In attendance were: Eugene Keyser, Bethany Gravell, Paul Benington, Michael Henry, Dave Webster, Rick Wells, Doug Zainer, Marty Jones, Virginia McAllister and Al Davis.

The meeting was called to order at 5:30 pm by Michael Henry, as Chuck Brantigan was unavailable due to his surgery schedule. The March 27^th, 2007 meeting minutes were read and approved as written.

Al Davis informed the group that there is a possibility that Franklin will be shut down over an upcoming weekend to remove scaffolding from hospital bridge construction.

Michael Henry explained that neighborhood organizations may not have been made aware of the hospital’s outreach process on construction related street closures. He noted that he did not hear specific complaints, but suggested that hospitals include registered neighborhood organizations on their e-mail notification lists.

Al Davis explained that he had met with John Beeble of Saunders Construction in order to address parking issues. Davis said that Saunders is working to enforce parking agreements and had fired some construction employees for violating these agreements.

Doug Zainer, Chief Financial Officer for P/SL said that expansion plans on the east endof the PSL site are in the design phase. The project will incorporate a new façade, entrance and expanded children’s wing.

Michael Henry explained that Planning Board consideration for updates to the 1993 Uptown Healthcare District Plan was postponed until May 16^th. Bethany Gravell noted that the postponement resulted from concerns identified by the City’s Public Works Department.

Paul Benington reported that representatives from San Rafael met with Deidre Oss and Chris Gleissner in the Denver Planning Department in order to discuss the proposed overlay district for San Rafael. Gleissner noted that the Uptown Healthcare District Plan calls for store front retail along 20^th and 22^nd, west of Downing, with housing built to the sidewalk. Dave Webster and Eugene Keyser, who have actively participated in the task force revising the area plan, were unaware of these provisions. Committee members suggested opposing such a revision to the area plan. Michael Henry suggested reviewing Blueprint Denver for direction on plans for the area between 20^th and 26^th.

Henry informed the committee that references to view plane variances have been removed from the revised draft of the area plan. Rick Wells noted that the Planning Board wishes to address view plane variances on a case-by-case basis. Paul Bennington added that the board opposed creating criteria for view plane variances in an area plan. Henry expressed support for this conclusion and requested that HDUDF members attend the May 16^th Planning Board hearing and testify in support of the plan.

Rick Wells explained that Cherokee remains in discussions with a number of residential, hospital, retail and commercial developers. He added that Cherokee also met with Deidre Oss and Chris Gleissner in Denver Planning to review zoning alternatives. He stated that no final decisions have been made on developments at the site.

Michael Henry asked Wells to predict when Cherokee will have information on development plans for the site. Wells responded that he expect to have more information in 30-to-60 days. Marty Jones asked if Cherokee has a revised concept design for the parcel west of Ogden. Wells responded that he hopes to have revised designs available for review in three to four weeks. He added that Children’s remains on schedule to vacate the site at the end of October.

Virginia McAllister presented the revised design to the committee. Paul Bennington noted that the neighborhood felt that improved treatment of building facades provided a commensurate public benefit in exchange for the vacated public right-of-way. CHUN and HDUDF both supported the rezoning and alley vacation. Utility work is expected to begin in mid-June.

Paul Benington circulated copies of a mailing that has been delivered to all property owners in the proposed overlay district for San Rafael. The proposed OD-9 overlay will limit building heights to 35 feet and impose bulk plane and parking limitations. He noted that PUDs can only be included in the overlay district by landowner consent.

Bennington explained that the first community meeting regarding the overlay district drew a crowd of 50-60 people. The OD-6 overlay proposed for commercial corridors in the district was the focus of the discussion. Gleissner and Oss had suggested that Downing and Washington were more compatible with an OD-6 overlay, which allows for heights of 45’ and does not have front setback requirements.

Bennington also reported that the overlay district application was determined to be incomplete by the planning office because a necessary form was not included in the application. In addition, the City suggested that organizers get signatures in support of a fee waiver from 20 percent of residents in the district in order for the Planning Department to consider waiving the overlay district fee. Michael Henry suggested that the neighborhood develop a fundraising plan in case the department does not support a fee waiver. Filing fees for the 21.5 acre area could total $50,000. Bennington added that a follow-up meeting on the overlay district will occur on May 3^rd.

Rick Wells stated that Cherokee does not support the inclusion of the Children’s Hospital site in the overlay district. He went on to say that Children’s Hospital and Cherokee, as the contracted buyer for the site, will object to any overlay district affecting the Children’s Hospital site. He explained that Cherokee is willing to negotiate with the neighborhood on zoning, height restrictions and managing the build out of the site. Bennington responded that he is willing to work with Cherokee, but feels the overlay district is the only legal alternative available to the neighborhood.

Adjourn:

Michael Henry announced that the next will take place on May 29^th and adjourned the meeting.