April 2, 2015
Kim Kreimeyer
Aurora Marijuana Enforcement Division
City of Aurora
15151 E. Alameda Parkway, 5th Floor
Aurora, CO 80012
RE:
Initial Submission Review – Highpoint Commons Retail – Site Plan
Application Number: DA-1129-03
Case Number: 2015-6005-00
Dear Ms. Kreimeyer:
We have reviewed and addressed the comments from the Initial Submission Review letter
dated March 18, 2015, for the above referenced project. The following is our response (in
blue):
SUMMARY OF KEY COMMENTS FROM ALL DEPARTMENTS:
- Review and respond to community and external comments (see Item 1)
- Review and respond to all comments located on the redlined plan set.
- Easement dedication. (see items 13A and Water Department’s redline comments)
- Meeting City and General Development Plan signage standards (see item 9A)
- Four sided architecture design requirements (see items 8A and 8B)
PLANNING DEPARTMENT COMMENTS
Reviewed by: Kim Kreimeyer / kkreimey@auroragov.org / 303-739-7126 / PDF comment
color is Teal.
1. Community & External Referral Questions Comments and Concerns
*1A. Please review and address the memo from Xcel energy (see attached)
Response: The letter has been reviewed and the comments will be followed.
*2A. Comments were received from two abutting residence. Please review and address
the comments below:
Name: Terrall Rankin
Organization: 4326 S Ceylon Way
Address: Aurora co 80015
Phone: 303-617-1356
Email: terrall_rankin1@msn.com
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Comment: We don’t need any more traffic on Quincy Ave. What’s going to happen to
Rite Aid?
Response: To the best of our knowledge, Rite Aid will continue its current
operations.
Name: Charles Gilbert
Organization: 4405 s andes way
Address: aurora Colorado 80015
Phone: live4ever@comcast.net
Email: live4ever@comcast.net
Comment: Hello,
I am not happy with the location of a retail marijuana store at the location of Quincy and
Reservoir Rd. It is too close to Horizon Middle School, as well as family homes. I think
these stores should be in areas that are more commercially zoned, and not so close to
neighborhood home communities.
Thank You,
Charles Gilbert
Response: We appreciate the concern, but we are following the existing zoning
prescribed for the property.
2. Completeness and Clarity of the Application
*2A. Please edit your site plan notes as shown on redlines
Response: The Site Plan notes have been edited per redlines.
*2B. Revise zoning in data table to reflect PCZD/PD-com.
Response: This has been changed.
*2C. Please increase the font size throughout the plans set so the text is legible when
printed on 11”x17”. These prints will be part of the Planning Commission packet.
Response: The font size has been increased throughout the plan set.
3. Zoning and Land Use Comments
3A.
The proposed colors, tan and light brown, meet the General Development Plan
requirements and the accent color does not exceed 20 percent limitation of any one
building elevation.
Response: The building colors meet these standards.
4. Waivers Requested or Required
4A.
No waivers are requested or required.
Response: Comment acknowledged.
5. Transportation Issues
5A.
The existing Easement Agreement establishes a cross access easement through
the subject site addressing the city’s concern with access to the Rite Aid Pharmacy drivethrough. No further documentation is required.
Response: Comment acknowledged.
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6. Parking
6A.
The application of Code Section 146-1508 (C) is acceptable for the reduction of
one parking space.
Response: Comment acknowledged.
7. L andscape Design Issues
Reviewd by: Kelly K. Bish, RLA, LEED AP / kbish@auroragov.org / 303-739-7189 / PDF
comments in Teal.
*7A. The next submission should have a complete planting plan with plant call-outs and
an updated plant schedule. The Landscape Manual is currently being updated.
Landscape construction drawings are no longer required. All landscape submittals are to
include plant schedules and plant call-outs during the first submission.
Response: Comment addressed. Submission has complete planting plan with callout and updated plan schedule
*7B. Label all streets.
Response: All streets have been labeled.
*7C. Clarify the mulch type to be used in all planting beds. The notes indication two
possible scenarios.
Response: The mulch type has been defined.
*7D. Update/remove the note that references the use of cobble around trees and
shrubs.
Response: Note has been updated to reflect that cobble will be used in all shrub
beds and cedar mulch will be used in all perennial/annual beds.
*7E. Provide a table that addresses the building perimeter landscape requirements and
how that is being met. Building perimeter landscaping is required where the building
faces a public transportation corridor (Quincy Avenue) or where there is a main entrance.
Parking lot island landscaping can count toward meeting that requirement if it is within
20’ of the building façade.
Response: Table has been provided.
8. Architectural and Urban Design Issues
8A.
Screening of Roof Top Mechanicals are required to be fully screened. The building
parapet on the south elevation is the only elevation that is fully screening the roof top
mechanical unity. This does not meet the current requirement for screening. Please
extend the parapets on the north, west and east side of the building to fully screen the
unit. Below is the city’s requirement for screening.
“All rooftop mechanical equipment and vents greater than eight inches in diameter must
be screened. Screening may be done either with an extended parapet wall or a freestanding screen wall. Screens shall be at least as high as the equipment they hide. If
equipment is visible because screens don’t meet this minimum height requirement, the
Director of Planning may require construction modifications prior to the issuance of a
permanent Certificate of Occupancy.”
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Response: The elevations of the parapet heights has been increased to screen
RTU’s.
*8B. The building elevations don’t meet the GDP requirement for four-sided
architecture. The same architectural elements, i.e., corner feature, wainscot, awnings,
lighting, etc., on the south elevation should be repeated on all sides of the building. See
redlined plans for more details.
Response: Brick wainscot has been added on all elevations to meet GDP
requirement.
9. Signage Issues
*9A. There appears to be a miscalculation of the overall sign square-footage. Per Code
Section 146-1609, Table 16.3, Permitted Signs for Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional
Uses, the maximum sign square-footage for this site is 88 square-feet. The longest
building frontage with a public entrance is 44 feet (44x2=88). The GDP allows for a
monument sign 25 square-feet per face (50SF total) in addition to the city’s allowable
square-footage. Please revise the Data Table to show the correct allowable sign squarefootage for walls signs as 44SF and monument sign at 25 SF per face (max 50 SF).
Response: Sign square footage has been revised. New proposed sign is 38 square
feet.
*9B. The monument sign design doesn’t meet the GDP requirement. Please review
approved plan 1983-6018-10, Sheet SP5 for the monument sign detail and revise the
plans to meet the GDP requirement.
Response: The Monument sign has been revised to meet the GDP requirement.
10. Environmental Issues
10A. There are no known environment issues at this time.
Response: Comment acknowledged.
11. Other Site Planning and Technical Issues
Reviewed by: Cathryn Day, Planner II/GIS Addresser, cday@auroragov.org, 303-739-7357
11A. Use existing address 19151 E Quincy Ave, Aurora, CO 80015
Response: Address updated.
REFERRAL COMMENTS FROM OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES
12. Building Department
*12a. Go to https://www.auroragov.org/CityHall/MarijuanaRegulations/index.htm for
the Aurora Marijuana Enforcement Division rules and regulations. You can contact either
John Eckert or Richard Lacoste at 303-739-7420 to request a pre-submittal meeting before
final plans. We are currently reviewing and inspecting to the 2009 International Codes, as
well as ICC/ANSI A117.1-2003, and the 2014 National Electrical Code.
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Feel free to contact either John Eckert or Richard Lacoste in the Building Division at 303739-7420 if you have questions or concerns.
Response: Comment acknowledged.
13. Civil Engineering
Reviewed by: Rick Hunter / 303-739-7307 / rhunter@auroragov.org / PDF comment color
is orange
*13A. Show a water quality facility for this site. Provide a drainage easement around the
water quality facility.
Response: A grass lined swale, as shown in the Site Plan set is provided for water
quality.
14. Life Safety
Reviewed by: Katie Quintana / 303-739-7631 / kquintan@auroragov.org / PDF comment
color is blue.
*14A. Site specific notes are duplicate, please eliminate duplicate notes and update
required notes. Change Specific Note #5 to Site Plan Note #18 – Cover Sheet.
Response: Site Plan notes have been updated.
*14B. Include the following information in Data Block: 2009 IBC Construction Type of
structure(s). Indicate if structures are fire sprinklered or non-fire sprinklered. Building
Occupancy Classification – Cover Sheet.
Response: These are now included on the cover sheet.
*14C. Provide Knox box at front main entrance, show Knox symbol – Site, Landscape &
Elevation Sheets.
Response: Knox box is now shown on all sheets.
*14D. Accessible parking detail and sign package can be on the Civil Plan, also provide
Fire Lane Signage and location on Civil Plans.
Response: Accessible parking detail and sign package was moved to the Civil
Plans.
*14E. Provide accessible route to employee entrance and a public-way. Relocate
accessible parking to west side of parking lot, show accessible ramps, crosswalks and
sidewalk detail (see redline on plans) – Sheet 3.
Response: An accessible route is delineated on the Site Plan.
*14F. Provide a 1 foot-candle illumination at walking surface along accessible route –
Sheet 10.
Response: Photometric drawings will include this foot candle requirement.
15. Real Property
Reviewed by: Darren Akrie / 303-739-7331 / dakrie@auroragov.org / PDF comment color
is magenta
*15A. Please see site plan for minor site plan comments.
Response: Site Plan redlines have been addressed.
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*15B. If applicant has additional easements needed that were not dedicated by the
subdivision Plat then these easements will have to be dedicated by separate document.
Please contact Maurice Brooks for the easement dedication process either by phone or
email Mbrooks@auroragov.org or 303-739-7294 if applicant has items identified on the
site plan that will be encroaching into easements dedicated to the City then a license
agreement will be required. Please refer to this link for necessary documentation. Please
refer to this link for document requirements.
https://www.auroragov.org/DoingBusiness/BuildingandDevelopment/RealProperty/index
.htm
Response: The easement dedication process has been started for the proposed
water meter easement.
*15C. If portions of the monument sign fall within the easement, a license agreement
will be required. Please contact Jeff Hanna at jhanna@auroragov.org or 303-739-7327 to
start this process.
Response: Comment acknowledged.
16. Aurora Water Department
Reviewed by: James DeHerrera / 303-739-7296 / jldeherr@auroragov.org / PDF comment
color is red.
16A. See redline comments. Please feel free to contact me directly with any questions.
Response: Redline comments were addressed.