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DRB hears updates on Tejon/Pikes Peak streetscape, funding sources; board terms and rules review planned
Summary
Staff reported the Tejon and Pikes Peak (Busy Corner) streetscape is substantially complete but some granite pavers will be replaced; Chelsea said the work began with a CDOT Main Street grant and staff said a majority of costs were covered by the city’s parking enterprise as construction costs rose. Members also discussed upcoming DRB term expirations, candidate recruitment, and possible rules-and-procedures updates (including a three-mile residency nuance).
City staff updated the Downtown Review Board on several downtown planning matters, including completion of streetscape work at Tejon and Pikes Peak, funding for the project, forthcoming DRB vacancies and term expirations, and continuing work on form-based code revisions.
Streetscape and defects: Ryan Fertiller said final landscaping and granite pavers for the Busy Corner project have been installed; staff are replacing chipped or damaged granite pavers and expect replacements soon. Chelsea of the Downtown Partnership told the board it appears a bad batch of granite led to some defects and that crews will replace the affected stones. “It was kind of a bad batch of that granite, and they are going back in to replace it,” Chelsea said.
Funding and purpose: Board member Bobby Mikulus asked why city resources prioritized these two or three blocks. Chelsea and Fertiller said the work was part of a larger corridor vision pursued initially through a Main Streets grant from the Colorado Department of Transportation and intended as the first phase of reinvestment in older downtown blocks. Fertiller said the grant pursuit began in 2021 and that, as costs rose, a majority of the resulting streetscape investment was paid through the city’s parking enterprise rather than the grant; the exact grant figure mentioned in the transcript was unclear.
Board membership and rules: Fertiller reviewed upcoming term expirations: Nadine (planning commission representative) has a first term expiring in July and said she plans to serve through July while planning commission interviews are completed; Bobby Mikulus’ second term expires in late August and Chair Lord’s term expires in early September. Staff asked board members to suggest FBZ property-owner candidates and noted council liaison staff are reviewing rules and procedures for boards and commissions. Fertiller highlighted a rules nuance: planning commission rules allow members who live within three miles of the city to serve on that commission, but the DRB’s current rules do not include that three-mile provision, which could affect eligibility for some prospective appointees.
Form-based code update process: Fertiller said staff continue to work with the city attorney on legal clarifications and design/layout items for a draft update. Staff intend to bring a draft to the DRB in a work session for non-voting discussion, then run public review (open house and online materials) before scheduling a public hearing and recommendation to planning commission and city council. The timeline is still being refined; staff said they hope to complete the process later this year.
Next steps: staff will replace defective pavers, continue planting and bike-rack adjustments, circulate code-draft materials to DRB members when ready, and follow up on recruitment for upcoming vacancies.
