Memo

To:        Planning Commissioners and City Council members
From:    Rebecca P. Clark, Director of Community Planning and Development
CC:       Tim Gelston, Paul Rice, Kara Mueller
Date:     4/1/2009
Re:        Joint Study Session for an Ordinance Amendment to repeal Article 20: Rooney Valley Overlay District Development Standards.

On March 10, 2009 the Joint Project Review Committee (JPRC) adopted a new set of development standards that overlay all property within the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) boundaries, and include the property defined by the Springfield Green Official Development Plan (ODP) Modification No. 3. The Joint Rooney Valley Development Standards, as recently adopted by the JPRC per the May 5, 2000 Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between the Town of Morrison and the City of Lakewood will replace Article 20.

The Lakewood Planning Commission held a Study Session on March 25, 2009 in order to review an ordinance amendment to repeal Article 20: Rooney Valley Overlay District Development Standards.

HISTORY AND BACKGROUND

The Rooney Valley is approximately 2,200 acres located within three (3) jurisdictions, Town of Morrison, City of Lakewood, and Jefferson County.  The Town and City adopted separate development standards for the Rooney Valley in 1999, the City’s are known as Article 20.  Shortly thereafter in 2000, the Town and City entered into an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA), to share sales tax funds, outline a process for reviewing development proposals, and form the JPRC as the governing body for review. The Joint Rooney Valley Master Plan was adopted by the JPRC in 2002.  The intent was to have one unified master plan for the Rooney Valley.  Similarly it was determined that combining the two (2) sets of development standards within the jurisdictions would provide for a concise set of standards for review purposes that would interact well with the IGA processes. 

Key points for combining the Town and City’s 1999 development standards into a joint set of standards:

1. Meet today’s design/quality standards and tomorrow’s technology
2. Meet intent and goals of May 2000 IGA.
3. Promote creativity and flexibility.
4. Refine and clarify the standards concerning topography.
5. Remove antiquated development/design/architectural information.

The discussion to form a set of joint standards began in late 2005.  Comments were solicited four (4) times from stakeholders throughout the process.  Per the IGA the JPRC is the governing body that adopts standards for review.  However, the Planning Commissions, Town Board and City Council have been consulted for comments on these documents.  This review through the jurisdictions occurred several times since 2006 by both the Town and City.  On March 10, 2009 the JPRC adopted the Joint Rooney Valley Development Standards. 

REQUEST TO REPEAL

Currently, there are two sets of development standards within the Rooney Valley.  The Joint Rooney Valley Development Standards adopted by the JPRC on March 10, 2009 and Article 20: Rooney Valley Overlay District Development Standards, which were adopted in July of 1999.  These standards overlap on the undeveloped land within the Rooney Valley.  The only areas that Article 20 covers without overlap with the joint standards are Tamarisk Subdivisions, Robinson Brick, and municipally owned land south of West Alameda Parkway. The following are the facts behind the requested repeal:

1. There are now two sets of development standards over a majority of the Rooney Valley.
   
2. Tamarisk Subdivisions is developed.
   
3. Robinson Brick has a mining contract to mine for several decades.  The underlying zoning is residential per the Springfield Green ODP, similar to Solterra.  Robinson Brick will be subject to the master plan requirement per note#18 of the Springfield Green Subdivision and will need to provide or adopt development standards through the master plan process at the time of development.
   

Attached please find copies of both the existing Article 20 Standards and the recently adopted Joint Rooney Valley Development Standards.  Please contact the Lakewood Community Planning and Development Department with any questions at 303.987.7505.

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