Erie Planning Commission Meeting Summary - July 5, 2023
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Erie Planning Commission Meeting Summary - July 5, 2023
The Erie Planning Commission met on July 5, 2023, at 6:30 PM in the Council Chambers at 645 Holbrook Street, Erie, CO. The meeting was called to order by Commissioner Swikoski and included approval of agenda and minutes, election of officers, three public hearings, and staff reports. The meeting adjourned at 8:51 PM.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Agenda: Unanimously approved (Commissioners Booth, Swikoski, Tolson, Burns voting yes).
- Approval of May 17, 2023 Minutes: Unanimously approved after a minor typo correction (changed "2025" to "2035" regarding the 12% affordable housing goal).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Kathryn Breaker (110 Ortega Court, Erie) expressed concerns about traffic safety, neighborhood impact, noise, activity types, and hours of operation for the proposed Erie Indoor Sports facility.
- Ann Marie Jensen (Lafayette, East County Housing Opportunity Coalition) spoke in support of the affordable housing amendments, stating they are modest changes that will help address housing diversity and affordability, and noted that low-density development produces more greenhouse gases.
Discussion Items
- Election of Chair & Vice Chair: After nominations, Commissioner Swikoski was elected Chair unanimously. Commissioner Burns was elected Vice Chair unanimously.
- Public Hearing: Erie Indoor Sports Preliminary Plat (Resolution P23-07): Staff presented the project (36 acres, 9 lots, 1 tract, light industrial zoning). The applicant answered questions about traffic (1,000 additional trips per day), improvements, right-of-way, and oil/gas setbacks. The Commission discussed traffic, infrastructure, and the neighborhood meeting. Approved unanimously.
- Public Hearing: Affordable Housing UDC Amendments (Resolution P23-05): Staff presented amendments to allow a 25% density bonus, eliminate minimum lot sizes, reduce setbacks, and create an expedited administrative review process for projects with at least 12% affordable units (for ownership at or below 120% AMI, rental at or below 80% AMI). Public comment was supportive. The Commission discussed definitions, income limits, and program management. Approved 3-1 with Commissioner Booth voting no.
- Public Hearing: Comprehensive Plan Process Amendments (Resolution P23-06): Staff presented an amendment to add a process for creating, adopting, and amending the Comprehensive Plan, including pre-application, neighborhood meeting, Planning Commission recommendation, and Board of Trustees final decision. No public comment. Approved unanimously.
Staff Reports
- Elevate Erie Comprehensive Plan & Transportation Mobility Plan: New Planning Manager Lisa Ritchie introduced. The July 19, 2023 meeting was canceled; the August 2, 2023 meeting was combined with the August 9, 2023 special meeting (to discuss Elevate Erie issues and the Biennial Report). The August 16, 2023 meeting remains scheduled.
- Planning & Development Monthly Report: Not detailed in the minutes, but noted.
- Other: The Board of Trustees will repost two vacant Planning Commission seats for four weeks, closing August 11, 2023, with interviews on August 29, 2023. Starting next meeting, staff memos will include estimated time and policy statements.
Key Outcomes
- Approved Agenda and Minutes (unanimous).
- Elected Chair Swikoski and Vice Chair Burns (unanimous).
- Recommended Approval of Erie Indoor Sports Preliminary Plat (unanimous).
- Recommended Approval of Affordable Housing UDC Amendments (3-1; Commissioner Booth dissented).
- Recommended Approval of Comprehensive Plan Process Amendments (unanimous).
- Canceled July 19, 2023 meeting; combined August 2 and August 9 meetings; retained August 16 meeting.
- Appointed Chair Swikoski as backup for PAC meetings (unanimous).
- Noted that a quorum is four members until new commissioners are appointed in September.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everybody. Welcome to July fifth, uh, twenty twenty-three planning commission meeting. Please join me for the Pledge of Allegiance. Pledge of allegiance to the United States America and stands, one day, and the visible liberty and justice role. Will the Secretary please call roll? Commissioner Booth. Yes, here. Commissioner Swaikoski. Here. Commissioner Bahem is absent and excused. Commissioner Tolson? Here. Commissioner Burns. Here. We have a quorum. Okay, so we have an agenda before us this evening. Uh does staff or anybody else have uh any changes to the agenda? No changes, thank you. No changes. Okay. Um and do we have a motion to approve uh tonight's agenda? Motion to approve agenda, Burns. Second booth. Commissioner Booth. Yes. Commissioner Swykoski. Yes. Commissioner Tolson. Yes. Commissioner Burns. Yes. That is unanimous. That brings us to approval of the minutes from May seventeenth, twenty twenty-three planning commission minutes. Uh any changes or perhaps a motion. Staff had a minor change to some of the meeting minutes. Um there was a typo that stated twenty twenty-five, and it should have been twenty thirty-five, so we've already made that adjustment. Okay. Commissioner Burns. Yes. Commissioner Swaikoski. Yes. Commissioner Booth. Yes. Commissioner Tolson. Yes. That is unanimous. Okay. Um, that brings us to public comments. Public comments is a section where we can uh allow public comment. It's not an interaction or dialogue with commission.
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