[16:51] I was going to say let's get her going. [16:57] » Okay, we'll call to order the meeting of [17:00] Wednesday, September 2nd, 2026. [17:03] Roll call. Um, Chuck Howard [17:06] >> present, [17:06] >> Henley Maker, Katie Maxwell, alternate [17:10] Jefferson Lynch, alternate Judy Murphy [17:13] >> here, vice chair Ursula Cruzi [17:15] >> here, [17:16] >> chair Cindy Olsen [17:17] >> here. Great. [17:18] >> Okay. Approval as the of the agenda as [17:21] written. [17:23] A motion and a second. I'll make a [17:26] motion to approve the agenda [17:29] >> of September 2nd. [17:31] >> On September 2nd, 2026. [17:32] >> I'll second it. All those in favor? Yes. [17:36] >> Opposed? No. Motion carries. [17:39] Um, now we'll go to public comment. [17:42] Think we have anybody in the audience or [17:44] online for public comment? [17:47] >> Nobody online. [17:48] >> Nobody. [17:49] >> Okay. Any commissioners conflict of [17:52] interest on the presented agenda? [17:56] Nope. No conflict of interest. So, [17:59] approval of the minutes for August 5th. [18:02] Need a motion and a second. [18:04] >> Motion to approve the minutes of August [18:06] 5th, 2026. [18:09] >> Second. [18:11] Um, discussion, corrections? [18:16] » Nope. [clears throat] [18:18] Uh, all those in favor? Yes. [18:20] >> Yes. [18:21] >> Opposed? [18:22] >> Motion carries. [18:25] >> Staff updates. [18:27] >> I had all my updates in the report, so [18:29] if you have questions for me, let me [18:30] know. But Nick had a [18:32] Yeah. So, uh I was at council, what was [18:36] it? [18:38] >> Yeah. Uh last month and uh [18:44] Kate or Lisa brought up alternate [18:46] procedures for all of the boards and [18:49] they wanted me to talk to you guys about [18:51] it. So, I know we only have Judy here [18:54] tonight and Jefferson's not here. So if [18:57] the uh [19:00] let's say all five regular members were [19:03] here, right? Uh and it was like let's imagine we just have everyone [19:10] here. Uh if the uh matter before us were [19:17] um [19:19] let's just say the general updates [19:21] section, right? anyone can participate, [19:24] throw in how they feel, etc. If the [19:29] agenda then moved to the public hearing [19:31] on the subdivision application that is [19:34] when uh the I would ask that the uh [19:39] alternates not participate when it's [19:42] quasi judicial because of uh creating a [19:47] record where uh [19:50] people that are not on the board that [19:52] evening are [19:55] uh asking questions of the applicant. [19:57] and controlling how [19:59] the hearing goes in a way. Uh if you [20:02] think about it like the commission sits [20:04] as the judge in a quasi judicial [20:06] application, you don't want uh someone [20:10] that really technically isn't the judge [20:12] for that piece asking questions of of [20:15] witnesses in that case. Uh but in [20:18] contrast to that, if we were to then [20:21] move to uh 8B tonight, the public [20:24] hearing on the ordinance, since that is [20:27] not quasi judicial and just legislative, [20:30] uh alternates can talk as much as they [20:33] want, not talk as much as they want, [20:35] participate, [20:37] you know, feel free to to do whatever [20:40] the alternate decides to do. And that's [20:42] a blanket rule across [20:45] all of our boards and commissions. Just [20:48] quasi judicial [20:50] items limit participation. Everything [20:53] else is fine. And obviously there's the [20:57] same goes for anything on the work [20:58] session agenda. There's never any [21:00] restrictions or anything like that. [21:02] >> Okay. Yeah, I think we kind of do it [21:05] that way. Wouldn't that [21:06] >> I did too. I I just uh [21:09] >> Kate I think was the one that asked me [21:11] to just uh make sure to talk to you guys [21:14] about it and then I'm also going to send [21:16] a memo to uh HPRC about it too. [21:20] >> Um a question though. [21:21] >> Yeah. [21:22] >> So like tonight we don't have a full [21:25] >> So like Yeah. So Judy's participating, [21:28] >> right? So she would even though she's an [21:30] alternate but we have a quorum. [21:33] >> That's why I thought they probably [21:35] should sit up here. I don't [21:37] >> I think anytime they're going to be a [21:38] voting member in a part of the meeting [21:41] because if the regular commission's not [21:43] here and the alternate is filling in, [21:45] they should sit up here then there's no [21:48] like the audience doesn't think well is [21:51] she or isn't she or isn't don't do it [21:53] now though. [laughter] [21:55] >> I I don't I don't care one way or [21:57] another. I don't even your [21:59] >> Yeah, but I just think it sends a clear [22:01] message to whoever is watching or [22:03] thinking at that point. I I know it's [22:05] confusing though because we do have [22:07] seven chairs up there. So [22:09] >> yeah. Yeah. But no. Um I Yeah. Okay. [22:12] >> I think um people went that um [22:14] alternates on boards have gone to [22:16] council and just expressed that they [22:17] don't understand why they can't [22:19] participate all the time. So I think [22:22] that's where it was coming from is that [22:23] alternates have reached out and said, [22:25] "Hey, I don't really understand why I [22:27] don't get to [22:28] >> well they can [22:28] >> comment and stuff." And so that that's [22:30] the the difference is the quasi [22:32] judicial. They can be a public speaker. [22:34] They can sign up. [22:35] >> Of course. Yes, that is the actually I [22:37] thank you for mentioning that. [22:39] >> Y [22:40] >> if it if it was like for this [22:42] subdivision, let's pretend that Judy you [22:45] weren't participating on the subdivision [22:47] tonight and you really wanted to tell [22:51] someone how you feel. you would go and [22:54] during public comment be subject to the [22:56] same rules of everyone else and you just [22:58] say I'm making these comments as a [23:00] member of the public and not as you know [23:03] an alternate member of the board. [23:05] >> No, that's good to clear it up. I think [23:07] we've been pretty on it. [23:10] >> Yeah. [23:10] So, okay. [23:13] Any [clears throat] other updates? [23:16] Nothing else for me unless [23:17] >> any questions for Dylan on any of the [23:19] updates he had not counting what we have [23:22] on the agenda. [23:24] >> No. Okay. So, we'll go on to new [23:26] business where we'll have a public [23:29] hearing on the minor subdivision request [23:32] that we have for 521 Colorado Boulevard. [23:36] Um, [23:38] so, oh, I got to read this first. This [23:42] matter is set for a public hearing [23:44] before the city of Idaho Springs [23:46] Planning Commission tonight. The city [23:47] has received a request for a minor [23:49] subdivision to create four lots at 521 [23:53] Colorado Boulevard. For this [23:55] application, the planning commission [23:56] will conduct a hearing and vote to [23:58] either recommend or not recommend the [24:00] application to city council. This is a [24:03] formal public meeting. We will require [24:05] testimony to be given under oath. Will [24:07] not follow any rules of evidence. If [24:10] there is a question about the [24:11] admissibility of evidence or testimony, [24:14] I'll make a ruling on that as the chair. [24:16] After I open the hearing, I'll invite [24:18] city staff to give a presentation. Then [24:20] the applicant will be invited to present [24:23] evidence and testimony. Then members of [24:25] the public will be invited to give [24:27] evidence and testimony. City staff and [24:29] the applicant may respond to public [24:31] testimony. The applicant will then be [24:34] given the opportunity to have the last [24:36] word on the matter raised during the [24:38] public hearing. [24:39] Um throughout the process, commissioners [24:42] may ask questions. After we close the [24:44] public hearing, the commission will [24:46] begin its deliberations and make our [24:48] decision. We'll do this by motion. Um [24:51] you'll see a motion in the staff report [24:54] and in our m motions guidelines. If any [24:59] if we cannot reach a decision tonight, [25:02] we can continue the matter. I'll now [25:04] open the public hearing at 608 for the [25:09] minor subdivision request create four [25:12] lots at 521 Colorado Boulevard. [25:17] All right. Well, I'll start with a brief [25:19] presentation of my staff reports. As [25:23] mentioned, this is a minor subdivision [25:25] application to create four lots at the [25:27] subject property. Um, interestingly, [25:30] this is sort of a a lot with a split [25:33] zoning at the moment because uh there's [25:36] two bubble homes that are zoned R2 and [25:38] dental office is zone C2. The goal is to [25:41] split those lots and then also create a [25:44] fourth lot on the back half of the [25:46] property which fronts IO Street um and [25:50] center alley. Plat is included in the [25:54] staff report in the packet. Um, this was [25:58] referred to [26:00] Excel, Comcast, Centry, Link, School [26:03] District, PD, Fire Authority, [26:05] Engineering, Public Works. Um, we had no [26:08] issues from our referral agencies or [26:10] comments. The there's five criteria for [26:14] approval as the staff report suggests. [26:18] It appears that it meets the the [26:21] criteria in in my opinion as staff. All [26:25] the lots will continue to meet zoning. [26:27] Comprehensive plan calls a transitional [26:29] mixed use which will allow residential [26:32] and commercial uses. Um so all the [26:34] current uses are in alignment with that. [26:37] And so with that in mind [26:41] staff recommend approval of or recommend [26:44] I guess that you recommend approval of [26:46] the proposed minor subdivision and I [26:48] don't have any conditions included. [26:52] >> Question. So what do they want it zoned [26:55] at? [26:56] >> Um zoning wouldn't change as part of [26:58] this. [26:59] >> You can take the property and keep the [27:01] individuals zoned separately then. [27:04] >> Well, because right now it's it's odd. [27:06] It's kind of I think [27:11] it's it sort of is when the zoning came [27:13] in. My guess is this was all one lot, [27:15] but they it was just zoned as well these [27:17] are residential uses. let's put [27:19] residential zoning on it and then rest [27:22] of it is commercial already. And so by [27:26] formally drawing in these lines, the two [27:28] mobile homes remain mobile homes and [27:31] remain as residential lots. So they're [27:32] in conformance. [27:34] >> Okay. [27:34] >> The other two lots, one of which has the [27:37] um the dental office and the other which [27:40] is is vacant at the moment, those are [27:42] zone C2. Dentist office is allowed in [27:45] C2. So, it actually kind of clears up [27:49] this zoning issue of having multiple [27:52] different uses on a single legal parcel. [27:58] » If they did want to do a reszoning, [27:59] they'd have to come back for a zoning [28:02] amendment. [28:02] >> Okay. [28:05] So, the zoning stays the form [28:08] same. [28:14] It's lots one through 12. Okay. [28:16] >> Those are the the original city lots. [28:20] You know, it's like these uses are [28:21] spread out over 12 lots. And so the [28:27] consequence, I guess, or the final [28:29] outcome of this would be to create [28:31] instead of lots 1 through 12, it would [28:33] be instead just lots I guess 1 A, 2 A, 3 [28:39] A, and 4 A. [28:40] >> Okay. [28:42] >> For the minor subdivision. [28:43] >> Okay. That's kind of what I all of a [28:45] sudden when I saw the 12 I was like okay [28:48] >> okay [28:51] » yes [28:52] >> that's it [28:54] >> for me unless [28:55] >> applicant presentation [28:57] you're the applicant [29:01] [laughter] [29:02] >> would you like to go up there um [29:05] >> give your name um I need your you to [29:07] state your name and address the record [29:09] and I'm going to swear you [29:10] >> okay my name is Scott Keys my address is [29:13] 521 Colorado Boulevard. [29:15] >> Please raise your right hand [29:16] >> in Idaho Springs, Colorado. [29:18] >> Thank you. Do you swear the testimony [29:20] you're about to give is the truth, the [29:22] whole truth, and nothing but the truth? [29:23] >> I do. [29:24] >> Thank you. [29:25] [clears throat] [29:26] >> Um the only comment I had was um [29:31] the purpose of reszoning this for me is [29:33] I have a I mean obviously I own the [29:36] whole [29:37] plaque, the whole all 12 lots, right? Um [29:41] but the bottom piece, the piece that [29:44] fronts center alley, um I lost a [29:46] building in the snowstorm of 20 24 [29:52] big one in March when we had like 5 ft [29:53] of snow in the 24 [29:56] building collapsed. It was formally um [29:59] a lot of things was storage. We had we [30:04] demoed the lot. Now it's pretty kind of [30:06] useless for me. Um, and so I thought it [30:10] would be a good idea to subdivide that [30:12] piece off of where my dental practice [30:14] sits and and either [30:18] be able to sell it as a separate lot [30:19] instead of part of my dental practice um [30:22] or decide what to do with it at some [30:25] point. So, this makes it easier to [30:28] subdivide it that way rather than trying [30:29] to figure out how to cut it out of 12 [30:32] different lots. [30:34] Any [30:37] questions for [30:40] seems pretty straightforward? I guess [30:41] one of the questions I have is if it [30:43] gets [30:46] or is there taps? How do taps work when [30:49] it's like that? So you have one, two, [30:52] three. [30:53] >> There is a tap. To my knowledge, there [30:54] is a tap at the what we call slab right [30:58] now. There's a tap down there. Um, [31:01] >> oh, on the one that the building [31:02] collapsed on. [31:04] >> Yeah. [31:04] >> So then you have the dental and then the [31:06] other two. So you have like four taps [31:07] there. Okay. [31:09] >> Because if they were to subdivide it and [31:10] then try to sell the piece, they'd have [31:12] to do a water tap then. Water. [31:15] >> Water tap is not always there. [31:17] >> Okay. [31:19] >> Right. [31:20] >> Yeah. Yeah. If there was not an [31:22] additional tap, then they would have to [31:24] purchase a tap. But certainly they [31:26] could. I think regardless if you were to [31:30] if if they were to develop a new [31:31] building on the lot and there's not an [31:33] existing water sewage t even if it was [31:35] all one lot you'd still have to pay an [31:38] additional [31:40] fee. [31:42] [clears throat] [31:44] >> That's interesting. [31:45] >> Okay, that's the only question I had was [31:48] on that. Seems pretty straightforward. [31:51] Um you mentioned zoning though, but [31:52] we're not changing the zoning. Okay, [31:55] just [31:56] >> you said z. Did you catch it? [32:00] >> Which I understood what you meant. [32:02] >> Okay, any questions from the questioner? [32:05] [clears throat] [32:06] >> Not really. I mean, the only my only [32:09] thought is um obvious it's pretty ser. I [32:12] agree. Uh [32:16] I love the sound that I get in my house. [32:18] So, I was just the only thought is like [32:20] if you were to sell that lot on this [32:22] outside like you're aware that they [32:24] could take your sunshine. [32:26] >> Yeah. [clears throat] [32:27] >> Yeah. I was actually thinking about that [32:29] this morning. It's kind of funny. [32:30] [laughter] [32:31] But, uh yeah, I'm aware of that [32:34] depending on I think the buildability of [32:37] the lot is is pretty restrictive because [32:40] of the setbacks from the street to my [32:42] knowledge. Um they were grandfathered in [32:44] when I bought the lot. Um, I don't know [32:48] that they stay that way for good, [32:50] especially if it trans transfers to [32:52] someone else, but that's for the city to [32:54] decide, not for me. Um, so I don't I [32:58] don't know if I don't know how much [33:00] vertical obviously I don't know how much [33:02] vertical would be allowed. I know [33:04] apartments are kind of tall, but I don't [33:06] know that you can get that there. So, [33:08] >> okay. Well, as long as you're aware, I'm [33:10] >> aware. It's your deal. Perfect. [33:11] [laughter] [33:13] And it might be worth noting it's kind [33:15] of a strange lot line. [33:18] >> And the reason for that is because it [33:20] basically follows a pretty steep [33:22] downward slope that slopes from north to [33:25] south. So [33:27] >> that probably [33:29] >> reduces the [33:32] good 10 or 12 feet of [33:34] >> rain difference between the two lots. [33:39] So that might help should something [33:42] Also, my thought, not this is kind of a [33:45] sidebar, but my thought was if if I if [33:48] it's subdivided off of the piece of [33:51] property where my dental practice sits [33:54] and I needed to do some [33:56] excavation or [clears throat] retaining [33:59] wall or something to hold that hill at [34:01] some point, then it might be easier to [34:03] do that as a separate item that's just [34:05] kind of a sidewall [34:07] rather than [34:09] tear down the fence. [34:11] Yeah, [34:14] [clears throat] [34:15] >> it's quite a difference between [34:20] » the height of the alley and the height [34:24] of Colorado Boulevard. [clears throat] [34:29] » Oh, yeah. [34:31] >> I mean, the the building that collapsed [34:34] was was I think it was 20 feet tall or [34:38] 24 feet tall at the center. So, and it [34:40] was just right at the just just above [34:44] it's clear. [34:47] » Okay. Thank you. [34:48] >> Yes, ma'am. [34:49] >> Uh public comment. Anybody online? [34:52] Nobody here? [34:54] >> Nobody online. [34:56] >> Okay. Um [34:59] any other questions for staff or [35:02] applicant? [35:05] Oh, okay. So, now we'll close the public [35:07] hearing. [35:09] It is 619 [35:12] on the minor subdivision request for 521 [35:15] Colorado Boulevard. And now we can [35:18] deliberate. And if we're done [35:20] deliberating, I'll need a motion [35:23] and a second. [35:27] Right. make a motion unless [35:31] >> motion to recommend approval of [35:32] subdivision [35:35] uh 26-002. [35:38] » Is that enough? [35:39] >> Yep. [35:43] » We have a second. [35:45] >> I'll second it. [35:47] >> Any further discussion? [35:50] So, roll call. Chuck Howard. [35:53] >> Yes. [35:54] >> Judy Murphy. [35:55] >> Yes. Uh, Vice Chair Ursula Lake. [35:58] >> Yes. [35:58] >> Chair Cindy Olsen. [35:59] >> Yes. [36:04] » Okay. [36:07] [laughter] [36:08] >> Enjoy. [36:11] >> Good night. [36:14] >> Okay. Now we'll go into another public [36:17] hearing. [36:19] Um, [36:21] it's a public hearing on ordinance [36:23] number 17 series 2026, an ordinance [36:27] amending chapter 21 of the Idaho Springs [36:31] Municipal Coal to regulate group homes [36:34] and related residential uses for persons [36:37] with disabilities in conformance to [36:39] Colorado law and the federal housing [36:42] act. [36:45] Um, [36:48] so we open the hearing. [36:50] >> Yeah. [36:51] >> 6:20 p.m. And we'll start with city [36:54] staff presentations. [36:56] >> Sure. Thank you. Um, so we talked about [36:59] this last month at work session. This is [37:02] um something that our legal team [37:06] discovered that we are out of compliance [37:09] with state and federal laws on this [37:12] subject. [37:14] What this um proposed code amendment [37:18] would do would [37:20] first of all replace the definition of [37:23] just group home to um [37:27] community residential home and then add [37:29] a number of other definitions for [37:32] different categories of group home. It [37:34] would also allow [37:36] the group home as byite use in a number [37:40] of additional zone districts as is [37:44] required because um basically any zone [37:47] district that allows single family [37:49] residential as used by right has to [37:51] allow group homes as well. And then the [37:54] other thing it [37:56] um that is important to note is they [38:00] still have to go through any process [38:01] that would be required for multif family [38:03] residential or single family residential [38:05] for permitting. And we also still have [38:08] authority over um any other municipal [38:12] code requirements. There are also [38:13] relevant state and federal permitting [38:15] and licensing requirements. And so if [38:17] they don't meet that, then we'd still [38:19] have a control except [clears throat] [38:21] deny a permit until they get that. Um, [38:26] and again, since this is bringing us [38:28] into compliant with compliance with [38:31] state and federal laws, [38:33] uh, I recommend approval of this [38:37] ordinance for adoption. Um, but if you [38:40] have any questions for us, [38:43] can I wonder will do our best to answer [38:45] it. [38:47] >> [clears throat] [38:47] >> So this is from our discussion at our [38:50] last meeting. So it's to clean up what [38:52] we didn't have there more or less. [38:54] >> Exactly. Yeah. And at [clears throat] [38:55] the last meeting was just the work [38:57] session. So this is taking action. [39:01] >> Okay. Anybody have any questions? [39:03] >> I have a curious question more than [39:07] meaningful question. Um, [39:10] is there a reason why uh the individual [39:14] residential service and support settings [39:16] has an acronym in the other? No. [39:20] >> I just thought it was funny. [39:21] >> Uh, where on your So, it says proposed [39:24] changes and you list all the things. [39:26] >> Oh, and the staff me. [39:28] >> Uh, yes. [39:28] >> It's also in the ordinance. Like I just [39:30] pulled it from the ordinance. [39:31] >> Yeah, I think it's there too. like it [39:32] says individual residential services and [39:35] support setting and then in parenthesis [39:37] IRSS setting. So, I just thought it was [39:40] curious that what there was a specific [39:43] difference, [39:44] >> you know? I think it was uh Carmen [39:47] feeling lazy when she was writing this [39:49] and saying, "Okay, I I [39:51] >> I'm fine with writing out recovery [39:53] residents, but once I get to individual [39:56] residential, I just want to have to type [39:58] out [39:58] >> because it's so long." Perfect. [39:59] >> Yeah, that makes sense. [40:00] >> I mean, some of the others are quite [40:02] long as well, of course. Group home for [40:03] persons with behavioral or mental health [40:05] disorders. [40:06] >> Yeah. Well, it's [laughter] [40:07] drafter's prerogative, I think. [40:11] >> I have a question there, too. [40:15] What behavioral or mental health [40:18] activities are there that don't involve [40:21] violent offenses? [40:25] » Well, I don't think we define [40:31] it might be more for you, but [40:33] >> um well, let's see. It's at the statute. [40:35] So [40:36] >> my guess is that it's al it deals with [40:39] like developmental disabilities and [40:41] things like that as well. [40:48] » Yeah. I mean could be really any mental [40:51] health disorder. [40:53] So would you like I guess that would be [40:56] covered that would be what would cover [40:58] things like one or more substantial [41:00] disorders of the cognitive valitional or [41:02] emotional processes that grossly impairs [41:05] judgment or capacity to recognize [41:07] reality or to control behavior. [41:17] And if somebody gets out of hand, [41:21] they call for the police. [41:24] >> Yeah. Yeah. And it has to be licensed by [41:27] the Colorado Department of Public Health [41:29] and Environment. So they have [41:33] requirements and there are requirements [41:34] for staff for that. It appears. [41:37] >> That was my next question. Recovery [41:39] residents have a full-time counselor or [41:42] somebody living on the premises. Yeah, [41:46] there's um [41:49] there's pretty strict requirements for [41:51] licensing for some of these where there [41:53] are like on-site support staff and in [41:56] some cases there's requirements for like [42:00] certain types of meetings or like [42:01] educational things or that sort of group [42:05] additional like mental health care [42:08] people that [clears throat] come in. And [42:10] so like our ordinance would cover all [42:13] that because we just default to the [42:15] state qualified licensing requirements. [42:21] » And I have one number of questions to [42:25] uh down farther in there. I can tell you [42:29] what page it's on 20. [42:32] >> Okay. Um, [42:34] it says something about me neighborhood [42:37] notification for a building that houses [42:40] people with behavioral disabilities. [42:46] » It's like [42:48] letter C maybe. [42:51] >> Yeah. So, so the idea would be [42:55] if someone has an existing single family [42:58] home or duplex or multif family or [43:00] whatever that meets the that already [43:02] exists and you say, "Hey, I'm going to [43:05] convert this from chain of use, I guess, [43:08] from single family residence to [43:12] whichever type of group home, [43:16] then [43:18] they would you just go through like [43:20] building permit or change abuse process, [43:22] there wouldn't be a notification to the [43:24] neighbors that says, "Hey, by the way, [43:26] now there's going to be this type of [43:28] group home next to you." However, if you [43:31] had a vacant lot and someone proposed [43:35] new residence, [43:37] they might need a final development plan [43:39] and that that would be our land use [43:40] process that would require public [43:42] notice. [43:43] >> Yeah. So the use itself doesn't require [43:45] public notice but the act of creating [43:49] that use if it requires variances or you [43:53] know things like that would have public [43:56] notice. Basically like they are not [43:59] subject to any additional notice [44:02] requirement that is not already in our [44:04] code for anyone else. [44:12] » Right. And we're not I would say we as [44:16] city staff are not recommending this [44:18] language because we for any reason other [44:22] than this is the language that's [44:23] required by state or federal law. [44:32] Okay. Any other questions? If not obtain [44:37] a motion [44:39] in a second. Thank you. Did we [44:41] >> I think we closed it, didn't we? [44:43] >> Oh, [44:44] >> and did we ask for public comment? Thank [44:45] you. [44:46] >> Yeah. Here. [44:46] >> Yes. You asked for public comment, but [44:48] the hearing is not closed yet. [44:49] >> Oh, sorry. Okay. Now, I'll close the [44:52] public hearing and it's 6:28 [44:56] p.m. [44:59] I thought we did discussion. Okay. Now, [45:03] a motion. Sorry, you just did it, you [45:05] know. [45:08] Um, [45:09] go ahead. [45:10] >> You can take turns. [laughter] [45:13] >> I'll make a motion to recommend approval [45:14] ordinance number 17, series 2026. [45:19] >> Sure, [45:21] I'll second it. [45:23] >> Any other discussion? [45:26] Roll call. [45:27] >> Chuck Howard, [45:28] >> yes. [45:29] >> Judy Murphy, [45:30] >> yes. [45:31] >> Vice Chair Ursula Krule, [45:33] >> yes. [45:33] >> Chair Cindy Olsen, [45:35] >> yes. [45:36] Okay, motion carries. [45:41] Okay, next item on the agenda is old [45:44] business. [45:45] >> I don't have any old business today. [45:48] >> Okay, [45:49] any questions on old business? [45:53] >> Okay, we'll adjourn the meeting at 6:29 [45:57] p.m. Gez. [45:59] >> Thank you. [46:00] >> Public hearings and [46:03] part of the night wonder. [46:05] >> [laughter] [46:07] >> Best part of the night for you. [46:10] >> Hi everyone. Nice. [46:11] >> Nice. [46:12] >> You might wonder. So now we'll go into [46:15] the work session. [46:19] » There's three. There are three items. [46:22] I'm hoping they're all pretty quick. [46:25] >> Um does anyone need a break or anything [46:27] or should we just [46:28] >> keep her going? [46:29] >> Okay. Okay. So, this first one [46:32] >> um I've been dealing with this [46:36] recently. So, you know, we have non a [46:39] section of the code that has [46:40] non-conforming buildings and [46:41] non-conforming uses. So, basically like [46:44] let's say you have a dentist office in [46:48] R1 zoning. It's but it is existed that [46:51] can remain as long as it stays that way [46:53] but it's not performing use. Similarly, [46:55] let's say I have my house and it's only [46:57] one foot from the property line and the [46:59] setback's 5T. That's a non-conforming [47:02] building. And so, um, talking with [47:05] Carmen, the way that our code is written [47:07] right now, [47:10] don't explicitly have the allowance [47:13] for someone to expand their building. [47:16] And so, for example, you know, you have [47:18] a building that's right on the property [47:20] line. [47:22] Obviously, you can't expand it [47:25] off your property, but on the other side [47:27] of your property, say you have 50 feet [47:28] of space, the way our code reads is we [47:31] wouldn't allow that building to be [47:33] expanded even if the new addition is [47:36] compliant with setbacks and height and [47:39] all of that. And so that could be fine [47:43] if we want to take that approach. But [47:46] what a lot of other places do is they [47:48] say you can't really change or expand [47:51] your encroachment in that makes it [47:53] non-conforming. But if you want to do an [47:55] addition to your house or your business [47:58] and the addition meets all the current [48:00] requirements, you can do that. And so I [48:03] wanted to bring this to to you all to [48:05] say does it make sense for us to [48:08] explicitly add that allowance so that [48:11] people can expand or change their homes [48:13] as long as the new work meets current [48:15] requirements. Um if we don't do that [48:18] then you know folks are kind of just [48:21] stuck with the square footage they have [48:24] whatot or could do a addition that's [48:28] detached or something like that. I don't [48:30] think there's a reason not to do it [48:33] because they have to meet the building [48:35] requirements and code requirements [48:36] anyway. Um, and it could be a simple [48:40] like you said, adding a bedroom or isn't [48:43] it to fix something that if it [48:47] >> fell apart or like the gentleman that [48:49] was here collapsed, he'd be able to [48:51] remix it? So, so he could So, right now [48:55] the non-conforming [48:57] section of the code allows you if you're [48:59] building that's non-conforming is [49:01] damaged or destroyed, [49:03] >> you can rebuild it exactly like for [49:06] like, but you couldn't change the [49:09] footprint of that building. You'd have [49:11] to rebuild it like for like. You [49:12] couldn't like say, "Well, my building [49:14] just collapsed in a snowstorm. Why don't [49:16] I expand it build it better?" like, you [49:20] know, build it back further into the [49:21] lot, keep the original footprint plus [49:24] expand it to to give some additional [49:27] square footage. And, you know, most of [49:29] our lots were quite small, but you could [49:31] foresee a scenario where someone has a [49:33] little house and there's room to expand [49:35] in the back, but it's too close to the [49:36] front. Now, they have three kids and now [49:38] they have four kids. We really want that [49:40] other bedroom. [49:42] Um, this kind of clarifies that you can [49:45] do that addition. [49:47] I think it's something we should do. [49:49] What's anybody else's? [49:51] >> Okay. Um [49:53] thing and um and I've been thinking [49:56] about this since we've been talking [49:58] Carlson and all those things. Um my only [50:02] thought about this is that it will be [50:04] nice in a way and I don't know if I feel [50:07] like it will be way too hard to [50:10] even figure out how to approve or not [50:12] things. But [50:14] my thought is like if we have a [50:16] situation like that in a place and they [50:18] do want to expand on this one area that [50:20] they can't but everybody else and for [50:23] example their neighbors are and we think [50:25] that it would look better if they all [50:29] were unifor [50:34] to decide on that. Um [50:37] >> but they could because they could appeal [50:39] for a a variance if they wanting to [50:41] build something. So that is an opt an [50:44] option [50:45] >> that would be an option but I would say [50:47] with variances [50:49] like [50:49] >> if we already have rules that say no [50:51] then the variance probably can go around [50:53] again rules [50:54] >> like could can't do uh [51:00] » well can't do a variance for [51:02] non-conforming [51:03] >> I think what you could say well I think [51:07] it would be hard to meet the criteria [51:10] because like you say well you already [51:11] have an 800 foot house or a thousand [51:13] square foot house or in Carlson's case [51:16] you have a 20,000 foot building or [51:18] whatever it is like what's the need for [51:21] a variance you already have a usable [51:24] house that's been there for 100 years so [51:28] I don't know that I mean reasonable to [51:31] let it me personally think it's [51:33] reasonable to let someone expand but um [51:37] >> I was thinking more on a house not [51:39] Carlson [51:40] >> but Carlson I think is Actually, a [51:41] reasonable point to bring up is like, [51:44] you know, Carlson is like this C-shape, [51:46] let's say, you know, three-sided, but [51:48] there's that whole bit in the middle. [51:49] This would never work for the parking, [51:51] but let's say someone came in and said, [51:53] "Well, I want to keep the existing [51:55] building, but I want to do an addition [51:58] in the middle of the open space where [52:00] the playground used to be, so I can get [52:03] extra usable space." [52:06] as it's written now, you couldn't do [52:09] that expansion because [52:12] your building's not performing because [52:14] it doesn't meet current setbacks. It's [52:15] built all the way up to like 13th [52:17] Avenue. So, you couldn't even do your [52:19] compliant addition in the middle where [52:21] the playground used to be. But what this [52:24] code amendment would do would be to say, [52:26] okay, well, now you can do your little [52:28] addition in the middle as long as you [52:30] meet all the requirements for parking [52:31] and whatnot, [52:32] >> but still have to meet the requirements. [52:34] So, [52:35] >> right. So, so that is kind of a real [52:36] world example. [52:38] >> Yeah. Yeah. [52:40] >> Yeah. No, I mean they did this for sure. [52:41] I just was wondering if there's any [52:44] other ways to make it a little flexible [52:46] circum circumstances, but also I don't [52:49] feel like we shouldn't do this just [52:51] because [52:53] you're just saying how can it work? [52:55] >> Yeah, if it would be possible, you know, [52:57] blue mainly. [53:00] Well, and thinking of Carlson again, if [53:03] we did this code amendment and then they [53:06] someone came in and said, "I want to [53:07] keep the building, but I want to [53:08] increase the height of story." They [53:10] still couldn't do that because you [53:13] [clears throat] can't like let's say on [53:14] 13th they said, "I'm going to go up a [53:16] level." Like, it doesn't meet the [53:18] setback. So, you can't add a level that [53:20] doesn't meet the setbacks because you're [53:22] expanding the encroachment in that [53:24] setback area. So like they couldn't just [53:26] say we're going to add a story and leave [53:28] the footprint the same because that [53:30] still expands the approachment. They'd [53:31] have to expand the building somewhere [53:34] that meets the requirements. So it kind [53:37] of protects neighbors, I guess, from [53:39] someone saying, "I want to take my [53:40] building that's one foot from your [53:42] property and make it 35t tall," [53:46] >> which I've had people say before. They [53:49] actually could do a variance in limited [53:52] circumstances depending on what the ask [53:55] is. [53:56] >> Okay. [53:56] >> So there I mean it is available but [53:59] variance language we have isn't the best [54:01] but [54:02] >> there's a process [54:04] >> and I guess we could they could use [54:08] like a architecture character or with [54:10] neighborhood character or something [54:12] >> a story. Um not necessarily just because [54:16] if they're like they come in there the [54:18] reason is like well this houses would uh [54:20] are like that and yeah we think it will [54:23] look good and will continuity of the [54:25] design of the street or the block or [54:27] whatever. [54:28] >> So not yes and no because the variance [54:33] process you have to meet a bunch of [54:36] different criteria. [54:38] >> Okay. [54:38] >> And some are that. [54:40] >> Okay. But others are like like the [54:42] classic one is you'll suffer a hardship [54:45] if you can't do this the way you want to [54:49] do it. That's usually pretty tough to [54:51] prove. [54:52] >> Okay. [54:52] >> But uh unless you like you never know, [54:55] you know, like if you have vacant lot [54:57] like this is one I think we have a few [54:58] vacant lots that are really tiny and [55:00] they're vacant and it's like you can't [55:02] build a house on that lot without [55:05] getting the variance because [55:07] >> the setbacks. [55:08] >> It's Yeah. because the setbacks take up [55:10] all except for like 10 feet of the [55:12] space. So like that's the one where [55:13] clearly there would be a hardship of not [55:15] being able to develop at all [55:18] and we've approved some variances board [55:21] has for sheds quite frequently and it's [55:24] just because lots are small and houses [55:26] tend to be small. They've said that it's [55:28] a hardship not to be able to store [55:29] things securely and there's not enough [55:31] storage space in the the house. [55:33] >> Are you getting people asking about [55:35] this? Well, it's come up a couple of [55:37] times actually recently with building [55:40] permits. [55:40] >> Okay. So, [55:42] and I'd never really I wouldn't be [55:45] surprised if permits have been approved [55:47] in the past and it's just, you know, [55:49] kind of by mistake. But now is the time. [55:52] Fix it, I guess, because there's just [55:56] from like doing kind of an initial [55:58] search, I'd guess there's a third of [56:01] houses in town [56:03] are not conforming because of just the [56:06] size of lots. [56:08] And so people if if we take a stance you [56:12] can't do it and we don't kind of clarify [56:14] that you can do it then a lot of people [56:17] are not able to really do much with [56:19] their property without trying for a [56:21] variance. [56:22] >> So what do you just do a code amendment [56:24] for this? [56:24] >> Yeah this would be a code amendment and [56:26] really it would kind of just be adding [56:28] like that one sentence or something [56:30] similar to it that's kind of at the [56:32] bottom. You just add a sentence that [56:35] says compliant [56:38] enlargements [56:40] are permitted basically. [56:44] So I'll if if direction is move forward [56:48] and I'll bring it to council and then [56:49] we'll have pretty simple ordinance for [56:52] you to review in the near future. [56:55] >> Amen. [56:58] >> Now the next one is the lighting. Oh my [57:00] gosh, there was so much paper. [57:03] >> Yeah, I I tried not to make it too much, [57:05] but I I wanted you guys to have [57:08] >> some examples to look at. [57:10] >> So, when you looked at these examples, [57:12] what is the first pick of [57:16] the examples? [57:17] >> Well, the I think the question that Nick [57:19] wanted to present tonight was, do you [57:22] have a preference? And I would say Aspen [57:25] is by far the most detailed, right? [57:27] that's like 20 something pages long of [57:29] just dark or 23 pages about their dark [57:32] sky and they set up really specific [57:35] circumstances and different lighting [57:36] zones and all this stuff. [57:38] >> Um, [57:40] and it's really really detailed. Then [57:42] Littleton is like kind of a medium [57:44] amount of detail and it gets into a lot [57:46] of [57:49] maximum lumens and needs for lighting [57:52] plans and um things like that. And then [57:57] John'stown still requires downcast cut [58:01] off fixtures that are shielded. It has [58:03] limits. It has a color temperature [58:06] rating, but [58:08] that's kind of it, you know. [58:11] The other thing was that I think is [58:13] important to note is Aspen had a [58:16] basically said [58:18] this applies to everyone existing single [58:21] family homes future single family homes [58:23] existing businesses future businesses [58:26] and everyone has five years to comply. [58:28] So you know you have a motion sensor [58:31] light that's too bright you have five [58:32] years to buy a new one at your single [58:34] family home. Um, Johntown just basically [58:38] said just applies to new construction [58:42] and in fact, I'm pretty sure only [58:44] applies to the significant upgrades to [58:48] existing lighting, [58:50] >> right? And it would [58:52] apply to like a new single family home, [58:54] but like if you did an addition to your [58:57] existing single family home, you don't [58:58] have to change anything ever. And so [59:03] I think it's like Aspen is a official [59:06] dark sky like international dark sky [59:10] community. [59:11] >> Johntown's not and it's just I think [59:15] with direction on how detailed we want [59:17] to get at it. Then Nick and I can work [59:20] on like actually presenting an ordinance [59:22] with [59:24] >> the the one thing I actually found [59:26] interesting is obviously John'stown is [59:30] the simplest one. So you'd think all [59:32] right maybe that's the oldest one. [59:34] They're actually the most recent po that [59:37] kind of maybe two three months ago I [59:39] think. Okay. So, [59:40] >> so when we talked about it one time like [59:44] so new buildings or new developments [59:46] that we've had there's a international [59:51] sky ordinance or something. [59:54] So, it sounds like Aspen might have [59:56] taken a lot of that because you said you [59:58] used the word international. you know [1:00:00] how there's like the international [1:00:02] building codes [1:00:04] um which I don't know if we need to do [1:00:08] that like Aspen did. I mean it's not [1:00:11] like we have a whole lot of out of [1:00:13] compliance here already. [1:00:16] I mean is there some annoying stuff out [1:00:19] there that people notice? I think [1:00:22] probably just the east commercial [1:00:25] building [1:00:27] and the McDonald [1:00:28] >> which a lot of their things that they [1:00:30] would say is probably because of safety [1:00:32] and parking and stuff [1:00:34] >> which is a different animal than [1:00:36] residential [1:00:37] >> right but these would like going forward [1:00:40] if we passed honestly it looks like any [1:00:43] of them they establish a 20 foot height [1:00:45] limit for polemounted fixtures so if you [1:00:48] wanted a [1:00:49] >> new stuff [1:00:50] >> a new huge McDonald's sign can only be [1:00:53] 20 feet tall. [1:00:54] >> You couldn't have it be guessing as [1:00:57] close to 50 feet tall right now. [1:00:59] >> Well, I think we already have that down [1:01:01] there that they can't put tall ones in [1:01:04] unless they're already existing, [1:01:06] >> right? [1:01:07] >> So, that's kind of addressed already. I guess my thought is a combination of [1:01:15] the Littleton and the [1:01:19] >> Johnson. [1:01:21] >> I think that's doable. [1:01:23] >> And [1:01:24] >> unless there's something good out of [1:01:26] this. This was hard to read. [1:01:30] I feel like the um [1:01:33] enforcement of the Aspen ordinance would [1:01:36] be a bit of an undertaking, [1:01:38] >> but I think the one good thing from that [1:01:40] is [1:01:42] do we want it to um [1:01:47] >> do do we [1:01:48] >> have time like well do we care if about [1:01:54] requiring existing properties to get [1:01:56] into compliance? [1:01:58] I I in a way think it would be nice for [1:02:02] the community, [1:02:05] but it's hard to make people do stuff [1:02:10] and then [1:02:12] >> how do you get them to do it and you [1:02:15] know [1:02:15] >> Yeah. [1:02:17] >> make it happen every person to court [1:02:20] basically, [1:02:21] >> right? Um [1:02:23] >> pestering them. [1:02:24] >> Yeah. [1:02:25] >> Or you just annoy them. But I think [1:02:27] having something in place that people [1:02:29] really know about if there's a way for [1:02:31] them to know about it. So where you're [1:02:34] going to replace an outdoor light, [1:02:36] you're going to run to Home Depot, it'll [1:02:38] make you sit there and think that I'm [1:02:41] going to be compliant with what what the [1:02:44] city has because I'm a good neighbor. [1:02:47] >> Yeah. [1:02:47] >> Um [1:02:48] >> Right. But to put a time frame on it, I [1:02:51] kind of like it, but then I don't like [1:02:53] the fact that you have to tell people [1:02:55] and five years [1:02:58] seems too short, [1:03:00] you know? [1:03:01] >> Sure. [1:03:02] >> Especially in times like today, a lot of [1:03:04] people are they really remodeling and [1:03:06] doing stuff? [1:03:08] Um, right. So to put a time limit, [1:03:12] I don't know. That's just my thought. [1:03:15] Um, [1:03:17] didn't it wasn't it this one I was [1:03:19] talking to you about with Summit County [1:03:21] where they're all going to this stuff [1:03:23] too. [1:03:24] >> Summit County has a pretty detailed one. [1:03:26] I'd say it's not quite Aspen, but it's [1:03:29] more than Littleton. And the problem I [1:03:32] had when I worked there, which I'm sure [1:03:33] is still an issue, is that people would [1:03:35] constantly call and be like, I don't [1:03:37] like my neighbor's light. They installed [1:03:39] a new bulb. It's too bright and you need [1:03:42] to like fix it. So then you have to call [1:03:45] them and say, "Hey, I have to go look at [1:03:47] your light. It's out of compliance. You [1:03:48] have to fix it." And they it's a whole [1:03:50] ordeal of just really it's just two [1:03:52] neighbors who don't like each other. [1:03:54] >> Well, it's I have to say it's gotten [1:03:56] hard to buy lights. Have you gone and [1:03:58] bought light bulbs lately? [1:04:00] >> You go in and it's warm light or what's [1:04:03] the other one called? Warm and then [1:04:05] bright or whatever, but when you buy the [1:04:08] warm, it's still not that warm yellow [1:04:10] like it used to be. It's still bright. [1:04:13] Yeah, [1:04:14] >> everything's like LED these days. [1:04:16] >> It's like, wow. You put it in your [1:04:18] bathroom and you walk in and it's like, [1:04:19] "Oh, geez, that's too bright." [1:04:22] >> It's true. You have to buy [1:04:24] >> So, I can see for out outside fixtures, [1:04:26] that's a tough one because if you've got [1:04:29] the white bright one, your neighbor is [1:04:31] going to get annoyed, but yet you bought [1:04:33] a soft one, [1:04:34] >> right? [1:04:35] >> Yeah. [1:04:35] And that's where I think, you [1:04:37] know, if someone just replaces a light [1:04:39] bulb saying, "Sorry, now you're out of [1:04:42] compliance." It's like a nightmare [1:04:44] because the solution is you unscrew the [1:04:46] light bulb and then you just screw it [1:04:48] back. Like you can't take someone to [1:04:50] court for installing too bright of a [1:04:52] light bulb and then just taking it out [1:04:54] and putting back in. You know, it would [1:04:56] be a nightmare. [1:04:58] >> I don't know what somebody else's [1:04:59] thought on combination of the two. [1:05:03] I like the principles that hman uses. I [1:05:07] definitely wouldn't want us to be super [1:05:10] specific about [1:05:12] anything general necessarily. Um [1:05:16] I do think that [1:05:20] maybe here the the what do you call it [1:05:23] here the different areas [1:05:27] zones. [1:05:28] >> Yeah. um thinking historic district, you [1:05:33] know, it's like a different [1:05:35] situation that by the park, right? Like [1:05:39] there's people here hang out a little [1:05:41] later like by CCRC usually there's [1:05:44] people but I don't know I'm just feeling [1:05:46] like we could have different zones [1:05:50] unless he's thinking that we should we [1:05:52] need to [1:05:53] >> just that yeah that's doable. I mean if [1:05:56] you look at little tense on page five of their stuff, [1:06:03] they speak about different standards for [1:06:06] downtown [1:06:08] and the South Plat River environment, [1:06:10] whatever that means to them. So, I I [1:06:14] think that's something we could look at. [1:06:17] >> You could also break it up potentially [1:06:19] by residential or park area versus like [1:06:22] commercial Yeah. area. That's a little [1:06:24] tough though because you have some [1:06:26] commercial mixed in with residential and [1:06:29] then it's true. Do you start a [1:06:32] >> feud within town like well that guy gets [1:06:34] to and I don't. [1:06:36] >> True. [1:06:37] >> I mean new construction absolutely. [1:06:39] Yeah. [1:06:39] >> Um [1:06:40] >> I think that's the real goal that easily [1:06:43] gets solved by passing any of these. [1:06:46] It's just they all like that was my big [1:06:48] takeaway is the Aspen's a whole [1:06:50] different league. But the other ones, [1:06:51] it's just how you handle existing [1:06:55] things. [1:06:55] >> Well, and it could be any [1:06:58] anybody that comes in for a building [1:07:00] permit, anything like that. It could [1:07:03] apply to these um dwelling changes, [1:07:09] non-conforming like we just did. I mean, [1:07:11] you could put [1:07:13] pretty much everything into it except [1:07:15] for trying to enforce existing, [1:07:20] >> right? Yeah. If you're not doing [1:07:21] anything and you're not changing [1:07:22] anything, you just [1:07:25] keep doing what you're doing. It seems [1:07:27] like it's probably the easiest way of [1:07:31] >> if they haven't if the neighbors haven't [1:07:32] hollered yet, they probably won't, [1:07:35] >> right? True. [1:07:38] >> Okay. Um the only the other thought I [1:07:40] have about um this um you mentioned that [1:07:44] Aspen is a like certified uh dark sky something town. [1:07:51] >> Um I just wonder if that is something [1:07:54] that we would ever want to just you know [1:07:57] throw out there in the community to see [1:07:59] if people feels like that's something we [1:08:01] want to be. [1:08:03] >> Can we do that or are we too close to [1:08:06] Denver? [1:08:07] >> Hard to say. I think we have something [1:08:09] like [1:08:11] seven or eight in I in the state right [1:08:14] now. There's only 270ish [1:08:18] around the entire world. [1:08:20] >> We could be so special guys. [1:08:22] >> You guys could be sure [laughter] that [1:08:24] there's a lot [1:08:27] >> it's very dark website's not up to date. [1:08:31] Frisco just became a dark sky community. [1:08:33] >> Summer County was just passing all [1:08:36] >> is one. Presto, Norwood, Nuckla, Snow [1:08:40] Mass, Peyonia, Ridgeway, and West Cliff [1:08:44] are officially certified dark sky [1:08:46] communities. Technically, downtown Aspen [1:08:48] is not. It's old Snow Mass, but I think [1:08:51] Aspen's I read something they're like [1:08:53] pushing forward. I guess it has a roof. [1:08:56] >> And they had a lot of public meetings [1:08:57] and doing stuff on that for Summit [1:08:59] County, too. [1:09:00] >> But I guess to Judy's point, these are [1:09:03] all quite far from the front range. [1:09:06] So I don't [1:09:07] >> So it might not be a thing. [1:09:09] >> Yeah. I'm just I'm not sure because [1:09:12] everything that's in the state is like [1:09:16] west or south of Denver because they [1:09:19] don't get the light pollution. Maria, [1:09:21] who used to work for the city, the best [1:09:23] and brightest fellow, she was a big [1:09:25] stargazer. So she had all these maps [1:09:27] that showed like how much light [1:09:29] pollution was in different places. Ours [1:09:32] was not great, but you can still see the [1:09:35] constellations from [1:09:37] >> I was going to say I didn't think ours [1:09:38] is that bad at all. [1:09:42] >> Um, cool. Well, I mean, just throwing [1:09:43] that out there. If you ever we have a [1:09:45] community meeting and that's a question [1:09:47] that you feel like putting in there, I [1:09:48] don't think, you know, will harm [1:09:50] anybody. Um, [1:09:52] >> yeah, that would be a good way of [1:09:54] encouraging people to [1:09:56] >> change their lights, right? we're [1:09:58] pushing for this and it can get us these [1:10:00] accolades. [1:10:01] >> Well, I think if they hear about it, [1:10:02] too, because especially when you look at [1:10:04] like these two the diagrams on it will [1:10:09] make you go buy these instead of buying [1:10:11] these. But you [1:10:14] know, [1:10:15] >> I just bought two and I just looked it [1:10:19] up and I'm within the loom and [1:10:23] >> Okay. Does that answer? [1:10:25] >> Yeah. And for the for the ramp up or [1:10:29] like you know time limit [1:10:33] >> discussion what I think I'll do is I'll [1:10:35] just put it in there you guys can see [1:10:37] what it looks like and then [1:10:38] >> can always take it out [1:10:39] >> and in the meantime talk to people ask [1:10:42] you know your neighbor what would they [1:10:43] think if somebody did that or [1:10:45] >> just I'd rather just have it in there so [1:10:47] you guys can see and then can always [1:10:49] take it out [1:10:49] >> but then we can see if there's any [1:10:51] feedback on um see I'm the type I [1:10:54] wouldn't have a problem changing [1:10:55] something to do it. But [1:10:57] >> one other question I've got [1:11:00] because it might affect me [1:11:03] is if they built Soda Creek Highlands, [1:11:08] all that light's got to come down. [1:11:11] But we're all below that. They would [1:11:14] have to abide by what we have. And [1:11:17] that's the part of the new construction [1:11:19] you would want [1:11:21] it the down shadow and it only can go so [1:11:24] far only so far out. Yeah. [1:11:28] >> I mean shielded. [1:11:29] >> That is a good [1:11:31] >> example. [1:11:32] >> If they're too clo like if you had a lot [1:11:35] here and then the next lot was like 100 [1:11:37] feet higher and it was only [1:11:39] 100 feet away. You'd probably still be [1:11:42] able to look directly up at a shielded [1:11:44] cut off fixture. But [1:11:47] it would be less bright than if [1:11:50] everything was just shining everywhere. [1:11:51] So I don't know in your particular in [1:11:54] that exact example it would be quite [1:11:56] difficult to [1:11:58] >> really solve for it but [1:12:00] >> just get a slingshot [1:12:02] [laughter] [1:12:05] » might [1:12:06] >> yeah I mean there'd be [1:12:07] >> simple answer [1:12:09] >> there probably be some help but that [1:12:11] might be like just a bad situation like [1:12:14] just like the weird test case [1:12:17] >> well and I guess theme lights versus [1:12:19] having like a maximum [1:12:21] you know, luminosity. I guess it's like [1:12:24] if you like there's a difference between [1:12:26] you see it a lot in the Midwest and [1:12:27] suburban neighborhoods. People put [1:12:29] candle lights on all of their eaves and [1:12:31] there's like every three feet they have [1:12:32] a cand shines down. It's so bright even [1:12:35] though each one individually is not that [1:12:37] much. Like there might be some way of [1:12:39] saying like there's a maximum amount of [1:12:41] lighting per [1:12:43] facade or something. [1:12:45] >> Yeah. [1:12:46] >> Or even if you're something in it might [1:12:49] say something if your property is above [1:12:51] another [1:12:53] the restrictions might be [1:12:56] >> sure. Yeah. But I mean, yeah, there's [1:12:59] all kinds of ways you could deal with [1:13:00] that because that could happen [1:13:02] [clears throat] on any of the streets up [1:13:04] along there, too, right? [1:13:05] >> Because you've got people downtown Wall [1:13:07] Street. [1:13:08] >> Yeah. I think folks folks can see [1:13:10] Montaigne, you know, from from parts of [1:13:13] town. Nobody has obnoxious lighting up [1:13:16] there. But if someone want to install 10 [1:13:18] 10,000 lu light bulbs tomorrow, [1:13:21] >> hey, I keep trying to put them because [1:13:23] of the dang animals. [1:13:26] [laughter] [1:13:27] >> There's one window on montane that [1:13:30] there's a certain time of the day that [1:13:31] it just the light shut [1:13:34] in my house. [1:13:35] >> That's the sun reflecting. [1:13:36] >> Yeah, it is. [1:13:40] » Watch it be mine. [laughter] [1:13:44] » All right. Right. Well, [1:13:45] >> my windows aren't clean enough. [1:13:47] [clears throat] [1:13:47] >> Okay, [1:13:48] >> that all sounds good. [1:13:49] >> That's a good direction. [1:13:50] >> Yeah, I think so. [1:13:52] >> All right. Um, this last one is we [1:13:56] talked I don't know the middle of this [1:13:57] year, I guess, about [1:14:01] potentially changing some parking [1:14:03] requirements because we had identified [1:14:05] some uses that seemed like really out of [1:14:07] whack. And so, and then after the um [1:14:12] public hearings for the Carlson [1:14:14] redevelopment, there was some push from [1:14:16] the community to look at it. And so, it [1:14:18] was just nice because I was already [1:14:20] looking at it. So, what I did is I took [1:14:23] 32 jurisdictions around the state. They [1:14:26] kind of range in size. I I have Colorado [1:14:28] Springs and Lammer County in there which [1:14:30] are big communities but the rest are [1:14:33] like West Slope, Rocky Mountain Town [1:14:37] communities that are pretty small. Um I [1:14:40] included the spreadsheet data in the [1:14:43] report and uh I also put together some [1:14:47] like just general info um takeaways. And [1:14:52] so I think what I wanted to do uh [1:14:57] tonight is just share a bit of that. And [1:14:58] just for anyone who's like online, I [1:15:02] figured you know it's quite interesting [1:15:04] when you look at the data because you've [1:15:06] heard in the meeting like for [1:15:07] residential like just not enough parking [1:15:10] being provided like maybe they're [1:15:12] meeting it or they're close to meeting [1:15:13] it but like that's not enough anymore. [1:15:15] So, you look at the 32 jurisdictions [1:15:18] where [1:15:20] we have a more complicated thing with [1:15:22] these like two-bedroom units that are [1:15:24] small versus two-bedroom units that are [1:15:26] large, three-bedroom units that are [1:15:28] small, threebedroom units that are [1:15:29] large. Like, they don't do that anywhere [1:15:31] else really. Like, it's kind of our own [1:15:33] unique little thing. [1:15:35] But when you look at most of the data, [1:15:36] like for town homes, the average is [1:15:39] about two parking spaces per unit. For [1:15:41] studio apartments, we're pretty much in [1:15:44] line. For one bedrooms, we're pretty [1:15:46] much in line. [1:15:49] When you get to like twobedroom and [1:15:50] three bedrooms, [1:15:53] we're maybe a little lower than the [1:15:56] average across other jurisdictions, but [1:15:58] it's pretty close. You know, like if [1:16:00] you're building small units, then we're [1:16:01] definitely low. If you're building [1:16:03] larger units, then we're right on the [1:16:05] money. And so, [1:16:08] um, [1:16:10] >> which makes you sit there and think, why [1:16:12] does the square footage count? You're [1:16:14] the who could you're based on your [1:16:16] bedrooms, like you said. I think that's [1:16:19] >> Yeah. [1:16:20] >> too much. I think the uh idea the idea [1:16:24] of it is like you have two bedroom [1:16:26] that's 750 square feet is less likely to [1:16:29] be [1:16:30] [clears throat] shared by roommates or [1:16:32] something like it doesn't I can't think [1:16:34] of a good reason and we're there's [1:16:36] really not other examples of people do [1:16:38] it that way. So, one thing that I'd [1:16:42] suggest is whatever we do, we just pick [1:16:46] like a number for those and it doesn't [1:16:48] matter the size of the two-bedroom unit. [1:16:50] It's just [1:16:52] um [1:16:53] >> I would agree. Clean that up. [1:16:55] >> And same with three bedroomedroom plus [1:16:58] um [1:16:59] the other thing that we don't have but [1:17:02] other places do is they have a [1:17:04] requirement for guest parking for [1:17:07] multifamily. So like if you have a 10 [1:17:10] unit multif family, you have to provide [1:17:13] an additional [1:17:15] two guest spaces or something across the [1:17:17] whole development. Whereas the way our [1:17:19] code reads now is like guests are just [1:17:22] lumped in with everything else. [1:17:25] See, and I think when you have like [1:17:28] apartment complexes, like let's say if [1:17:30] that was filled up over there, I think [1:17:32] that's where guest parking would be [1:17:34] important because you do you get family [1:17:37] that comes or somebody comes over, [1:17:39] everybody's got an assigned parking spot [1:17:42] and where does your friend park if they [1:17:45] came over for dinner or something? [1:17:47] >> I don't think that's out of the norm. [1:17:49] >> And yeah, and I [1:17:51] >> apartment complexes. I know like uh the [1:17:54] fieldhouse they're not doing assigned [1:17:56] parking spaces. It's just like oh you [1:17:59] can park you like register your car [1:18:02] whatever you park wherever but you get a [1:18:04] certain amount like number of permits or [1:18:08] whatever but it's for anywhere. And so [1:18:10] if you're a guest you can there's space [1:18:13] you can just park right? [1:18:14] >> There's not space you can't park. Uh but [1:18:18] yeah, some places just specifically say [1:18:21] you have to add guest parking. What you [1:18:23] could also do is just [1:18:26] make the general parking minimum [1:18:28] slightly higher [1:18:30] >> and then that with like say for a [1:18:32] two-bedroom unit, the average across all [1:18:34] these other places is 1.77. We could [1:18:37] make it two spaces per twobedroom [1:18:40] and then the idea being like you have a [1:18:43] few extra spaces. So, [1:18:45] >> so using the fieldhouse as an example, [1:18:50] >> do they have the exact number of parking [1:18:52] spots that accommodate the onebedroom, [1:18:55] the twobedroom, the threebedroom? Did it get done that way? So, there [1:19:00] isn't extra, but yet [1:19:02] >> they have a couple extra just because [1:19:05] they have the space. The idea being like [1:19:07] depending on what commercial use they [1:19:09] put in, they have the um [1:19:12] >> commercial uses as well. [1:19:14] um [1:19:15] they they have a few extra spaces to [1:19:17] accommodate that but without the [1:19:20] commercial space they probably would [1:19:22] have hit it exactly and um [1:19:27] it probably makes more difference as you [1:19:29] get bigger units right like a onebedroom [1:19:32] acquiring 1.5 spaces for one bedroom [1:19:35] which is what we already do [1:19:38] probably is enough to say well some will [1:19:40] be shared by a couple some will be just [1:19:42] a single person. You don't have to [1:19:45] increase it. I think the [1:19:49] um [1:19:52] so I think for tonight like we're not [1:19:55] deciding anything of course. So I think [1:19:58] if there's any uh [1:20:03] suggestions of further research I guess [1:20:06] like does the idea of guest parking [1:20:08] sound pretty good? Sounds like requiring [1:20:12] just changing two-bedroom and [1:20:14] threebedroom to being just a single [1:20:16] standard regardless of size is probably [1:20:18] good. Is there any thoughts on what? [1:20:22] >> Okay. So, the other thing that threw up [1:20:25] a red flag to me on this is Riverbend. [1:20:28] So, if anything, you know, you hear [1:20:30] people saying, "Okay, we don't have [1:20:31] enough parking and then we made our [1:20:33] parking spots smaller, blah, blah." which seems like we're pretty [1:20:38] close and spot on from what the averages [1:20:41] have come out to. I was surprised when I [1:20:43] saw how close we are for it always being [1:20:46] a topic of discussion with everything. [1:20:49] >> The thing that caught my attention [1:20:51] though is with Riverbend, we let them go [1:20:53] down to that small number because we [1:20:56] used the [1:20:59] excuse that they had parking on Colorado [1:21:02] Boulevard. they now it's now paid [1:21:05] parking. So, how does that should really [1:21:09] affect this is not having enough parking [1:21:13] >> because at the point at that at the time [1:21:16] we weren't ever thinking that we were [1:21:18] going to get paid parking down there. [1:21:19] Well, and they're residents, so they can [1:21:21] park in paid parking, you know, because [1:21:25] they have residential permit, right? But [1:21:27] they'd be competing against during the [1:21:29] day. [1:21:30] >> Like they come home and it's a Saturday [1:21:32] afternoon, they have nowhere to park [1:21:35] because Right. [1:21:36] >> Yeah. [1:21:36] >> Well, it's like [1:21:37] >> I don't know. It's just something that I [1:21:38] noticed that it kind of looking back, we [1:21:41] shouldn't have let it be that low of a [1:21:43] number, I guess. [1:21:44] >> Right. But it is interesting because [1:21:48] not there's not a ton of places in the [1:21:50] state that are doing affordable housing [1:21:53] specific, [1:21:55] but a lot of places [1:21:59] around the country are doing research on [1:22:02] affordable units and [1:22:05] allowing fewer parking spaces per [1:22:08] bedroom for affordable and for senior [1:22:11] housing. like the data like Alamosa for [1:22:14] example if you're doing a unit at 80% of [1:22:17] median income or less they only require [1:22:20] half a parking space per studio or one [1:22:22] bedroom and one parking space for two [1:22:25] bedrooms and so like that's pretty [1:22:28] radically different to say we're going [1:22:30] to really lower it the data which the [1:22:33] data I have is from like Los Angeles [1:22:36] County was the big study that they did [1:22:39] on affordable housing but it does show [1:22:41] that On average, affordable housing is [1:22:43] only really requires [1:22:46] about 30% fewer parking spaces demand [1:22:50] compared to market [1:22:51] >> that much smaller. [1:22:53] >> But [clears throat] then why did we turn [1:22:55] around and like on the gold rush [1:22:57] apartments 1.75 spaces [1:23:01] >> well a unit that's [1:23:02] >> and we didn't require that. It's just [1:23:05] what they ultimately [1:23:06] >> Oh, okay. I thought this is what we [1:23:08] required. No, these are just what they [1:23:10] actually have [1:23:11] >> came out at which are the Aspen Leaf. [1:23:13] >> So like Aspen Leaf which is down on the [1:23:15] west end [1:23:16] >> like [1:23:18] it's quite old [1:23:19] >> and I so I went and I counted the number [1:23:21] of doors and counted the number of [1:23:23] parking spaces and that's where it [1:23:25] worked out too which is why I put [1:23:27] approximately because I don't have their [1:23:29] plans. [1:23:30] >> Okay, [1:23:31] >> because it predates that. the big horn. [1:23:33] I also did the same thing and big horn [1:23:36] has quite a lot and I just happen to [1:23:38] know [1:23:40] >> I know he's a keeper. [1:23:41] >> He does. You do your work. I love it. [1:23:44] >> So So anyway, it's quite a big range. If [1:23:47] you go to Big Horn, there's never [1:23:49] issues. You can tell at 1.8 at Aspen [1:23:52] Leaf, like you can sometimes it does get [1:23:55] pretty tight down there, but there's so [1:23:56] much additional street parking that I [1:23:59] don't think anyone ever throws a fit [1:24:00] about it. Yeah. [1:24:02] >> Um my suggestion is that don't change [1:24:06] parking minimums for affordable housing. [1:24:09] Like we just whatever it is for market [1:24:11] rate, we just keep you know like at the [1:24:14] bottom of the residential bid. I just [1:24:18] what it could be, you know, it's on like [1:24:20] page three of the five page item, you [1:24:23] know, it's single family detached two [1:24:24] units, single family attached. You just [1:24:27] simplify it. Two units studio 1.25. that [1:24:30] already is what's there. One bedroom [1:24:32] that's what's there. Two bedroom, three [1:24:34] plus bedroom, it's kind of this range [1:24:37] and eventually we have to decide what's [1:24:41] the you know for two bedroom it might be [1:24:43] two per unit. For threebedroom it might [1:24:45] be 2.5 per unit [1:24:47] >> and take out that square footage stuff. [1:24:50] >> Right. Right. But [1:24:54] so then for senior, we had talked before [1:24:57] about actually reducing that to just one [1:25:00] space per unit because we see even less [1:25:02] than one space per unit at the existing [1:25:04] places and it already works pretty well. [1:25:07] That was talked about like in June or [1:25:10] something. I don't know if we still have [1:25:12] thoughts on that. But I guess my [1:25:14] direction on this one is are there any [1:25:17] specifics that stand out on how how [1:25:20] planning commission would want to [1:25:21] proceed [1:25:23] residential? [1:25:27] I to me the residential seems like we're [1:25:30] kind of right on [1:25:33] point except for cleaning it up. I mean [1:25:37] and you talk about uh getting rid of the [1:25:39] square footage. Yeah, it's whether you [1:25:42] have a onebedroom, twobedroom, [1:25:43] threebedroom [1:25:45] compared to square footage because [1:25:49] it's how many people are living there. I [1:25:51] mean, you don't want to get into how [1:25:52] many people are living there. [1:25:54] >> If you have a threebedroom, you're just [1:25:56] kind of assuming three drivers or [1:26:01] >> Yeah. [1:26:02] >> You know, [1:26:02] >> right? Well, like based on how our [1:26:05] current code is written, my thought [1:26:06] would be my thought would be personally [1:26:10] we just go with the bigger number that's [1:26:12] already in the code. So twobedroom [1:26:15] becomes 1.75 [1:26:17] per twobedroom. Threebedroom becomes 2.5 [1:26:20] per threebedroom. [1:26:22] >> But I'm wonder because then that pretty [1:26:23] much matches. In fact, that would make [1:26:25] three bedrooms [1:26:27] >> more than the average. But I don't know [1:26:30] whether like for two bedrooms it makes [1:26:32] more sense to just make it like one [1:26:34] space per unit, one per bedroom and make [1:26:37] it two [1:26:39] >> instead of 1.75, [1:26:41] >> right? [1:26:42] >> You know, if if you had a 50 unit [1:26:47] complex, that would be a difference of [1:26:49] like 12 parking spaces. [1:26:53] [clears throat] [1:26:54] And we do have the option of like the uh [1:26:58] the fee loop, right? [1:27:00] >> For the downtown area, [1:27:03] >> it doesn't currently apply to like the [1:27:04] east end or the west end. [1:27:06] >> You also have the ability to submit like [1:27:08] a detailed parking study if you disagree [1:27:11] with our table [1:27:13] >> and then we would assess whether it's [1:27:15] reasonable [1:27:16] >> and that's what we did with Riverbend. [1:27:18] We let them come to us with [1:27:23] » which at the time made sense. I mean it [1:27:25] still does. I don't I've not heard of [1:27:27] anybody's complaining about [1:27:29] >> all the times I've been down there. [1:27:30] There's all those parking underneath. [1:27:33] >> Is there [1:27:36] never really looked? [1:27:38] Yeah. [1:27:39] >> Yeah. So people don't [clears throat] [1:27:40] even bother driving in there. They just [1:27:43] >> drive through the park out next to the [1:27:44] river. [1:27:45] >> Yeah. Right. I never see any I never see [1:27:48] overnight people parking. [1:27:50] >> No. [1:27:51] >> On the street either [1:27:53] >> other than the guy with the beat up [1:27:55] trailers. [1:27:57] >> True. That's true. [1:28:00] >> Which he probably couldn't get down [1:28:02] underneath, [1:28:03] >> but still. [1:28:05] >> And he live there. [1:28:06] >> I don't know. [1:28:08] >> It changes time to [1:28:09] >> Okay. So, it sounds like you've got [1:28:11] direction on that part. Did you want any [1:28:13] other comments on some of the other [1:28:14] parts? I [1:28:16] >> yeah so for commercial I think it's a [1:28:19] little more interesting there's only a [1:28:21] few things that I thought are sort of [1:28:23] off the averages from other communities [1:28:26] so really interesting rafting [1:28:28] headquarters [1:28:29] >> I got it all [1:28:32] >> they there's only two play one place [1:28:35] besides this in the whole state that I [1:28:37] could find because I spread the search [1:28:39] beyond the 32 for rafting specifically [1:28:42] because I could only find one and they [1:28:45] require one parking space per 200 f feet [1:28:47] of floor area. We require one space per [1:28:50] 400 ft of floor area. But um [1:28:54] I think it's funny that we call out [1:28:56] rafting headquarters but not like [1:28:58] outfitting headquarters in general. Like [1:29:00] it could be also via and ziplining and [1:29:04] mountain bike tours. And what um I've [1:29:07] seen elsewhere in the country is they [1:29:10] say like one space per 400 square feet [1:29:13] plus like one space per employee or one [1:29:16] space per number of certain number of [1:29:18] guests and then that gets at like [1:29:23] the the issue that I had with rafting [1:29:26] headquarters is that like some of these [1:29:27] buildings are like 600 square feet. They [1:29:29] only have to combine two spaces. Like [1:29:31] that's fine for what we have now mostly, [1:29:33] but [1:29:34] >> someone else came in and said, "We're [1:29:36] doing a zipline tour and we only have a [1:29:40] 400 foot building. We only need one [1:29:41] parking space." That doesn't even cover [1:29:43] their employees. [1:29:44] >> No. [1:29:44] >> So, [1:29:45] >> I think we need to [1:29:48] make that better and include the other [1:29:51] businesses because you never know if [1:29:53] you're going to get one in town. But [1:29:56] when you think about it, so they the [1:29:59] rafters that come in, they're taking up [1:30:01] a lot of parking spots if they don't [1:30:04] have I mean the difference property over [1:30:06] here, they can pull in and park there. [1:30:08] But then even using that as an example, [1:30:11] they've got so much other stuff out [1:30:12] there now that that's taken up parking [1:30:15] where a person might pull in there and [1:30:17] not even park there and park on the [1:30:18] street instead. [1:30:20] >> [clears throat] [1:30:20] >> And it's kind of a disservice to the [1:30:22] rest of the businesses in town that with [1:30:24] people looking for parking. [1:30:26] >> Well, and they're gone for hours. [1:30:29] >> Yeah. [1:30:30] >> You know, it's not it's not like they're [1:30:33] shopping and they're parked there for an [1:30:35] hour or having lunch or something and [1:30:37] park there for an hour there [1:30:40] for three, four. I don't [1:30:42] >> It's not like we have that many places [1:30:44] that another rafting company can come [1:30:46] in. It'd probably be more effective in [1:30:48] the east end. [1:30:50] But [1:30:52] yeah, they should provide it on site, [1:30:55] >> right? [1:30:55] >> Um, [1:30:57] with the modifications that we're [1:30:58] seeking, uh, this would also be kind of [1:31:01] for new. [1:31:03] >> Yeah. The way our codes are written now [1:31:05] is if you have an existing business and [1:31:09] keep the business license, whatever, you [1:31:11] don't have to provide. [1:31:15] So like for example Bojo which but all [1:31:18] the big restaurants downtown they [1:31:20] predate 2018 when parking came in. So [1:31:22] like Bojo doesn't have any off streetet [1:31:25] parking of their own except for a few [1:31:27] places at the Robert's brother's garage [1:31:29] and they [1:31:31] generate quite a lot of traffic but they [1:31:33] don't have to do a foo or anything [1:31:34] because they're an existing business. So [1:31:36] like the existing rafting headquarters [1:31:38] don't really have to change [1:31:40] >> but if someone else comes in or they [1:31:41] expand the operation to a new place [1:31:45] and same with any other outfitter which [1:31:48] I think we should have [1:31:49] >> and then enforce the land use what [1:31:52] they're using the land for too [1:31:53] >> right and so maybe there's another code [1:31:56] amendment about storage that eventually [1:31:58] needs to come. [1:31:59] >> Yes. [1:32:02] I don't I'm just going to add it to my [1:32:04] list of potential code amendments to [1:32:06] start working on um storage. [1:32:10] >> So I think it should be one space per [1:32:14] whether it's the 200 or square or 200 or [1:32:17] 400 but it also it should include their [1:32:20] employees too. [1:32:21] >> Sure. [1:32:22] >> Absolutely. [1:32:23] >> Do you think it makes more sense for it [1:32:24] to be based on employees or based on [1:32:27] guests? [1:32:28] >> I think employees. [1:32:30] >> All right. I was thinking employees [1:32:32] because they will have enough employees [1:32:34] they can serve all the guests they get. [1:32:36] So if they get less guests they will [1:32:37] have less employees. They have more [1:32:38] guests they'll have more employees, [1:32:41] >> you know. [1:32:42] >> I want something they can control on [1:32:45] both. [1:32:46] >> I mean I think the square footage of the [1:32:48] building is silly. [1:32:49] >> I I [1:32:51] >> Yeah. I suppose it could be like one [1:32:52] space per employee plus one space per [1:32:55] three guests or four guests or whatever [1:32:57] and just eliminate the square footage [1:32:58] alto together. [1:32:59] >> No. But how do you know how many guests [1:33:03] because they have a maximum limit of [1:33:05] guests in the building per the building [1:33:08] code. How do you know how many guests [1:33:10] can be in them? [1:33:11] >> And they also have like they have trips [1:33:13] at 8 n 10. So it's not like a whole [1:33:17] >> I guess it would be like in their zoning [1:33:20] application they would put [1:33:22] >> you can have 10 people in your building. [1:33:24] So they'd have to have 10 [1:33:27] >> say one spot for every three people. So [1:33:29] they'd have to have three spots [1:33:31] >> plus [1:33:32] >> you have two employees so they'd have to [1:33:34] have five spots. Yeah, [1:33:36] >> maybe you do like [1:33:38] at this time when you're establishing [1:33:41] your business to get a business license, [1:33:43] you're saying [1:33:44] >> and this would be for outfitters. They [1:33:46] check a box or something like we're [1:33:48] outfitter and we say what's your at peak [1:33:51] time, how many guests do you anticipate [1:33:54] and how many employees do you anticipate [1:33:56] and we then would take the calculation [1:33:59] based on their estimated peak. But that [1:34:02] makes it tough because [1:34:05] >> they don't know. [1:34:06] >> What about their capacity [1:34:09] >> like of the building [1:34:12] capacity? Yeah. Like here we can only [1:34:13] have seven so 70 people like if they're [1:34:16] build you know it kind of kind of takes [1:34:18] in account the square footage without [1:34:20] making that the one but based on that [1:34:23] you know how big they're [1:34:25] like [1:34:26] >> if I only had a 400 square foot [1:34:29] headquarters like only [1:34:32] Six people could be inside the building [1:34:33] at a time, but if I just do my little [1:34:37] >> spiel outside, [1:34:40] >> then you could still have 50 people go [1:34:42] on a tour cuz like they have a whole [1:34:44] >> inside and outside based on on the [1:34:48] number of wraps that they intend to put [1:34:51] in the water every day, [1:34:55] >> right? [1:34:56] >> And the wraps hold what [1:34:57] >> I could see, right? people with them or [1:35:00] >> I mean they must have a business plan [1:35:02] that says what they need to be able to [1:35:04] >> but then like if you start off and [1:35:06] you're just a little guy and then five [1:35:08] years from now now you've gone from two [1:35:10] rafts to 20 rafts you still only have [1:35:12] your [1:35:15] >> guess that's a good problem [1:35:17] >> and you're going to want to embellish [1:35:18] your numbers for your business plan but [1:35:22] you're going to want to lower that [1:35:25] number to have your business in [1:35:29] because you can't do the parking. [1:35:33] >> Um, you said that you checked other [1:35:35] outfitters besides rafting. [1:35:38] >> I think if we're doing [1:35:40] like [1:35:41] >> include all of them. [1:35:42] >> I was thinking instead of just being [1:35:44] rafting headquarters, it would be like [1:35:46] outfitting or guiding headquarters and [1:35:48] then it could be like rafting, ATVs, zip [1:35:51] lines. [1:35:54] » You go there, you pay for the service, [1:35:56] but they take you somewhere else. So, [1:35:58] it's kind of the same thing. [1:36:00] >> Yeah. [1:36:00] >> Um [1:36:00] >> because right now we only have rafting [1:36:03] headquarters. [1:36:05] >> And um so if someone came in and said, [1:36:09] "Hey, I'm doing mountain bike tours." [1:36:10] We'd have to just call it like a retail [1:36:13] or office or something like we couldn't [1:36:15] call a mountain bike headquarter the [1:36:16] rafting headquarters. So if if we're [1:36:18] changing it anyway, we might as well [1:36:21] change. [1:36:21] >> I personally think that's the way to go. [1:36:24] And then we're not singling out one [1:36:26] group of guides either. [1:36:28] >> Yeah. And we don't have to keep adding [1:36:29] more things for specific things. Um my [1:36:32] uh I was asking if you have checked all [1:36:34] our fitters because I was thinking if I [1:36:36] was wondering if any of them [1:36:40] have their the calculations they [1:36:42] calculate them differently and we can [1:36:44] get some ideas. [1:36:45] >> Be struggling. [1:36:47] >> Yeah. I can look up like are there not [1:36:50] specifically rafting outfitters but just [1:36:52] like the guiding operations what are [1:36:54] those parking requirements [1:36:55] >> exactly [1:36:56] >> and then bring that that back. [1:37:00] >> Um [1:37:02] okay great well it sounds like [1:37:04] everyone's on the same page that we [1:37:06] could tweak it a little and better [1:37:08] capture the amount. Um the other one the [1:37:11] second one there's only four. So, the [1:37:14] second one is theaters, event center, [1:37:16] music venue, those sorts of things. [1:37:18] Right now, it says one space for four [1:37:19] theater seats. Um, that's actually a [1:37:23] pretty similar amount to what we see [1:37:24] everywhere else, but almost everywhere, [1:37:27] like I think we should just change it to [1:37:29] per four occupants because [1:37:31] [clears throat] not every theater will [1:37:32] have seats, [1:37:34] >> right? [1:37:34] >> And so, like right now, well, I've run [1:37:37] into this. Someone comes and says, "Hey, [1:37:39] I want to do a theater." And I'm like, [1:37:40] "Great. You have what's your max [1:37:42] occupancy?" like 100 and you say, "Okay, [1:37:44] 25 spaces." And they say, "Well, I don't [1:37:46] have any seats. It's just standing room [1:37:47] only. So, it should just be eight [1:37:49] because it's only 2,000 square feet or [1:37:52] whatever." So, if we said one per four [1:37:54] occupants or three occupants or [1:37:56] whatever, [1:37:57] >> then that can't argue with anymore. So, [1:38:01] that'd be a pretty easy change, I think. [1:38:03] [laughter] [1:38:05] [clears throat] So, [1:38:06] >> what happens with the United Senate? [1:38:09] >> They have no parking. Well, but they'd [1:38:11] be they're sort of existing that's like [1:38:14] grandfathered in. But if we had a new [1:38:16] United Center, [1:38:18] >> we'd have to do it based on like [1:38:22] >> I don't know how many people can fit on [1:38:23] a pew, I guess, right? Quite a [1:38:25] [laughter] few. Yeah. So, I'm not I'm [1:38:28] not sure. But yeah, when you look [1:38:29] around, most of them are like [1:38:32] when they say one per number of seats, [1:38:34] it's like pretty commonly [1:38:38] um [1:38:40] one per three or one per per four seats. [1:38:42] So [1:38:44] seems like it probably covers it. Okay. [1:38:47] Um the next one is daycarees. [1:38:50] >> You know, the way we say it in the ski [1:38:52] industry is one seat, one heartbeat. [1:38:55] Like people getting on chairs and stuff. [1:38:57] Yep. So, [1:38:59] >> yeah. So, I mean [1:39:00] >> people try everything, [1:39:03] [clears throat] [1:39:04] >> right? Well, okay. So, the other one is [1:39:06] daycare. We don't have a standard for [1:39:09] daycarees right now, so I probably would [1:39:11] just use like office use or something. [1:39:13] Um, [1:39:15] but what a lot of places do is they do [1:39:17] like one space per [1:39:20] like number of children or number of [1:39:22] employees. So, like some places do one [1:39:25] space for 10 children, one space for [1:39:26] eight children. Few other places just [1:39:29] say like one space per employee for [1:39:32] who cares. I could also just make it [1:39:35] like one for 300 to match office uses, [1:39:38] but it seems wise to create one because [1:39:40] I know the county is pushing pretty hard [1:39:43] for daycare. It's like a big need and [1:39:46] people are establishing it in existing [1:39:48] neighborhoods who want to make sure it's [1:39:49] not affecting. But the daycare people [1:39:53] just drop their kids off and go away for [1:39:57] the rest of the day. I mean, the parents [1:39:59] >> and I think um the new rule for teachers [1:40:04] is [1:40:05] one teacher per eight students for uh [1:40:10] daycare of preschool. So one per eight [1:40:14] number [1:40:15] >> like one space for eight children [1:40:16] >> something like that. [1:40:17] >> Yeah. For for reference, our school [1:40:22] requirements [1:40:24] is one space per [1:40:29] 1.5 spaces per classroom plus one space [1:40:32] per five seats in an auditorium [1:40:37] » football or basketball games and things [1:40:40] like that. [1:40:41] >> Right? So that's an I mean and I don't [1:40:44] know how many people fit in the [1:40:46] classroom, but if our what's our average [1:40:48] like student teacher ratio? Is it like [1:40:51] under one and 20? [1:40:53] >> Yeah, [1:40:54] >> because if it's like one to 20, then [1:40:55] that would still be eight. One per eight [1:40:57] students. [1:41:00] >> So they're very little classrooms right [1:41:01] now. But yeah, [1:41:03] >> 20 I think is the biggest. [1:41:06] >> Yeah. So So one space per eight. But if [1:41:10] you know that that's the thing, the one [1:41:12] to eight would be the way to do it then. [1:41:14] >> But as soon as you have one more kid, if [1:41:16] you have nine kids, then you need an [1:41:17] assistant. [1:41:18] >> So, they want to keep it at eight pretty [1:41:21] much for payroll things. Depends. [1:41:24] >> Yeah. Yeah. I don't know. [1:41:27] >> I can do a little more research into [1:41:28] that, but that's one where I think [1:41:30] adding a standard might make sense so [1:41:31] that we can kind of because it is being [1:41:34] encouraged and I think there might be [1:41:35] some funding available for daycarees in [1:41:37] the near future. Um, [1:41:39] >> well, if we're redoing this, now's the [1:41:41] time to put it in there. We wanted to [1:41:43] think of [1:41:44] >> Yeah. And exact. That's my my figure [1:41:47] because we'll have a code amendment for [1:41:49] this. Um, the last one I noticed that [1:41:51] we're like kind of off is fitness [1:41:55] centers. I mean, we only have the one [1:41:56] right now, but if someone came in and [1:41:58] wanted a CrossFit gym or something, [1:42:01] they'd need one space per 150 square [1:42:03] feet. Um, pretty much everywhere else [1:42:06] like that's a lot more restrictive than [1:42:08] almost everywhere else. Um, I talked to [1:42:11] Cameron from the rec district and she [1:42:13] said their max number of users per day [1:42:17] is about 300 and that averages about 22 [1:42:20] users per hour, but we would require [1:42:25] under our current code if you had a [1:42:26] 10,000 foot gym that would be 67 parking [1:42:29] spaces. [1:42:31] And so like that feels like a lot of [1:42:32] parking for a gym. Um, if we dropped it [1:42:36] to like [1:42:38] 200 to 300 ft, we might reduce that to [1:42:41] like 35 to 50 spaces. 35 spaces if it [1:42:45] was 300 square ft per and that might [1:42:49] still I don't know. That's just one [1:42:51] where it was quite off. There was a lot [1:42:54] of history to that when that was being [1:42:57] built and they came in for the parking [1:43:00] because if anything they didn't have [1:43:03] enough to whatever the requirement was [1:43:06] at the time. [1:43:07] >> They don't meet the standard by any [1:43:08] means, but like I think it's about well [1:43:11] I don't actually know how big it is, [1:43:13] >> but you never see it filled up around [1:43:15] there really. So, I'm almost wondering [1:43:18] on that back side, is that paid parking [1:43:21] now [1:43:22] >> on the south side or on the north side? [1:43:25] No, that still is unpaid [1:43:28] >> cuz if anything residents there there [1:43:32] was a lot of back and forth and then [1:43:34] they had to get permission which it's [1:43:37] interesting because I don't know what's [1:43:38] happened with that is their vans and [1:43:41] stuff couldn't be parked on the city [1:43:44] streets because it took up parking. So, [1:43:46] they were using part of the football [1:43:48] field, [1:43:48] >> right, [1:43:49] >> to park their vans, [1:43:50] >> and now they're parking them in the city [1:43:52] parking lot, which that's not cool [1:43:55] either. [1:43:56] >> That's it's going away from completely [1:43:59] what the deal was with them when they [1:44:01] built it. [1:44:02] >> So, it's probably a whole thing to [1:44:04] revisit and see what would make more [1:44:06] sense. [1:44:07] >> Yeah. For for them, right? Yeah. Because [1:44:09] again, like they already exist. We can't [1:44:12] like renegotiate parking now unless [1:44:15] there's changes of use and things like [1:44:16] that. But [1:44:16] >> but the parking of the vans and stuff, [1:44:19] >> right? That's true. And I guess that's [1:44:21] not part of the code amendment, but it's [1:44:23] something to look into, right? If [1:44:24] they're taking up like parking spaces [1:44:26] >> and maybe the city worked to deal with [1:44:27] them. I don't know. But originally they [1:44:30] had to do it. They had to park down on [1:44:32] the ball field, the football field. [1:44:34] there was a portion of it and that's [1:44:37] what let us [1:44:39] >> pass that they had enough parking but [1:44:43] had we had it less [1:44:48] » a lesser requirement [1:44:50] >> right they probably could have done it [1:44:51] without having to make that deal I don't [1:44:55] know there's a lot of history there [1:44:56] >> yeah I mean I don't anticipate any [1:44:58] >> my brain's not remembering things [1:45:00] anymore [1:45:00] >> I don't anticipate like anyone else [1:45:02] coming in and building something of that [1:45:03] size or scale, but I could see like [1:45:06] someone saying, "Oh, I want to do this [1:45:07] little like CrossFit gym or like yoga [1:45:10] studio or Pilates or I don't something [1:45:13] like that." And so one space per 150 [1:45:16] square feet [1:45:18] during peak hours could be reasonable, [1:45:20] but like that could also make it very [1:45:22] difficult because almost all of our [1:45:24] other like a restaurant standard is only [1:45:26] one space per 250 square feet. I feel [1:45:29] like restaurants generate similar [1:45:32] amounts of patronage to a gym. [1:45:35] >> So, you're saying you'd like to see like [1:45:38] one space per under 200 ft? [1:45:41] >> Well, right now it's one space per 150. [1:45:44] And I'm thinking I'm wondering if we [1:45:45] could make it like one space for 250 or [1:45:48] something and actually reduce that [1:45:49] parking requirement. I'm happy to leave [1:45:51] it as it is, but it's one of the it's [1:45:53] like the one space where we're [1:45:55] definitely different from the average. [1:46:00] >> I wonder where where they are at right [1:46:02] now and see if that is a number that we [1:46:06] could be happy with. Just be like, well, [1:46:08] let's just [1:46:09] >> like look at their square footage [1:46:10] >> where they actually have right now going [1:46:12] and if [1:46:13] >> putting in the rec center. [1:46:14] >> Yeah, they have right now [1:46:16] >> because it's way off. But but when you [1:46:20] look it was overly [1:46:24] required parking [1:46:26] cuz you don't ever see it all built up. [1:46:29] >> I mean they sure they can use the city [1:46:31] lot but they had to have parking behind [1:46:34] that building was well that's all [1:46:36] supposed to be rec center parking. [1:46:38] >> Sure. [1:46:38] >> Along the but now that probably changes [1:46:42] with [1:46:44] the way the road is on the other side. I [1:46:45] guess they haven't looked at it. [1:46:47] >> Yeah. There's quite a lot of additional [1:46:49] parking now, but the parking on the [1:46:51] south side of the rec center is paid [1:46:55] parking and it but it's public. So if a [1:46:59] resident parks there, they can park for [1:47:01] free. If it's not a restaurant, they [1:47:03] pay. [1:47:04] >> And so [1:47:06] >> you mean the big lot? Well, just like [1:47:09] next to the little park that they're [1:47:13] going to do to the city, there's like 20 [1:47:16] parking spaces adjacent to the park now. [1:47:18] So, we've increased parking in that area [1:47:20] by about 20 parking spaces. [1:47:23] >> Um, which probably helps the rec [1:47:26] district more than anyone, but [1:47:29] um well, okay. So, it sounds like [1:47:32] >> revisit it. I'll revisit it and when I'm [1:47:34] coming back when I'm ready to come back [1:47:36] with [1:47:38] proposed edits I'll have something for [1:47:41] that [1:47:42] >> if it's based on [1:47:43] >> Dan good job [1:47:44] >> anything gets done [1:47:46] >> so I guess the last one is is there any [1:47:48] other things that you want to talk about [1:47:50] with parking [1:47:52] >> I actually have a question I'm curious [1:47:54] what happened with the parking issue [1:47:57] that the library had that get resolved [1:47:59] >> they're coming to a work session on the [1:48:02] 15th [1:48:03] to talk about like potential [1:48:06] solutions. [1:48:07] >> Okay. Oh, for [1:48:10] >> the library, [1:48:11] >> it'll be with council. It'll be like a [1:48:13] council work session item for the [1:48:14] library to talk about [1:48:16] potential like either like encroachment [1:48:18] agreement or like dedicating a few [1:48:20] spaces as library parking or just like [1:48:23] turning it back into [1:48:25] 30 minute parking or something because [1:48:27] there's been a lot of changes there. But [1:48:29] I'm not sure where that will go yet. [1:48:31] >> Okay. But right now as it is, they don't [1:48:33] have any. [1:48:34] >> They just have those few spaces north of [1:48:37] the library which is pretty much used by [1:48:41] um employees. [1:48:43] >> It's like to the north. It's like [1:48:45] between the [1:48:47] area and then there's like one just like [1:48:50] 10 minute space for drop off. [1:48:52] >> Okay. [1:48:53] >> New two, [1:48:55] >> but they have no like dedicated on the [1:48:58] street library park, [1:48:59] >> right? which they were asking for for [1:49:01] >> Yeah. Yeah. I thought that was a bummer [1:49:02] for sure. [1:49:03] >> Yeah. [1:49:06] >> Um, how did the meeting go Monday? [1:49:10] >> Oh, the affordable housing meeting. I [1:49:12] would say it was like a pretty decent [1:49:14] turnout. Uh, Luchi was there. Chuck, you [1:49:16] were there as well, right? [1:49:17] >> And Judy was there. [1:49:18] >> Yeah. [1:49:19] >> So, we had a good good playing. [1:49:21] >> I think I counted 18 19 something like [1:49:24] that. and Mike. I mean, yeah, I was [1:49:26] there and so was Andy and so was Guy and [1:49:28] so was the town administrator for Empire [1:49:32] and one of the county commissioners, but [1:49:33] there was like a [1:49:36] few people who were just general public [1:49:42] » that one lady, she might want to be [1:49:48] » sitting behind. She had a package. I [1:49:51] don't know if you've noticed, but [1:49:53] Fieldhouse their rates have changed [1:49:57] and to me their rates are now [1:50:00] affordable. [1:50:03] >> You can you can get a twobedroom for 17 [1:50:05] something. [1:50:06] >> So for 1,800 a month, a twobedroom, two [1:50:10] bath, [1:50:12] >> um washer, [1:50:14] >> $900 a person. you know, [1:50:18] we're we're paying people $20 an hour [1:50:20] and they don't qualify to live in any [1:50:24] affordable housing because they make too [1:50:26] much money. [1:50:27] >> So, that looking at some of the numbers, [1:50:30] what study was I looking at? Was it the [1:50:32] one you did or something or what what [1:50:35] was I looking at? Um, there's a lot of [1:50:38] affordable stuff that people think isn't [1:50:41] affordable and they wouldn't qualify [1:50:45] to live in these affordable places. [1:50:48] Every what everybody's thinking is [1:50:50] affordable. It's not realistic, [1:50:52] >> right? Well, and things have changed a [1:50:54] lot even in the last decade. like the [1:50:57] price of a home and your average [1:50:59] mortgage price on a house been bought in [1:51:02] 2016 [1:51:04] in a lot of cases is half what it is [1:51:06] today in either those springs. And so [1:51:10] for folks who've owned their homes a [1:51:11] long time or bought pre2020, I think [1:51:14] you're the [1:51:16] >> reality of that sort of situation and [1:51:19] what you would have been renting for at [1:51:20] that time to now is is very different. [1:51:24] But [1:51:25] >> right, [1:51:27] >> the problem is there isn't affordable [1:51:29] places to purchase. There's affordable [1:51:31] places to rent. Right. [1:51:34] >> Yeah. I think that's the big missing [1:51:36] piece is how do you get like even if [1:51:38] it's condos, [1:51:40] >> you know, if you saw like someone come [1:51:42] in and say, "Let's build 50 condos." And [1:51:45] they're all for sale and they're all [1:51:46] $300,000. [1:51:48] Like that's creates a home ownership [1:51:51] opportunity for 50 50 people, [1:51:53] >> right? [1:51:54] which is more the direction they should [1:51:56] be looking is looking at stuff like [1:51:58] that, not [1:52:00] >> maybe we need to talk more to Habitat. [1:52:04] >> Yeah. I mean, [1:52:05] >> right, [1:52:05] >> it's Yeah, [1:52:07] >> it's a Yeah, something like Habitat's a [1:52:09] good model because it gets people into [1:52:10] home ownership, [1:52:12] but it's not a gigantic building that [1:52:15] changes those like perceived character [1:52:17] in the same way. And I know they talk [1:52:19] about it for service workers and [1:52:21] everything like that, which I consider, [1:52:23] you know, our employees also, but [1:52:26] they're not going to qualify for those [1:52:28] places. And [1:52:30] there comes a point where sometimes [1:52:32] wages maybe have to be paid more, which [1:52:35] I think Idaho Springs does pretty good [1:52:37] with it actually. [1:52:39] I mean, we always compare stuff and, you [1:52:42] know, [1:52:45] that's pretty good. Yeah. So, I didn't [1:52:48] know what the take on a lot of that was. [1:52:50] And maybe it was was their thing posted, [1:52:55] the study or something. Is that what it [1:52:57] was? Where did I read it? Did they have [1:52:59] something posted? [1:53:00] >> Uh, what do you think? [1:53:02] >> Through the housing stuff. The housing [1:53:04] Oh, maybe it was the county's housing [1:53:06] thing. Don't know what [1:53:08] >> he sent us. He sent us something right [1:53:10] before. [1:53:11] >> That's what it was. [1:53:12] >> That's what I was going through. Yes. [1:53:15] That must have been it. [1:53:16] >> That was it. Yeah. Anyway, I was just [1:53:20] wondering how the turnout was. Good. [1:53:23] >> Not bad. I think they're going to try to [1:53:24] do some more of that kind of stuff going [1:53:26] forward. Maybe do it in some other [1:53:28] locations. [1:53:30] Good to get people talking in like a [1:53:32] constructive way. [1:53:34] And I think if I was disappointed [1:53:37] there's no additional people, there was [1:53:38] nobody in the audience tonight because I [1:53:40] really thought folks would be catalyzed [1:53:42] to start coming to meetings and [1:53:45] >> pushing for change and all this, but [1:53:47] >> more parking if I was just saying if [1:53:49] especially if there's parking on it. [1:53:51] Yeah. [1:53:51] >> Yeah. I I wish it was easier to get [1:53:55] >> that the people that we had at the at [1:53:57] those meetings, you know, show up for [1:53:59] this conversation so they can [1:54:02] >> tell us what they think. [1:54:05] Yeah. Yeah. Are we do we have any Yeah. [1:54:08] How many meetings? We have a three limit [1:54:10] meeting. [1:54:12] >> Well, I I just today sent an email to [1:54:16] Jefferson because I noticed this is now [1:54:19] he's missed [1:54:21] three. It might even be four meetings in [1:54:23] a row. [1:54:24] >> So, our bylaws say if you missed three [1:54:27] >> um well, if it says, [1:54:30] >> but I don't know if that means for the [1:54:31] alternate. I don't think you're like [1:54:34] automatically kicked off, but you can [1:54:37] be. It says members shall be removed [1:54:40] subject to removal by majority vote of [1:54:42] city council for inefficiency, neglected [1:54:45] duty, excessive absenteeism, [1:54:48] which is three consecutive meetings. So, [1:54:50] we'd have to [1:54:52] take it to council [1:54:54] to formally move. But I reached out cuz [1:54:57] I heard a rumor that he might be moving, [1:55:01] >> but I don't know for but that was like a [1:55:03] rumor. I didn't hear from him. [1:55:05] >> So I had reached out. I haven't heard [1:55:07] from him in a while. So I But if he uh [1:55:11] if he did [clears throat] move then [1:55:12] obviously [1:55:13] >> Yeah. I don't know. I guess I wasn't [1:55:15] even thinking. I just [1:55:17] >> Yeah. [1:55:18] He said it [1:55:21] >> and I said that he should take us out to [1:55:24] dinner. [1:55:25] Oh, is that what you said? Take us to [1:55:28] dinner. He's been missing the meetings [1:55:30] [laughter] [1:55:31] at least for a year. [1:55:33] I [1:55:33] >> think he's been talking about that and [1:55:35] still nothing. So, [1:55:37] >> all right, we're done. Yeah.