Commission recommends rezoning for Pillar of Fire equipment barn; buffer and access conditions discussed

The Westminster Planning Commission voted 7-0 May 27 to recommend City Council approve a rezoning to Planned Unit Development (PUD), a preliminary development plan and an official development plan to permit an equipment barn and related improvements for the Pillar of Fire campus on a 17.12-acre site west of Federal Boulevard.

Planner Jacob Casa said the city mailed notices to 920 property owners and tenants within 1,000 feet, posted six signs and put the hearing on the city website. The application requests rezoning from R-1 (single-family medium density) to PUD to allow indoor equipment storage on a roughly 3.03-acre planning area (the site totals 17.12 acres; approximately 14.09 acres will remain under existing institutional uses). Staff concluded the PDP and ODP generally meet Westminster Municipal Code criteria and recommended the commission forward approval to council.

Applicant Becca Bailey of North Design said the proposal separates the site into Planning Area 1 (the proposed equipment shed and supporting site work) and Planning Area 2 (existing institutional uses and employee housing, with no new changes proposed). The applicant described a landscaping buffer and berm east of the barn to screen views from Federal Boulevard; CDOT holds an existing easement along Federal Boulevard where wider public improvements and sidewalks are expected as part of a separate CDOT project.

The applicant said fire access will be provided via an extension of Crown Point Drive with impervious surfacing and reviewed turning movements for emergency apparatus. Bailey said lighting would be limited to structure-mounted fixtures and the photometric plan shows minimal spill beyond the site.

Kurt Alsott, who said he has farmed the Pillar of Fire property for decades, described the barn’s function: storage and maintenance of farm and campus maintenance equipment for the Pillar of Fire institutional campus and related properties. Commissioners asked about compatibility with nearby homes, noise and nighttime activity; staff and the applicant said the barn is located within the broader institutional campus, will be buffered with landscaping and berming, and is expected to have limited nighttime use.

Vice Chair Carpenter moved the recommendation of approval; Commissioner Collin seconded. Roll call recorded seven yes votes and the commission forwarded a unanimous recommendation to City Council.

The item will be scheduled for a City Council hearing; if council approves the rezoning and ODP, the applicant may proceed with construction permits subject to conditions and any public improvement agreements required by the city or CDOT.