City Council Minutes 2003 06 03 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Louisville City Council Meeting June 3, 2003 Page 3 of 10 Davidson opened the public hearing and called for Staff presentation. Planning Director Paul Wood reviewed Ordinance No. 1421, Series 2003, which revises the Louisville Municipal Code to establish a new residential classification called, "Senior Independent Housing Unit." Wood stated the criterion defines the classification; reduces water tap assessment and exempts residential use-tax. The City Attorney evaluated the use tax question issue and advised Council they are not prohibited from exempting an item from the use tax. Wood addressed the issue of zoning and recommended that a Senior Independent Housing Unit be enforced through a separate deed restriction rather than a separate zoning district. Finance Director Charlene Laus utilized the City's utility billing system to evaluate water consumption. She stated the average monthly water consumption for senior independent housing complexes during the winter months was 2,400 gallons per month, per unit. For non-senior multi-unit complexes, the average water consumption per month is approximately 3,600 per unit. The average monthly consumption for a typical residential account during the winter months is 5,473 gallons per unit. Based on the consumption numbers, senior independent housing units use approximately 45% of the water an average residential account uses during winter months. The average non-senior multi-family unit uses approximately 66% of the water a typical or average residential account would use during winter months. Deputy City Manager Julie Boyd reviewed the ordinances passed by other municipalities, which reduce the tap fees for senior housing. She noted the City of Golden recently passed an ordinance, which establishes a new use entitled "Urban Multi-family". The tap fees are set at 49% of a single-family residence tap fee, and 83% of a multi-family unit tap fee. The "Urban Multi-family" use includes housing with individual kitchens and also community dining room and laundry facilities. The City of Arvada also has an ordinance, which classifies a use of "Senior Housing", where tap fees are based on 39% of a single-family residential unit and 70% of a non-senior multi-family unit. Davidson called for Applicant presentation. Michael Schonbrun, 1855 Plaza Drive, Louisville, CO, Owner/Developer of the Balfour Senior Housing Development, presented a study of the impact fee. He reviewed the Lodge proposal of an independent living facility, with no congregate care; a central dining and activity area, housekeeping, and full kitchens. He noted the average age of the residents at the Lodge would be 83 years. He explained senior congregate facilities average 1.0 - 1.3 persons per dwelling unit, while other housing averages 1.8 - 3.5 persons per unit. He compared the impact fees for the Balfour Retirement Community and the impact fees for the Lodge; senior congregate housing in Louisville to other such housing across the United States, and Colorado. He stressed there is a trend in special senior congregate housing ordinances and noted that Boulder, Arvada, Golden and Westminster have all passed legislation.