Elevate Erie Visioning and Bi-Annual Report Discussion - Planning Commission Special Meeting - August 9, 2023

The Planning Commission held a special meeting on August 9, 2023, from 6:31 PM to 9:01 PM in the Erie Council Chambers. The meeting focused on two major agenda items: a review of issues, opportunities, and visioning for the Elevate Erie comprehensive plan update, and a discussion of the Planning Commission's bi-annual report to the Board of Trustees. The commission also approved the meeting agenda and the minutes from July 5, 2023, both unanimously. No public comments were made.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the agenda for the August 9, 2023 special meeting (motion by Vice Chair Burns, seconded by Commissioner Booth, voted 4-0).
• Approved the minutes of the July 5, 2023 Planning Commission meeting (motion by Commissioner Booth, seconded by Vice Chair Burns, voted 4-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were received.

Discussion Items

Elevate Erie Issues, Opportunities, and Visioning (Agenda Item 23-388)

Principal Planner Kelly Driscoll and Miriam McGilvray from Logan Simpson presented an overview of the Elevate Erie comprehensive plan update, including: roles and responsibilities, project timeline, demographic and land use issues, natural resources, parks and open space, health and social capital, housing, public facilities and services, transportation, and key themes from community outreach. The commission then engaged in a wide-ranging discussion covering:

• Land use mix: The town's heavy residential concentration (nearly 20%) vs. very low commercial/office (2%). Commissioners questioned the potential for a more balanced distribution, especially with planned developments like Erie Gateway and Town Center.
• Waste management and landfill: Opportunities for decommissioned landfills (e.g., parks, solar farms) and the possibility of the town taking over waste collection. Commissioners expressed caution about expanding landfill operations.
• Natural resources: Concerns about impaired creeks (Boulder and Coal Creeks) not meeting water quality standards for recreation and aquatic life. The town's drinking water is unaffected.
• Parks and open space: Challenges with developer fee-in-lieu structures and HOA maintenance of town-owned parks. Commissioners suggested limiting the ability to buy out of park requirements to ensure adequate public amenities.
• Housing: Over half of renters are cost-burdened; housing costs are high for those earning under $150,000/year. The commission noted recent progress on the affordable housing fast-track ordinance and Prop 123 funding.
• Transportation: Discussion of microtransit, bike share, and regional connectivity. Commissioners emphasized the need to plan for future technologies (e.g., autonomous vehicles) and to design equitable crossings.
• Vision and Core Values: The commission reviewed draft vision statements for the comprehensive plan and the Transportation Mobility Plan. They provided feedback that the statements were too wordy and contained buzzwords. Suggestions included consolidating language, using terms like “welcoming” instead of “belonging,” and focusing on community identity, stewardship, and fiscal responsibility. The four core values (sustainability, livability, connection, equity) were debated; the commission favored renaming “connection” to “community” and merging livability with quality of life. They also stressed the importance of civic responsibility and inclusivity beyond race/income.

Discussion: Planning Commission Bi-Annual Report to the Board of Trustees (Agenda Item 23-399)

Chair Swikoski presented a draft three-slide report covering mission, year-to-date summary, and goals. The commission discussed:

• Removing the application count slide and instead focusing on the commission’s deliberative process and key considerations.
• Highlighting major items like the comprehensive plan update, UDC amendments, and notable applications (e.g., airport, sports field).
• Goals: Continue mission-oriented reviews, enhance training for new commissioners, and increase collaboration through bi-weekly staff meetings.
• The report will be presented to the Board of Trustees on September 12, 2023. The commission agreed to finalize edits via individual review (not group discussion) and present the final version at the September 6 meeting.

Staff Reports

• Lisa Ritchie, Planning Manager, announced the Colorado APA Conference (September 27-29, 2023) in Colorado Springs. Training budget is available for commissioners to attend.

Commissioner Reports and Discussion Items

• Chair Swikoski noted that summaries of the PAC (Planning Advisory Committee) meetings should be brought back to the commission for awareness. Alternates may attend.
• Vice Chair Burns confirmed that the next public hearing is scheduled for the September 6 meeting.
• Melinda Helmer reminded commissioners of the holiday party in January (save-the-date email sent).

Key Outcomes

• The commission provided substantial feedback on the Elevate Erie vision and core values, which staff will use to refine the draft before releasing a public survey (due by August 11, 2023, with pop-up events at the farmers market on August 17 and 24, survey open until September 5).
• The bi-annual report will be revised and presented to the Board of Trustees on September 12, 2023.
• New commissioners will be interviewed on August 29 by the Board of Trustees and are expected to be seated for the September 6 Planning Commission meeting.