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HomeMy WebLinkAboutagenda.council.worksession.20090706MEMORANDUM TO: Aspen City Council FROM: Jessica Garrow, City Long Range Planner Ben Gagnon, City Special Projects Planner THRU: Chris Bendon, City Community Development Director DATE OF MEMO: June 24, 2009 MEETING DATE: July 6, 2009 RE: Update to the Aspen Area Community Plan REQUEST OF COUNCIL: There is no formal action requested at this time. The purpose of this meeting is to provide a review of the AACP update process to date and to outline next steps. BACKGROUND AND PROCESS SUMMARY: In late 2007, the Board of County Commissioners and City Council directed staff to update the 2000 AACP. Since that time, a detailed existing conditions report was compiled and an extensive public process was undertaken, all culminating in a draft updated AACP that the City and County Planning and Zoning Commissioners are currently reviewing. To date, a great deal of information has been generated and provided to the P&Zs, the Board of County Commissioners and City Council, including: • State of the Aspen Area: 2000 — 2008 • The Aspen Economy white paper • City of Aspen Housing Survey • Small Group meeting synthesis • Community Survey Results • Large Group meeting keypad results All of this information is also available on our website, www.aspencommunityvision.com. You can also contact Jessica Garrow if you are missing any of the material. Public Process Format: The public process was designed to be guided by transparency, inclusiveness and a "ground -up" process that engages a broad spectrum of the community. Rather than utilizing a number of working committees, the process was designed to be one that is led by public input and participation, rather than groups of technical experts. The City and County contracted with Design Workshop to assist with the public process for the AACP update. The following process was employed: Page 1 of 4 • A website (www.aspencommunitvvision.com) has been created to provide information and documents related to the AACP update. All of the information outlined below is available on the website, or by contacting Jessica Garrow. • The State of the Aspen Area: 2000-2008 Report was issued in September 2008. This report is the most detailed documentation of existing conditions information that has been done by the City and County in recent memory. The report is divided into the chapters outlined below in Table 1. The City contracted with RRC Associated out of Boulder and Julie Ann Woods of Elk Mountains Planning Group to assist in the creation of this report. The City also worked with Gabe Preston of RPI Consulting to assist in a detailed analysis of building permit activity between 2000 and 2008. • Following the issuance of the State of the Aspen Report, a number of surveys and studies were completed. This information was used to supplement the information found in the State of the Aspen Area. In October 2008, Economic Research Associates completed an Economic White Paper. This report takes a detailed look at the history of the Aspen Area economy, with specific focus on the construction and tourism industries. A City Housing Survey was completed in December. This study, completed by RRC Associates and Melanie Rees on behalf of the City Community Development Department and APCHA, examines trends in affordable housing, second homes, and the needs of the business community. • Public outreach and education through presentations of the State of the Aspen Area to community groups occurred September through December of 2008. • Small group meetings, modeled after the 2006 Core Values process, took place in October and November 2008. These meetings were intended to gain some initial community feedback in preparation for the large community meetings. Participants at the small group meetings were asked to evaluate statements from the 2000 AACP and indicate if they still agreed with them. They were also asked to identify their goals and visions for the Aspen Area's future. • In November a vision and values survey was sent to a random selection of Aspen Area households. This survey, conducted by Linda Venteroni, asked values level questions based on the existing AACP. For instance, the survey took specific quotes from the 2000 AACP and asked if the respondent agrees or disagreed with the statement. The survey also asked respondents to rank issues that are important to them and to evaluate how the community is doing on those issues. • Large group meetings, modeled after the 2006 Core Values process, were held at the St. Regis in late January. The meetings used keypad voting technology, small group dialogue, and a visioning art exercise. A series of 90 questions was asked on the 10 AACP update chapters. AACP Chapter Topics: The updated AACP will have ten chapters, outlined below in Table 1. There are many chapters that are consistent with those in the 2000 plan, but there are some new chapters in this update. The two new chapters are "Planning for the Lifelong Aspenite," which addresses the continuum of care from child care through senior services, and the "Aspen Airport Business Center," which deals specifically with the planning issues in the AABC area. Page 2 of 4 The Environment, while addressed in the Parks and Open Space chapters in the 1993 and 2000 AACP, has its own chapter in this update. Table 1- AACP Tonics Topics in 2000 AACP Topics proposed for 2008/2009 AACP Update Managing Growth Managing Growth Transportation 4 Transportation Housing 4 Housing Economic Sustainability -_> Economic Sustainability Parks, Open Space, and the Environment Parks, Recreation, Open Space & Trails Environmental Quality Historic Preservation --> Historic Preservation Design Quality --> Integrated with Managing Growth Arts, Culture & Education 4 Sustaining the Aspen Idea The Lifelong Aspenite (NEW for Update) Aspen Airport Business Center(NEW for Update) Draft AACP Document:. Based on the community input received in 2008 and 2009, City and County Staff as well as the consultant team from Design Workshop, created a draft document, which was provided to Council in February 2009. If you need another copy, please contact Jessica Garrow. The language in the draft is somewhat general and was intended to be a starting point for further discussion with the City and County P&Zs, which have been working with staff to make the language more specific and directive during the current review process. DISCUSSION: Staff would like to review the next steps in the Update to the Aspen Area Community Plan with Council, including the P&Z Review, Council Review, and Implementation of the Plan. Plannina and Zonina Commission Review: In March, both the Board of County Commissioners and City Council directed staff and the P&Zs to take additional time to review the draft document. The P&Zs asked to review the document chapter by chapter to ensure it is detailed, directive, and specific enough to be a meaningful document. To date, the P&Zs have had discussions on Growth, the Aspen Idea, Environmental Quality, and Housing. The following is the current timeline for their review: • July 14 — Housing, Economy • July 28 — Economy • August 18 — Parks/Rec/Open Space/Trails • August 25 — Historic Preservation • September 1 — Transportation • September 22 — Transportation • October 13 — AABC • October 27 — Lifelong Aspenite • November 10 —Growth Page 3 of 4 • November 24 — Growth • December 8 — Growth Based on staff's experience to date, it is possible that the P&Z review will be extended into 2010. As the Planning and Zoning Commissions review each chapter, staff and the commissioners are writing revised draft Goal Statements and Action Items. At the end of the process, staff and the the commissioners will review all of the draft Goals and Action Items to ensure they are internally consistent, comprehensive, and directive. City Council Review: If the current P&Z review schedule is follwed staff anticipates the Citv Council will begin formal review of the document in January of 2010. Staff is interested in hearing what level of involvement the Council would like during the P&Z review of the document. There are a range of options, including: • None — Council would see the final document from the P&Z review when the P&Z finalizes their review. • Some - Staff could forward Council revised Goals and Action Items as they are completed so Council is aware of the direction the plan is going. Staff could also provide periodic memos to Council with updates on the progress and any changes to the review schedule. • Extensive — Staff could meet with Council in periodic work sessions to provide updates and obtain input. • Other — If council adopts goals during their retreat that apply to the AACP, they could be communicated to the P&Zs as they continue their review Next Steps Following Adoption: Staff anticipates a number of Goals and Action Items that will recommend changes to the Land Use Code. Some of these may be minor, while others could be extensive. Work on code amendments during the City's Moratorium lasted 12 to 14 months. Based on that experience, staff anticipates code amendments that come from direction in the AACP will take approximately 8 to 12 months. If Council wishes to adopt changes to the Land Use Code before the 2011 election, staff recommends that the code amendments reach Council at second reading by January of 2011. Given the estimated time frame for drafting and review of the code amendments, the revised AACP would need to be adopted between January and March of 2010. Page 4 of 4 MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor and City Council FROM: Amy Guthrie, Historic Preservation Officer RE: Historic Preservation Task Force Update DATE: July 6, 2009 SUMMARY: This worksession is the sixth in a series of updates to City Council on the progress of the Historic Preservation Task Force. The Task Force welcomes input from Council on the work undertaken to date. No specific deadline was given to the Task Force, which has now been in effect for 17 months. All are eager to complete the project and bring resolution to Ordinance #48. With Council scheduled for a retreat next week, the update is timely since possible code amendments and implementation could be included in workprogram plans. Council was last presented with a report on the Historic Preservation Task Force in April. Staff explained that the group had divided into six committees focused on specific areas of our preservation program. The committees are reporting back to the full membership with draft recommendations for improvements. At this time, four groups have concluded their initial presentations, and two are pending. The current target schedule is: Thursday, July 9'h, 4-7 p.m., Presentation by Voluntary and Involuntary Wednesday, July 15th,12-3 p.m., Presentation by Economics Thursday, July 23'd, 4- 7 p.m.: Completion of earlier reports, as needed. Presentation by Public Participation. Begin process of weaving together recommendations Thursday, July 30th,12- 3 p.m.: Weave together recommendations Thursday, Aug. 6th, 4-7 p.m., Weave together recommendations Week of Aug. loth: Public Presentation Monday, August 24th: Deliver recommendations to City Council ASPEN H I S T O R I C PRESERVATION TASK FORCE Following is a brief summary of the progress of individual committees, and recommendations made. Later this month the group will assess the common themes and conflicts that remain after their many months of work. Staff believes there are valuable, implementable ideas to convey to Council. We will be encouraging the Task Force to find consensus and compromises in their conclusions, in order to honor their tremendous efforts and provide expertise to the community. "Progress, not perfection" has risen up as a motto of late. Summary of progress on Historic Districts: The Historic Districts committee studied the appropriateness of creating districts in Aspen beyond those established for Main Street and the Commercial Core in the 1970's. The group also researched other tools, including "Conservation Districts," which are adopted for areas that share a common history and architectural characteristics that can be managed and preserved with a lesser degree of oversight than a historic district. This committee presented a recommendation to the full Task Force in January, which was narrowly defeated. After revising their proposal and providing additional mapping and documentation, the committee received straw vote support on March 260' for the following: (1) creation of a new West End Historic District, as represented in a map created by the Historic Districts committee, (2) with the consent of the property owners, creation of a new Aspen Meadows Conservation district encompassing the areas commonly known as the Aspen Meadows including the Aspen Institute, The Aspen Music Festival, and the Aspen Center for Physics, and (3) pursuit of a combination of strategies to address redevelopment in the remaining blocks of the core area/historic town site, aka mountain to river and river to river. Summary of progress on Criteria: The Criteria committee plans to wrap up their presentation to the Task Force on Thursday, July 2"d. This committee has brought forward recommendations for amendments to the City's historic designation criteria, along with refinements of scoring systems and other tools for the assessment of historic significance. One of their most creative outcomes is a matrix system that identifies and prioritizes preservation of the best examples of buildings from the post-war period, while still encouraging other representative properties to be retained whenever possible. The matrix is a great example of an idea that might achieve a "middle ground" of support within the community. Summary of progress on Voluntary vs. Involuntary: This committee has tackled a difficult philosophical issue. Generally, the committee has leaned towards a voluntary program, however other alternatives have been assessed. Voluntary and Involuntary reports to the Task Force on July 9d'. Summary of progress on Economics and Incentives: Economics and Incentives has undertaken case studies of the effect of designation on numerous Victorian and 20d' century properties in town. In addition, the group has also discussed Aspen's preservation incentives at length, and evaluated them from a financial perspective that has not been considered before. They have placed new emphasis on establishing benefits for historic property owners who do not have plans for redevelopment, but are willing to maintain the property in a more unaltered condition. Improvements in communication to neighbors of historic sites have been suggested. The group will present their ideas to the Task Force on July 15d'. Summary of progress on Public Outreach: The Public Outreach committee is producing the Task Force report, and involving the public in that effort. In addition, the committee is brainstorming numerous short term and longer term efforts that Aspen should undertake to raise awareness and support for historic preservation. They have presented a proposed format for the report, along with new ideas for community involvement in preservation. Summary of progress on Architecture: This committee struggled the most with their recommendation, in part because of the large number of issues assigned to them, from commercial design, to residential additions, to protection of interiors. The group focused on concerns that have been expressed about new construction and additions to historic buildings in town and found it hard to agree about potential revisions to design guidelines and the land use code. A recommendation presented to the Task Force was voted down in January. No revision has been presented. The criticisms the committee expressed seem to be shared on some level by the Task Force at large and should be followed up on in the future. 3