Montrose, CO — City Councilors met for their regular meeting Tuesday evening, August 15, to approve a number of ordinances including the addition of the Coors building to the city’s historic register and an extended moratorium on adult gaming arcades within the city limits.
Mayor Barbara Bynum and councilors Dave Frank, Doug Glaspell, David Reed, and Ed Ulibarri met in the City Council Chambers at the Elks Civic Building along with city staff.
The following is a summary of the primary topics discussed during the meeting.
Watch the meeting here.
SUICIDE PREVENTION AWARENESS MONTH PROCLAMATION
Mayor Barbara Bynum read and signed a proclamation designating September 2023 as Suicide Awareness Month in the City of Montrose.
“Suicide is the 12th leading cause of death in the United States, the 2nd leading cause of death among children and teens ages 10-14, and the 3rd leading cause of death among people aged 15-24,” Bynum said. “In the United States, 48,183 people died by suicide in 2021, equivalent to one death every 11 minutes. In 2021, suicide was the 8th leading cause of death in Colorado, and Colorado had the 6th highest suicide rating of states in the United States.”
OLATHE POLICE CHIEF FRANK RODRIGUEZ ADDRESSES COUNCIL
Olathe Police Chief Frank Rodriguez addressed councilors to extend his praise and gratitude for the assistance of the City of Montrose and the Montrose Police Department while the Olathe Police Department was undergoing significant changes over the past year or so.
Rodriguez said the Montrose PD went above and beyond in its response to the Olathe department’s formal requests for assistance from the City of Montrose, but was especially impressed by the unsolicited support they have received.
Rodriguez presented to Mayor Bynum as a small token of appreciation and acknowledgment of the support that Olathe has received from the city.
PUBLIC COMMENT
One resident said he wanted to thank the City of Montrose for being a welcoming community. This resident of Main Street moved from California to Montrose and has found Montrose to be a friendly and welcoming town.
Another resident, who is married to the first speaker, spoke of the need to support local education and local school-aged children.
One resident expressed his concerns about weeds and the non-functioning landscape irrigation system along the golf course property across from the Seasons Subdivision.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
City Councilors voted unanimously to approve the minutes of the August 15 City Council meeting.
The city’s archive of past meeting minutes can be found on the new Public Meetings Portal and at CityofMontrose.org/ArchiveCenter.
ORDINANCE 2639 - FIRST READING
City Councilors voted unanimously to approve Ordinance 2639, on first reading, to extend the temporary moratorium prohibiting the relocation or establishment of new adult gaming arcades within the City of Montrose.
Assistant City Attorney Matthew Magliaro said the current moratorium would expire on September 22, 2023, and would be extended for 18 months under the ordinance.
In March 2021, City Councilors first approved an emergency ordinance following disturbances at a number of arcades that opened in the city. In September 2021, the City Council passed the emergency ordinance in response to numerous concerns voiced by business owners, local residents, and police officers that adult gaming arcades had secondary, negative impacts on neighboring businesses.
According to Montrose police officers at that time, increased crime had been reported in the areas surrounding these businesses, including illegal drug use and distribution, public intoxication, violent crime, and increased calls for service from the Montrose Police Department.
The ordinance, if passed on second reading, will extend the moratorium to March 2025.
ORDINANCE 2637 - SECOND READING
City Councilors voted 4-1, on second reading, to amend the zoning district designation of two tracts within the Seasons Subdivision from “B-4” Neighborhood Shopping District and “R-3A” Medium High Density District to “R-4” High Density District.
Planning Manager Jace Hochwalt said the total area being rezoned is 9.23 acres. Per the applicant, the property is being planned for a multi-family development. Both of the existing zones (B-4 and R-3A) allow for multi-family uses, but at a slightly lower density than the R-4 district. The former zoning of the property would allow for a maximum of 164 units, whereas the rezoning will allow for a maximum of 195 units.
ORDINANCE 2638 - SECOND READING
City Councilors voted unanimously to approve, on second reading, the addition of the historic Coors Building, located at 134 North First Street, to the city’s Register of Historic Places.
In his presentation to the council, City Planner William Reis said the building was first built in 1905 as a saloon by Adolf Coors, the founder of the Coors Company in Golden.
THE GROVE PRELIMINARY PLANNED DEVELOPMENT
City Councilors voted unanimously to approve The Grove Preliminary Planned Development.
City Planner William Reis said The Grove is a residential development on the southern side of Montrose. The property is approximately 44.64 acres in size and is located at the southeast corner of 6725 Road and Otter Road. The property is zoned “R-2” Low Density District. The approved preliminary plat subdivision proposal anticipates 129 residential lots and 21.98% of the entire property will be retained as open space. The preliminary plat for The Grove Subdivision was reviewed and approved by the City Council on March 21, 2023. This allows the applicant to begin infrastructure improvements on the subdivision.
ORDINANCE 2640 - FIRST READING
City Councilors voted unanimously to approve Ordinance 2640, on first reading, to amend the zoning district of Lot 1 of the Parks & Wheeler Subdivision from “R-2” Low Density District to “R-3” Medium High Density District.
STAFF REPORTS
City Engineer Scott Murphy said the South Third Street Plaza, as well as several other city projects, is nearing completion.
Miami Road work is ongoing after crews found historic wood and steel pipes under the Miami Road canal. The lines were abandoned but needed to be removed before repairs could be completed.
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All City Council meetings are recorded and made available online via the city’s website and cable channels 191 for Charter subscribers and 970 for Elevate subscribers. Replays of council meetings are also broadcast at 6 p.m. on the same channels on days that the council is not in session.
In addition, each regular meeting is archived on the City of Montrose’s YouTube channel.
Residents can watch all regular City Council meetings and work sessions on-demand through the city’s Public Meetings Portal.
For more city news visit CityOfMontrose.org