Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

Everyone, welcome to the Town of Parker meeting for August 27th, 2026. The time is 7 p.m. I'd like everyone to stand, please, for the Pledge of Allegiance.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you, everyone. Roll call. Absents is Gary, present are Ruthann, Eric, myself, sitting in for Gary, our commissioner, Brett Tuller, Angela Lindstrom, Angela, excuse me, and absent is Jane. Alternates sitting are Jenny, Lisa, and Kayla's not here. Okay, Kayla is absent. And roll call. Lisa.

Here.

Brett.

Here.

Angela. Here. Ruthann. Here. Eric. Here. Jenny.

Here.

Thank you. Any deletions or additions to the agenda?

No, ma'am, there are not.

Thank you. Do we have the chair call okay approval of minutes or do we have any deletions corrections or anything to the last meeting set of meeting minutes. No. No? OK. Thank you. Do I get a motion to approve the meeting minutes for what was the last meeting? May 28. May 28? Yeah, it's been a while. May 28, 2027.

I move that the minutes of May 28 be approved.

So I got a second. I second. Thank you, Jenny. And what are we doing? Sorry. Call to motion.

Aye.

Brett?

Yes.

Aye. Aye.

Aye.

Yes. And chair is aye. Motion passes. OK. I'M GOING TO HAVE TO READ THIS. SINCE THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING, I'M GOING TO CALL THE, I'M GOING TO, THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING. AND THE HEARING TYPE IS PUBLIC MEETING, SORRY, RECOMMENDATION FOR THE ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND SUBSECTION 1301.080BC, subsection 13.03.040Y, subsection 13.08.110E6, subsections 13.09.020C11, and 12, subsections 13.09.020D and 3, and subsections, sorry, and E subsections 13.09.040A, D and 3, and E1 subsections 13.09.050A and B and subsection 13.09060, B of the town of Parker, municipal code concerning enforcement and penalties and waivers, exterior lighting, and signs.

Well done.

Well done. Staff, Bryce, we look forward to hearing from you.

Thank You vice chair members of the Commission I apologize about the length of the that's all right I should have practiced I didn't I didn't practice it Tonight there's some additional cleanup of code its proposal of land development ordinance amendments regarding code violations Town Council waiver criteria exterior lighting setbacks and sign code Staff have identified amendments to improve clarity of the land development ordinances, again, regarding enforcement penalties, waiver criteria, exterior lighting regarding light pole heights, temporary signs on developed parcels, and permanent signs on developed parcels. For enforcements and penalty, the current code does not clearly define what constitutes a violation or explain how violations and associated fines escalate over time. The proposed amendment will define what constitutes a violation and clarify the process for escalating violations and fines over time. Meaning that in the code there's a first, second, third, fourth violation or a fine. Extensively, it's 12 months between the fine. So if you're fined with the first offense and within the next 12 months you are found to be in violation again, you get a second violation. If you have a violation and then you don't have any violations for 13 months and then you have the same issue again, then it starts back again at a first violation or first fine. So that's the clarification that was provided. The current code regarding waivers requires the applicant to demonstrate a hardship. The proposed language would go back to what was in the previous code before the LDO update in 2024. And that is to have a purpose to that the waiver should have a purpose to allow for flexibility and way variety and land development and there should be a public interest that is served To be clear on waivers. They are rare Town Council rarely does these an example of a waiver that the town has done in the past is regarding the security for Tantara development and that allow that waiver allowed chambers road to be built in advance so sooner than it would have been otherwise so that was the public interest so those are the types of things that a waiver might might entail but again very rare but it's really kind of that additional flexibility for town council where there's a public interest or need Temporary signs on developed parcels. Current code regarding temporary freestanding signs is unclear. The proposed language will clarify the language for temporary freestanding signs. also will require registration of a 3264 temporary sign for improved transparency in tracking when we updated the code in 2016 the 3264 sign was created to allow for free speech it has honestly become just kind of a tracking and transparency All this requires that is that they have to register it. So we know that it fits in this box When Mike Moore our code compliance officer is out doing enforcements He doesn't have to guess property owner doesn't have to guess so it's just for transparency And we do not look at what the sign says Window signs Current code regarding window signs is both in temporary and permanent sign locations in the code. The proposed language will be located in permanent signs, and this reflects our current permitting process. So that's just for clarity. Not sure why it ended up in both. Exterior lighting. Current code requires light poles to be set back from the property lines, the height of the pole. So if a pole is 20 feet tall, it needs to be 20 feet from the property line. This did not contemplate where they were shared parking lot shared drives in implementing this we've had issues with Having that setback and not getting the lighting for those shared spaces They proposed amendment would add flexibility for light poles adjacent to shared private drives and shared parking areas It'll give them flexibility from the setback and maintain the standards along our exterior boundaries. I Staff recommends the following motion that the Planning Commission recommend Town Council amend subsection 130108B2, subsection 1303040Y, subsection 1308110E6, subsection 1309020D3 and E1, 1309050A and D, and 1309060B of the Parker Municipal Code concerning at signs, varying waivers, and lighting heights. That concludes my presentation. As always, I'm available for any questions.

Thank you, Bryce. Commissioners, any questions for staff?

I have a question. I was curious on the repeat code violations. What is the cure period for any any particular violation? So if you get a violation, how long are you given to cure that violation?

So we have a policy document that sets that up, but it does vary a bit depending on the type of document of violation. Certain violations like a temporary sign can be removed relatively quickly. Other violations where Perhaps they've done some landscaping changes, may take a little bit longer. So the town is thoughtful about the amount of time it will take to rectify the violation as long as they are actively working towards resolving it.

So if I have a landscaping violation, and I'm given notice, and the time frame for curing it is not in code. It's within policy. Is that correct?

That is accurate.

And then if I don't cure it within that period of time, is that what triggers a second violation? Or is it a second act of violation that you're talking about? That was not clear to me.

So it can be either one. So it can be a second active violation or it can be a continuation of a violation that hasn't been resolved.

So would it be possible for someone who didn't cure within a period to actually like drag this out for four years because of?

No. OK. Because the town will provide steps and deadlines. OK. And in the fine setup, you'll have first, second, third, fourth, and then you go to court.

OK. Thank you. Any further questions?

I just want to make sure I'm clear. When it comes to the fine escalation, is it the same violation or any violation?

It's the same violation.

No further questions?

So your hope would be that this whole process would be more streamlined, more fair, and certainly more apparent. people would know. I mean, they would have a much better idea of what they needed to do up front, right? So you're hoping that this process will be streamlined somewhat, correct?

So when it comes to violation, it's the town's always our hope that we can resolve it without moving to a fine. So our code compliance starts with a kind of verbal, hey, did you know educational, and then written, and then goes to fines. So what's not shown in here is the policy of kind of the initial approach to make sure that, you know, that we're being fair to people, we're communicating with them, and that they have the ability to resolve the issue before fines are even implemented.

No further questions? I'm good. Are you good, Lisa?

I am. Thank you, Bryce.

Thank you, Bryce. Since this is a public hearing, I would like to open the discussion for public comment. Seeing none, I will close the public comment. Any further information from staff? I will close the public comment at 7.14 PM Mountain Daylight Time. Planning Commission discussion?

I'll open with good cleanup. Thank you. This will be better. It'll be clearer. And I read through all the actual code changes and I didn't find a single typo. Good job.

Along with the punctuation.

Well, if there's no further discussion, I will say this. My only vagueness was when I was reading through it is the penalties and the violations. I think it's better than it was, but there's still sort of that My concern was, is there going to be a point where if it's allowed to lag, then it just continues. But hopefully this will circumvent that to a degree. That was my only comment. So if nothing else. OK. If no further comments, thank you all for the discussion. I would like to ask for a motion to make the recommendation to move the Planning Commission

I move the Planning Commission recommend Town Council amend subsection 13.01.080 subsection 13.03.040 subsection 13.08.110E6, subsections 13.09.020C11 and 12, subsections 13.09. .020D3 and E, subsections 13.09040A, D3 and E1, subsections 13.09050A and D, and subsection 13.09.060B of the Parker Municipal Code concerning enforcement and penalties, waivers, exterior lighting, and signs.

I'll second that. Thank you. So moved by Lisa and seconded by Angela. I call to question the vote.

I vote aye.

Yes.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Yes. Vice Chair is aye. Motion passes. Thank you, Brett. Thank you, Bryce, I mean. Thank you, Brett. Any planning commission staff, anything you want to discuss, Bryce?

No, ma'am. No staff items.

OK. Well, it is 7-17. Do I get a motion to call the meeting, to adjourn the meeting?

I move we adjourn. I will second. All in favor?

Aye.

Aye.

Yes. Yes. The one said no. Thank you. acclamation the what it was done by acclamation it was done by affirmation that's true you know those legal terms i don't thank you everyone thank you well done