HomeMy WebLinkAbout20000355 SUMMARY OF THE WELD COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
Tuesday, February 1, 2000
A regular meeting of the Weld County Planning Commission was held Tuesday, February 1, 2000, in the Weld
County Public Health/Planning Building, (Room 210), 1555 N. 17th Avenue, Greeley, Colorado. The meeting
was called to order by Vice Chair, Christie Nicklas, at 1:35 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Fred Walker Absent
Cristie Nicklas Present
John Folsom Present -
Jack Epple Present
Bruce Fitzgerald Absent
Michael Miller Present
Stephan Mokray Present
Arlan Marrs Present
Bryant Gimlin Present
Also Present: Lee Morrison,Weld County Assistant Attorney; Sheble McConnellogue, Pam Smith, Department
of Public Health and Environment; Diane Houghtaling, Public Works; Kim Ogle, Chris Gathman, Sheri
Lockman, Planning Department; Trisha Swanson, Secretary.
The summary of the last regular meeting of the Weld County Planning Commission held on January 18, 2000,
was approved as read.
CASE NUMBER: Z-534
APPLICANT: Harvey &Jean Markham
PLANNER: Chris Gathman
LEGAL DESCRIPTION: Part of the N2 NE4 of Section 19, Township 4 North, Range 68 West of the 6th
P.M., Weld County, Colorado.
REQUEST: Change of Zone from Ag to PUD for Five Lots for Residential Uses.
LOCATION: South of and adjacent to SH 56 and approximately 1/4 mile west of WCR 3.
Chris Gathman, Planner, presented Case Z-534 and asked for a continuance of 90 days until May 2, 2000
as the applicants are continuing to work on water supply problems.
The Vice Chair asked if there was anyone in the audience who wished to speak for or against this application.
No one wished to speak.
Jack Epple moved that Case Z-534, be continued tentatively until May 2, 2000. Michael Miller seconded the
motion.
The Vice Chair asked the secretary to poll the members of the Planning Commission for their decision. John
Folsom, yes; Arlan Marrs, yes; Stephan Mokray, yes; Michael Miller, yes; Jack Epple, yes; Bryant Gimlin,
yes; Cristie Nicklas, yes. Motion carried unanimously.
CASE NUMBER: USR-1252
APPLICANT: Charles & Rebecca Graves
PLANNER: Kim Ogle
LEGAL DESCRIPTION: SW4 of Section 27, Township 2 North, Range 66 West of the 6th P.M., Weld
County, Colorado.
REQUEST: Kennel in the (A)Agricultural Zone District.
LOCATION: South of and adjacent to Hart; east of and adjacent to Cassler.
Kim Ogle, Planner, read Case USR-1252 into the record. Kim stated that this application is in response to
a violation and that the site will have a maximum of 30 dogs on the site at any time. The Department of
Planning Services is recommending approval of this application with the deletion of Condition of Approval#8
&172,4eirj � C2-O9-o2ccD 2000-0355
as it does not apply to this case.
Bryant Gimlin asked what violation prompted this application. Kim stated that the number of dogs was the
reason for the violation at this property. Bryant asked if the facilities are adequate to keep the number of dogs
requested at the site. Kim stated that is was according to his site inspection. John Folsom asked if the
abandoned vehicles have been removed from the site. Kim replied that this will be done before recording of
the plat. Michael Miller asked if the smell was as bad as indicated in the letter from a surrounding property
owner, which Kim stated he did not notice on his visit. John Folsom also asked if the 30 dog limit included
puppies. Kim said the 30 dog limit would include puppies.
Garvey Graves, Applicant, stated she would like to be in compliance, that she does not breed the dogs that
often, that there are less than 30 dogs now and never will be more than 30 dogs at any time. Ms. Graves also
wanted to state that the vehicles were on the property when she bought it, but they are getting them removed
very soon. Michael Miller asked how many total dogs are on the property now. Ms. Graves stated that there
are 24 dogs now. John Folsom wanted to make sure the applicant understood that they would have to follow
the standards set up in this permit, not the surrounding property owners standards.
The Vice Chair asked if there was anyone in the audience who wished to speak for or against this application.
No one wished to speak.
John asked about possible soundproofing. Stephan Mokray asked how close the neighbors were, with the
nearest being 40 feet to the north. Christie said if the applicants had lived there several years with only one
letter, there was probably no need for extra soundproofing.
Stephan Mokray moved that Case USR-1252 be forwarded to the Board of County Commissioners along with
the Conditions of Approval and Development Standards with the Planning Commissions recommendation of
approval. Bryant Gimlin seconded the motion.
The Vice Chair asked the secretary to poll the members of the Planning Commission for their decision. John
Folsom, yes; Arlan Marrs, yes; Stephan Mokray, yes; Michael Miller, yes; Jack Epple, yes; Bryant Gimlin,
yes; Cristie Nicklas, yes. Motion carried unanimously.
CASE NUMBER: USR-1253
APPLICANT: Patrick Craig
PLANNER: Sheri Lockman
LEGAL DESCRIPTION: Lot B of RE-2344, part of the N2 NW4 of Section 28, Township 1 North, Range
64 West of the 6th P.M., Weld County, Colorado.
REQUEST: Site Specific Development Plan and Special Review Permit for the keeping, raising, and
boarding of exotic animals(Wildlife sanctuary) and a kennel.
LOCATION: South of and adjacent to WCR 6, between WCR 53 and WCR 55.
Sheri Lockman, Planner, presented Case USR-1253. Sheri stated that the applicant was unaware that a
Special Review Permit was required for his operation. The kennel part of the application is to board and keep
hybrid wolves that have been abandoned. The State and Federal regulations are in place and the Board of
County Commissioners gave Mr. Craig one year to get together funding to submit his USR application before
starting a violation. Sheri noted that the Department of Planning Services is recommending approval of this
application.
John Folsom verified that there would not be more than 80 animals on the site and asked about landscaping
for the site. Sheri stated that the landscaping is adequate and that the neighbors are far away. John Folsom
also asked if WCR 6 was up to the standards required for this site. Diane Houghtaling, Public Works, stated
that the site would not change the use of the road enough to require additional changes to the road. The road
would not be maintained by Weld County. Sheri also stated that Development Standard#19 covers questions
concerning road usage.
Patrick Craig,Applicant stated that he is a member of the Rocky Mountain Wildlife Conservation and now runs
a non-profit organization listed as 501-C-3, recently changing from a personally funded organization. The
delay requested from the Board of County Commissioners was to come up with the money to apply and
prepare the site for a USR. He stated that the animals are far from most people, stating that the closest home
is the Craig's at %z mile away. Mr. Craig is licensed through the USDA and the Division of Wildlife and is
regulated like any zoo. He stated that the entire 65 acres is entirely fenced with an 8' tensile steel fence and
the center compound where the animals are kept is fenced with an even taller tensile steel fence. The entire
fence has a 3' cement barrier as well, as is required for these large animals. Mr. Craig stated he has been
working with these large cats for over 20 years and the wolves were added recently, as well as the one bear.
The existing compound could hold 36 animals, with a second proposed to hold another 36 animals if needed
in the future. Mr. Craig noted that they do not breed these animals, only 2 litters in 20 years, one of which by
accident. He stated that they have added many trees and grassland to improve the environment.
Michael Miller asked if the entire property had the 8' fence, to which Patrick Craig replied there is 8' fence
around the entire property where the animals are kept. Mr. Craig further went on to state that these animals
were raised domesticated, many too afraid to go far from the compound. He also explained the variety of
environments that is available for these animals, in order to keep them comfortable. Michael asked if they
are publicly funded now. Mr. Craig stated that they are, but that this is not a zoo for the public. A few small
groups are allowed in, but this site is for the animals, not the people. Bryant Gimlin asked about disease
control for surrounding animal owners. Mr. Craig stated that his animals are in more danger of domestic
diseases than of passing them to animals. The animals housed there are almost all predators, with Mr. Craig
trying to route the prey animals to better places for the sake of both predator and prey animals involved.
Stephen Mokray asked if any animals had escaped, to which Mr. Craig stated that in over 20 years and 300+
animals, none had ever escaped.
The Vice Chair asked if there was anyone in the audience who wished to speak for or against this application.
No one wished to speak.
Sheri requested that Development Standard#11 be deleted as it was almost an exact replica of Development
Standard#13. Lee Morrison requested a copy of the USDA regulations for the file.
Jack Epple moved that Case USR-1253 be forwarded to the Board of County Commissioners along with the
Conditions of Approval and Development Standards as Sheri Lockman stated them with the Planning
Commissions recommendation of approval. Stephen Mokray seconded the motion.
The Vice Chair asked the secretary to poll the members of the Planning Commission for their decision. John
Folsom, yes; Arlan Marrs, yes; Stephan Mokray, yes; Michael Miller, yes; Jack Epple, yes; Bryant Gimlin,
yes; Cristie Nicklas, yes. Motion carried unanimously.
Meeting adjourned at 2:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted
Trisha Swanson
Secretary
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