Planning Commission Meeting Summary – October 19, 2023

The Erie Planning Commission convened on October 19, 2023, at 6:32 PM in Council Chambers (645 Holbrook Street, Erie, CO) with all seven commissioners present. The meeting focused on an update to the Elevate Erie comprehensive plan, administrative approvals, and a monthly departmental report. The meeting adjourned at 7:06 PM.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of the Agenda (as amended): The agenda was amended to move Agenda Item 23-464 (Update on Elevate Erie) from Staff Reports to General Business. The motion passed unanimously (7-0).
• Approval of Minutes (October 4, 2023): The minutes of the previous Planning Commission meeting were approved unanimously (7-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were offered during the meeting.

Discussion Items

• 23-464 Update on Elevate Erie: Kelly Driscoll, Principal Strategic Planner, presented an update on the comprehensive plan and transportation mobility plan. Key points included:
  • Project timeline: Originally targeted for adoption by March 2024, now pushed to Q2 2024 due to leadership changes and consultant contracting delays.
  • Survey initial results: From outreach at the Pride Festival and farmers markets (August 2023), 13% of respondents were renters. Top core values included: managing growth in smart/connected ways, feeling safe at home and in public, clean air/water, and safe walking/biking options. Top community values were events that bring people together, maintaining small-town character, and relationships with neighbors. Top equity values were inclusion, involvement in decisions, accessible transportation, and respect for diverse cultures.
  • Consultant updates: A fiscal analysis consultant is under contract negotiations; an economic market analysis consultant is being selected; the transportation consultant contract (Fair & Peers) will go to the Board of Trustees in early November; engagement consultant Tressel is working on a strategic contract.
  • Next steps: Technical Advisory Committee meeting on October 20, Plan Advisory Committee meeting on October 23. Growth scenarios will be built in winter 2023-2024, with an open house and online engagement early 2024.
• Commissioner questions and discussion included:
  • Clarification that the Plan Advisory Committee (PAC) meetings are open to the public via Zoom.
  • Assurance that landowners of AG-zoned parcels will be notified if the future land use map contemplates higher density.
  • The future land use map will be parcel-based, not a bubble map, and may propose significant changes in some areas (e.g., higher density residential on the east side of I-25).
  • Growth scenarios will test infrastructure capacity, especially water and sewer services, and will consider parcels served by existing sewer basins.
  • Home rule (on November ballot) could enable new zoning classifications (e.g., senior housing, inclusionary housing) and would be folded into the subsequent code update.
  • The timeline was behind due to previous consultant failures, but data gathering is complete and the project is expected to regain momentum.
• 23-522 Planning & Development Monthly Report (August 2023): Deborah Bachelder, Deputy Director, presented the monthly report. Commissioners noted the high volume of applications the town is processing. It was agreed to cancel the November 1, 2023 Planning Commission meeting due to lack of agenda items; Elevate Erie may return on November 15, 2023.

Key Outcomes

• Unanimous votes: Agenda (as amended) and minutes approved 7-0.
• Cancellation of November 1, 2023 meeting: The Commission agreed to cancel the meeting, with no formal vote required.
• Directives: Staff will provide an update on the water portfolio and capacity/existing conditions report at a future Elevate Erie update, as requested by Commissioners Dreckman, Laws, and Burns.
• Next meeting: The next scheduled meeting is November 1, 2023, but will be cancelled; the following meeting is November 15, 2023, with potential Elevate Erie update.