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02.11.15 UHCAMC MinutesCITY OF BOULDER, COLORADO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS MEETING MINUTES AGENDA ITEM 2 — Approval of the January 21, 2014 Meeting Minutes (Action Item Below): AGENDA ITEM 3 — Police Update: Trujillo said the Neighborhood Impact Team has begun reaching out to Hill businesses. There were several loud parties on the Hill over the weekend and an increase in summons. Fraternities were dry over the weekend due to Rush. Special trash service will occur May 7 — 13' during residential/student move out. Wiebenson asked about the sign up for trash removal and Trujillo replied that property owners, including the rental management companies, sign up directly with the trash haulers. AGENDA ITEM 4 — Public Participation: Rishi Raj, 14 Street resident, questioned how to have a positive impact on the Hill, noting the time of great change, with increased sales tax revenues and community activism creating a bridge to the students. Raj suggested converting the 14 street parking lot (south of Starbucks) to a performing arts center with underground parking and perhaps a satellite space for the Dairy Center to significantly impact the cultural life of the Hill. Winter responded that a Boulder performing arts center has been under discussion for some time and a community group commissioned a professional study and analysis. Winter said it's a question of finding the land and funding to construct the facility. Winter said the report will be shared with the commission. Liguori asked if a performing arts center on the Hill would replace the idea of a performing arts center in the civic area. Winter replied that the idea came from the civic area folks. Rubino asked about engaging Boulder's arts community into public space. Winter said that CU students are working with Arts & Culture Manager Matt Chasansky to explore building a multi- purpose outdoor public space. Soifer said it is important to take a step back from the developer's plans for the 14 street lot, and to review all options so in 10 years there will be no regrets. Wiebenson asked about the status of the MOU on the 14 street property. Winter said that Mike Boyers owns the property on 13 Street which would give access to the potential underground garage on 14 street. Winter continued that Boyers has been responsive to Counc co and act n egot i at i o n s n eed to r esu m e w him. AGENDA ITEM 5 — CUSG Update: Rubino said CUSG has been doing a bi- monthly feature on the Hill Boulder website that includes a summary of what's being worked on. AGENDA ITEM 6 — Hill Boulder Update: Rubino reported that the events team has been working on several projects including a music showcase and outdoor movies. They are pursuing dialogue with CU reps, who may attend this month's meeting to coordinate a welcome back event. She also reached out to the Executive Director of the Boulder Convention and Visitor's Bureau and there is now a BCVB link on the Hill Boulder website. Rubino has been working with notable people in the Hill community to write features for the Hill Boulder website. Winter suggested a Channel 8 feature on personal Hill experiences. The couponbook specs are finalized with the hopes it will be ready for distributionby August. The next Hill Boulder meeting will be at the new Illegal Pete's location on 13 Street. Wiebenson added that a slate of 2015 events is being drafted and dates are being confirmed. Liguori noted that a meeting took place with organizers of a SXSW teach -out and concert on the Hill. The Conference on World Affairs is the second week in April. Wiebenson said there is a Hill Clean Up and Planting Day scheduled for April 18 with CU students participating, in partnership with the Hill businesses and UHNA. Liguori asked for the fundraising goal for the planters. Wiebenson replied that it's $100 per planter /$1600 total and she is working with maintenance staff to select plants. AGENDA ITEM 7 — UHNA Update: Nancy Blackwood, UHNA, discussed the April 18 planting event and the need to clarify responsibilities. It's an opportunity to get the students, businesses and residents working together. Partnerships have been successful in the past. There are 5 or 6 student organizations that will be volunteering. Blackwood mentioned the UHNA letters to Council and CU regarding the Grandview conference center. Blackwood provided an update on the 9 and College coffee shop status: a lease is signed and renovations set to begin. AGENDA ITEM 8 — Public Hearing and Consideration of a Motion to Recommend to City Council the Staff Recommendations and Related Strategies for the Residential Use Moratorium — Ruth McHeyser: McHeyser said they are in the final phase of the Hill Moratorium project. The moratorium expires next month; next week will be the reading of the actual ordinance before Council on March 3. A recommendation is sought from this board to Council. Ted Harberg was introduced. McHeyser continued that there were four basic findings. One finding is an over - concentration of student rental housing in the Hill Commercial Area. The other findings were barriers to getting more diverse uses on the Hill. The Council Study Session and the Landmarks Board hearing gave support to the findings and staff recommendations, which included: ordinance to City Council to limit residential uses on the Hill, allowing only senior housing or permanently affordable housing; and strategies to reduce barriers to more diverse uses. These include strategies to attract an anchor use to encourage further private investment in the district; historic district designation to celebrate the district's history and provide property owners with tax credits for their property improvements; and a city tax policy to facilitate redevelopment of the UHGID parking lots. Planning Board held a public hearing and moved to support the ordinance recommendation and for staff to pursue further the related strategies. Soifer said that adding affordable work force housing was exciting and it made sense to bring that demographic to the Hill; however, there is a limited amount of space on the Hill and it would still create more housing in the commercial district. Soifer agreed with the Mayor's comments and would prefer not to allow any more housing in the Hill Commercial District as it would take away from space that could otherwise be developed as an anchor use or other commercial activity. Rubino commented on the mixed use, a lot of offices don't want to come to the Hill because of the party atmosphere, and it would be another step to overcome. Raj agreed with Soifer and Rubino. Winter reported that members of Council expressed interest in allowing workforce housing, which would add to a diversity of ages. Liguori agreed with the recommendation, mentioning that businesses wishing to expand on the Hill would need the parking achievable through the public /private partnership on the 14 Street UHGID lot. Liguori queried if office space could get Boyers to where he needs to be financially to make the 14 Street project viable. McHeyser said the most capacity for parking is on the city -owned UHGID lots and the redevelopment of the Bova's site. Rubino said that to move forward on the Hill district requires more parking to meet needs. Raj said office space is great and community interface is needed, not housing. Winter offered that Boyers could make the project work as housing, with an investment from the city and that the gap is what UHGID needs to cover the cost of the parking construction. Soifer said it's only for the BMS zone; there are other opportunities for housing in the residential areas of the Hill. MOTION: Soifer motioned that given the current saturation of residential in the commercial area; it would be beneficial to support the goals and vision of Option Al. Raj seconded the motion. Rubino agreed with the over - saturation; with parking being targeted; however if the housing option is eliminated, would the lot just sit with no development of parking. Winter clarified that the current motion does not make the parking work. Boyers could develop the housing portion with grants from the city and still not cover the parking without city help. Boyers brings ownership of the 13 Street property to access the proposed underground parking. Rubino asked if it's profitable. Winter said that Boyers is not the final decision maker; that it's a partnership. McHeyser said that if there is a zoning change and nothing happens, the city could come back and revisit the policy change. Liguori said that developers are currently focused on residential, and office developers could be brought to the table. Winter said that downtown has been rezoned numerous times. Rubino said that the first option is best with the current tenor on the Hill. Wiebenson pointed to the related strategies, if the commission wished to express their support for the other mechanisms to achieve the goals of the moratorium as well. The motion passed unanimously with all commissioners in favor and 4 -0 (Griffith absent). Soifer commented that it's important to look into the other incentives and city tools. McHeyser pointed to the page 2 strategies and longer term actions to be reviewed. Rubino would like tax policies to attract businesses to the Hill. Winter suggested looking at the tax policy, looking at an anchor use and exploring public - private partnerships. Raj supports the National Historic Register district designation as it distinguishes the Hill from other areas. It comes with tax benefits per Winter. Winter said there will be a recommendation to council regarding the process. Liguori said that with the Boulder Theatre, only the fagade is protected by the historic district. Rubino said that from a branding perspective of the Hill, the historic element can be powerful message. Winter said that the near term strategies include exploring the anchor use idea, looking at public /private partnerships, looking at other access modes such as the EcoPass study, and developing education and outreach processes to explore the National Register district, and tax policies that would be appropriate for public improvements for public benefit in the short term. The strategies would impact the commercial district, and would not affect the RH5 high- density residential district. Soifer motioned that University Hill Commercial Area Management Commission support the long term and short term actions, excluding RH5 zoning. Liguori seconded. All commissioners approved and the motion passed with a 4 — 0 vote (Griffith absent). Monique Cole said that in this morning's newspaper, they are looking to expand the commercial linkage fee citywide. This requires developers to pay into a fund for affordable housing any time they build commercial. Cole mentioned it should be monitored. AGENDA ITEM 9 — Parking Services Update: Matthews said there is now a full maintenance staff on the Hill and RSD is underway with 20 — 25 trash bag pick up per week. Matthews hopes to have contract signed this weekend. Car counts are continuing daily in the lots and the streets informally. It is a utilization study with morning mid morning and mid afternoon counts. Winter said with redevelopment of the lot, there will be more formal study. Matthews mentioned a start up in Boulder is offering real time parking occupancy data with sensors and it will be piloted downtown and perhaps piloted on the Hill. AGENDA ITEM 10 —Matters from the Commissioners: Rubino said that on behalf of the Hill Boulder, a letter of support for the Grandview development site was crafted to convey the benefits of a Hill location. Rubino suggested that the commission endorse the letter from the Hill Boulder Raj said she does not support the Grandview Terrace site for a conference center and hotel. Raj continued that this site is too small, and that the project would exceed the height requirements so the city should not support it. The Grandview area has many houses of historic significance to be considered. Winter said the city suggest that CU consider the site because of its potential to positively impact the Hill reinvestment effort, and it's been a joint process. Winter said an analysis was done of the site and there is just one historic building that has been identified as an issue. It is on CU property, so they will make the final decision. Council weighed in on the analysis of the two sites and indicated that the Uni Hill site seemed like the more attractive of the two. Wiebenson said she walked the site, and it does not include the Grandview Terrace area with the historic bungalows; the proposed footprint would not require moving historic buildings. MOTION: Soifer motioned to support selection of the Uni Hill site for a conference /hotel center, with additional comments to be further outlined and sent around for final approval. Rubino seconded the motion. The motion passed with a 3 -1 vote, Raj opposed, and Griffith absent. AGENDA ITEM 11— Matters from the Staff: Wiebenson said the Retail Preference Survey in the packet asks Hill residents for feedback on the type of businesses would encourage more visits to the Hill Commercial Area. The second survey seeks to establish baseline perception data for the Hill Reinvestment Strategy, reflecting the council's request that there be measurements throughout the process regarding performance. In the interest of time, commission members may send comments by email. Final versions will be provided to the commission before it goes out. The Ecopass feasibility study of businesses on the Hill currently has a 75% response rate. Wiebenson asked the commissioners to encourage non - responsive business to fill out the survey. New businesses on the Hill were discussed. Meeting adjourned at 11: 05 am. ACTION ITEMS: MOTION: Liguori motioned to approve the January 21, 2015 meeting minutes. Raj seconded. Motion passed 4 -0, with Griffith absent. MOTION: Soifer motioned that given the current saturation of residential in the commercial area; it would be beneficial to support the goals and vision of Option Al. Raj seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously with all commissioners in favor and 4 -0 (Griffith absent). MOTION: Soifer motioned that University Hill Commercial Area Management Commission supports the long term and short term actions excluding RHS. Liguori seconded. All commissioners approved and the motion passed with a 4 — 0 vote (Griffith absent). MOTION: Soifer motioned to support of development of the Grandview site for a conference/hotel center to be further outlined and sent around for final approval. Rubino seconded the motion. The motion passed with a 3 -1 vote, Raj opposed and Griffith absent. Napa^= I s 19 FA h � ■ LI ■ ■ ii .k I 19 FA h � ■ LI ■