Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

Okay. Ready, Jen? Everybody's ready, Bryce? Okay. We will call the September 10th, 2026 meeting of the Parker Planning Commission to order at 7 p.m. Please stand and follow us facing this way.

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.

All right. Roll call. Absent is Jane. Seated for Jane is Jenny. All other members present? there any additions to our deletions from the agenda no sir there are not okay approval the minutes uh are there any additions or corrections to the planning commission meeting minutes of august 27 2026. no there's not okay all right uh do we have a motion to approve i move

I move to approve the minutes of the August 27, 2026 meeting. I'll second.

It's been moved by Ruthann, seconded by Ileana, that the Planning Commission be approved the minutes from August 27, 2026. And I'll call the question. Ileana? Aye. Brett?

Yes.

Angela? Aye. Ruthann? Aye. Eric? Aye. Jenny? Yes. Chair is aye. Passes unanimously. all right next time public hearing 7a town of parker 2050 comprehensive master plan adoption we will open the public hearing at 702. uh mary rice whoever

Thank you, Chairman and Commissioners.

I can turn your mics on and off over here.

We have our consultant, Nora Bland, with, oh my goodness, I just. Cushing Terrell. Cushing Terrell. Thank you. And take it away, Nora.

Thanks. Yep. Thanks, everyone. Good evening. This is really exciting to be here tonight. Like Mary mentioned, Nora Bland from Cushing Terrell. We're the prime consultant that's been working for the past few years on the update to the comprehensive plan. It's been a really amazing journey, and I think I've learned a lot from the people and the staff here, and I'm excited to walk you through this process tonight. What I'll be presenting on is a little bit of background, likely some information that you've seen before, but then I'll talk about the purpose of the plan, the process and the schedule that we went through, all the community engagement that we did, talk about the internal alignment process a little bit, and then some of the key changes, and we'll end with the staff recommendation. So Parker 2035 year existing master plan was written and adopted in 2012 and last updated in 2022. And really the purpose for this update was to reflect some more current conditions, community priorities, and then long term needs and really be the guidebook for zoning decisions, capital projects, and then review of private development proposals for the town moving forward. The purpose is that it guides long range decisions on growth development and investment. It provides a coordinated framework for town plans and policies. It assures for orderly growth and creates really that predictability for residents and the development community to know what's coming. Provides a common framework for decisions for staff and Elected officials and you all reflects the community values, priorities, and aspirations of Parker today. It strengthens the town's competitiveness for grants if it's in an adopted plan. It serves as a foundation for other plans and initiatives and then remains flexible over time as a living document so that it can guide you through 2050. Our planning process started in summer of 2024. We had our kickoff and then really started things off with research and analysis. So we did an in-depth existing conditions analysis and then we reviewed the Parker 2035 plan against some best practices and then also reviewed the town's other existing plans. And then we conducted our first round of outreach. And then we began writing the plan in late 2025 and then did our second round of outreach. And then this past summer, we got to the public draft review portion of the process and had our final round of outreach, round three. And then here we are in our final plan stage. And then tonight we'll be asking for you all to recommend town council adopt the plan formally. our engagement process so we launched the web page on let's hop parker in october of 2024 we had a pop-up event at the ice trail where we were advertising our online survey which got 390 respondents and then we did another pop-up in january of 2025 at the recreation center We did three interviews with local developers in February of 2025 and then did a presentation to the Chamber of Commerce. We did five focus group meetings in April and May of last year where we talked to 35 individuals in five two-hour discussions and then a pop-up last summer the summer concert in the park to advertise our first open house which was July 9th last year and then we had an online participatory window where folks who couldn't meet the meeting could review the boards online and participate in a survey And then we did a presentation to the Downtown Business Alliance. And then our last open house was this June. And again, we did an online kind of mirrored activity for folks that couldn't attend. along with kind of the more engagement towards the community. We did a lot of internal engagement throughout this process. So the technical advisory committee was made up of staff representatives from different departments in the town. And so that's the TAC. So we met with them for our first and second meetings. And then we did study sessions with you all in April of 25. We had our third TAC meeting that summer and then other study sessions with you all last fall. And then our last TAC meeting was in October. And then we spoke to the Parks and Rec parks record open space Commission and then we did a couple of leadership workshops to make sure that the plan and its recommendations were aligning with the The goals and and the plans that that are adopted in the other departments within the town this past spring and And so the purpose of those alignment workshops was really to make sure that the town strategic plan is kind of the main guiding document. And then we have the code, we have various department plans, area plans, area specific plans. then development review and design standards that are all both informed by the town's strategic plan and also inform it along with the comprehensive plan and making sure that there's aligned priorities within each and there's no conflicting information or elements that may be more specific and may belong in a department plan that we can scale back and make a little bit less detailed for the comprehensive plan to make sure that all of those plans are effective and they're all speaking to each other and the comprehensive plan reflects that. And so that results in coordinated actions and really just better outcomes for the community. So the plan structure, we have the executive summary. It's really brief, which, which I find valuable. Um, then we've, we go into a community profile. Chapter two is the introduction. And then chapter three is all about the community engagement, both the process and what we heard. Chapter four is the community values, which I'll talk about in a minute. And then we've got the future land use chapter. And then we have our plan elements. So those are land use, housing, sustainability and resiliency, economic vitality, transportation, and quality of life. And then we've got the action or implementation chapter, which I'll talk about. And then the appendix, so we've got a glossary of terms, some funding strategies, and then more of that detailed community input. So our plan elements, each one has this kind of hierarchy of recommendations. We have the vision, which is the high level statement that encompasses the planning topic, and there's one per each. And then the goals are, there's something that can be achieved, but still on the visionary side. Strategies are more specific, but still not necessarily a direct action step, but they do help accomplish the goal. And then the actions, which you'll find in the Parker in action chapter, and that's a specific step that can or should be taken. These values, I think, they really tie Parker 2050 back to the Parker 2035 plan. A lot of these values are almost directly the same or just extremely similar to the values that were identified in that plan. So livable neighborhoods, history, culture, and sense of place, connected community, open space, and recreational opportunities, and then economic vibrancy. And so it's a testament to the fact that things have changed in Parker over time, but a lot of those values have remained similar and maybe just adjusted based on what's changed over time. And some of the key changes we're going to highlight for you tonight. The visions and policy framework have been updated from the 2035 plan. We've incorporated current data, emerging trends, and community input. DOLA, the state reviewed the plan for compliance. So that includes the water supply element, strategic growth element, and recreation and tourism components which have all come about since the 2035 plan was adopted. It has a much stronger integration across the plan elements. And then we updated the future land use chapter. This was a shift from Parker being more of a greenfield development community to focusing more on infill and redevelopment. And then the addition of the four opportunity areas really for direction on strategic areas that are left within the town for either development or redevelopment. The plan responds to emerging community needs including housing affordability and choice, changing and aging demographics, and then sustainability and resiliency which existed in ways in the 2035 plan but was not nearly as much of a focus as it is now. There's a more integrated approach to transportation and mobility, so looking at more options, multimodal options. The addition of the Parker In Action chapter, so it's got projects, programs, partnerships, policies, where the 2035 plan kind of stopped at the strategy level. And then it's now a digitally accessible document, which makes it also compliant with state requirements. I'll hand it over to Mary.

OK. With that, staff recommends the planning commission recommend town council approve a resolution adopting the town of Parker 2050 comprehensive plan.

Questions for the committee?

I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION. I HAVE A STATEMENT. THIS IS KICK BUTT. I HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WE'RE ON TV. HAVING BEEN A PART OF THIS PROCESS, HAVING SEEN THE REVISION DONE IN 2022, HAVING SEEN THE OUTCOME And having actually read it, because it's one thing to read it and embrace it, and it's one thing to just read it. But to see the thought, everything that went into it really, truly, for me, defines what Parker is. So thank you, guys. This was no easy task. I know there's a lot of individuals behind you that did it because it takes a village. But as the village leaders, you guys kicked some butt. So thank you.

anything else I just wanted to mention that chapter 7 the addition of that chapter 7 with the actionable items I think is just such a good idea and I have I I went through the draft with the fine-tooth comb and gave them reams of notes and they actually listened to some of them which is kind of cool They were good. So no, I just am very impressed. And I'm also very excited that we have the sustainability and resiliency section that has been expanded over prior years and looking at water usage and that sort of thing. I think that's a really good addition. It's just this is so much more sophisticated in terms of a product than we had for the 2025 and the effort and the work on the part of staff and the other members of staff of the town of Parker that went into this and the hours that they spent discussing and negotiating and working through things is really appreciated. Thank you.

ANYTHING ELSE? ALL RIGHT. AS IT IS A PUBLIC HEARING, WE USUALLY ASK FOR COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC, BUT SEEING NONE, WE'LL MOVE ON TO, IF THERE'S NOTHING FURTHER, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 7-16, COMMISSIONER DISCUSSION.

I'm in favor of it obviously I would not have said what I said I think the amount of energy and work not only from this Planning Commission and as Ruthann stated very well reams of paper we've I think we've everything that we felt I think we feel heard because that's important if you make a comment to be acknowledged and for it to continue I'm definitely in favor and we'll move to recommended resolution be passed

You know, I'd like to add on to what Eliana said, that this is an incredible document that I think really captures what Parker sees as its future. And I think it's an incredible job and huge kudos to you guys. This is incredible.

I'll just echo the appreciation for all the work you guys did on this and getting it all updated. It's much more easily digestible now looking at everything. You guys took all our feedback. It was great to see. So looking forward to what, the 2065 plan next?

You know, you'll be here.

If you could give us a couple of days to begin that process.

Just amend this one. We're good. Just amend this one.

Anything else? Anyone else? I want to say thank you. Not just that it's a great plan, but what a great tool for us. Way, way better than the 2035 plan, trying to cater our job around. This 2050 plan is going to help us immensely. So thank you. Great point. All right.

Somebody had a motion. I already said my piece.

I move the Planning Commission recommend Town Council approve a resolution to adopt the Town of Parker 2050 comprehensive plan.

I'll second it. It's been moved by Angela, seconded by Brett, that Planning Commission recommend Town Council approve a resolution to adopt the Town of Parker 2050 master plan. Call the question. Ileana.

Aye. Brett?

Yes. Angela?

Aye.

Ruthann? Aye. Eric? Aye. Jenny? Yes. Chair is aye. Passes unanimously. Congratulations, folks.

Congratulations, guys.

Good work. OK, 2065.

Next. All right. After the gondola.

Anything further for us, Bryce?

No, sir, there are not.

All right. Chair? Then we will adjourn.

Chair, I would like to just, if I may, publicly thank the Planning Commission for your years of engagement here with this plan. You folks have been incredible with your comments. Everything that we heard from Planning Commission did really help inform this great plan. and also to acknowledge our consultant Nora and her team, Cushing Terrell. for a moment there. I had a moment. But thank you for all of your incredibly hard work with the team. And Heather Bennett, she walked into this kind of midway and took it and ran. So kudos to you, Heather. Thank you so much. And obviously, our fearless leader, one and two, want to thank them for their support as well. Thank you. You bet, Mary.

all right with that we will adjourn the planning commission meeting at 7 20. we adjourn