NOVEMBER 13 , 2014

Visual Resources

Heather GutherlessJefferson County Planning &

Zoning303-271-8716

hgutherl@jeffco.us

Agenda

Brief Overview of how the Plans are used

Review of existing Goals and Policies

Hwy 285 Corridor

North Turkey Creek

Aspen ParkConiferPine JunctionPine GroveBuffalo Creek

What is the Comprehensive Master Plan?

Required by State statute

Contains county-wide policies

What is the Community/Area Plan?

Adding community plans into the CMP

Area Plans contain:Specific policies Use

recommendations

Goal & Policy Comparison Guidelines

Not looking for identical language

Looking for the same outcome

“Why” portion of policies included if it changes the outcome of the policy

Policies must be related to land use

Goal & Policy Comparison

What is “duplicated”?

From the Conifer/285 Corridor Area Plan: Preserve, significant historic, archaeological, and

paleontological resources for their association with events or persons, their distinctive characteristics, or the scientific data provided.

From the CMP: Preserve, reuse, rehabilitate, or enhance Historic

Resources that provide a link to the County’s heritage while recognizing their social and economic significance for the County’s future.

Intent is covered

Process

Review each goal and policy for its partner in the Comp Plan.

Retain goals or policies specific to the area.Delete duplicated goals and policies.Delete policies covered by regulations.Delete policies not relevant to land use. Delete goals or policies not related to the

Development & Transportation Department (Planning, Transportation Engineering, Road & Bridge, or Building Safety)

Goal in Conifer PlanRemove, Duplicated in CMP

Preserve the area’s visual resources.

Preserve defined as: Protect from injury, harm, or destruction; maintain, keep intact.

Protect the Visual Resources and unique natural features of the County.

Webster’s defines Protect as to keep from harm, attack or injury.

Visual Resources Goal

Policy 1 in Conifer Plan Remove, Duplicated in CMP

Landscapes that have special qualities, e.g., major rock outcrops, meadows, ridgelines and peaks, should be treated in an environmentally sensitive manner during the development review process.

New Development in areas with Visual Resources should attempt to integrate development into the natural environment.

Visually sensitive areas should be identified, and proposed Mitigation should be determined at the time of rezoning.

Visual Resources Policies

Policy 2 in Conifer PlanKeep in Area Plan

Development in visually sensitive areas should be allowed only if visual impacts can be adequately mitigated.

Visually sensitive areas include:a. The visual corridor

foreground along transportation routes;

b. Steep slopes;c. Ridgelines and peaks; andd. Meadows.

CMP is not as strong, keep in Area Plan with revision distinguishing between Visually sensitive areas and Visual Resources.

Visual Resources Policies

Policy 3 in Conifer PlanKeep and Remove

3. Structures, roads and utilities should be designed so they do not visually dominate the landscape. Techniques that should be considered include:

a. Structures should be below the ridgeline, and natural materials and colors should be used;

b. Roads should be constructed parallel to contours, rather than a bold cut on a hillside; and

c. Utilities, when possible, should be located below ridgelines, along contours, or underground.

Remove general language

Keep a. and b. Remove c. - Construct

Utilities and communication equipment to minimize visual obtrusiveness by utilizing Stealth Technology, burying lines, coloring equipment, and/or screening to blend with the background.

Visual Resources Policies

Policy 4 in Conifer PlanKeep in Area Plan

Development within village centers should be designed to achieve a visually cohesive appearance by using natural materials and colors compatible with the mountain backdrop of the area.

This is specific to the area. May not apply in areas with large activity centers.

Visual Resources Policies

Policy 5 in Conifer Plan Remove and Modify CMP

Current county Zoning Resolution regarding signs and outdoor advertising devices should be enforced. The community should be involved and represented as these regulations are updated.

We are no longer referencing language that talks about enforcing existing regulations. This is completed through the zoning enforcement process. The County is complaint driven and does not actively look for violations.

Add second sentence to Outreach chapter of the Long Range Planning Issues section.

Visual Resources Policies

Design Guideline 1 in Conifer Plan

Remove, Duplicated in CMP

Development should be integrated, through its location and design, with the existing natural character, i.e., color, line, texture, and form, of the site.

Integrate the project into the existing community development pattern and prevailing topography.

Use color, form, and placement to minimize visual impacts.

Promote site design and Intensity that is compatible with Visual Resources and the natural environment.

Visual Resources Policies

Design Guideline 2 in Conifer Plan

Remove

Site disturbances should be minimized. Where disturbances are unavoidable, the resulting landscape should be integrated with the natural landscape by using similar lines, colors, textures, forms, and vegetation.

Visual Resources Policies

CMP: Minimize the impacts of

road cuts, building footprints, and other grading activities on their surroundings.

Regulations: Preservation of Existing

Terrain the Vegetation and Impact Mitigation section

Design Guideline 3 in Conifer Plan

Remove

Maximum use should be made of a site’s capacity to screen development from view. For areas with less than adequate landscape screening capacity, the visual diversity and landscape screening of the site should be enhanced.

CMP: Protect Visual Resources

by making use of the site’s existing vegetation and topography to screen development.

Staff comment: The second sentence may not be desirable in all situations, i.e. meadows.

Visual Resources Policies

Design Guideline 4 in Conifer Plan

Duplicated in CMP

The visually attractive and high-quality elements of a site’s landscape should be maintained. The less attractive and lower-quality portions of the site should be visually enhanced.

New Development in areas with Visual Resources should attempt to integrate development into the natural environment.

Visually sensitive areas should be identified, and proposed Mitigation should be determined at the time of rezoning.

Protect Visual Resources by making use of the site’s existing vegetation and topography to screen development.

Visual Resources Policies

Design Guideline 5 in Conifer Plan

Remove, Duplicated in CMP

Measures should be taken to ensure architectural quality, especially when buildings are the visually dominant component of a landscape.

Specify architecture and site design, including building materials; building types; separation, massing and height; and fencing in the rezoning documents, if not addressed by the Zoning Resolution.

Staff comment: Specify in Area Plan Design Guidelines what architectural quality means.

Visual Resources Policies

Design Guideline 6 in Conifer Plan

Remove, Duplicated in CMP

The silhouette effect of structures on prominent ridges should be discouraged.

CMP: Avoid or minimize

development impacts on ridgelines and steep hillsides.

Visual Resources Policies

Other Policies from the Comp Plan

Clustering:Use no build areas, Clustering, and other site

design techniques, where appropriate, to minimize visual impacts and direct buildings away from environmentally and visually sensitive lands.

Other Policies from the Comp Plan

Scenic Corridors:Maintain key views to the mountains and

other significant scenic vistas. In mountainous and other scenic areas,

roads, bridges, and other transportation improvements should be designed to protect or enhance Visual Resources.

A visual buffer strip should be considered along I-70 and US Highway 285 in the mountains, C-470, and Colorado Highway 93.

Other Policies from the Comp Plan

Natural Features:Protect views of significant natural features. Protect unique natural features from

alteration or destruction. Preserve significant trees, where practicable,

while allowing for forest management practices necessary for forest health and Wildfire prevention.

Other Policies from the Comp Plan

Site Design:Transfer density from scenic corridors to other

portions of the site, where practicable. Encourage buildings to be stepped to fit with the

natural terrain, rather than creating large flat building pads.

Fencing and signs should blend with the natural landscape by using natural material or man-made materials which have a natural appearance. Discourage illuminated signs that negatively impact the community character within Visual Resource areas.

Additional Discussion

Are there ideas for Goals/Policies that are not covered by existing language in the Comp Plan?Example: Need a policy about how to

use the map.

Next Steps:

Land Use MeetingsTopic Meetings – Wildfire, Transportation, Water

Draft Plan Planning Commission Hearing

Heather Gutherlesshgutherl@jeffco.us303-271-8716

Web site:http://planning.jeffco.us Community Plan UpdatesConifer/285 Corridor Area Community

Plan Update

Thanks for your participation