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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1516 REMINGTON, REMINGTON HOUSE GROUP HOME - PDP - 11-00 - DECISION - MINUTES/NOTESPlanning and Zoning Board Minutes April 20, 2000 Page 8 of 13 Member Craig asked if after the site was vacant, could a Fraternity go back in to the building? She asked if the number of 20 residents would go along with the building if it were sold. Troy Jones added that the site, if sold, would have to continue as a licensed group home like the Jacob Center to retain the 20 residents. It would revert back to a single- family residence after the proposed use expired. Peter Barnes, Zoning Department, stated that the Board was the decision maker for the use and maximum residency, not the ownership. Member Craig was concerned that by changing the single family home into a group home or Fraternity, it was saturating the neighborhood. Troy Jones wanted to remind the Board that the building had three stories and was capable of housing 30 people. That differed from the average single family home. Joel Painter stated that his organization had been looking for years for a facility of that magnitude. They could not afford to build a new facility of this sort, so it was a diamond in the rough for them. Member Carpenter felt that the request would take a negative and turn it into a positive for the community as a whole. She felt that the children did belong in a neighborhood. She felt strongly that turning down 20 would be a mistake. Member Torgerson agreed 100 percent with Member Carpenter. He had been inside of the building and felt it was not a single-family residence, even thought it was in a residential neighborhood. He felt the proposed use was less intense than a Fraternity or other uses he has seen discussed there. Member Bernth felt that traffic would decrease, neighborhood impact would be minimal, and being a neighbor, there was no way he could vote against it. Member Gavaldon moved to approve the project with the modification request. Member Carpenter seconded the motion. Member Craig felt that Joel Painter had a large responsibility. She felt that the site would be watched closely for how things would go there. Member Carpenter wanted to sincerely thank Joel Painter for the great work he had done for the community and for his patience and effort he had put into the process to find an appropriate site for his services. The motion was approved 6-0. Planning and Zoning Board Minutes April 20, 2000 Page 7 of 13 Fraternity was not there anymore due to the problems that it caused. He was concerned with the effect that Fraternities might have on the residents in the facility. He felt the number of 20 residents was a little high. He raised the concern that Group Homes could only be so close together and felt 8-10 residents would be a better number than 20. He suggested testing the 8-10 residents for a year, then raising the number after that. Michael Jensen added that he was a member of the Fraternity that was involved with the building and there were 40 students that did reside at the site at one time. Discussion: Member Gavaldon asked the applicant if there was an impact analysis of traffic for the number of 20 residents. Joel Painter responded that he was unsure how to arrange a study of that kind, but there would be a parking lot for 5. Joel stated that the residents did not drive and many of the staff ride bicycles to work. He felt that would be a decrease in traffic than a Fraternity would bring. He felt at the Remington location, the residents could use the bus system and the bike lanes as well. Troy Jones added that a Traffic Impact Analysis Study was not required. Member Gavaldon asked why the applicant felt 20 was a good number. Joel Painter responded that the facility could not financially run with 8 residents due to the cost. He felt the building was more than large enough for the request of 20. He added that the facility would not always have 20 residents. The average number of residents would be 13-16. Member Gavaldon felt there were many of the same facilities in the area. Joel Painter asked Member Gavaldon where they were. Troy Jones stated there were no other facilities like this except for Turning Point, which had one male facility and one female facility. Joel Painter added that both of the Turning Point facilities were on waiting lists and by the closing of Youth Safe, there was a 16-bed waiting list for his facility that would be absorbed by the Remington site. Member Gavaldon supported a lesser number. Planning and Zoning Board Minutes April 20, 2000 Page 6 of 13 Joel Painter stated that they schedule a minimum ratio of 1 adult to 4 residents and during the day, there would usually be more staff than that. There would be at least one adult on staff 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Joel Painter, Jacob Center Director, gave a presentation describing the project and what standards were upheld in the facility. He described the community need for the services that they would provide. Public Comment: Marsha James. citizen, gave a presentation of a success story of her child who was touched by the services provided by Joel Painter. She strongly supported the charge of the Jacob Center and asked that the request be approved. George Call, Larimer County Human Services, described the community need for services like the Jacob Center and strongly recommended the approval of this request. Sarah Palmer, student and resident, had been in foster care with the Jacob Center for three years. She stated that she was now passing all of her classes and she would be graduating soon. She supported what Joel was doing because he gave her guidance to get her through some tough times. She appreciated what the Joel had done for her and for her daughter and supported his request. Rob Benell, neighbor at 515 Remington Street, came to support the request. He agreed with the fact there was a huge community need. He felt the proposal was a better alternative for the neighborhood than a Fraternity. He asked for consideration of the ill effect that would exist for the youth that would not receive this service, if the request was not approved. Michael Jensen, owner of 1511 Remington, was the neighbor directly across the street from the proposed site. He was in support of the request. He felt it would be beneficial to the neighborhood. He agreed with the project, was in full support of it and hoped the Board was the same. John Zook, owner of the property across the alley, felt that the proposed project would increase the values of the neighboring residences rather than decrease them. He felt it would be a welcomed addition to the neighborhood. Tom Hicks, the Program Manager at the proposed Remington House, was formerly the Manager at the Youth Safe facility. He described the history of his employment with Youth Safe and his excitement with the proposed project. He had received no complaints from the neighborhood in the six years he had worked at Youth Safe. Dean Suppose, 1526 Remington, described the neighborhood as a residential area. He believed the maximum students that resided in the Fraternity was 22. He felt the Planning and Zoning Board Minutes April 20, 2000 Page 5 of 13 Project: #11-00 1516 Remington Group Home — Project Development Plan Project Description: Request to increase the maximum number of permitted group home residents at 1516 Remington Street from 8 to 20. Also, to change the type of group home from, "care of male and female foster children between the ages of 12 and 18" to "residential treatment facility for male and female foster children between the ages of 12 and 18." Recommendation: Approval Hearing Testimony, Written Comments and Other Evidence: Troy Jones gave a presentation including the history of the application. He included notes from the previous neighborhood meetings. He explained that the applicant proceeded through the process to get the 8 maximum residents allowed in the NCL zone. The applicant then continued to the next step of the process to change the number of residents from 8 to 20. He explained the location and that the applicant would be responsible to improve the alley behind the site. Member Craig asked if the neighbors were aware of the 20 residents as soon as the staff knew. Troy Jones stated that they did hold a second neighborhood meeting to discuss the higher number of residents. There were different neighbors at the two neighborhood meetings, but they did note the change on the letter sent to the neighbors with the notice of the second meeting. Member Carpenter asked how many fraternity brothers had been housed in the building and if there were any other adults at that time. Joel Painter, applicant, stated that information from the owner and previous tenants of the building lead him to believe there were 25-35 fraternity brothers in the building. He also stated that by the looks of the building when it was vacated, there were no other adults, like a House Mother, that resided in the building. Member Craig asked if it was a Fraternity House up until the applicant purchased it. Troy Jones responded that it had been vacant since August 16, 1999. The applicant started negotiations to purchase the property in January of 2000. Member Carpenter asked how many supervising adults would be in the building. Council Liaison: Scott Mason Chairperson: Glen Colton Vice Chair: Jerry Gavaldon Staff Liaison: Ted Shepard Chairperson Colton called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Phone: (H) 225-2760 Phone: (H) 484-2034 Roll Call: Bernth, Craig, Gavaldon, Carpenter, Torgerson, and Colton. Member Meyer was absent. Staff Present: McCallum, Schlueter, Wamhoff, Jones, Shepard, Eckman, Stringer, and Kuch. Agenda Review: Chief Planner of Current Planning Ted Shepard reviewed the Consent and Discussion Agendas: Consent Agenda: 1. Minutes of the June 17,1999, February 17, March 2 (Continued) and March 16 (Continued), 2000 Planning and Zoning Board Hearings. 2. Modifications of Conditions of Final Approval 3. Resolution PZ00-15 Easement Vacation 4. Resolution PZ00-16 Easement Vacation 5. Resolution PZ00-17 Easement Vacation 6. Resolution PZ00-18 Easement Vacation 7. #11-97G French Field/Rocky Mountain High School, Wireless Telecommunication Equipment — Project Development Plan 8. #58-98A Poudre High School Ballfield, Wireless Telecommunication Equipment (US West Wireless) — Project Development Plan 9. #11-00 1516 Remington Group Home — Project Development Plan Discussion Agenda: 10. Recommendation to City Council Regarding the Biannual Revisions, Clarifications and Additions to the Land Use Code Staff continued the March 2 and March 16, 2000 Planning & Zoning Board Minutes. A citizen pulled item 8 and Member Gavaldon pulled items 7 and 9 for discussion. Member Gavaldon moved for approval of Consent items 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. Member Craig seconded the motion. The motion was approved 6-0.