, it be brought to the commission again, which should happen as a part of the PBRP (Performance Based Review Process) because the commission is an integral part of that process.
COMMISSIONER MALM commended Ross Williams and Community Resources for bringing these facilities through the Planning Commission.
Motion passed by a vote of 7-0.
REDEVELOPMENT OF CHARLES WHITLOCK RECREATION CENTER PARK
ROSS WILLIAMS entered into the record the Staff report, case file and associated
materials for Case PL-07-001.
COMMISSIONER URBANOWSKI accepted the items for inclusion into the case records.
The public comment was opened at 8:20 PM
MADIE MARTINEK, 1830 Allison Street, Lakewood, Colorado 80214, stated she is a board member of the Morrison Park Neighborhood Organization. She likes the master plan. The neighborhood organization is pleased to see curb appeal with landscaping. She thanked Ross for all his help.
NINA ROCKLEY, whose business address is 8555 West Colfax Avenue, Lakewood, Colorado 80215, stated she is a member of West Colfax Community Association and would be glad to see green instead of brown along Colfax Avenue. One of her visions for Colfax Avenue is to see more community space in the park like a pavilion where there could be events such as musicals. She took a petition around and everybody was very excited about having an area for community events at the park.
Public comment was closed at 8:25 P.M.
COMMISSIONER MALM stated for the record that she is on the board of The West Colfax Community Association but it will not affect her decision on this case tonight.
COMMISSIONER MARINO stated this site provides the opportunity to really fit into the West Colfax Area Plan. He agreed that it would be wonderful to have some community involvement like Nina Rockley suggested. Can the plaza be covered and get power? Has Ross given this idea any consideration?
ROSS WILLIAMS stated yes, his concern is that parking would be in the back
with the pavilion in the front and noise from Colfax Avenue. Those are more
fine tuned details that would be worked out later. Additionally, there would
be a detention pond that is flat and could be used for outdoor events.
COMMISSIONER URBANOWSKI stated Denver has multi-purpose detention ponds where
they hold soccer games and other activities.
COMMISSIONER MARINO wants to echo his support of the community pavilion and hopes the city will give it serious consideration. Also, is there any thought given to having public art in the open space?
ROSS WILLIAMS stated the city is not opposed to public art. It would need to go to the Public Art Committee.
COMMISSIONER ROHR asked if it is possible to tear down the Police office at the southwest corner of the site and open up that area for parking?
MARK DOERING stated the police presence would be preferred.
COMMISSIONER BROWN stated he thinks staff and the citizens should be commended for the design and the work that goes into these park plans.
COMMISSIONER PLOTKIN stated he is a regular user of Whitlock Park and thinks this would be a great enhancement to it. He concurs about the skate park and really likes the idea of the musical forum. Also, the Colfax Marathon would go right past there and this could be another staging area for it.
COMMISSIONER SHEFFIELD stated he would like to see if there could be more sidewalk connectivity and if the city could use the north lawn area for more use.
COMMISSIONER MALM stated she is very excited about the plans for Whitlock Park and she firmly supports the musical aspect. She realizes this is long range.
COMMISSIONER URBANOWSKI stated that he thinks the opportunity for music is absolutely a wonderful idea to implement for what it does for Colfax Avenue and the community. He also feels it is a good idea to close the road as planned.
COMMISSIONER MARINO made the motion in Case # PL-07-003, based on the testimony heard tonight, to have the Planning Commission recommend this plan to City Council for approval with the strong consideration of incorporating a performance area with the necessary amenities, once that part of the programming stage is here.
COMMISSIONER PLOTKIN seconded the motion.
COMMISSIONER MARINO stated he wanted to thank Ross Williams for bringing these plans before the commission. Lakewood's parks are true jewels of the community. Contributing to them is one of the things that make being on the commission special.
Motion passed by a vote of 7-0.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Minutes from the public hearing meeting of January 3, 2007 were approved by
a vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays with the following corrections: In the pre-hearing
notes, the third line is corrected to read "Honor him with the establishment
of the award". On the Election of Officer's it was Commissioner Sheffield
who seconded the motion. Mention of the Staff report being accepted into the
record was also corrected.
COMMISSIONER MALM stated the minutes seem different to her than previous minutes that had more detail.
COMMISSIONER MARINO stated he does not think it is necessary to have verbatim minutes but that he would like as much detail as possible, in complex cases especially. City Council asks Planning Commission to do some of the "heavy lifting" for them.
COMMISSIONER MALM stated this is more a work policy that needs to be looked at and not a criticism of staff. The minutes are a source of information for City Council
MARK DOERING stated the minutes of the meetings are one of the items the council has available to them. There are also tapes of the meeting. Staff is unable to make the minutes verbatim for each meeting but will try to emphasis what needs to be made clear.
COMMISSIONER MARINO stated the commission absolutely has faith and trust in staff to determine what needs to be more detailed.
COMMISSIONER PLOTKIN said he assumes the recorded transcript is available for some time. These minutes go to City Council when they are reviewing the commission's work. He agrees with the statements made that the commission does not need verbatim minutes but do need more detail especially in a complex case.
MARK DOERING stated the tapes of the minutes are maintained for the current year and the previous two years. The commissioners also need to know they can listen to the tapes and then vote on a case they may have missed.
GENERAL BUSINESS
MARK DOERING stated staff is planning to have a Study Session on March 7th about
the PBRP item and to have a discussion on "needs assessment" for city
parks by Ross in Community Resources and a consultant.
COMMISSIONER MARINO stated he would like to see the commission meet once a month for a Study Session.
COMMISSIONER URBANOWSKI stated that on March 7th there would be a Study Session about the needs assessment for parks, Becky's discussion of Performance Based Review Process, staff schedule, and then on March 21st or the 28th a Study Session for internal discussion of the commission.
MARK DOERING discussed the handout called "Working Together to Promote Landscape Water Conservation" saying Becky Clark thought this might be of interest to the commissioners as an example of public and private entities working together toward solving the drought issues in the northern United States.
MARK DOERING also stated Becky Clark would like to discuss the commissions role in the Performance Based Review Process during her discussion at the Study Session.
ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 9:07 P.M
Vicki Kaufman, Secretary to the Planning Commission
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