Westminster planning commission continues public hearing on Wakefield Valley amendment

The Westminster Planning and Zoning Commission on Thursday, Sept. 18 continued the public hearing on Wakefield Valley development plan amendment DP2401, an applicant proposal to add up to 35 single-family detached dwelling units on Parcel W and to dedicate Parcel X as open space to Carroll Lutheran Village or the City of Westminster.

The public hearing was opened by Chairman Thomas Fair and the hearing record was led by city planning staff member Mark Dieter, who summarized the application and the staff recommendation. Dieter said the application before the commission is "the proposed fifth amendment to the Wakefield Valley general development plan" and described prior iterations that proposed 25 and then 32 density rights before the current proposal for 35 lots on Parcel W and dedication of Parcel X for open space.

The proposal matters, staff and applicants said, because Wakefield Valley is controlled primarily by a 1978 development plan that predates the city's zoning map; any amendment must show it does not increase gross allowable density beyond the original plan and that it meets several code subsections. Planning staff recommended the commission forward DP2401 with a favorable recommendation to the Mayor and Common Council subject to seven conditions, including compliance with the City of Westminster landscape manual, off-street parking requirements, architectural standards and development timing preferences; additional landscaping and architectural standards as required during subsequent subdivision and site-review steps; demonstration that water remains available under a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the city and owner Richard Kress (later…