Mayor Jeremy Fey called the Central City Council meeting to order at 7:15 p.m. on January 16, 2023. In attendance were Mayor Jeremy Fey, Alderman Jeff Aiken, Alderman Kara Tinucci, Alderman Marcia Enloe and Alderman Todd Williams. Staff present included City Manager Miera, Assistant City Attorney Myers, City Clerk Bechtel, Finance Director Robbins, Community Development Director Roemhildt, Public Works Director Hoover, Utilities Director Beard, and GCSO Division Chief Allen.

The Consent agenda was approved with no conflicts. All were in favor.

A Public Forum was opened for not just agenda items but for all comments.

A comment was made about the Floyd Hill/I-70 project and how all US 6 traffic will hit the Hidden Valley/Central City Parkway interchange. The challenges noted being gravel trucks from the quarries, visitors from Central City and I-70 traffic hitting that intersection. The commenter nudged the idea of a roundabout to deal with these traffic concerns.

In New Business, the council renewed Chuck Webster’s seat on the Gilpin County Historical Preservation Society with James Everett as his alternate on the Historic Preservation Commission with all in favor.

Eric Miller presented the annual report for the Gilpin County Arts Association (GCAA) and expressed appreciation for a $25,000 grant that the City gives to the GCAA, the latter of which has been in operation for 47 years.

The Central City Council convened as the Board of Adjustment and addressed the application for the variance BOA-22- 02.

Community Development Director (CDD) Lisa Roemhildt provided a brief overview.

Patricia Smith and John Webster have submitted an application (BOA-22-02) for a variance to the Board of Adjustment regarding a proposal to build a single-family detached home on East 6th Street, and is requesting three separate variances: 1. From complying with the rear setback requirement of fifteen (15) feet by reducing the rear setback to five (5) feet; 2. Waiver of the building height restriction on a large lot; and 3. Waiver of the maximum number of two (2) stories allowed for a single-family detached house to allow for three (3) stories. The applicable lot and building standards are set forth in Article 4 of the Land Development Code. 4. The addition of an ornamental tower.

The Public Hearing from January 3 resumed and the owners expressed desire to consolidate Lots 5-6 if the variances are conditionally approved.

Webster, who attended the meeting virtually, asked if the board had any questions. He felt that the main reason for the first variance is to build the gardens out front and put the garage in the rear.

Jack Hidahl made a statement during public comment that easements exist to separate houses from the road and that the rear variance, if allowed, would put the house right up against the road. He said the reason for setbacks is to give room for scaffolding or fire ladders, and not to just harass applicants. He also commented that hardship was created by the applicant because the design of the building doesn’t fit the lot and recommended the board deny the variances.

GSCO Chief Allen commented that anything over 3,200 square feet would require sprinklers and that snow removal would be difficult with such little space. He also submitted qualms in a letter addressed to the Board that the house wouldn’t look like a historical structure, and that their tallest fire ladder is only 35 feet.

Webster said that they were open to installing a sprinkler system. Smith mentioned possibly putting the garage on the side of the building instead of the rear.

Attorney Myers reminded the Board of their specific quasi-judicial duty to apply the facts given to the code and come to a decision.

Alderman Enloe moved to continue the variance request, which Mayor Fey said would be a waste of time for the applicant.

The Board ultimately denied all four of the variance requests contained in BOA-22-02. The Board motioned to memorialize the board’s decisions into resolutions and to be added to the consent agenda at the next meeting, as well as the minutes, which passed unanimously.

The Board adjourned as the Board of Adjustment and reconvened as the Central City Council.

Miera responded to recent questions from the public about roadway cameras, saying they are road weather information systems that take photos for the purpose of snow removal, providing temperatures and dew points.

Fey apologized to the public, staff and the applicants for his behavior that may have not been professional.

The Board then went into Executive Session and the public meeting was adjourned.

The next Central City Council meeting will be at 7 p.m. on February 7, 2023, at Central City Hall, 141 Nevada Street or online. Information can be found on the City website centralcity.colorado.gov/ meetings.