- Staff reported no access to Highway 7 and now there is. Where was the access
point?
- Bonanza was a thru street and residents used this access
- Soil analysis and over-excavation
- This item concerns zoning rather than site plan review, and the Commission
must follow different requirements for each. There will be at least two additional
opportunities for public comment as the project moves through the remaining
stages of the process.
- Is there an RTD stop in the commercial uses/multi-family residential?
- Clarification: Easement and 40 ft. buffer - Would this be in addition?
- Transportation items to be addressed during the site plan review include the
third submittal comments and a discrepancy identified in the traffic trip
generator
- Have we addressed the comments on trip generation and the initial traffic
impact study. If there is concern on trip generation calculated, has that been
addressed?
- By preliminary plat, we should understand what is needed in certain areas
regarding round-abouts, traffic, etc.
- CDOT has preliminary access via Highway 7. Assuming partial motion into the
property is limited in movement?
- How is this submittal different from the initial 2015-2016 submittal?
Vice Chair Braudes closed the Public Hearing at 9:06pm and brought it back to
the Commission for final deliberations.
The Commission thanked staff and the applicant for their responses and noted
that this is a unique, long vacant property that aligns with the intent of the
proposed zoning classification, even though there are existing residential homes
to the north. They recalled that shifting to AP zoning on the west side had
previously been viewed as beneficial for supporting airport needs and suggested
staff confirm whether the site lies within or just outside the Airport URA. The
Commission felt the proposed zoning could work, emphasized the importance of
communicating with the Airport HOA for additional feedback, and expressed
interest in seeing how the site develops. While acknowledging that the list of
permitted uses can seem broad, they stressed the need to work collaboratively to
ensure acceptable uses and to balance impacts on nearby residents. The
Commission sympathized with neighbors’ concerns but noted that the
Commission must evaluate the request against the Comprehensive Plan, and that
the Site Plan stage will involve a much more detailed review. For zoning
purposes, they saw nothing that contradicts the standards the applicant would be
required to follow.
Commissioner Burns moved to approve Resolution P26-06, a Resolution of the
Planning Commission of the Town of Erie Recommending Approval to the Town
Council of the Rezoning of the Sierra Vista property to Community Mixed Use
(CMU) and Airport (AP). The motion, seconded by Commissioner Baham, carried
with all voting in favor thereof.
Motion passes unanimously.
VII. STAFF REPORTS
Kelly Driscoll, Deputy Director of Planning & Development noted that staff has
been working with the Clerk's Office as they have been recruiting for the advisory
boards. The Clerk's Office has been working with CIRSA for onsite training on
May 4, 2026 at 6pm here in the Council Chambers. There will be a quasi-judicial
