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2 - Minutes, August 16, 2007CITY OF BOULDER PLANNING BOARD ACTION MINUTES August 16, 2007 1777 Broadway, Council Chambers A permanent set of these minutes and a tape recording (maintained for a period of seven years) are retained in Central Recards (telephone: 303-441-3043). Minutes and streaming audio are also available on the web at: http://www.bouldercolorado.eov/ PLANNING BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Elise Jones, Chair Adrian Sopher Richard Sosa Bill Holicky PLANNING BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: Willa Johnson Andrew Shoemaker Phil Shull, Vice-Chair STAFF PRESENT: Liz Abbott, Library Director Juliet Bonnell, Administrative Specialist Jean Gatza, Planner I David Gehr, Assistant City Attorney Bev Johnson, Planner II Ruth McHeyser, Acting Planning Director Chris Meschuk, Planner I Susan Richstone, Acting Long Range Manager Mary Ann Weideman, Administrative Services Manager CALL TO ORDER Chair, E. Jones, declared a quorum at 6:07 p.m. and the following business was conducted. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES On a motion by R. Sosa, seconded by A. Sopher, the Planning Board approved (3-0, W. Johnson, A. Shoemaker, and P. Shull absent, B. Holicky abstained) the July 5, 2007 Planning Board minutes as amended. 3. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION Tim Thomas, Boulder, spoke about environmental sustainability, social justice issues and economic vitality. He was concerned about the procedural equity of different boards and suggested that the Library Master Plan approval process is flawed (not compliant with CO state library law). 4. DISCUSSION OF DISPOSITIONS, PLANNING BOARD CALL-UPS The Planning Board felt that there was not enough information on B. Bean's Springleaf disposition to comment upon. It is not scheduled to be discussed until the August 23 Planning Board meeting, before which time the board will be supplied with the additional information/details they requested, such as site plans. 5. ACTION ITEMS A. Public hearing and consideration of 1) a recommendation to City Council regarding the Library Master Plan; and 2) approval of the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan (BVCP) Library Master Plan Summary. Case Manager: Jean Gatza Staff Presentation R. McHeyser and J. Gatza presented the item to the board. Liz Abbott presented the details of the Library Master Plan to the board. Public Hearing Tim Thomas, Boulder Board Discussion The Planning Board discussed the following key themes: Expansion enhancement of libraries and their cultural events The Planning Board supported capital improvements to existing libraries that would augment the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan. They are concerned that north Boulder is underserved in terms of libraries and cultural centers and would like to see the city's library facilities and their cultural events expanded. Future usaee of libraries The Planning Board discussed the direction that libraries are moving in. They mentioned that books are still the primary item that libraries supply to the public, but that libraries also serve many other purposes such as supplying multimedia (CDs, DVDs, videos, audio cassettes), Internet access, meeting space, cultural events, etc. to the community. They agreed that it is hard to predict what demands will be greatest for the libraries to meet over the next couple decades. Motion On a motion by R. Sosa, seconded by A. Sopher, the Plannine Board recommended (4-0 W. Johnson, A. Shoemaker, P. Shull absent) that City Council accept the Boulder Public Library Master Plan, approve the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan Library Master Plan Summary, and that council look at alternative fundine, including but not limited to economic vitality funds to augment the cultural services of the main branch. B. Public hearing and consideration of 1) a recommendation to the City Council on amending the regulatory wetlands maps and adopting new wetland functional evaluations; and 2) a future work plan for amending the Wetlands Protection Ordinance. Case Manager: Bev Johnson Staff Presentation B. Johnson presented the item to the board. Public Hearing Allen Olson, 497 Arapahoe Steve Arkfeld, 860 Willowbrook Road Ed Heath, 465 Arapahoe, Apt. A Gail Gordon, 377 West Arapahoe Lane Dick Blumenheim, P.O. Box 2077 Joanna Seiler, 455 Arapahoe Board Discussion The Planning Board discussed the following key themes: the definition of wetlands and the impact of the new wetlands map on property owners who previously have not been regulated under the ordinance. Based on the board's desire to minimize the impacts of property owners who were not previously regulated and recognizing that the wetlands ordinance is proposed to be revised in the coming months to address some of their concerns, D. Gehr suggested that the Planning Board advise City Council to adopt a transition regulation that would apply the lesser regulation between the current and new maps until the ordinance is finalized. He recommended that the Planning Board advise City Council to adopt the proposed new wetland maps and adopt a transition regulation that would apply the lesser regulation of the wetland rebuffer azea until the adoption of subsequent amendments to the Boulder Revised Code. Motion On a motion by A. Sopher, seconded by R. Sosa, the Planning Board recommended (4-0, W. Johnson, A. Shoemaker, P. Shull absent) that City Council adopt the proposed new wetland mans and that Citv Council adopt a transition regulation that will apply the lesser regulation of the two mans to the wetland until the adoption of subsequent amendments to the wetlands ordinance in the Boulder Revised Code. Recess The Planning Board recessed at 8:03 p.m. and reconvened at 8:08 p.m. C. Public hearing and consideration of a recommendation to City Council regarding adoption of the City Plans and Projects Handbook (July 2007), which outlines the review and approval process for master plans and capital improvement projects. Case Manager: Jean Gatza Staff Presentation J. Gatza presented the item to the board. Public Hearing No one spoke to this item. Board Discussion The Boazd acknowledged that the document will primarily be used by staff to ensure that future city projects go through an appropriate process. Motion On a motion by E. Jones, seconded by R. Sosa, the Planning Board recommended (4-0, W. Johnson, A. Shoemaker, P. Shull absent) that City Council annrove the new Citv Plans and Project Handbook. D. Discussion of the process and timeline for the 2008 Mid-Term Update to the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan (BVCP). Case Managers: Susan Richstone and Chris Meschuk Staff Presentation C. Meschuk and S. Richstone presented the item to the boazd. Public Hearing No one spoke to this item. Board Discussion The Planning Board mentioned that three members were not present and expressed an interest in discussing this item when all members were present. The board thought that the proposal was good, and expressed its strong interest in evaluation and amendment of the R6 (HZ-E) zone. Motion No action is required on behalf of the Planning Board. 6. MATTERS FROM THE PLANNING BOARD, PLANNING DIRECTOR, AND CITY ATTORNEY A. Sopher expressed a desire for longer-range views. He wants a discussion on how to use our resources most wisely (rather than always focusing on conserving them) and being proactive instead of reactionary. B. Holicky noted that our future Planning Director needs to be a visionary. E. Jones expressed interest in having more active discussions with staff and perhaps City Council about priorities. R. Sosa noted that Boulder is impacted by neighboring regions and that their direction can possibly be incorporated into Boulder's future vision. R. McHeyser noted that subcommunity and area planning are tools that aze meant to provide alonger-range view for specific areas of the city and to bridge the gap between the broad goals and vision of the comprehensive plan and the more site specific development review that the Board is involved with at the concept plan/ site plan review stage. The other tool is the city structure diagram and description in the comprehensive plan. She acknowledged that a more cleaz urban design vision is needed, however, and that staff sees the need to develop an urban design plan for the city. This is highlighted in the department's draft strategic plan that the board will see in the next few months. It also includes a proposal to add an Urban Design position. E. Jones will be meeting with Mayor Mark Ruzzin regazding the Aug 29 joint Planning Boazd/City Council meeting and asked for Planning Board's feedback on how the joint hearing should be run. B. Holicky recused for this discussion. A. Sopher mentioned that the Planning Board should be available to City Council for questions at their discretion. B. Holicky returned. R. McHeyser noted that from here forward all holidays will appear on city calendars so that no conflicts arise. In the meantime, the Washinton School item will not be moved to a different date, it is scheduled to be discussed at the September 13`h Planning Board meeting as originally continued. R. McHeyser and the Planning Board decided that the September 27 Planning Board meeting is canceled. The 29`h Street Debrief (the only item scheduled for that meeting) will be moved to the October 18 Planning Board meeting which will take place in the 29`h Street Community Room after a walking tour of the area. R. McHeyser gave the board an update on the Hogan Pancost item for which a date has not been set yet. She informed them that once the pre-application and study processes are complete, staff will bring Hogan Pancost to the Planning Board as an information item where the board will have a chance to review the technical information related to this item prior to the applicant's presentation and the public hearing. The public hearing will take place at the Concept Plan meeting as well as via email (prior to it being heard as an info item). A. Sopher and E. Jones had reservations about holding two separate meetings on this item (one with public hearing and one without). They agreed that separating these meetings would extend public conversation (as public would probably speak at both meetings on this item), but that holding separate meetings would also probably help to clarify certain issues, so they were in support of it. R. McHeyser agreed to forward the Green Points project study session materials and give a briefing on the status and next steps at the board's next meeting on August 23. The board did not have any recommendation for City Council on the following item: A. Consideration of a motion to approve a request by the Boulder Valley School District for use of Education Excise Tax revenue in pursuit of LEED Gold certification for the rebuild of Casey Middle School. A. Sopher mentioned that Planning Board minutes on-line are difficult to hear and that the tracking is difficult to follow and should be delineated differently. He wondered if there is any way to turn the microphones up so that the sound would record better and more clearly. E. Jones and A. Sopher requested CD copies of the July 19 Planning Board audio. 7. DEBRIEF/AGENDA CHECK 8. ADJOURNMENT The Planning Boazd adjourned the meeting at 9:29 p.m. APPROVED BY Board Chair DATE