HomeMy WebLinkAbout20260485 Summary of the Weld County Planning Commission Meeting
Tuesday, February 3, 2026
A regular meeting of the Weld County Planning Commission was held in the Weld County Administration
Building, Hearing Room, 1150 0 Street, Greeley, Colorado. This meeting was called to order by Chair
Butch White, at 1:30 p.m.
Roll Call
Present: Barney Hammond, Butch White, Calven Goza, Cole Ritchey, Hunter Rivera, Michael Biwer,
Michael Palizzi, Michael Wailes.
Absent: Virginia Guderjahn.
Also Present: Angela Snyder and Jim Flesher, Department of Planning Services, Mike McRoberts,
Development Review, Karin McDougal, County Attorney, and Kris Ranslem, Secretary.
Motion: Approve the January 6, 2026 Weld County Planning Commission minutes, Moved by Michael
Palizzi, Seconded by Barney Hammond. Motion passed unanimously.
Case Number: USR25-0011
Applicant: WETCO WCR 49 HWY 34, LLC
Planner: Angela Snyder
Request: Use by Special Review Permit for Open Mining (topsoil) outside of subdivisions
and historic townsites in the A(Agricultural)Zone District.
Legal Description: Lot B of Corrected Recorded Exemption RE-2623; being part of the N1/2 NE1/4 of
Section 24, Township 5 North, Range 65 West of the 6th P.M., Weld County,
Colorado.
Location: South of and adjacent to U.S. Highway 34; west of and adjacent to County Road
49.
Angela Snyder, Planning Services, stated that the applicant is requesting additional time to complete their
Traffic Analysis. Staff is in support of this request and recommended continuing this case to the April 7,
2026 Planning Commission Hearing.
The Chair asked if there was anyone in the audience who wished to speak for or against the continuation
of this application. No one wished to speak.
Motion: Continue USR25-0011 to the April 7, 2026 Planning Commission Hearing, Moved by Michael
Palizzi, Seconded by Calven Goza.
Vote: Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote (summary: Yes = 8).
Yes: Butch White, Barney Hammond, Calven Goza, Cole Ritchey, Hunter Rivera, Michael Biwer, Michael
Palizzi, Michael Wailes.
Case Number: COZ25-0012
Applicant: John Scheopner and Teresa Scheopner
Planner: Angela Snyder
Request: Change of Zone from the R-1 (Low Density) Zone District to the A (Agricultural)
Zone District.
Legal Description: Part of the S1/2 SE1/4 NE1/4 NE1/4, being part of Section 16; and Lots A and B
of Recorded Exemption RE-4591, being part of the NE1/4 of Section 15, all in
Township 5 North, Range 65 West of the 6th P.M.,Weld County, Colorado.
Location: One(1) parcel located west of and adjacent to Cherry Avenue; approximately 0.2
miles south of East 20'h Street; and two(2)parcels located north of and adjacent
to East 24U'Street; southwest of and adjacent to East Highway 34(Business).
Angela Snyder, Planning Services, presented Case COZ25-0012, reading the recommendation and
comments into the record. The Department of Planning Services recommends approval of this application
along with conditions of approval and development standards.
1
Gbm,Mlmni(,a.k bC'S 2026-0485
(s \ \\ \alo
Commissioner Goza said that he is a resident of the area and will be recusing himself from this case.
Mike McRoberts, Development Review, reported on the existing traffic and access to the site.
John Scheopner, 2121 Cherry Avenue, stated that they always thought that they were in the agricultural
zone district as they are surrounded by agricultural uses such as hay production and livestock.
The Chair asked if there was anyone in the audience who wished to speak for or against this application.
No one wished to speak.
The Chair asked the applicant if they have read through the Development Standards and Conditions of
Approval and if they are in agreement with those. The applicant replied that they are in agreement.
Motion: Forward Case COZ25-0012 to the Board of County Commissioners along with the Conditions of
Approval and Development Standards with the Planning Commission's recommendation of approval,
Moved by Michael Biwer, Seconded by Barney Hammond.
Vote: Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote (summary: Yes= 7).
Yes: Butch White, Barney Hammond, Cole Ritchey, Hunter Rivera, Michael Biwer, Michael Palizzi, Michael
Wailes.
Absent: Calven Goza.
Case Number: Ordinance 2026-01
Planner: Jim Flesher
Request: In the Matter of Repealing and Reenacting with Amendments, Chapter 23 Zoning
of the Weld County Code(Data Centers)
Jim Flesher, Planning Services, presented Ordinance 2026-01, provided a brief presentation on the
proposed changes to Chapter 23, specifically related to Data Centers. He added that the first reading of
this ordinance was presented to the Board of County Commissioners on January 26th. The Department of
Planning Services recommends approval of this Ordinance.
The Chair asked if there was anyone in the audience who wished to speak for or against this application.
No one wished to speak.
Motion: Forward Ordinance 2026-01 to the Board of County Commissioners along with the Planning
Commission's recommendation of approval, Moved by Michael Palizzi, Seconded by Cole Ritchey.
Vote: Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote (summary: Yes = 8).
Yes: Butch White, Barney Hammond, Calven Goza, Cole Ritchey, Hunter Rivera, Michael Biwer, Michael
Palizzi, Michael Wailes.
Case Number: Ordinance 2026-02
Planner: Jim Flesher
Request: In the Matter of Repealing and Reenacting with Amendments, Chapter 23 Zoning,
Chapter 24 Subdivisions,and Chapter 27 Planned Unit Developments of the Weld
County Code(Land Use Processes)
Jim Flesher, Planning Services, presented Ordinance 2026-02, provided a brief presentation regarding
proposed changes to Chapters 23, 24, and 27 related to changes in the land use permitting processes. Mr.
Flesher stated that throughout the code change process they have been engaging with applicants and their
representatives to ensure that the proposed changes are practical, effective and aligned with the needs of
those who interact with the County's permitting system. He added that the feedback we have received has
been supportive. The Department of Planning Services recommends approval of this Ordinance.
The Chair asked if there was anyone in the audience who wished to speak for or against this application.
Hannah Dutrow,Agprofessionals, 4505 29th Street, Greeley, Colorado stated that they appreciate the work
Staff has done to improve the land use workflow and add structure and transparency. After reviewing the
2
proposed code changes, Ms. Dutrow referred to the time frame in the internal review process and referral
agency reviews and said that in previous codes there were structured time frames; however, there isn't a
set time frame with the proposed code changes. She suggested having a "not to exceed" date to set that
expectation.
Ms. Dutrow referred to the land division code and said that the proposed code changes are requiring a pre-
application meeting. She said that while they understand that is necessary most of the time there are a few
cases where an exception might be beneficial like a Lot Line Adjustment. Ms. Dutrow said that the pre-
application questionnaire is not necessarily tailored to land divisions. She said it might be helpful if that
was tailored later.
Mr. Flesher said that Staff will take those comments under advisement and go over those in more detail
with Ms. Dutrow prior to the County Commissioner's first reading.
Motion: Forward Ordinance 2026-02 to the Board of County Commissioners along with the Conditions of
Approval and Development Standards with the Planning Commission's recommendation of approval,
Moved by Barney Hammond, Seconded by Michael Biwer.
Vote: Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote (summary: Yes= 8).
Yes: Butch White, Barney Hammond, Calven Goza, Cole Ritchey, Hunter Rivera, Michael Biwer, Michael
Palizzi, Michael Wailes.
The Chair asked the public if there were other items of business that they would like to discuss. No one
wished to speak.
The Chair asked the Planning Commission members if there was any new business to discuss. No one
wished to speak.
Meeting adjourned at 1:59 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
VK
Kristine Ranslem
Secretary
3
Hello