TOWN OF SILVERTHORNE VIRTUAL PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES March 2, :00 P.M.

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TOWN OF SILVERTHORNE

VIRTUAL PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES March 2, 2021 – 6:00 P.M.

1. CALL TO ORDER – The meeting was called to order at 6:03 p.m., March 2, 2021, via the

GoToMeeting platform.

2. ROLL CALL – Commissioners present and answering Roll Call were: Michael Molloy, Jenny

Gloudemans, and Craig Phillips. Mike Bohlender and Les Boeckel were absent. Staff attending the meeting included: Lina Lesmes, Planning Manager and Emily Page, Planning Commission Secretary.

3. CONSENT CALENDAR – Michael Molloy made a motion to approve the January 19, 2021 Planning

Commission minutes. Craig Phillips seconded. The motion was approved by a vote of three to zero (3-0).

4. CITIZEN COMMENTS:

None.

5. PUBLIC HEARING ITEM:

A. Replat, Final PUD, Final Site Plan, Final Disturbance Permit Application for ‘Summit Blue’ – 591 Center Circle

The applicant, Joanna Hopkins, Hopkins Development Strategies, is requesting approval of a Replat to modify easements; a Final PUD to rezone the property from the Riverfront Zone District; a Final Site Plan to construct 16 single family homes and 19 townhomes; and a Disturbance Permit Application (DPA) for disturbance and mitigation of wetland buffer zones.

STAFF COMMENTS:

Lina Lesmes, Planning Manager, presented the subject Site Plan Modification. She explained location of the property and the surrounding features, the existing building and site layout, and the site constraints. She also provided an analysis of the uses, heights, vehicular access, pedestrian connections, the realignment of the Blue River Trail through the property, wetlands, floodplain encroachments, and mitigation measures for the disturbance of the wetland buffer.

COMMISSIONER QUESTIONS OF STAFF:

Michael Molloy –

A couple of quick ones. The first one is: When we straighten out the trail, so it actually moves and has a crosswalk in a different position, is it physically possible to connect to a trail on the Town Hall side? I know we’d have to move the trail, but is it physically possible?

Lina Lesmes –

It will be a combination of factors. I certainly don’t want to design it on the floor of the meeting, but you can certainly make this landscape bulb-out bigger, get rid of one of these parking spaces and make it bigger so that it’s not so far offset, then you could put a ramp that goes onto the sidewalk. The

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sidewalk on the Town Hall side of the property is pretty wide. You can design it a little straighter. We also can’t move the existing trail on Town Hall property because it’s very close to the river and many mature trees. So that is why these are still conditions of approval. We haven’t quite figured it out yet. Michael Molloy –

Okay, but you think it is possible that there will be some answer at some point? Lina Lesmes –

Yes.

Michael Molloy –

Second question is about the report from FEMA about the floodplain. When I was reading through it, I was trying to understand. They said certain structures would be excluded, did they mean that it would be excluded from the floodplain once the grading was done?

Lina Lesmes –

Yes. It affects 4 homes: E1, E2, H1, & H2. Those are the homes that are going to be built in the floodplain. In order to do that, there are certain requirements and that’s why you see a report and floodplain analysis in the record and them having to go through the FEMA process. The CLOMR-F based on fill, which is the permitting process they’re going through, takes these 4 homes essentially out of the floodplain. And so you’d be revising the existing FEMA map and taking those homes out of the floodplain.

Michael Molloy –

It looked like they only needed about six inches or, in one case, a foot. Lina Lesmes –

FEMA maps show the base flood elevation for the 100-year food. The finished floor elevation has to be a minimum of 1 foot above that. It is a code requirement because you’re not allowed to build in the floodplain, you have to take buildings out of the floodplain. The permitting process is called the CLOMR-F and they’ve already applied for it and gotten it.

Craig Phillips –

Is the SPORT committee taking on the trail plan? Because I’m guessing they’re spending a lot of time on that.

Lina Lesmes –

As you know we’re understaffed. Because of that, we have had to suspend the last few SPORT committee meetings temporarily. However, we got the SPORT committee input during Preliminary, and we are aware of the feedback and comments we heard then

Craig Phillips –

It looks like they had a hydrology runoff work up done. Can you speak to what they found with that as far as water getting from the property to the river?

Lina Lesmes –

I’m not sure I understand, hopefully Joanna and one of the applicants can speak to that. I will say, it’s only shown here a little, but storm water drainage essentially drains to the West into this water quality feature that is underground. This water quality feature then drains into this detention pond and then it drains into the Blue River. So, the storm water does go through a process of water quality before it discharges into the Blue River.

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The H3 thru H7 I imagine snow shedding won’t be falling onto the path? Lina Lesmes –

I don’t think so, but I’ll let Joanna and Doug speak to that. Let me pull up the architecture and see if I can answer your question.

Doug McDonald –

My name is Doug McDonald with Geneva Drive. In that regard, if you zoom into H3-H7, I think those were the units you were questioning. I’ll verbally explain it, so H3 through H7, there is a pedestrian internal walkway at fronts those units. That is not the Blue River Trail.

Lina Lesmes – Correct.

Doug McDonald –

So, in terms of snow shedding on the Blue River Trail, that would be truly extraordinary. Joanna Hopkins –

The rooflines of the house shed to either side. I think that’s where Lina was going. Lina Lesmes –

Yeah, that’s why I was going to look at the architecture to take a look at those rooflines, but I couldn’t tell which ones were those exactly, based on these renderings.

Joanna Hopkins –

They all shed the same way. Lina Lesmes –

Yep, they all shed to the side. Craig Phillips –

That’s what I thought was the answer, but I wanted to ask anyways.

APPLICANT COMMENTS:

Joanna Hopkins –

Good evening, thank you Jenny and commissioners. Joanna Hopkins, Hopkins Development Strategies representing Bancroft Capital and Geneva Drive LLC. We’re excited to be here tonight. I know there are a couple new faces, but this plan is generally the same as the preliminary. We just did refine a few things and we have worked pretty closely with staff on this Blue River Trail alignment. At this point in the season, we do feel that working this out in the field is always the best, when you want to look at preserving trees, and other things, that's a sensitive area. And then identifying the perfect alignment for that, would be best to finalize in the field here, which is coming soon, around April. And we do agree to all of the conditions as proposed, in the fee in lieu for the trail widening in the sections that exist that aren’t quite 10 feet wide. I don’t have a presentation, but if there are any additional questions for us, we can revert back to Lina’s presentation. We’re just here to answer any questions and we’re excited to push forward with this in the next few weeks actually.

COMMISSIONER QUESTIONS OF APPLICANT:

Jenny Gloudemans –

Have you guys already pinpointed the light fixture issue and the fully shielded? Has that already been resolved?

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If it’s not, we will resolve it. We did propose a light fixture that, if it doesn’t quite meet the standard, we will absolutely select a new fixture that does meet the standard.

I was a little confused about the widening of the trail and the payment in lieu. Is it impossible to widen the area that you want to widen? Or is a matter of “it looks like a pain; we’re going to pay instead.” So how does that situation become you’re going to pay instead of you’re going to do?

Joanna Hopkins –

So, the trail was installed 15+ years ago. There are portions of it that are 8 to 9 to 10 feet wide. And I think it was driven by the existing trees. Where there are large, mature trees the trail didn’t quite get to 10 feet. It’s a very popular trail with a lot of traffic. The Town wants to see it expanded to 10 feet, and rather than us trying to add a 1-2-foot strip on certain sections of it, which can create settling and cracks and cause more issues than intended. So, our intent is to provide some cash for when the Town decides to overlay it or give it a new asphalt lift. And then they can widen it at that point, and it’ll be a much more seamless and quality paving job on the trail. So that was the thought for the payment in lieu. It's not a completely insufficient trail, just when the Town does go to widen it or improve it, they will have some money to put toward the 10-foot standard.

So, it’s like your escrowing those dollars to be used for that specific purpose when the Town decides to do it in the future. Is that correct?

Joanna Hopkins – Exactly.

PUBLIC COMMENTS:

Lisa Hunter –

I am just here to learn more. I am actually Town staff and an interested purchaser. So, I’m here to learn more about my home across the street from the office.

Perfect. Really appreciate you joining us.

PUBLIC COMMENT CLOSED COMMISSONER COMMENTS:

Michael Molloy –

I just wanted to make a comment about the “in lieu of.” I think this is actually a good idea for us to take the money, because there's other parts of the trail that are behind the hustle, and that are going to need to be reworked. So I think it'd be better, when the Town redoes all of that, that, we put it all the money together and just do a good job on all of that. So I support that position. I think crossing the street with the crosswalk is going to be the biggest challenge, but it’s a condition.

Jenny Gloudemans – I think you’re right. Craig Phillips –

Overall, this is a great plan. I like that we’re working on this crosswalk. I just see some economic obsolescence with the old Century Link building that is there. And I think this is something really good to add to Town Core.

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I have to applaud you guys. I think the streetscape looks so cool. I’m excited to see this coming together and getting that building out of there, although it definitely has served its purpose for us over the last couple of months for the COVID testing. I’m sure we’ll find another place for that to go to, too. But otherwise, I think it looks like a great development and I’m looking forward to what you guys decide to do with that crosswalk and bike path. I agree with Michael, that it’s going to be the biggest hurdle because it looks like you’re creating either a running parallel on one side of the road or straight across the street, in parallel, on the other side. I’m sure you guys will figure it out.

Doug McDonald –

And Jenny, by the way, you mentioned that we’ve been able to use the site for COVID testing and vaccinations. And not to throw too many breadcrumbs, but we will be working on another project in town here very shortly where we hope to move that testing site.

Excellent. That’s good to hear. Michael Molloy –

We appreciate your cooperation. Doug McDonald –

Are you kidding? I mean, if you can’t be a good neighbor to your own neighbor in your own neighborhood, you shouldn’t be there.

MICHAEL MOLLOY MADE A MOTION TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE REPLAT, FINAL PUD, FINAL SITE PLAN, AND FINAL DISTURBANCE PERMIT APPLICATION FOR ‘SUMMIT BLUE’ WITH THE STAFF RECOMMENDED CONDITIONS.

1. That the applicant continue to work with staff on ideal alignment of the Blue River Trail and pedestrian improvements at the crossing of 6th Street.

2. That the applicant widen the Blue River Trail through the property to a minimum of 10-feet as noted in the POST plan, or pay a fee to the Town in lieu of widening the trail prior to the issuance of a building permit.

3. That the pedestrian lights be revised to meet the definition of Fully Shielded light fixtures. 4. That the comments of the Public Works Department, dated February 17, 2021, be addressed.

CRAIG PHILLIPS SECONDED.

MOTION PASSES BY A VOTE OF THREE TO ZERO (3-0).

A. Informational Items: Town Council Meeting Minutes – January 27, 2021 and February 10,

2021; EDAC Meeting Minutes – January 5, 2021

MICHAEL MOLLOY MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN AT 6:49 P.M. CRAIG PHILLIPS SECONDED.

MOTION PASSES BY A VOTE OF THREE TO ZERO (3-0).

Submitted for approval by: Approved this 2nd_{Day of March, 2021.}

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These minutes are only a summary of the proceedings of the meeting. They are not intended to be comprehensive or to include each statement, person speaking or to portray with complete accuracy. The most accurate maintained in the office of the Planning Commission Secretary.