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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning and Zoning Commission - MINUTES - 01/16/20251/16/25 - MINUTES Page 1 Planning and Zoning Commission REGULAR MEETING January 16, 2025 – 6:00 PM City Council Chambers 300 Laporte Avenue Fort Collins, Colorado CALL TO ORDER: Chair Stackhouse called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. ROLL CALL a. Board Members Present – Stackhouse, Connelly, York, Katz, Sass and Shepherd b. Board Members Absent – Peel c.Staff Members Present – Matsunaka, Kidwell, Jarvis, Mapes, Frickey, Myler, Boster Chair Stackhouse provided background on the Commission’s role and what the audience could expect as to the order of business. She described the role of the Commission and noted that members are volunteers appointed by City Council. The Commission members review the analysis by staff, the applicants’ presentations, and input from the public and make a determination regarding whether each proposal meets the Land Use Code. She noted that this is a legal hearing, and that she will moderate for civility and fairness. AGENDA REVIEW Planning Manager Clay Frickey reviewed the items on the Consent and Discussion agendas stating all items will be heard as originally advertised. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ON ITEMS NOT ON THE HEARING AGENDA None. CONSENT AGENDA 1.Draft Minutes for the P&Z November 21, 2024, Regular Hearing The purpose of this item is to approve the draft minutes of the November 21, 2024, Planning and Zoning Commission hearing. 2.Fischer Rezoning – REZ240001 1/16/25 - MINUTES Page 2 DESCRIPTION: previously approved Neighborhood Conservation Buffer (NCB) zone district, but without any condition for a specific parking requirement for potential future development. Such a condition is currently in place upon the zoning. Note that the name of the NCB zone has been changed to Old Town – High (OT-C). Clark Mapes, Planner Sam Stobbelaar, 1204 Westward Drive, requested this item be removed from the Consent Agenda for discussion. The Commission decided to remove the item from the Consent Agenda and place it on the Discussion Agenda. Vice Chair Sass made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda for the January 16, 2025, hearing as amended to withdraw the Fischer Rezoning item. Commissioner Katz seconded the motion. Yeas: Shepard, Connelly, York, Sass, Katz, and Stackhouse. Nays: none. THE MOTION CARRIED. DISCUSSION AGENDA: 3. Fischer Rezoning – REZ240001 This is a request to rezone 1185 and 1201 Westward Drive to remain in the previously approved Neighborhood Conservation Buffer (NCB) zone district, but without any condition for a specific parking requirement for potential future development. Such a condition is currently in place upon the zoning. Note that the name of the NCB zone has been changed to Old Town – High (OT-C). Clark Mapes, Planner Staff Presentation Clark Mapes, City Planner, noted these two lots were rezoned in 2020 from Low-Density Residential (RL) to Neighborhood Conservation Buffer (NCB) to allow them to be joined with several other parcels in the NCB zone. That rezoning included a condition that any subsequent multi-family development would include parking at a ratio of 1 parking space per bedroom, which exceeded the standards then and now even more so. Since that rezoning, the NCB zone name has changed to Old Town – High (OT-C). Mapes stated this request is to remove the parking condition from the rezoning, and the only way to do that is to re-rezone the property, though the zoning map and district will not change. Mapes stated staff is recommending approval of the request, citing the recent Land Use Code changes related to decreased parking requirements for multi-family developments. Additionally, Mapes 1/16/25 - MINUTES Page 3 noted the State law also recently changed to prohibit cities from requiring any parking in multi- family development in transit served areas, beginning in June of 2025. Mapes noted that the original condition related to parking came about as the result of neighborhood concerns. He stated the neighborhood meeting for this request yielded one speaker who was pleased that the parking requirement is being reduced. Commissioner Connelly noted he works with Erik Fischer fairly regularly in the course of his job, though there is nothing about that relationship that would cause a conflict of interest. Commissioner York noted he went to high school with members of the Fischer family, but that also would not cause a conflict of interest. Applicant Presentation Joel Weikert, Ripley Design, discussed the property owner’s vision to create a development to celebrate the family’s land as a place for people to call home. Weikert commented on the history of the rezoning request and discussed the recent Land Use Code and State law changes related to parking requirements. He also outlined the ways in which the request is consistent with City Plan and other requirements. Commission Questions None. Public Comment Sam Stobbelaar commented on heavy traffic on the street and expressed concern about the rezoning removing the parking requirement. He also expressed concern that people are already paying the city for parking spaces per the RP3 program, and this change would increase competition for the spaces on the street. Staff Response Mapes noted this property will also be eligible to pay to participate in the RP3 parking program. Commission Questions Commissioner Katz asked if there is a current Project Development Plan for the site. Weikert replied there is an approved PDP and multiple rounds of the FDP have occurred, but that is on hold pending the results of this item. Commissioner Katz asked if any parking is planned to be provided. Weikert replied there will be some parking provided. Commissioner Katz noted construction lenders have their own parking requirements as they do not want to fund projects that are not purchased or leased. Commission Deliberation Commissioner Katz thanked Stobbelaar for coming forward with concerns but noted the project will still contain parking and will be consistent with the State law. 1/16/25 - MINUTES Page 4 Commissioner Shepard stated he would support the request and thanked Stobbelaar for coming forward with concerns. Chair Stackhouse thanked Stobbelaar for commenting and concurred with Commissioner Katz’ comments regarding lenders’ standards related to parking. Commissioner York made a motion that the Fort Collins Planning and Zoning Commission recommend that the City Council approve the proposed Fischer Rezoning – REZ240001 to Old Town – High (OT-C) zone district with the staff recommendation finding that the requested placement into the Old Town – High (OT-C) zone district is consistent with the City of Fort Collins Comprehensive Plan, the requested zoning is warranted by changed conditions within the neighborhood surrounding and including the property, the rezoning would be compatible with existing and proposed uses surrounding the property, and is the appropriate zone district for the property. The rezoning would not result in significant adverse impacts on the natural environment, the rezoning would result in a logical and orderly development pattern, and the proposed rezoning will promote the public welfare and will be consistent with the vision, goals, principles, and policies of City Plan and the elements thereof. This complies with all applicable Land Use Code procedures and requirements, and the Commission adopts the information, analysis, findings of fact, and conclusions contained in the staff report included with the agenda materials for this hearing. This decision is based upon the agenda materials, the information and materials presented during the work session and this hearing, and the Commission discussion on this item. Commissioner Connelly seconded the motion. Yeas: Katz, Connelly, York, Sass, Shepard, and Stackhouse. Nays: none. THE MOTION CARRIED. For more complete details on this hearing, please view our video recording located here: https://www.fcgov.com/fctv/video-archive.php?search=PLANNING%20ZONING OTHER BUSINESS Planning Manager Frickey introduced Stephanie Boster from the City Attorney’s Office. ADJOURNMENT Chair Stackhouse moved to adjourn the P&Z Commission hearing. The meeting was adjourned at 6:41 pm. Minutes respectfully submitted by Krista Kidwell Minutes approved by the Chair and a vote of the Board/Commission on 02/20/25