68th & Carr: Holes in the Application; Contact City Hall

A few weeks ago, the developer submitted its second batch of application materials to the City of Arvada, completing its submission. City staff is reviewing the packet. Included in the packet are the developer's summaries of two meetings held with area neighbors in February and March. I asked tough questions at the second meeting--questions (and responses) which are missing from the developer's summary. Other information seems to be omitted, misinterpreted, or otherwise inaccurate. I encourage you to review the summaries, posted here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B_F_f2izZdrYZGNrZnlqLTBnRzg. If you find inaccuracies or have other comments, notify Rob Smetana, Arvada Planning Manager coordinating the application review: rsmetana@arvada.org Another brow-raising document in the developer's packet is the Development Overview Letter, which describes the proposed new zoning as "does not differ greatly from the current zoning." Current zoning is "intended to preserve and encourage relatively standard density single-family residential development (minimum lot area of 7,500 square feet)." The proposed zoning "allows a wide mix of residential housing types and densities."* Does not differ greatly? The overview letter also describes the neighborhood meetings (which were one noose short of a lynch mob) simply as "open dialog with attendees." This overview letter is posted here, with the meeting summaries: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B_F_f2izZdrYZGNrZnlqLTBnRzg And what is the conclusion of the traffic study? "The impact of the Hillside Cottages residential development is minimal due to its small size and can be accommodated by the existing roadway network." NOW is the time to contact the City, before Staff is finished reviewing the application packet. Your emails become part of that packet--if they're received in time. Staff (Rob) then passes the packet, including your emails, to the Planning Commission, who considers it all and makes its recommendation to City Council. Email your views to Rob Smetana. Refer to the development by its official name, Hillside Cottages. rsmetana@arvada.org And ask your spouse to email separately. Call Rob, as well: 720-898-7440. Your emails and calls about the proposed Hillside Cottages help generate the buzz of opposition within City Hall at a crucial time: before the application reaches Planning Commission, which may be soon. Michael ArvadaHills@gmail.com *Zoning descriptions from City of Arvada Land Development Code, Article 4, "Zoning Districts."