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MINUTES
LAKEWOOD CITY COUNCIL and LAKEWOOD PLANNING COMMISSION
JOINT STUDY SESSION MEETING
7:00 p.m. April 6, 2009
Minutes are not a verbatim transcription, but rather an attempt to capture the intent of the speaker by the City Clerk.
ITEM 1 – CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Murphy called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers, Lakewood Civic Center, 480 S. Allison Parkway, Lakewood, Colorado.
ITEM 2 – ROLL CALL
Those present were: Mayor Bob Murphy, Presiding
Diana Allen
Doug Anderson
Cindy Baroway
Karen Kellen
Sue King
Debbie Koop
Adam Paul
Ed Peterson
Tom Quinn
Absent : Vicki Stack
Planning Commission: Julia Burroughs
Rich Urbanowski
Jerald Golley
George Brown, III
Ray Schoch
John Plotkin
Absent: Michael Rohr
Staff in attendance: Mike Rock, City Manager
Tim Cox, City Attorney
Full and timely notice of this Joint Study Session had been given and a quorum was present.
ITEM 3 – PROCLAMATION– RECOGNIZING EMILY JEFFCOTT
Mayor Murphy presented a proclamation to Emily Jeffcott, resident of Mold, North Wales, in recognition of her musical talents (piano) and as a member of the Sister Cities Music Scholar Exchange Program.
ITEM 4 – PROCLAMATION– RECOGNIZING LAURA JOHNSON
Mayor Murphy presented a proclamation to Laura Johnson, Lakewood resident, in recognition of her musical talents (violin) and as a member of the Sister Cities Music Scholar Exchange Program.
Mmes. Jeffcott and Johnson displayed their musical talents for Council and the audience.
ITEM 5 – PRESENTATION– COLFAX MIXED USE LEGISLATIVE ZONING
Rob Smetana, Principal Planner, gave a PowerPoint presentation about the Colfax Mixed Use and Legislative Rezoning process. He noted that a series of public open house meetings were held. Staff met with several property owners and feels that the concerns voiced have been met.
As discussion ensued, Mr. Smetana explained that legislative zoning is done when the City is the applicant and has the authority to rezone a large number of properties, and with the proposed Colfax Mixed Use Legislative Zoning, more permitted uses will be allowed. There will be no encroachment into the residential neighborhood. The next step in this process is to forward the proposal to the Planning Commission for its review and meeting scheduled for April 15, 2009 and then forward to City Council for a public hearing on May 11, 2009. Notices will be sent to residents who live within the boundaries as defined by the Lakewood Reinvestment Authority. If approved by the Council, the effective date of the rezoning will be the end of June 2009.
Council commended staff for the good job in getting the community involved.
It was the consensus of Council to move forward with this proposal.
ITEM 6 – PRESENTATION– ROONEY VALLEY DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS AND OVERLAY DISTRICT
Kara Mueller, Associate Planner, presented a request to repeal of Article 20: Rooney Valley Overlay District Development Standards. She gave a brief history and key points of the Joint Rooney Valley Development Standards, along with reasons why the development standards should be repealed. Reasons noted were: Article 20 covers all of Lakewood properties within the Rooney Valley Master Plan area; the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) boundary is similar to the Rooney Valley Master Plan boundary, except that Tamarisk, Robinson Brick and Springfield Green are not within the IGA boundary. Additionally, Springfield Green (Solterra) stated in their Overlay Development Plan (ODP) that they would meet the intent of the Development Standards and any updates. Also, a majority of the property within the City under Article 20 is either developed or is municipal property. Maps were shown to support the reasons stated.
She asked that the proposal be presented to the Planning Commission for consideration at its April 15, 2009 meeting, and then forwarded to City Council for consideration at its meeting scheduled for May 11, 2009.
Mayor Murphy said public comments would be allowed at the Planning Commission meeting and during City Council public hearing.
It was the consensus of Council to move this item forward.
ITEM 7 – PRESENTATION– IMPROVEMENTS TO SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE
Ray Schoch, Planning Commissioner, gave a brief presentation that included the description of a subdivision, information about the original subdivision ordinance, and the requirements of a subdivision. He noted that the number one concern from the community was to get notices out sooner to neighbors about any subdivision requests. He also noted the difference between zoning and subdivision requests. Subdivisions involve technical line-drawing details to divide property that’s already zoned and to make sure that subdivision requirements are met. Zoning, on the other hand, deals with appropriate land use. The purpose of the proposed improvements to the subdivision ordinance is to make it easier for all to understand.
Discussion ensued and Council members made suggestions for the proposed ordinance, i.e. making clear the nature of review for an appeal, and defining business days (days the City offices are open for business – clearly noting when the “next” day commences.
It was also noted that the intent of the Charter was that the Planning Commission’s role is to develop regulations, standards, processes, recommendations, etc. -- not to require that the Planning Commission review each and every subdivision request, and that some decisions (subdivisions) could be made administratively by the Director of the Planning Department.
The next step is to present the proposed ordinance at a Planning Commission public hearing, and then forward it to City Council for its consideration and approval.
Mayor Murphy and Council extended thanks to the Planning Commission for taking the time to give this update on proposed improvements to the subdivision ordinance.
It was the consensus of Council to move this item forward.
ITEM 8 – PRESENTATION– UPDATE ON LAKEWOOD HOUSING AUTHORITY TRANSITION
Tami Fischer, Executive Director of Lakewood Housing Authority, noted that as part of the Lakewood Housing Authority’s transition, as of April 20, 2009 the Housing Department will officially relocate to 575 Union Boulevard, Lakewood, Colorado. Their new name is Metro West Housing Solutions and they will be managed by a five-member board. She shared a brief history, some of the growth and changes the Authority has experienced. Additionally, she gave a brief review of the business plan for the future, which involves continuing to provide an extensive self-sufficiency program that works with the entire person, helping each to become a productive, tax-paying citizen of Lakewood. She related that housing units and vouchers completed between the years of 2000 and 2009 have increased by 95%, and she thanked all involved for making this possible.
Bill Lunsford, Housing Development Manager, shared information about current and future projects. He said they are focusing on ‘going green’.
Michelle Bullock, resident/Housing Board Member and Chuck Bryant, housing resident, spoke of their experiences with the Lakewood Housing Authority and how they have personally benefited from the programs offered.
Council members extended thanks and appreciation to Ms. Fischer, Mr. Lunsford, the Housing Board and staff for a job well done.
ITEM 9 – PRESENTATION– UPDATE ON MOVE OF FAMILY SERVICES TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES
Kathy Hodgson, Director of Community Resources, updated the Council regarding the transitioning of Family Services to become part of the Community Resources Department, effective April 20, 2009. Said update showed the new organizational structure that includes some 220 full time employees who are already in place. They will provide family services in the following areas: Developmentally Disabled Services; School Age Services; Youth and Family Service Counseling; Head Start and Early Education; Older Adult Programs and Services; and Transportation Services. She said the Department of Community Resources looks forward to the transition, along with more and better ways to serve the citizens of Lakewood.
ITEM 10 – OPEN DISCUSSION
There was no open discussion.
ITEM 11 – REPORTS
Mayor Murphy and City Council members reported their attendance at previous meetings and events and announced upcoming neighborhood meetings and events.
ITEM 12 – ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Council; Mayor Murphy adjourned the meeting at 10:23 p.m.
Submitted by,
Sharon Blackstock, Acting City Clerk
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