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HomeMy WebLinkAboutminutes.council.20010326Regular Meeting Aspen City Council March 26, 2001 Mayor Richards called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. with Councilmembers Paulson, Markalunas, Hershey and McCabe present. CITIZEN COMMENTS 1. Toni Kronberg reminded Council she asked for a feasibility study and the numbers associated with the Iselin pool. Ms. Kronberg entered into the record the response she received. Ms. Kronberg said her concern has to do with the viability of the building. The ice facility numbers were based on 1200 seats; the city is putting in 400 seats. The rectangular pool is the same design as before. The city subsidized $140,000/year for the pool and only brought in $40,000. This facility will be more expensive and will cost more to maintain and to heat. COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS 1. Councilman Markalunas noted that the city is buying smaller trucks under Resolution #34, 2001, and he is glad to see that. 2. Councilman McCabe pointed out Resolution #31, 2001, approves the city agreement with ACRA for marketing funds before there is a marketing plan. Councilman McCabe asked if there is a hurry for this agreement. John Worcester, city attorney, pointed out this agreement does not contain a budget or a marketing plan but is a plan on how to get to these things. Molly Campbell, Vice Chair, ACRA, told Council they are actively putting together a marketing plan. The group needs to have a plan and a budget together for Council approval. 3. Councilman McCabe brought up dogs in affordable housing. Councilman McCabe said this will be discussed during approval process so the neighborhood has input. 4. Councilman McCabe said he would like to have a Charter amendment to create sacred spaces of city-owned property so that events cannot happen on them. Councilman McCabe said he would like this to be on the November ballot and it would take a 5 to 0 vote of Council to allow anything to happen on these spaces. Councilman McCabe said he would like the John Denver sanctuary to be the first sacred spot. Councilman Hershey supports this idea. 1 Regular Meeting Aspen City Council March 26, 2001 5. Councilman Hershey noted in the Roaring Fork Sunday, there was an article about Aspen's new chief of police, Joe Cortez. Councilman Hershey reaffirmed the city manager made an excellent choice. Part of this article discusses Cortez's philosophy on undercover or plainclothes cops. Councilman Hershey said drugs are the scourge of a community and there has to be an option to use undercover or plainclothes cops. Councilman Hershey said he would like to explore this direction with the police department. 6. Councilman Paulson said when the Hotel Aspen was approved, he requested a report from the city parks department on the tree cutting down and replacement program. Councilman Paulson said he has not seen this report and people have made comments to him about the work on these trees. Randy Ready, assistant city manager, said Council will have the report this week. 7. Mayor Richards noted RFTA service begins it new spring service. This new, improved service is a result of the November election approving RTA and funding for it. Within 3 months of the election, RFTA is stepping up to meet mass transit needs. 8. Steve Barwick, city manager, requested item VI(e) Iselin Park th covenants be continued to April 9 . 9. Steve Barwick, city manager, introduced Bill Powell, the city's new finance director. CONSENT CALENDAR Councilman McCabe moved to approve the consent calendar as amended; seconded by Councilman Hershey. Councilman Markalunas said he strenuously objects to the comments made by Scott Hicks in the discussion of 2 Williams Way. Councilman Markalunas said he considers these specious and character assassination and objects to the accuracy of these comments. Councilman Markalunas stated he intends to rebut these at the proper time. The consent calendar is: 2 Regular Meeting Aspen City Council March 26, 2001 · Resolution #29, 2001 - Polling Places · Resolution #30, 2001 - Contract - Shaw Construction Golf Course · Resolution #37, 2001 - Transportation Sales Tax Distribution IGA · Resolution #38, 2001 - 1/2 cent Transit Sales and Use Tax budget · Resolution #33, 2001 - Contract Berthod Motors - All Wheel Drive Cargo Vans · Resolution #34, 2001 - Contract Glenwood Springs Ford - Pick Up Trucks · Resolution #35, 2001 - Contract Berthod Motors - Pick Up Trucks · Resolution #39, 2001 - Contract Pedestrian Improvements 2001 · Resolution #36, 2001 - Twin Lakes Settlement · Resolution #31, 2001 - Agreement with ACRA on Marketing Funds · Red Brick Canopy Funding & Arts Council Loan · Grant to SPARC for Yellow Brick Lease · Contract for Red Brick Humidification System · Appointment of Election Commission - Peter Nicklin, Pat Fallin · Alley Paving - Between First & Garmisch · Minutes - March 12, 13, 2001 Roll call vote; Councilmembers Paulson, yes; Markalunas, yes; Hershey, yes; McCabe, yes; Mayor Richards, yes. Motion carried. ORDINANCE #11, SERIES OF 2001 - Code Amendment Historic Signs 3 Regular Meeting Aspen City Council March 26, 2001 Nick Lelack, community development department, told Council this amendment was requested by HPC to allow signs to continue that are over 56 years old. This amendment does not apply to any specific signs, nor does staff propose to designate any signs historic. The current code does not allow signs over 56 years old to remain. Mayor Richards opened the public hearing. There were no comments. Mayor Richards closed the public hearing. Councilman Paulson moved to adopt Ordinance #11, Series of 2001, on second reading; seconded by Councilman McCabe. Roll call vote; Councilmembers McCabe, yes; Hershey, yes; Paulson, yes; Markalunas, yes; Mayor Richards, yes. Motion carried. RESOLUTION #20, SERIES OF 2001 - Savanah Barbee Conceptual PUD Nick Lelack, community development department, noted conceptual PUD discuses general issues like number of units, size of units, location of units, access. Lelack showed the site location and surrounding properties for this development, The request is for 17 affordable housing units and 14 free market units spread over 3 parcels. The proposal is to demolish the Mine Dump apartments and to use these development credits on all 3 parcels. The applicant has to provide at least 13 affordable housing bedrooms on the Mine Dump parcel. There is no further requirement for affordable housing on either of the other two parcels. At the last Council meeting on this project, Council had several questions. One was the amount of bus traffic going by the Timberridge condominiums. Lelack said there are 450 bus trips a day, almost all bus routes go by this corner. The second question was an inventory of street parking. Lelack said this property is in the middle of residential parking zones with 2 hour parking and parking by permit. There is also some "park use only" parking. Council also asked for an inventory of on-site parking of other condominiums. The Timberridge has 21 condominiums, 36 bedrooms. The land use code would require 34 parking spaces; they have 10 parking spaces completely on site and 9 partially on site. Lift One condominiums has 30 units and 2 affordable housing units, 70 bedrooms. The land use code 4 Regular Meeting Aspen City Council March 26, 2001 requires 58 parking spaces; they have 22 on site. Juan street project is 6 units, 17 bedrooms. The land use code requires 12 on-site parking spaces, which they have provided. This Savanah project proposes 58 on-site parking spaces, which is what is required under the land use code. Lelack said another question from Council is how this proposal would compare with what would be allowed if each parcel was developed separately. Parcel 1 could be either a single family home development or duplex development. A property owner would need to compete under GMQS and get subdivision approval. According to the lot size and zone district, one could build 6 single-family houses or 6 duplexes or a combination. Under GMQS, they would have to provide 60% of the bedrooms as affordable housing units. In the LTR zone, the requirement is 1,000 square feet of lot area for each bedroom. Parcel 1 is 43,000 square feet; with slope reduction, the lot size is reduced to 37,000 square feet. An applicant could build up to 37 bedrooms. This proposal is 21 affordable housing bedrooms and 14 free market bedrooms, a total of 35 bedrooms. Another option in this zone would be a lodge, which would also require growth management competition for tourist accommodation allotments. Lelack told Council this parcel is about half the size of the Grand Aspen parcel. There is no exact requirement for affordable housing bedrooms; this would be evaluated through the GMQS process. Parcel 2 is the parking lot parcel and is zoned R-15. Under this current proposal it would need to be rezoned to LTR. However, if it were not rezoned, a single family residence or duplex could be built with an ADU. This proposal is 3 three-bedroom affordable housing unit and 3 three bedroom free market units. An outstanding provision on this is to maintain 30 parking spaces for the Ski Company. Parcel 3 is the Mine Dumps parcel, which currently contains 18 units with 23 free market bedrooms. An applicant would have to replace 13 deed- restricted bedrooms on this parcel no matter what the rest of the proposal is. This applicant is proposing 13 deed-restricted bedrooms in 5 units on the back of the lot with free market units on the front of the lot. Lelack said an applicant could convert the residential development allotment to lodge on this parcel. 5 Regular Meeting Aspen City Council March 26, 2001 Lelack noted drainage was raised at the last meeting. This depends on the amount of impervious surface. This has not been evaluated for this site and will be evaluated at final review. The applicant is committed to maintain all drainage on site, which is a city requirement. Lelack said story poles have been erected at the top of the ridge. The city measures height to the mid point of a pitched roof. The height depends on the pitch. During building permit review, staff would make sure the height limit is met. The applicants are not proposing any variances from LTR dimensional requirements. John Sarpa, representing the applicants, said since the last meeting the applicants have discussed the possibility of building a lodge or having fractional fee interest units. Sarpa said given the configuration of the land and requirements attached to these lots, there is not enough mass to build a lodge. Sarpa said parcel 3 has the existing building and the applicants are not proposing anything different than if they were doing that lot independently. On parcel 2 instead of 3 three-bedroom units, there would be only a duplex or single family house with 1 ADU. This would be an 8 bedroom affordable housing loss. Parcel 1 would have to go through growth management. Sarpa reminded Council this project was designed to meet the GMQS criteria with a 60/40 bedroom split. Sarpa said the applicants are willing to wait until November and go through the GMQS competition. Sarpa said developing these 3 parcels independently would mean a net loss of affordable housing bedrooms to the community. Sunny Vann, representing the applicant, said the reason for a PUD was to develop these 3 parcels in a unified plan. Vann said no additional affordable housing, other than on parcel 3, is required and Savanah volunteered to meet the 60/40 requirement is if competing under growth management. The city would lose the benefit of looking at this under PUD. Mayor Richards opened the public hearing. Mary Ellen Sheriden, Lift One, noted she made comments at the last meeting and entered a letter into the record at the meeting and requested these be noted as part of this meeting. Doug Allen, representing Lift One condominium association, told Council his clients are concerned about the 6 Regular Meeting Aspen City Council March 26, 2001 closeness of the project on parcel 1 and about the height. Allen said the buildings appear to be over 28 feet high in the plans. Allen noted there is already parking shortage in this area and this proposal should address all their parking needs on site. Allen suggested the underground parking be expanded. Allen said the Lift One condominiums is most heavily impacted by the 5 free market units built on parcel 1. Allen said it would make a big difference to the Life One condominiums if these units were staggered the opposite direction. Gail Waldron, Timberridge, the developer should be required to build the building one level subgrade in order to lessen the impacts on the adjacent properties and that the developer provide underground parking. Ms. Waldron suggested to help pay for the underground parking, extra spaces could be sold to Timberridge owners at cost. There should be heavy landscaping to help alleviate the impacts. Ed Glickman, owner Lift One, said this will be a severe impact on the views from Lift One. Jasmine dePagter, Holland House, said this does not seem like a bad project. Ms. DePagter welcomed the Mine Dump being replaced. Ms. DePagter noted this land is privately owned and will be developed; it is not a park. Sarpa entered into the record a letter from the Shadow Mountain condominiums supporting this project. Lelack noted the environmental health department has recommended mitigation for environmental concerns, and these are in the packet. Allen requested the applicants meet with the homeowners to see if some of these issues can be resolved. Mayor Richards closed the public hearing. Sarpa said they can consider inverting the units on parcel 1. They would need to discuss this with their architects. Sarpa committed to meeting with the adjacent property owners to see where the impacts might be lessened. Vann said the only surface parking that will have an impact is on parcel 1 for the affordable housing. There is no surface parking on the east end of the project. Vann noted there is no request to lower the amount of parking; the project is providing the same amount of parking for affordable housing units as for the free market units. Vann said the story poles are at the ridge line, the maximum point of the peak, not the height at the end of the unit adjacent to its neighbors. 7 Regular Meeting Aspen City Council March 26, 2001 Sarpa said the units on parcel 1 are affordable units and are not subgrade; the city encourages affordable housing to be above grade. Vann said all free market units are 28 feet measured under the city's height regulations. The affordable housing units are 26 feet measured under the city's code. Vann reiterated the idea was not to request any variances under the city's code. Vann pointed out in most cases the buildings exceed the setback requirements. Ms. Waldron said she would like the developers respond to their concerns. Vann said building affordable housing below grade cuts the quality of living. Vann noted if the town is going to have in-fill, one ought to be able to develop to the underlying requirements. Vann questioned how much an applicant can be required to build below what is permitted to preserve existing views. Vann reiterated there is no code requirement for this affordable housing and it could be removed. Sarpa noted there is a deed restriction that nothing can be built above grade on the west end of this parcel. Mayor Richards closed public comments again. Councilman Markalunas said he hopes between now and final design, the applicant can shave off a couple of feet with some site work. Councilman Markalunas said he is a champion of affordable units having adequate light; he does not want to see subgrade units in Aspen. Councilman Markalunas said he feels the applicants have done a good job in this conceptual PUD. Councilman Markalunas said he would a condition added that the pole line structure on the Mine Dump site, an effort be made to preserve a portion of that, at least the insulators. Councilman Paulson asked about putting the employee housing parking below grade. Sarpa said they would have to build a subgrade parking structure. Councilman Paulson said he would like to see that explored. Councilman Paulson asked about the rafting parking on site. Sarpa said this has been allowed on a year by year basis; this requires a temporary use permit from Council. Julie Ann Woods, community development department, reminded Council they directed the rafting company to find another location; that last year was their last temporary use. Councilman Paulson said he, too, would like the height looked at. Sarpa said short of going below grade, they will look at picking up space 8 Regular Meeting Aspen City Council March 26, 2001 internally. Councilman Paulson said he wants this development to maximize the vegetation. Mayor Richards said one concern is the entrance to the underground parking on Juan street; this will greatly increase traffic. Vann said this is the logical place to provide an entrance to a subgrade garage. Vann said this garage is for Ski Company employee parking; the traffic will be concentrated at the beginning and end of the day. Mayor Richards noted the entrance is directly under the two bedroom affordable units. Vann said they will look at where the entrance goes on Juan street. Councilman Hershey said he supports this conceptual PUD. Councilman McCabe asked how the homeowners associations would be set up. Vann said the housing office wants to make sure the affordable units do not bear a disproportionate share of common maintenance. Vann said they are proposing these to be rental units, owned by a common homeowners association. This has not yet been worked out. Councilman McCabe said he would like the applicant's intentions regarding the homeowners association added to the list of conditions. Councilman McCabe noted this project is meeting or exceeding all the dimensional requirements; the parking requirement is met; the affordable housing component is over that required. Mayor Richards said the concerns of the neighbors are valid. The project could be more neighborly. Mayor Richards said she feel the building could be broken up rather than replicated like dominos. Mayor Richards said granting of a PUD is a give and take between the city and the applicant. Mayor Richards said she can support the demolition and replacement on parcel 3; however, there is not enough benefit to the city to approve the PUD. Mayor Richards said the demolition/replacement program was an affordable housing preservation mechanism. It was not designed as a way to circumvent the growth management quota system. Mayor Richards said she cannot see a reason to spread the replacement credits across 3 parcels. Mayor Richards said there needs to be a greater cumulative value for the community. Councilman Hershey moved to adopt Resolution #20, Series of 2001; seconded by Councilman Markalunas. 9 Regular Meeting Aspen City Council March 26, 2001 Mayor Richards said she would like the applicants to work on this project for another month to address some of these concerns. Sarpa said the applicants are willing to look at parcel 1, look at the heights and see where these could be lowered, look at the configuration to get some variations. Mayor Richards said in her mind this project can be done better. Roll call vote; Councilmembers Markalunas, yes; Paulson, no; Hershey, yes; McCabe, no; Mayor Richards, no. Motion NOT carried. Mayor Richards moved to continue Resolution #20, Series of 2001 to April 9, 2001; seconded by Councilman Paulson. Roll call vote; Councilmembers Paulson, yes; McCabe, yes; Markalunas, yes; Hershey, yes; Mayor Richards, yes. Motion carried. RESOLUTION #155, SERIES OF 2000 - 303 S. Cleveland Appeal of HPC Decision Fred Jarman, community development department, reminded Council in December, Chuck Tower came to Council requesting his cabins be removed from the inventory list. The applicant offered an alternative of relocating the cabins to another site. Staff came back to Council with a list of ideas and received direction to keep exploring these sites. The applicant has worked with the parks department on relocating these cabins to Cozy Point. This site is 160 acres and is owned by the city with a lease to Monroe Sommers. This would require land use approvals through Pitkin County, like 1041 review, scenic corridor review and special review to allow these cabins to go through a growth management exemption. Jarman reminded Council the applicant offered to pay the costs associated with moving these cabins. Jarman told Council the septic system and the well at Cozy Point are at capacity and the costs of upgrading these will have to be addressed. Jarman asked if these cabins should sit on a slab or have an excavated space. Mike Hoffman, representing the applicant, told Council saving the cabins and getting employee housing is a win win situation. Councilman Markalunas said he has a problem with relocating historic structures to another site. The point is the relationship of structures with the land on which they sit. Councilman Hershey said he supports moving these cabins to Cozy Point and appreciates the work done by the applicant and staff. Mayor Richards said she supports this site for the relocation of these cabins. Council 10 Regular Meeting Aspen City Council March 26, 2001 directed staff to fully investigate the costs of relocation. Monroe Sommers, lessee, said he conceptually supports this proposal but would like to make sure these are subject to his 10 year lease. Councilman McCabe said if these cabins are moved, he would like staff to investigate the possibility of using the old bunk house as cold storage for the archery range. Councilman Paulson said he would like to know the costs of excavation as storage space makes affordable housing more livable. Council agreed to look at that option. Council agreed these will be co-applicants with Chuck Tower. Councilman McCabe asked what happens to the residents of the cabin. Mayor Richards asked staff to check with the housing office to see if these residents are moved into other affordable housing units. Councilman Hershey moved to continue Resolution #155, Series of 2000, to May 29, 2001; seconded by Councilman Hershey. All in favor, motion carried. RESOLUTION #160, 2000 - Code Appeal Riverside Drive Councilman McCabe moved to continue Resolution #160, Series of 2000; seconded by Councilman Paulson. All in favor, motion carried. REQUEST FOR TRAFFIC LIGHT AT GALENA AND MAIN Nick Adeh, city engineer, told Council staff conducted a traffic study for this intersection to justify the need for signalization. Adeh noted if any of the warrant study meet the state's requirement, the intersection is qualified for a traffic signal. Adeh told Council this intersection met 3 warrants; one is the minimum pedestrian volume during peak hour, which is 90 to 100. In this intersection the peak hour count was 270. The second warrant is the 4 hour gap in the a.m. and p.m. peak traffic movement. There are curves and anytime the numbers stay above the curve, the intersection warrants signalization. Adeh said this intersection met that qualification. The third warrant is delays during peak hour from people exiting onto Main street; the intersection went above that qualification. Adeh noted the automobile accidents at this intersection also meet or exceed the warrant qualification. CDOT is convinced the city justified the need for a signal to enhance the pedestrian safety and to increase the capacity of traffic. Adeh showed Council renderings of the traffic lights using the existing poles with mast 11 Regular Meeting Aspen City Council March 26, 2001 arms. Adeh said with this design, the intersection will only need 2 new poles. Adeh said the next step is to enter into and IGA with CDOT for the funding of this intersection. CDOT will pay 2/3 and the city will pay 1/3. Paul Taddune, representing the Archdiocese of the Catholic Church, expressed concern about traffic lights in context with the historic church and the campus like setting. The rectory will be impacted with lights and with cars stopping and starting. Adeh said with traffic signals and with the bus stopping in front of the gas station, the traffic will be split between the east and west crosswalks. Torre said he is concerned about another stop light on Main street and about timing of the lights. Mayor Richards said George Vicenzi called and suggested a citizen task force to go over this signal as well as pedestrian issues all around town. There is a letter from Pitkin County Library requesting the city look at the pedestrian issue on Mill and Bleeker streets. Councilman Hershey said this signal will improve the fire department's access to Main street, will improve the Galena street shuttle's route and will improve pedestrian safety. Councilman Hershey said he like Vicenzi's idea but Council should move ahead with this signal and convene a task force to access pedestrian issues in general. Councilman McCabe agreed about the task force for pedestrian issues other than Main and Galena. Councilman McCabe said the city has met 3 or 4 warrants for a signalized intersection. Randy Ready, assistant city manager, noted another positive for a signalized intersection here is access to the city's parking garage, especially at night. Ready said the 1999 Charlier report focused on the pedestrian and transit needs of the west end but encompassed traffic calming all around the community. This would be a good starting point for a citizen task force. Mayor Richards said the foremost issue is pedestrian safety. Council directed staff to go ahead with the IGA for a traffic signal at Main and Galena. Councilman McCabe moved to adjourn at 8:34 p.m. ; seconded by Councilman Paulson. All in favor, motion carried. 12 Regular Meeting Aspen City Council March 26, 2001 Kathryn S. Koch, City Clerk 13 Regular Meeting Aspen City Council March 26, 2001 CITIZEN COMMENTS ................................ ................................ .............. 1 COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS ................................ ........................... 1 CONSENT CALENDAR ................................ ................................ ............. 2 · Resolution #29, 2001 - Polling Places ................................ .................. 3 · Resolution #30, 2001 - Contract - Shaw Construction Golf Course ...... 3 · Resolution #37, 2001 - Transportation Sales Tax Distribution IGA ..... 3 · Resolution #38, 2001 - 1/2 cent Transit Sales and Use Tax budget ...... 3 · Resolution #33, 2001 - Contract Berthod Motors - All Wheel Drive Cargo Vans ................................ ................................ .............................. 3 · Resolution #34, 2001 - Contract Glenwood Springs Ford - Pick Up Trucks ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 3 · Resolution #35, 2001 - Contract Berthod Motors - Pick Up Trucks ..... 3 · Resolution #39, 2001 - Contract Pedestrian Improvements 2001 ......... 3 · Resolution #36, 2001 - Twin Lakes Settlement ................................ .... 3 · Resolution #31, 2001 - Agreement with ACRA on Marketing Funds ... 3 · Red Brick Canopy Funding & Arts Council Loan ................................ 3 · Grant to SPARC for Yellow Brick Lease ................................ ............. 3 · Contract for Red Brick Humidification System ................................ .... 3 · Appointment of Election Commission - Peter Nicklin, Pat Fallin ......... 3 · Alley Paving - Between First & Garmisch ................................ ........... 3 · Minutes - March 12, 13, 2001 ................................ .............................. 3 ORDINANCE #11, SERIES OF 2001 - Code Amendment Historic Signs ... 3 RESOLUTION #20, SERIES OF 2001 - Savanah Barbee Conceptual PUD 4 RESOLUTION #155, SERIES OF 2000 - 303 S. Cleveland Appeal of HPC Decision ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 10 RESOLUTION #160, 2000 - Code Appeal Riverside Drive ....................... 11 REQUEST FOR TRAFFIC LIGHT AT GALENA AND MAIN ................ 11 14