TOWN OF ERIE  
645 Holbrook Street  
Erie, CO 80516  
Meeting Minutes  
Wednesday, May 7, 2025  
6:30 PM  
In Person Meeting  
To View Meeting Virtually on Zoom: https://bit.ly/7May25PCMtg  
Council Chambers  
To Sign Up for Public Comment: www.erieco.gov/PublicComment  
Planning Commission  
I. CALL TO ORDER & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO FLAG  
Chair Burns called the May 7, 2025 Planning Commission Meeting to order at 6:30  
p.m.  
II. ROLL CALL  
Roll Call:  
Commissioner Booth - present  
Commissioner Sawusch - present  
Commissioner Dreckman – absent excused  
Commissioner Braudes - present  
Commissioner Baham - present  
Vice Chair Hemphill - present  
Chair Burns - present  
A quorum was present.  
III. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA  
Commissioner Braudes moved to approve the agenda of the May 7, 2025  
Planning Commission Meeting. The motion, seconded by Commissioner Booth,  
carried with the following roll call vote:  
Commissioner Booth - yes  
Commissioner Sawusch - yes  
Commissioner Braudes - yes  
Commissioner Baham - yes  
Vice Chair Hemphill - yes  
Chair Burns - yes  
Motion passes unanimously.  
IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES  
25-281 Approval of the April 16, 2025 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes  
Attachments: April 16, 2025 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes  
Commissioner Booth moved to approve the minutes of the April 16, 2025  
Planning Commission Meeting. The motion, seconded by Commissioner Baham,  
carried with the following roll call vote:  
Commissioner Booth - yes  
Commissioner Sawusch - yes  
Commissioner Braudes - yes  
Commissioner Baham - yes  
Vice Chair Hemphill - yes  
Chair Burns - yes  
Motion passes unanimously.  
V. PUBLIC COMMENTS  
No public comment was taken.  
VI. GENERAL BUSINESS  
25-249  
Application Withdrawn  
PUBLIC HEARING: A Resolution of the Planning Commission of the Town  
of Erie Recommending that the Town Council Approve the I-25 Gateway  
South Planned Development - Development Plan (PD-DP)  
Attachments: Retraction Letter  
Chair Burns announced Agenda Item 25-249: A Resolution of the Planning  
Commission of the Town of Erie Recommending that the Town Council Approve  
the I-25 Gateway South Planned Development – Development Plan (PD-DP).  
Chair Burns opened the Public Hearing at 6:34 p.m. and announced that the  
application is withdrawn.  
Chair Burns closed the Public Hearing at 6:34 p.m.  
25-228  
A Resolution of the Planning Commission of the Town of Erie  
Recommending that the Town Council Adopt an Ordinance Amending Title  
10 of the Erie Municipal Code Regarding Accessory Dwelling Units,  
Assembly Uses, and Minimum Parking  
Attachments: Resolution No. P25-05  
Draft Ordinance  
Staff Report  
Staff Presentation  
HB24-1152  
HB24-1304  
Chair Burns announced Agenda Item 25-228: A Resolution of the Planning  
Commission of the Town of Erie Recommending that the Town Council Adopt an  
Ordinance Amending Title 10 of the Erie Municipal Code Regarding Accessory  
Dwelling Units, Assembly Uses, and Minimum Parking.  
Chair Burns opened the consideration of Item 25-228 at 6:35 p.m. and turned it  
over to staff.  
Sarah Nurmela, Planning & Development Director, and Chris LaRue, Principal  
Planner, gave a presentation to the Commission on the agenda item.  
Chair Burns brought it back to the Commission for any questions/comments of  
staff.  
Some questions/comments included the following:  
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Assembly Use/space. Industrial Use and Community Centers.  
Relationship between ADUs and HOAs and the Draft Ordinance.  
Minimum parking, as it relates to the associated House Bill, its applicability  
and requirements related to Transit.  
ADUs. Definitions and applicable requirements according to the Town and  
according to the House Bill.  
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Administrative Approval of ADUs.  
ADU Guide and Checklist.  
Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) funds related to ADUs.  
Implications of a situation where certain PDs restrict ADUs and would be in  
conflict with the new rules.  
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ADUs and Gap Housing that is Affordable.  
ADUs and short-term rentals.  
ADU Design and Dimensional Standards and their relationship to HOA  
requirements.  
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Parking as it relates to proximity to Transit and the level of Transit.  
Future of Jump Line and DOLA’s requirements for Transit Lines.  
Accessory Structures (including ADUs) and their Dimensional Standards  
related to Principal Residential Structures.  
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Impact fees related to new ADUs.  
ADUs and water taps and meters.  
Chair Burns asked if there was a motion on the agenda item.  
Commissioner Braudes moved to approve Agenda Item 25-228: A Resolution of  
the Planning Commission of the Town of Erie Recommending that the Town  
Council Adopt an Ordinance Amending Title 10 of the Erie Municipal Code  
Regarding Accessory Dwelling Units, Assembly Uses, and Minimum Parking.  
The motion, seconded by Commissioner Sawusch, carried with the following roll  
call vote:  
Commissioner Booth - yes  
Commissioner Sawusch - yes  
Commissioner Braudes - yes  
Commissioner Baham - yes  
Vice Chair Hemphill - yes  
Chair Burns - yes  
Motion passes unanimously.  
25-215  
A Resolution of the Planning Commission of the Town of Erie  
Recommending that the Town Council Adopt an Ordinance Amending  
Chapters 6 and 7 of Title 10 of the Erie Municipal Code Removing  
Alternative Standards for Affordable Housing Projects  
Attachments: Resolution No. P25-07  
Draft Ordinance  
Staff Report  
Presentation  
Ordinance No 017-2023  
Chair Burns announced Agenda Item 25-215: A Resolution of the Planning  
Commission of the Town of Erie Recommending that the Town Council Adopt an  
Ordinance Amending Chapters 6 and 7 of Title 10 of the Erie Municipal Code  
Removing Alternative Standards for Affordable Housing Projects.  
Chair Burns opened the consideration of Item 25-215 at 7:15 p.m. and turned it  
over to staff.  
MJ Adams, Affordable Housing Manager, gave a presentation to the Commission  
on the agenda item.  
Chair Burns brought it back to the Commission for any questions/comments of  
staff.  
Some questions/comments included the following:  
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Proposition 123 funding requirements and expected state guidance as it  
relates to the Town’s process.  
90-day review for approval process for applications filed having Affordable  
Housing.  
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Administrative Reviews, when they apply and their adequacy regarding  
project progression. Comparing Administrative Reviews with Non-Administrative  
Reviews.  
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Removal of Affordable Housing from Administrative Review.  
Proposed Resolution not supporting the General Well Fair of the Town.  
The Statement of Commitment to Affordable Housing and existing IGAs.  
Affect on agreements/commitments if expedited process is eliminated.  
Removal of Alternate Standards for Affordable Housing Projects and its  
possible impact to meeting Affordable Housing goals.  
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ADUs as a tool for Affordable Housing and the differences between them.  
Process for ADU review for approval.  
Administrative Reviews and any restrictions based on the size of  
developments.  
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Expedited reviews saving time and money, helping the developer to  
successfully complete Affordable Housing Projects.  
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Affordable Housing as a way to achieve an economically balanced and  
diverse community.  
Removal of Alternative Standards for Affordable Housing Projects from the  
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Code is contrary to Title 10 – UDC, Chapter 1. – General Provisions, 10-1-3  
-Purpose of This Title; as well as contrary to the Criteria for approval of the  
amendment regarding Stated Purposes of the UDC.  
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Initial Affordable Housing effort as well as the Comprehensive Plan Update  
pointed to the need for Diverse Housing.  
Implications of removal of the expedited review process on potential  
Affordable Housing applications and on available Proposition 123 funding.  
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Trust in Administrative Reviews.  
Removal of Alternative Standards for Affordable Housing Projects versus a  
Revision to Alternative Standards for Affordable Housing Projects. Removal of all  
the Alternative Standards versus removal of just the Expedited Review Process  
portion and the reasoning behind it.  
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Alternative Equivalent Compliance.  
Area Median Income.  
Alternative Standards/Alternative Equivalent Compliance as a way to deal  
with possible Variance requests administratively.  
Time savings between pursuing a Variance vs. an Alternative Equivalent  
Compliance request.  
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Number of recent applications having Affordable Housing components.  
Page Property.  
Learning process through the Cheesman Project.  
“Bonus” construction incentives, other than Alternative Standards and  
Administrative Processes. Fast track development and other incentives to build.  
Primary incentive for a builder to construct Affordable Housing is the expedited  
process. Other Alternative/Replacement incentives compliant with Proposition  
123.  
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Town’s Housing Policy.  
Development Review process in general and portions of it being  
Administrative.  
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Importance of Pre-Application meetings.  
Possible scenarios for consideration of the Agenda Item.  
Chair Burns asked if there was a motion on the agenda item.  
Commissioner Sawusch moved to Continue Resolution # P25-07 (Agenda Item  
25-215: A Resolution of the Planning Commission of the Town of Erie  
Recommending that the Town Council Adopt an Ordinance Amending Chapters 6  
and 7 of Title 10 of the Erie Municipal Code Removing Alternative Standards for  
Affordable Housing Projects) to a date certain of July 2, 2025 in order for the  
Commission to discuss a possible amendment to the Resolution and to allow a  
possible meeting with Town Council to come up with an alternative Resolution.  
The motion, seconded by Commissioner Braudes, carried with the following roll  
call vote:  
Commissioner Booth - yes  
Commissioner Sawusch - yes  
Commissioner Braudes - yes  
Commissioner Baham - yes  
Vice Chair Hemphill - yes  
Chair Burns - yes  
Motion passes unanimously.  
25-285  
PUBLIC HEARING: A Resolution of the Planning Commission of the Town  
of Erie approving the Site Plan for the Erie Air Park Replat D Subdivision  
Attachments: Resolution P25-06  
Staff Presentation  
Applicant Presentation  
Proposed Site Plan  
Approved Final Plat  
First Amendment to the DA & Original DA  
Erie Airpark Planned Development - Development Plan  
Application and Narrative  
Additional Application Materials  
Civil Construction Plans  
DRT Comments  
Public Hearing Notices  
Neighborhood Meeting Notices and Summary  
Chair Burns announced Agenda Item 25-285: A Resolution of the Planning  
Commission of the Town of Erie approving the Site Plan for the Erie Air Park  
Replat D Subdivision.  
Chair Burns opened the Public Hearing at 8:45 p.m. and turned it over to staff.  
Chris LaRue, Principal Planner, gave a presentation to the Commission on the  
agenda item.  
Zach Nassar, with Nassar Development, gave a presentation to the Commission  
on the agenda item.  
Chair Burns opened the Public Comment portion of the Public Hearing at 9:05  
p.m. and asked if there was anyone in attendance to give comment on this  
agenda item.  
Public comment was taken from the following:  
Steve Francine, Owner of Hanger # 1 at Erie Airport, gave comment on the  
following:  
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In favor of the proposed development  
Chair Burns closed the Public Comment portion of Public Hearing at 9:07 p.m.  
Chair Burns brought it back to the Commission for any questions/comments of  
staff.  
Some questions/comments included the following:  
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Elevation Design of the primary entrances meeting all three design elements  
required by the UDC.  
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Bike parking in general. Specifically, plans for the area next to building 300.  
Vehicular (car) parking provided.  
Any run-off issues.  
Traffic and traffic flow.  
Light at Hwy. 7 and Airport Rd.  
Acceleration lane on Hwy. 7  
Any flooding issues.  
CDOT involvement with the project as it relates improvements in the vicinity  
of the intersection of Hwy. 7 and Airport Rd.  
Geotechnical Report and its effect on construction design including  
construction materials.  
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Sufficient Utilities for typical Light Industrial Uses.  
Taxiway for buildings 500 and 400 and possible interactions between planes  
and parking lots.  
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Internal car parking and outer taxiways limit plane and car interaction.  
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Potential for Authorized Airport Access and reserving space to accommodate  
it.  
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Signalization and future road widening.  
Sanitary sewer line improvement.  
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Chair Burns closed the Public Hearing at 9:31 p.m. and asked if there was a  
motion on the agenda item.  
Commissioner Braudes moved to approve Agenda Item 25-285: A Resolution of  
the Planning Commission of the Town of Erie approving the Site Plan for the Erie  
Air Park Replat D Subdivision.  
The motion, seconded by Commissioner Booth, carried with the following roll  
call vote:  
Commissioner Booth - yes  
Commissioner Sawusch - yes  
Commissioner Braudes - yes  
Commissioner Baham - yes  
Vice Chair Hemphill - yes  
Chair Burns - yes  
Motion passes unanimously.  
VII. STAFF REPORTS  
Chris LaRue, Principal Planner, reported on the following:  
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Possible cancellation of the May 21, 2025 Planning Commission Meeting with  
a determination by May 16, 2025.  
VIII. COMMISSIONER REPORTS AND DISCUSSION ITEMS  
Vice Chair Hemphill reported on the following:  
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Arbor Day was a success, please come next year!  
Jury Duty experience  
IX. ADJOURNMENT  
Commissioner Booth moved to adjourn the May 7, 2025 Planning Commission  
Meeting. The motion, seconded by Commissioner Baham, carried with all voting  
in favor thereof.  
Chair Burns adjourned the May 7, 2025 Planning Commission Meeting at 9:34  
p.m.