HomeMy WebLinkAbout20194764.tiffSUMMARY OF THE WELD COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
Tuesday, November 5, 2019
A regular meeting of the Weld County Planning Commission was held in the Weld County Administration
Building, Hearing Room, 1150 O Street, Greeley, Colorado This meeting was called to order by Chair,
Michael Wailes, at 12 30 pm
Roll Call
Present. Michael Wades, Bruce Johnson, Gene Stile, Tom Cope, Lonnie Ford, Richard Beck, Eluah Hatch,
Skip Holland _
Absent/Excused
Also Present Chris Gathman, Michael Hall and Angela Snyder, Department of Planning Services, Lauren
Light, Department of Health, Evan Pinkham and Mike McRoberts, Public Works, Bob Choate, County
Attorney, and Michelle Wall, Secretary
Motion Approve the October 15, 2019 Weld County Planning Commission minutes, Moved by Skip
Holland, Seconded by Gene Stile Motion passed unanimously.
The Chair called a recess at 12 41 p m so that the IT staff could continue working on the technical issue
of not being able to connect to the County's Wifi for the Planning Commissioners who use their personal
computers The meeting reconvened at 12 56 p m
CASE NUMBER USR19-0052
APPLICANT THE GUEST FAMILY TRUST
PLANNER CHRIS GATHMAN
REQUEST A SITE SPECIFIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN AND USE BY SPECIAL REVIEW
PERMIT FOR A USE PERMITTED AS A USE BY RIGHT, ACCESSORY USE, OR
USE BY SPECIAL REVIEW IN THE COMMERCIAL OR INDUSTRIAL ZONE
DISTRICTS (STORAGE OF FIREWOOD AND PARKING AND STAGING OF UP
TO THREE (3) 3/4 TON PICKUP TRUCKS AND A TRAILER) IN THE A
(AGRICULTURAL) ZONE DISTRICT
LEGAL DESCRIPTION SW4 SECTION 13, T2N, R65W OF THE 6TH P M, WELD COUNTY,
COLORADO
LOCATION WEST OF AND ADJACENT TO CR 47 5, APPROXIMATELY 2,550 FEET
SOUTH OF CR 22
Chris Gathman, Planning Services, presented Case USR19-0052, reading the recommendation and
comments into the record Staff received one letter of concern from a surrounding property owner which
expressed concern about weeds, traffic, and dumping The dumping that has occurred on the property has
been cleaned up The applicant is going to help the property owner with up keep of the property The
Department of Planning Services recommends approval of this application with the attached conditions of
approval and development standards
Commissioner Cope asked staff is the area they are working in is outside of the floodplain Mr Gathman
replied that is correct
Mike McRoberts, Public Works, reported on the existing traffic, access to the site and drainage conditions
for the site
Lauren Light, Environmental Health, reviewed the public water and sanitary sewer requirements, on -site
dust control, and the Waste Handling Plan
Justin Dickmann, 8161 Jasmine Street #305, Dupont, Colorado Mr Dickmann said he owns a tree service
business He said one of the biproducts of cutting and trimming trees is firewood Mr Dickmann said the
money from the firewood helps pay employee wages He explained they accumulate firewood all year until
the fall, that is when traffic picks up because customers purchase firewood in the fall
Commissioner Holland asked Mr Dickmann if the wood that is accumulated on the property is generated
from the tree trimming business or if any additional wood is brought onto the property by other means Mr
COMMvI / c +;on5 I 2019-4764
Dickmann explained the wood comes from the trees they cut down with the business He said that any
wood that is smaller than 9 inches wide is put into the chipper and turned into mulch Anything wider than
9 inches is kept for firewood Mr Dickmann said they only have healthy wood on site, they do not bring
diseased wood onto the property
I
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 USR19-0052 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 Bruce Johnson, Seconded by Tom Cope
Vote Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote (summary Yes = 8)
Yes Bruce Johnson, Elijah Hatch, Gene Stille, Lonnie Ford, Michael Wailes, Richard Beck, Skip Holland,
Tom Cope
CASE NUMBER USR19-0055
APPLICANT WELD COUNTY
PLANNER MICHAEL HALL
REQUEST A SITE SPECIFIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN AND USE BY SPECIAL REVIEW
PERMIT FOR A 280 -FOOT TALL TELECOMMUNICATION ANTENNA TOWER
IN THE A (AGRICULTURAL) ZONE DISTRICT
LEGAL DESCRIPTION LOT A REC EXEMPT RE -4715, BEING PART N2NE4 SECTION 21, T11 N, R60W
OF THE 6TH P M , WELD COUNTY, COLORADO
LOCATION APPROXIMATELY 1 15 MILES WEST OF CR 105, APPROXIMATELY 0 05
MILES SOUTH OF CR 128 SECTION LINE ROW
Michael Hall, Planning Services, presented Case USR19-0055, reading the recommendation and
comments into the record The Department of Planning Services recommends approval of this application
with the attached conditions of approval and development standards
Evan Pinkham, Public Works, reported on the existing traffic, access to the site and drainage conditions for
the site
Lauren Light, Environmental Health, reviewed the public water and sanitary sewer requirements, on -site
dust control, and the Waste Handling Plan
Walt Leslie, Weld County Public Safety and Wireless Communications, 1551 North 17th Avenue, Greeley,
Colorado Mr Leslie explained the current tower on the property has been there since the 1950s and the
County has leased the tower for quite some time Weld County had the tower inspected in 2016 and found
out the tower was not meeting the requirements for public safety communications The owner of the tower
did not wish to repair the tower at that time The property and the tower were sold to Weld County Mr
Leslie explained Weld County would like to replace the current tower with a new one that will meet current
public safety specifications He said the coverage area for the tower is approximately 60 -70 miles for the
frequency band
Commissioner Stile asked Mr Leslie if Wyoming or Nebraska can access the use of the tower Mr Leslie
answered they would have to have an agreement for mutual aid with Weld County He said the frequencies
are assigned by the FCC and is licensed for the use by Weld County Public Safety and Wireless
Communications Mr Leslie explained that Weld County would allow for collocation, but they have not been
- approached by any entities The prior owner was willing to sell the property and tower to Weld County
because he was never able to lease the tower out to any commercial entities
The Chair asked if there was anyone in the audience who wished to speak for or against this application
No one wished to speak
Mr Hall commented that he would like to add "if applicable" to the end of Condition of Approval 1 A He
explained if the tower is not built as high as 280 feet, then they may not need to obtain a fall zone easement
Motion Amend Condition of Approval 1 A, as requested by Staff, Moved by Tom Cope, Seconded by
Bruce Johnson
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 USR19-0055 to the Board of County Commissioners along with the Amended
Conditions of Approval and Development Standards with the Planning Commission's recommendation of
approval, Moved by Gene Stille, Seconded by Bruce Johnson
Vote Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote (summary Yes = 8)
Yes* Bruce Johnson, Elijah Hatch, Gene Stille, Lonnie Ford, Michael Wailes, Richard Beck, Skip Holland,
Tom Cope
CASE NUMBER USR19-0059
APPLICANT GARY MCCORMICK, CIO OAK LEAF SOLAR 42, LLC
PLANNER ANGELA SNYDER
REQUEST A SITE SPECIFIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN AND USE BY SPECIAL REVIEW
PERMIT FOR A SMALL SCALE SOLAR FACILITY IN THE A (AGRICULTURAL)
ZONE DISTRICT
LEGAL DESCRIPTION LOT B REC EXEMPT RECX16-0124, PART NW4 SECTION 6, T3N, R66W OF
THE 6TH P M , WELD COUNTY, COLORADO
LOCATION EAST OF AND ADJACENT TO CR 25, SOUTH OF AND ADJACENT TO CR 38
Angela Snyder, Planning Services, presented Case USR19-0059, reading the recommendation and
comments into the record The Department of Planning Services recommends approval of this application
with the attached conditions of approval and development standards
Mike McRoberts, Public Works, reported on the existing traffic, access to the site and drainage conditions
for the site
Lauren Light, Environmental Health, reviewed the public water and sanitary sewer requirements, on -site
dust control, and the Waste Handling Plan
Mike McCabe, Oak Leaf Energy Partners, 2645 East 2nd Avenue, Suite 206, Denver, Colorado Mr
McCabe explained that they have completed two similar projects in Weld County He said this site is a 2
mega -watt project which creates enough power annually to support approximately 400 homes that are
located 1 — 2 -mile range The solar array will deliver electricity to Xcel Energy through the "Solar Rewards"
Community program
Commissioner Johnson asked if the solar panels are designed to rotate with the sun Mr McCabe
answered yes
Commissioner Cope asked if the solar panels level out in high winds Mr McCabe said that they are
designed to face the sky at night in still position When the sun comes out, they track the sun He explained
that during high winds, the panels go into still position Commissioner Cope asked at what wind speed do
the panels go into still position Mr McCabe commented that the panels are set to go into still position at
40 -mph wind
The Chair asked McCabe if the facility ties into the local grid Mr McCabe answered that is correct, it ties
in with Xcel Energy
Commissioner Johnson asked McCabe what the expected lifespan is for the facility Mr McCabe said the
typical life span is 30 years and that is what they are planning He explained the warranty on solar panels
is 25 years
Commissioner Cope mentioned that he has solar panels on his house He said that his house received
damage from a severe hail storm, but the solar panels were not damaged Mr McCabe said they have a
solar facility near the Denver International Airport, where there is a lot of hail, and they have not had any
damage to their panels so far
Commissioner Wailes asked if the panels have to receive maintenance for dust Mr McCabe said that the
panels fair well in Colorado because Colorado has enough rain and snow to clean off the panels He said
that in States near the coast, the panels will get dust over the top of dew, therefore, causing the panels to
require maintenance to wash them Mr McCabe said the facility is monitored remotely and if there is an
issue, they will send maintenance to the site
Commissioner Stile said he has solar panels on his barn, and it is nice to not have an electric bill
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 USR19-0059 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 Skip Holland, Seconded by Lonnie Ford
Vote Motion carried by unanimous roll call vote (summary Yes = 8)
Yes Bruce Johnson, Elijah Hatch, Gene Stile, Lonnie Ford, Michael Wailes, Richard Beck, Skip Holland,
Tom Cope
Commissioner Holland stated the applicant has shown compliance with Section 22-5-160 and Section 23-
2-220 A 2— A 7 of the Weld County Code
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
The Chair said he has inquired about having IT staff meet with the Planning Commissioners during lunch
to make sure all the computers are working properly before the scheduled hearing at 12 30 pm He said
he will look into the situation further
Meeting adjourned at 1 45 pm
Respectfully submitted,
Michelle Wall
Secretary
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