Planning Commission Meeting: Comprehensive Plan and Procedures Discussion - April 19, 2023

The Erie Planning Commission held its regular meeting on April 19, 2023, at 6:30 PM in the Council Chambers, 645 Holbrook Street, Erie, CO. The sole general business item was a discussion on the Comprehensive Plan update and the Commission's procedures, focusing on public engagement, transparency, and the Commission's role. The meeting included a roll call, agenda and minutes discussions, and a lengthy deliberation on resident input and the process's trajectory. Key concerns raised included whether the agenda was pre-determined, the effectiveness of pop-up events, and the need for direct dialogue with the planning consultants. The Commission agreed to request a meeting with the consultants to clarify the process and address concerns. Staff also provided updates on upcoming meetings and a Board of Trustees ordinance regarding the Comprehensive Plan.

Consent Calendar

• The agenda was approved unanimously (5-0) with Vice Chair Luthi moving and Commissioner Booth seconding.
• Approval of the April 5, 2023 meeting minutes was postponed to the next meeting because they were not prepared in time.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were made.

Discussion Items

• Comprehensive Plan and Planning Commission Procedures (Item 23-235):
  • Chair Zuniga initiated a discussion on public engagement and outreach for the Comprehensive Plan update. She emphasized the need to ask the right questions, record responses transparently, and genuinely seek resident input.
  • Commissioner Booth shared her experiences at pop-up events (Fox Dog Coffee and Erie Social Club). She noted that Fox Dog was well-attended, while Erie Social Club had low turnout. She expressed uncertainty about her role and how to record resident feedback.
  • Commissioners discussed the structure of pop-up events (open-house style with informational boards) and noted that they were more about awareness than structured data collection.
  • Concerns were raised about the term "agenda," with some commissioners feeling the Board of Trustees had a pre-determined trajectory (e.g., affordable housing) that might override public input. Others argued that resident input is considered but should not be the only factor, especially given Erie's projected growth to 60,000-80,000 residents in 10 years.
  • Chair Zuniga referenced Sherry Arnstein's "Ladder of Citizen Participation" and warned against "manipulative" or "placating" participation, stressing the need for authentic, transparent engagement.
  • Commissioners discussed the statutory role of the Planning Commission (as described in Colorado statute) and noted the tension between having responsibility and authority but little practical power.
  • A consensus emerged to request a meeting with the planning consultants (Elevate Erie Team) to clarify the process, timelines, and how resident input is used. Specific topics for the consultants included: explaining the full process, addressing concerns about the trajectory, defining the Commission's role, improving transparency, and suggesting questions for residents.
  • Staff (Deborah Bachelder) noted that the project management team meets weekly with consultants and offered to coordinate a session, possibly a 30-minute staff briefing plus 30 minutes with consultants, via Zoom.

Staff Reports

• Deborah Bachelder recommended canceling the May 3, 2023 Planning Commission meeting if the consultant meeting cannot be coordinated, as there are no agenda items. Chair Zuniga requested keeping the meeting on schedule.
• Bachelder highlighted the challenge of last-minute scheduling changes, noting that staff reports are due 2.5 weeks before meetings and that last-minute requests create significant workload.
• Upcoming meetings were announced:
  • May 16, 2023: Joint Study Session with Board of Trustees on Innovation, Vision, and Future Community Direction (presented by Elevate Erie Team).
  • May 17, 2023: Planning Commission meeting with the continued Parkdale Masters PD zoning, a presentation by Don Elliott on Equity in Zoning and Affordable Housing, and UDC code update discussion regarding 765 Cheesman Street.
• Bachelder informed the Commission that the Board of Trustees will consider an ordinance on the Board's authority over the Comprehensive Plan at its April 25, 2023 meeting. She noted that the ordinance was not drafted by Planning and she had not seen it. Commissioners were allowed to attend and speak, with emailed comments accepted.

Commissioner Reports & Discussion Items

• Vice Chair Luthi thanked staff (Deborah, Melinda, and Doug) for their support; Commissioner Tolson seconded the sentiment.

Key Outcomes

• The Commission directed staff to arrange a meeting with the planning consultants to discuss the Comprehensive Plan process, addressing the specific questions raised (process overview, role of the Commission, resident input, transparency, etc.). Staff will check availability and propose dates.
• The May 3, 2023 meeting was kept on the schedule pending consultant availability; if unavailable, staff recommended cancellation.
• Commissioner Tolson arrived late at 7:14 PM but participated; Commissioner Swikoski was absent/excused.
• No formal votes were taken on the discussion item.

Note: There was a discrepancy: the agenda and minutes state the meeting date as April 19, 2023, which aligns with the transcript. The meeting began at 6:30 PM and adjourned at 8:18 PM.