City Council Minutes 1999 01 05 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Nancy Love, 841 Front Street, Louisville, Colorado, stated that the Downtown Business Association would prefer that this Ordinance is postponed until a complete parking study can be done. She suggested establishing a task force including City staff, Council, downtown businesses and residents of Downtown Louisville to discuss the most viable solution to this problem. Davidson closed the public heating and called for Council comments and questions. Davidson agreed with Berger. He expressed willingness to reconsider a moratorium on downtown development until the parking studies are complete. Mayer expressed concern that some of the Downtown Business Association members who are looking at building expansions are heavily involved in these issues. He did not believe that some of the business owners understand that the implications of the permit system would fall on them and their employees. He proposed a more intensive schedule of meetings for the upcoming months with both the residents of downtown and the businesses to learn what their concerns are. He expressed support for continuing the Ordinance to allow for an opportunity to get the issues resolved. Lathrop asked Love for an estimate on how long it would take to complete the parking studies. Love replied two to three months. Lathrop expressed concern that this delay might discourage other business owners from expanding. He proposed establishing a realistic date for completing the studies and adopting an Ordinance. Sisk stated that the business community is under the impression that this matter was going to be continued until the January 19, 1999, meeting. He expressed concern that Council would be viewed as precipitous if they take an action tonight that would mirror a moratorium. He suggested that any action on this Ordinance be continued until that meeting. Davidson asked to clarify that a moratorium is not on the agenda tonight and, therefore, could not be considered. He suggested that it be placed on the agenda for the next meeting to allow individuals an opportunity to express their opinions. Levihn suggested that Council review the proposed Downtown Design Guidelines along with this Ordinance and the parking studies. He stated that they all interact with each other and he did not feel any one could be addressed without the others. He asked for the status of the Downtown Design Guidelines. Wood replied that the Planning Commission adopted the Guidelines on September 22, 1998; however they may need to be amended due to recent actions on building heights, parking requirements, floor area ratios, etc. Davidson stated that Council reviewed the Guidelines at a work session and several members felt that, as written, the Guidelines would overpower downtown Louisville. To avoid that, Council opted to address parking and traffic, which limits density, in the process. This would refine the Guidelines to what the level of expansion could be. 3