HomeMy WebLinkAboutminutes.council.20100628Regular Meeting Aspen City Council June 28, 2010
OUTSTANDING EMPLOYEE BONUS AWARD .......................................................... . 2
EPA AWARD .................................................................................................................... . 2
CITIZEN PARTICIPATION ............................................................................................. . 2
COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS ................................................................................. . 3
CONSENT CALENDAR .................................................................................................. . 5
• Minutes -May 24, June 1, 7, 8, 2010 .................................................................... . 5
• Resolution #45, 2010 - 2010 Street Improvement Contract Grand Valley........... . 5
• Resolution #46, 2010 - IGA Pitkin County East Aspen Trail ............................... . 5
• Resolution #44, 2010 -Contract PCS Mobile/Mobile Computing ....................... . 5
• Board Appointment ................................................................................................ . 5
• Resolution #47, 2010 -Given Institute ................................................................. . 5
• Authorization to join Mountain Partnership .......................................................... . 5
ORDINANCE #14, SERIES OF 2010 -Silver Lining Ranch Conversion to Single
Family ................................................................................................................................ . 5
ORDINANCE #9B, SERIES OF 2010 -Code Amendment Temporary Outdoor Food
Vending .............................................................................................................................. . 6
ORDINANCE #12, SERIES OF 2010 -Aspen Valley Hospital Master Plan Facilities
Phase II ............................................................................................................................... . 8
RESOLUTION #42, SERIES OF 2010 -Burlingame Ranch Phase II Design ................ 15
I
Regular Meeting Aspen City Council June 28.2010
Mayor Pro Tem Skadron called the meeting to order at 5:05 with Councilmembers Torre,
Romero and Mayor Ireland present.
OUTSTANDING EMPLOYEE BONUS AWARD
Mayor Pro Tem Skadron and Council presented an outstanding employee bonus award to
Ryan Terry, Aspen Police Department.
EPA AWARD
Ashley Cantrell and Lauren McDonell announced the city's ZGreen program had
received a Clean Air excellence award from the EPA. Mayor Ireland and Councilman
Torre went to Washington D.C. to receive the award.
CITIZEN PARTICIPATION
1. Toni Kronberg said there is a site visit tomorrow at 4 p.m. at the Galena Plaza.
Ms. Kronberg reminded everyone Sunday is the 4`" of July. She is entering a float in the
pazade having to do with the aerial connection. Ms. ICronberg told Council the recycle
center received administrative approval. Ms. ICronberg said she has filed an appeal on
the decision and is also going to undertake a referendum. Ms. ICronberg said she is
appealing proper notice and due process. Ms. ICronberg said she would like to see the
recycle center downsized and some of it returned to a park.
2. Ross Gribs told Council he has tried to get an opinion from the community
development department on being able to hang his photos in corridor space associated
with a building on Hyman. Gribs said he has not been able to get an explanation about
why he cannot do this. Chris Bendon, community development department, noted the
land use code requires businesses to operate within a net leasable space. Bendon told
Council Gribs can apply for a code interpretation which will come before Council.
Travers said he feels the rules should be loosened with some criteria to encourage
entrepreneurship.
Councilman Romero asked if Gribs has had a dialog with the landlord and is there
existing vacant space in the facility to meet his needs. Mayor Ireland suggested
community development department meet with the attorneys to identify the pertinent
sections of the code. Mayor Ireland said the city would need to see the lease as the city
should not approve something that may be common area or under someone else's control.
Bendon suggested Gribs contact the community development department about applying
for a code interpretation and also maybe schedule a topic with Council about small space
lease code amendments.
3. Emzy Veazy told Council they should negotiate and for a business improvement
district. Aspen needs BIDS for the benefit of the community. Veazy said merchants'
associations should also be formed.
Reeular Meeting Aspen City Council June 28, 2010
4. Shirley Tipton told Council she was formerly on the board of Directors of the
Given Institute as well as the Colorado Department of Higher Education. Ms. Tipton said
funding for higher education in Colorado has become some of the worst in the United
States. Ms. Tipton told Council this solution was not CU medical school's first choice
and was the only choice the dean was given by the joint budget committee. High cost
l,rograms have been dramatically slashed. Since July 2009, Colorado has cut higher
education funding by 60%. Ms. Tipton said the challenge is the state's inability to deal
with the economy and the burden of things like TABOR and the Gallagher amendment.
Ms. Tipton said the only plausible way to save the Given is to take the issue to the voters.
Ms. Tipton aid she feels a residence on an entire city block is not appropriate.
5. Glenn Beaton, 712 West Francis, told Council when the exits from Hallam and
Bleeker to Main street were closed, the traffic all moved to Francis. Beaton requested
Francis be treated like Hallam and Bleeker. Randy Ready, assistant city manager, told
Council the Stay on Main program started today; left turns off power plant road to
Cemetery lane will be prohibited. Ready requested Beaton give this program some time
to work and then come back to Council. Rick Schwartz told Council the police
department was at power plant road giving tickets to left turners.
6. Sarah Broughton, Jason Lasser, Jamie Brewster McCloud and Jay Maytin, HPC,
presented Council with a resolution urging them to take the Given Institute seriously.
Ms. Broughton said the Given is a revered institution in the community and the HPC
feels it is important to the inventory, to the history of Aspen and to the community. The
resolution states the City commits to immediate action and a dialogue with the University
of Colorado to see how the community can save the Given Institute. Jason Lasser noted a
letter from the National Trust talking about creating time and awin/win situation for
everyone. Demolition is scheduled for October 15`. Jay Maytin urged Council to watch
the presentation from local architect Harry Teague about work on the Given and about
the Given architect, Harry Weiss.
Mayor Ireland said he would like the HPC to analyze and to come to some conclusions
on the merits of the structure and the uses of the Given so that Council has a written
opinion behind a resolution. Ms. Broughton told Council HPC asked staff to process a
national landmark designation, which has been sent in. Ms. Broughton said HPC would
like everyone working on this and education is important. Ms. Broughton told Council
the University of Colorado is coming to HPC meeting July 14~h and the public is
encouraged to attend.
Mayor Ireland moved to add Resolution #47, Series of 2010 to the consent calendar;
seconded by Councilman Romero. All in favor, motion carried.
COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS
1. Councilman Romero welcomed the Mayor back. Councilman Romero noted last
week was Jazz Aspen festival; this week the Aspen Music Festival and School is
Regular Meeting Aspen City Council June 28.2010
launching its summer season; ZGreen team is sponsoring a highway clean up June 30`h; 4
Council had lunch with John Hickenlooper to hear about his campaign for governor.
2. Councilman Torre, too, welcomed Mick the Mayor back. Councilman Torre said
there was a great tennis tournament put on by the city recreation department.
Councilman Torre thanked Sheml Kerr, Rob and Muffin for their work on the tennis
tournament.
3. Mayor Pro Tem Skadron said everywhere he went, people asked him about Mick
and Mick's health.
4. Mayor Pro Tem Skadron said he spent the weekend at the Harry Gates but taking
a first aid course.
5. Mayor Ireland said it is great to be back and it takes an entire community of
support from the people who drove him to the hospital, the AVH staff, and the
community who has sent so many good wishes. Mayor Ireland stated he is proud Aspen
is still a community. Mayor Ireland stated he is here because he was wearing a bike
helmet, which makes a big difference.
6. Mayor Ireland said it is not just the joint budget committee making difficult
financial decisions. Mayor Ireland stated it is time for the voters to accept responsibility
for the choices they have made, the votes that adopted TABOR, giving tax rebates to
themselves.
7. Mayor Ireland noted he was impressed with the Mayor of Denver who has
instituted job creation and balance with the environment.
8. Steve Barwick, City Manager, requested support for an application for Aspen to
officially join the Mountain Partnership, a voluntary alliance dedicated to improving the
lives of mountain people and protecting mountain environments around the world be
added to the consent calendar.
9. Councilman Torre said RWAPA was postponed until July 21s`. The screening
and cleaning program has started at Ruedi and he will report back afrer the meeting.
10. Mayor Pro Tem Skadron told Council the CORE board met and made
recommendations for REMP funding. NW Colorado Council of Governments appointed
anew executive director who is starting July ls`.
11. Mayor Pro Tem Skadron told Council he attended the CAST meeting in
Breckenridge. There were presentations on the ballot measures 6Q 61 and 101 which
have financial implications for municipalities. Mayor Pro Tem Skadron told Council he
voted for CML board members from mountain towns who he thought would represent
Aspen's positions. Mayor Pro Tem Skadron said a movie has been made called "Bag It"
about the impact plastics have on society.
Regular Meeting Aspen City Council June 28, 2010
CONSENT CALENDAR
Councilman Romero asked when the overlay work on the streets will be done. Jerry Nye,
streets department, said not until after Labor Day.
Mayor Ireland moved to adopt the consent calendar as amended; seconded by
Councilman Romero. The consent calendar is:
• Minutes -May 24, June 1, 7, 8, 2010
• Resolution #45, 2010 - 2010 Street Improvement Contract Grand Valley
• Resolution #46, 2010 - IGA Pitkin County East Aspen Trail
• Resolution #44, 2010 -Contract PCS Mobile/Mobile Computing
• Board Appointment
• Resolution #47, 2010 -Given Institute
• Authorization to join Mountain Partnership
All in favor, motion carried.
ORDINANCE #14, SERIES OF 2010 -Silver Lining Ranch Conversion to Single
Family
Chris Bendon, community development department, told Council this is an application to
convert the Silver Lining Ranch to a single family house. This was a facility for kids
with terminal diseases. The property is zoned Academic and Conservation with an SPA
overlay, which specifies how the property maybe used. The conversion requires an
amendment to the SPA. Bendon told Council staff and P&Z have two different
recommendations, which will be reviewed at the public hearing July 12`h. Bendon
entered into the record letters of support from John Corcoran, Aspen Alps; Andrew
Mundays, Forest Barnett, Suzanne Stride, Peter & Julie Gerson, and Chuck Bellack.
Councilman Romero said for second reading he would like to understand how the
purchaser envisions the process by which the foundation will have access for the
proposed 5 year timeframe. Councilman Romero said he would also like to know how
the 5 years was arrived at.
Mayor Ireland moved to read ordinance #14, Series of 2010; seconded by Councilman
Romero. All in favor, motion tamed.
ORDINANCE NO. 14
(SERIES OF 2010)
Regular Meeting Aspen City Council June 28.2010
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ASPEN CITY COUNCIL APPROVING AN
AMENDMENT TO THE SPECIALLY PLANNED AREA APPROVALS AND
REZONING TO THE RURAL RESIDENTIAL ZONE DISTRICT THE PROPERTY
KNOWN AS THE SILVER LINING RANCH, LOCATED ON LOT 5 OF THE
STILLWATER RANCH SUBDIVISION, 1490 UTE AVENUE, CITY OF ASPEN,
COLORADO
Mayor Pro Tem Skadron said he would like staff to make sure the community is aware of
the public hearing. Mayor Pro Tem Skadron requested more information on the city's
position on legally created non-conforming structures. Mayor Ireland asked if this were a
vacant lot and zoned single family, what the allowable FAR would be. Mayor Ireland
said if the code allows less FAR and Council rezones this as single family, does the use
of the building become anon-conforming use. Bendon said the use will be conforming
and the structure will benon-conforming. Mayor Ireland said he would like to know the
implications of anon-conforming structure. Mayor Ireland stated he is concemed about
the use of the zoning process to affect astep-wise process that could not be affected in
the absence of the steps. Mayor Ireland said he is concemed about the trend of using
non-profit use as a means to obtaining plenary zoning and then have a subsequent
conversion that would not have been allowed in the first place and the precedential
weight of that. Councilman Torre said he, too, in interested in the five year provision and
to whom is the benefit going and there may be a more effective utilization for the greater
community benefit.
Councilman Romero moved to adopt Ordinance #14, Series of 2010, on first reading;
seconded by Mayor Ireland. Roll call vote; Torre, yes; Romero, yes; Mayor Ireland, yes;
Mayor Pro Tem Skadron, yes. Motion carried.
ORDINANCE #9B, SERIES OF 2010 -Code Amendment Temporary Outdoor Food
Vending
Drew Alexander, community development department, reminded Council at their June 8`h
meeting, they separated this code amendment into 9A which addressed banners on Main
street flag poles and outdoor merchandising. This ordinance 9B addresses temporary
outdoor food vending. This amendment will limit the number of outdoor food carts to 4;
interior arcades are not limited. This is in the commercial core only, the CL zone and
gondola plaza have been removed from consideration. Alexander noted the ordinance
required an operations plan to include the months of operation, hours of operation, the
exact location of the cart and a list of food and beverages being served. The operation
plan has to be included in the notice to adjacent property owners. Alexander said
language on penalties and abandonment of cart has been added and the amendment
would require abandoned carts to be removed. Alexander noted the community
development department can require temporary abatement if the location of a cart
conflicts with a special event. Alexander said staff has created a hand out with the
requirements for outdoor food vending, the purpose and the penalties.
Regular Meeting Aspen City Council Juue 28.2010
Councilman Torre said the guidelines and requirement for operation plan solidifies the
information the city needs. Councilman Torre said he has an issue with 6 month license
that is usable at any time; food cart vendors would have the ability to pick the best
seasons and take business away from long standing businesses that serve the local
community in off seasons. Councilman Tone said he would like to have vendors during
special events rather than be in the same location impacting the same sunounding
businesses.
Mayor Pro Tem Skadron asked about making the temporary food cart vending permit 6
consecutive months. Alexander said the code amendment had a 12 month period; if there
is a time frame -May to November - with a renewal, that can be written into the
amendment. Councilman Romero said Council is trying to balance between an
environment of reliance for the existing businesses versus entrepreneurial endeavor and
new products. Councilman Romero said limiting the number of permits and limiting the
physical area as well as requiring an operation plan and 6 consecutive months will get
this to the balance. Councilman Romero said he would like to do this as a trial, getting
input and being mindful to both sides of the balance.
Mayor Pro Tem Skadron asked if there is a feedback mechanism in place and how will
staff hear from the vendors. Bendon said there is a feedback mechanism in that renewal
is required and staff will hear from the vendors what is working and what isn't.
Councilman Romero asked about tenure. Bendon said there is no concept of tenure;
these will renew every 6 months and staff will get input from the police, from
environmental health and from neighboring businesses. Alexander pointed out the code
amendment states if any element of the operational plan is altered; the community
development department has the ability to revoke that permit.
Mayor Ireland agreed it would be difficult to enforce carts that are in place for 2 weeks,
then not, then 4 weeks, then not, and if the vendor has not specified that dates and times,
staff will have difficult determining whether there has been abandonment or not. Mayor
Ireland said if the penalty is non-renewal or termination, the city should be more specific
about those grounds. Mayor Ireland needs to specify the items that if done or not done
will result in termination. Bendon said staff will amend the ordinance that this allows 6
month consecutive permit or two seasons, starting May 1 and November 1.
Councilman Romero moved to adopt Ordinance #9b, Series of 2010, on second reading
amending it to allow 6 month consecutive permit and adding language regarding the
specifics on the revocation of the permit; seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Skadron.
Mayor Pro Tem Skadron opened the public hearing.
Toni Kronberg said she thinks outside vending is a good opportunities for families to
grab some quick and not expensive food. Ms. ICronberg said this amendment is in
keeping with the AACP as family oriented.
Mayor Pro Tem Skadron closed the public hearing.
ReQUlar MeetinE Aspen Ciri Council June 28.2010
Roll call vote; Romero, yes; Mayor Ireland, yes; Torre, no; Mayor Pro Tem Skadron, yes.
Motion carried.
ORDINANCE #12, SERIES OF 2010 -Aspen Valley Hospital Master Plan Facilities
Phase II
Council discussed having a presentation and public hearing without a full complement of
members. Staff said Councilman Johnson can read the packet and watch the meeting on
Granicus. Mayor Pro Tem Skadron said Council will hear the presentation; however, the
final vote will take place when Councilman Johnson returns.
Jennifer Phelan, community development department, noted this is a public hearing on
phase II of the hospital master plan for expansion and redevelopment. This plan includes
on site medical office space and affordable housing. The applicant received conceptual
approval in 2009 fora 4 phase development plan and this is final PUD for phase II which
includes expansion, construction of part of the medical office space, affordable housing,
and infrastructure improvements. At the last hearing, Council asked for information on
lighting, noise, medical office space, landscaping, Whitcomb terrace and continuing caze.
Ms. Phelan pointed out the city only regulates outdoor lighting, not interior lighting, so
the proposals For regulating interior lighting is above and beyond the city's regulations.
The city has allowance for decibel of 60 decibels during the day and 55 decibels at night
in the residential zones. Staff recommends approval of this ordinance.
Dave Ressler, Aspen Valley Hospital, said there maybe some confusion about the aim of
this expansion. Ressler stated the applicants do not intend to expand the scope of
services provided. Aspen Valley Hospital is a general acute care hospital, which they
will remain, and do what they do well. Ressler said they want to decompress the existing
facility to accommodate the existing services, adding square feet to the existing facility to
meet contemporary design standards and to facilitate operations, like having private
rooms not semi-private rooms, curtains between beds instead of walls, the absence of
waiting rooms.
Ressler stated AVH supports the regional role of Valley View and shares services with
them and refers people to their specialties. Ressler said the only part of the plan that does
not exist today is medical office space on the campus, which the applicant feels is a
critical need. Ressler said the applicants will address the amended affordable housing
which eliminates 4 units and 6 gazages and reduces the nose of the building. Ressler said
they will erect story poles to illustrate the difference in height. This is still within the
conceptual approval. Ressler said the applicants will submit 360° views of the project
and the lighting plan.
Ressler said regarding noise, the applicants have spent considerable time and hired
consultants. Ressler said they will keep the noise levels within present levels and will
stay within the code requirements. Ressler said medical office space is drawing questions
and the applicant is firm this is necessary and appropriate. Ressler said the number 1
Regular Meeting Aspen City Council June 28, 2010
reason for this is to serve the patients. Ressler reminded Council this is only the second
phase which has 12,000 square feet of office space. This phase will focus on the most
critical physicians to have on site; trauma surgeons, obstetricians, orthopedic surgeons.
Ressler said there will probably be 6 to 7 doctors on site in 3 to 4 practices and this
includes their mid level practitioners.
The applicants will address any landscape questions beyond the material provided in the
packet. The sixth issue was parking, the TDM plan and traffic. Material has been
provided to Council and the consultant can answer any questions. The seventh issue was
continuing care/retirement community. Ressler said there is a letter from the
representative of the task force describing that a CCRC needs 10 to 12 acres. The
consultant does not feel the AVH property will accommodate a continuing care
community.
Russ Sedmak, architect, reminded Council they asked the applicant to look at the number
of employee units and look at the mass and height resulting from eliminating any units.
Sedmak said they looked at reducing the affordable housing from 22 to 18 units and to
eliminating 6 tuck under parking spaces. The plan will bring more units to garden level.
Sedmak showed the garden level plan for affordable housing, the ls` level and the 2"d
level which is limited to the central core of the structure. The reduction in the number of
units has the effect on the overall mass of the building. Sedmak showed elevations of the
east side of affordable housing.
Sedmak showed comparison elevations illustrating the difference in height between the
two buildings. Sedmak had about a dozen views of the property from 360° around the
hospital. There were views from Castle Creek, from Meadowood drive, from the north
end of the meadow, from the closest neighbor, from Twin Ridge. The slides had the
existing hospital and phase II and affordable housing imposed; there were night time
simulations with all possible lights on and without screening and vegetation.
Councilman Romero noted at the last meeting Council went between the need to provide
housing versus the impacts on the view and lighting of the campus. Councilman Romero
said the conceptual approval had a range for affordable housing on site and Council was
concerned about mass and scale and prominence of some of the structures and
eliminating some units to help soften the impacts. Councilman Romero said the original
conceptual application did not contain on-site affordable housing. Councilman Romero
said Council discussed off site housing, like at the Beaumont and at Burlingame.
Mayor Ireland noted that hospital care is becoming more labor intensive. Mayor Ireland
said he feels this facility will eventually need every housing unit they can get. Mayor
Ireland said if 18 units is approved, he would like a commitment from the hospital for
participation for 4 units at Burlingame. Mayor Ireland noted demographics change and
the hospital may want family-oriented units. Mayor Ireland said the cost of participating
at Burlingame maybe offset by building fewer units on site. Mayor Ireland said one of
the community's problems is trying to retrofit a solution.
Re¢ular Meetin¢ Aspen City Council June 28, 2010
Councilman Romero stated he appreciates the responsiveness on the overall reduction in
square footage. Sedmak went over how the entries and living areas will work on each
level of affordable housing. Sedmak noted they can only meet the 50% open wall
requirement by utilizing the entry areas, where there will be a corner window with
additional light. The units above the tuck under gazages will have views. They have
tried to share stairways. Sedmak said there will be vegetation placed along Castle Creek
to help screen the buildings.
Ressler told Council when they requested on site affordable housing units, they embraced
that. The hospital polled their employees to understand what percentage would live in
this housing, why type of units they would need. This is only one phase of the
development of their affordable housing and this housing is focused on seasonal or
people needing only 1 bedroom. Ressler said there are other places the hospital can
develop housing, like at the Beaumont or Burlingame.
Sedmak said at the last meeting, Council requested a list of major mechanical equipment
with the potential of generating noise. Sedmak said there are 6 air handling units on the
top of the building; 11 small exhaust fans giving off little noise; lpad-mounted chiller,
which maybe the central culprit to noise and where they are working on improving the
acoustics; and lpad-mounted emergency generator, which runs 30 minutes/month for
test purposes. The boilers are inside the building and only give off noise when the
pressure relief valve goes off. The hospital is looking at mufflers for this. Sedmak told
Council the applicants contemplate replacing two air handling units on the roof with
modem, efficient, quiet units. There is a second pad mounted chiller on the ground and
the plan is to re-build the acoustical separation between this equipment. Sedmak said the
applicants feel there will be significant improvement in the areas most difficult for the
neighbors to deal with. No new equipment is being added; they aze replacing existing
equipment with more modern, efficient equipment.
Mayor Pro Tem Skadron opened the public hearing.
Bill Stirling said this project has mass and scale implications that need to be cazefully
analyzed. Stirling said it is cleaz there are positive necessary components of the proposal.
Stirling said there are other major satellite medical centers being developed and the
economics of this should be considered, will there be enough patients to make all
facilities operative and successful. Stirling said one has to consider balance in moving all
the doctors to the AVH facility. Stirling noted having physicians downtown creates a
community, commercial core and is healthy. Stirling said the pazking spaces needed
seems to be related to on-site physicians and seems to be massive. Stirling said he thinks
less housing should be on site and should be spread out throughout the community.
Jeannette Damauer, Twin Ridge adjacent to the hospital, said this azea has a rural,
distinctive open space feel to it. Their street has no street lights or sidewalks. Ms.
Damauer said that will change if the massive hospital expansion is approved. Ms.
Damauer said there can be improvements the hospital needs without a huge increase in
the building, like medical office buildings, a 210 car parking garage, and 18 units of
10
Regular Meeting Aspen City Council June 28.2010
affordable housing on site. Ms. Damauer asked where the economic need analysis for the
medical office building is, what is considered suitable office space, how many of the
parking spaces are due to the medical office spaces, how large to the hospital rooms need
to be. Ms. Daznauer said the beauty of Aspen need not be destroyed to get quality health
caze and devastate the rural chazacter of the area. Ms. Darnauer said they would like to
make sure light pollution does not destroy the neighborhood. Councilman Romero asked
about outreach to Twin Ridge. Ms. Darnauer said some Twin Ridge board members
were never notified of meetings; there has been no personal outreach to the Boazd
members. Ms. Damauer said asked if all hospital standards for room sizes the same for a
city as for a rural area.
Frank Goldsmith complimented the AVH for the improvement to the employee housing;
it is an improvement on the massing. Goldsmith questioned the loop road going in front
of the affordable units. Dave Decody, Meadowood resident, said he is particularly
concerned about the mass and scope of the project, the pazking structure, the medical
offices and the employee housing. Decody said the applicants noted this is not an
expansion of capacity, why is there need for housing on site. Decody said the hard needs
of patient care and emergency room should be accommodated. Decody said Council
should look at the real needs of the project.
Bill Rodman agreed with concerns about light pollution in the entire town, not just the
hospital. Rodman said as a trauma surgeon, he has no place for put medical carts or
needed equipment. Rodman said the parking structure can be used in a disaster. Rodman
said having physicians in one spot makes it easier to deal with medical issues, the
consultations are easier. Rodman said he has to fight the traffic to get to the hospital in
emergencies. On site medical offices have a lot of advantages.
Greg Balko, emergency room doctor, told Council the space at the hospital is woefully
inadequate; people are waiting in hallways, there are curtains between patients. Balko
noted a patient is a patient whether in a rural setting or in a city. Balko said access will
be better for physicians if their offices are on site. April, director of maternal care, said
there is a benefit for patient safety to have obstetricians on site and that could improve
patient outcomes in an emergency. Junee Kirk said this hospital is one of the finest rural
hospitals. Ms. Kirk said if Council approves phase II, they should exclude medical office
space, which would be a change of use and will multiply private office patient visits
through the roundabout. Ms. Kirk said the revised health caze plan might be preferable to
bigger. It may preclude those if the hospital site is built out and not building the 20,000
squaze feet for offices would leave space for future needs. Not as much housing or
parking spaces would be needed without the medical office space.
Marcia Goshorn said the hospital was put in this location to allow future growth needs
and room for expansion. Ms. Goshorn said eliminating affordable housing is an easy out
to lower impacts. Ms. Goshorn noted the AACP calls for having people live closer to
where they work. Ms. Goshorn said the hospital is an important component of this town.
Mindy Nagel, obstetrician, told Council as a doctor and as a board member she has been
involved in the process at many levels. Ms. Nagel said every bit of the process had a
11
Regular Meeting Aspen City Council June 28, 2010
needs assessment and has been looked at for over 10 years. Ms. Nagel said this plan is
about meeting the needs of this community. The outpatient services have increased, how
medicine is delivered has changed. There is only one other hospital in Colorado that is
not campus based and includes medical office space. Ms. Nagel said as an obstetrician
she feels she needs to be on campus and available to patients immediately. Ms. Nagel
noted part of medical reform will align hospital and doctors more closely to not duplicate
services, not do services in two places. This plan is about the future.
Chris Beck, anesthesiologist and president of medical staff, told Council the project has
support from all the medical staff who feel this is a need, not a want. Beck said having
employees live on site is also a patient care and patient safety issue. Beck said in an
emergency room triaging which case will go next can be based on which surgeon can
show up first. Sid Smock said Council should be critical of the medical knowledge being
offered. Smock said one cannot be all things to all people. Smock said Council has to
ask what this project will mean to the taxpayers.
Ann Smock, health planner, said every hospital has patient care as their primary interest.
Aspen Hospital serves this community well and has needs for improving patient care.
Ms. Smock said the country is in an economic downtown and a bond issue for this
facility may not pass. The community has to be very careful about over spending. Ms.
Smock said 18 units is not needed for house staff; people can live at Burlingame. Ms.
Smock noted if the entire site is tied up with a building envelope, there is no room for
future expansion.
Nancy Hall, Meadowood resident, asked about the nighttime with lighting view. Chuck
Frias, Meadowood resident and AVH board member, said the hospital analyzed the needs
very carefully. This hospital is 25 years old and was built to provide different type of
services. Frias said the application lists the outreach efforts to try and communication
with the neighbors. Frias said this is an essential public facility.
Kris Marsh, Aspen Valley Medical Foundation, said Council should think about the
greatest good for the greatest number of people in the community. When one needs to
enter the health Gaze, one needs privacy and respect. The AVMF feels strongly about
privacy, about the affordable housing, about physicians and about financial feasibility.
This expansion is about creating excellent patient care by creating a healing environment
which includes privacy, something AVH lacks. Ms. Marsh said AVMF supports
continuing care and seniors. Ms. Mazsh said the hospital will have to search for
physicians to replace those that are retiring and they will probably expect better office
space. Ms. March told Council the AVMF is willing to raise money to support this
expansion. Peggy Cazlson, Meadowood, said she has not seen the story poles for the
medical office space. Ms. Carlson said AVH has been responsive to the community and
it is the neighbors' right to see what is happening. Ms. Carlson said she has not seen the
height of the building.
Mayor Pro Tem Skadron closed the public hearing.
12
Reeular MeetinE Aspen City Council June 28.2010
Ms. Phelan entered into the record exhibit R with letters from Eva Sherman, William
Thomas, Greg Give, Junee Kirk, Jeannette Darnauer.
Mayor Ireland left the meeting.
Ressler told Council when the hospital started the project, they did in-depth needs
assessment over 5 years and the hospital is convinced everything they have recommended
is a necessity. Ressler said on community outreach, the hospital feels like they have done
everything they could, including communicating with homeowners' associations and
advertising in the newspapers. Ressler said the hospital knows what it is, what their
scope of services is, what they do well, and that is what they plan on continuing to do.
Ressler said AVH has relationships with other facilities on the western slope and partners
with their specialties.
Ressler said this project was designed to the standards for any patient, neither rural nor
metropolitan Ressler said the applicants recognize medical office space as a place to
reduce mass of the project. Ressler said medical office space is a critical component and
is a need, not a luxury. It affords safe and appropriate care. Ressler stated there is not
subsidization associated with the medical office space, which will be made available at
fair market value. Ressler reiterated that hospital and physician alignment is critical to
health reform. Ressler said there was a concern about using up all the space so there
could be no future expansion. Ressler said the hospital will keep control of the medical
office space so that it could be used for patient care expansion.
Councilman Romero asked about condominiumization ofthe medical office spaces. Ms.
Phelan said there is no prohibition about changing ownership of a structure. Ressler said
this is not a consideration. Councilman Romero asked the city's counsel regarding a
public entity condominiumizing and selling the medical offices.
Ressler said the parking program requires an aggressive TDM plan as statistically there
will not be enough parking spaces. Councilman Romero asked if the applicants have
presented to Twin Ridge homeowners. Ressler said they did not request a specific
audience with them. Ressler said they will reach out to those homeowners. Councilman
Romero asked about the story poles. Ressler said they put story poles up where they
could be secured and will put them up for a Council site visit.
Councilman Romero asked about the analysis of putting 12,000 square feet out of 27,000
square feet of office space in phase II. Ressler said that was a design consideration of
what would fit within this expansion. Councilman Romero asked about the other 15,000
square feet. Sedmak showed phase II and the medical office spaces and phase III and
that medical office space. Sedmak said there is only one area that can support a second
floor, which is above the patient care unit. Councilman Tone asked how many office
27,000 square feet can break into. Sedmak said that depends on the specialties.
Councilman Romero asked about using some of this property for continuing care.
Ressler said they started working on continuing care at the same time as working on this
13
Reeular Meetine Aspen City Council June 28.2010
plan. Ressler said the applicant feels CCR is best served by being adjacent to life style
opportunities, not a hospital. Ressler said if the community wants to develop a robust
retirement community that should be located where the resident can enjoy a more active
life style. This requires 10 to 12 acres of property. Ressler said if a CCR is located
somewhere else, the applicant could use Whitcomb terrace for affordable housing or for
medical offices. Councilman Romero asked what issues would the applicant be thinking
about with health care reform and if there were no master facilities plan. Ressler said
there are some key elements of health care reform; maintaining a more healthy
population, lower utilization of high cost facilities, which requires a community of
providers to work together. Ressler said in order to better manage a community, a more
integrated delivery system is needed, creating an incentive for physicians to manage the
overall health of a patient rather than being paid episodically. The system will have to be
cost effective and efficient and more communications between providers.
Councilman Torre said this project has been in the works for awhile. Councilman Torre
stated he has issues around parking number, medical offices, overall square footage and
he will work on these issues. Mayor Pro Tem Skadron questioned at what point does
AVH become closer to Valley View, a regional hospital. Ressler said when the facility
starts including specialty services, like urology, ENT, gastroenterology. Mayor Pro Tem
Skadron said his concern is that this facility be appropriate for this community and needs
to be comfortable that it is.
Mayor Pro Tem Skadron asked the current zoning. Ms. Phelan said this is zoned public
and it is through the PUD process that the dimensional requirements are set. Ms. Phelan
told Council the hospital was annexed into the city after it was developed and she will
research the history for Council's next meeting. Mayor Pro Tem Skadron asked if the
open space meets the standards. Ms. Phelan noted there is no ratio, it is set through the
PUD. Leslie Lamont, representing the AVH, told Council this property is roughly 18
acres and the open space is 11.6 acres. The open space includes trails and pervious
surfaces.
Mayor Pro Tem Skadron asked if the applicant is confident there will be enough patients
to keep this operation viable. Ressler said the hospital has enough patients today and is
not betting on an influx of patients from new services, nor a large growth in the
community. Ressler said the only demography they have taken into account is the aging
of the community, which asks for a greater demand of medical services. Mayor Pro Tem
Skadron noted that recently, the Council rezoned some space in town for Aspen Medical
Care practice that was losing their lease. Mayor Pro Tem Skadron said the decision was
based on the idea of community that needs physicians and doctors in town. Ressler said
that was a good decision and these are good up-to-date offices. Ressler told Council they
are not proposing to have every doctor that practices on the hospital campus. Ressler said
Aspen Medical Care is a family-type practice.
Mayor Pro Tem Skadron asked about site coverage and affordable housing and is a future
commitment for 4 units required. Ressler told Council the 18 units proposed on site
meets the mitigation for phase II. Mayor Pro Tem Skadron asked if doctors really want
14
Reeular Meetiua Aspen Citv Council June 28.2010
to live near the hospital. Ressler told Council they did poll their employees and there is a
range of answers. Ressler said a percentage does want to live at employee housing near
the hospital. The hospital will be developing more family-suitable housing in other
location.
Mayor Pro Tem Skadron asked about the switch to out patient services. Ressler
reiterated this facility was built as an inpatient hospital in 1977 when out patient surgery
did not exist. Most of surgery today, because of technology improvements, is done on an
out patient basis. Sedmak noted out patient procedures have more on site diagnostics
required to support those services, all of which takes up space and has complicated the art
of providing health care to patients. Out patient surgery is more labor intensive. This is
not unique in Aspen; it is a common theme in health care.
Gideon Kaufman, representing the applicant, asked what Council needs to bring this to a
vote at the next meeting. Mayor Pro Tem Skadron said staff will report back on
condominiumization, detailing the need for medical office space. Councilman Romero
stated he is sufficiently satisfied and would like to see the ordinance changed to reflect
the updated affordable housing plan. Staff will coordinate with the applicant to see story
poles, and will outline the history of the hospital, the annexation and the zoning.
Councilman Torre moved to continue Ordinance #12, Series of 2010 to July 12~h;
seconded by Councilman Romero. All in favor, motion carried.
RESOLUTION #42, SERIES OF 2010 -Burlingame Ranch Phase II Design
Chris Bendon, community development department, told Council the outreach efforts of
this design team have been outstanding. Bendon noted they recently held a public open
house attended by many citizens. Bendon said there is a resolution in the packet, which
resolution is non-binding and provides design direction for the team. Bendon pointed out
there are 6 questions to which the team would like answers for their design direction.
Scott Miller, asset manager, told Council the team has had two public meetings since the
last Council meeting; one at Burlingame with the HOA and one with the public at large at
the Galena plaza. Chris Everson, asset department, said the meeting with the Burlingame
HOA was the third with them as the cit~ made a commitment to meet with them
extensively on future designs. June 17` there was a community meeting at the Galena
Plaza, outdoors, well attended. Everson told Council the design team heard from people
who they have not heard from previously. Everson said there was a lot of support for this
master plan. Everson said staff posted flyers about this community meeting on every
single door of every rental unit in town.
Miller requested Council approve the 2010 phase II concept master plan on density and
unit mix, building configuration, land utilization, parking and storage, relationship and
connection to phase I, and architectural massing height and scale. Miller reminded
Council staff spent most of 2009 negotiating with the Burlingame homeowners and
15
Regular Meeting Aspen City Council June 28, 2010
crafted an agreement approved by 100% of the homeowners. This agreement allowed the
density increase from 236 to 258 units.
Richard Shaw showed the site plan for phase II accommodating 161 multi-family units
and 6 single family lots. The total number of units at the end of phases I and II will be
258 residential units. Shaw said the proposed density of 10 units/acre is about mid range
of affordable projects in Aspen. Shaw noted the current project is 40%three-bedroom;
30%two-bedroom and 30%one-bedroom units. Shaw told Council the site plan has
evolved through continuing the neighborhood, extending the circulation system.
Councilman Romero approved the density as presented by staff and as approved by the
Burlingame homeowners association. The unit mix has been redistributed to achieve a
better balance. Councilman Torre and Mayor Pro Tem Skadron approved the density and
mix of units.
Shaw noted the proposed site plan pushes the road system toward Deer Hill on the
outside of the site and allows a focus of the neighborhood around usable open space. The
buildings are two and three-story residences with 2 parking spaces/unit; 1 in carports
which includes additional outdoor storage. Shaw showed the usable open space and the
natural open space. Shaw said public parks will be included as part of the project.
Drainage will be handled on site with a series of detention ponds. Will, Oz architecture,
told Council the pods have been designed with efficiency, livability and flexibility in
mind. The efficiency comes from the standardization and stacking of the units, which
allows standardization of building details. The standardization is not to mitigate the
livability.
Will went over the different pods; over 2/3 of the pods are on sloping sites, which allows
stepped buildings and enhances the connection to nature and to the outdoor spaces. The
garden units allow a direct connection to the outdoors. Will showed on the site plan how
the buildings can adjust to the contours. The buildings are being design on a 16 or 12
foot module to allow the flexibility to go with modular; they can also be stick built. Will
showed the footprints on site and the efficiency, which has allowed the project to have
fewer buildings than previously planned in the original density agreement. This results in
more open space and a park to be integrated; it also allows more diversity of product.
Will said one of the largest concerns the team heard is pazking; this design delivers 161
covered parking spaces as well as 161 non-covered parking spaces. The plan provides at
least 50 square feet of storage remote from the unit and at least 50 squaze feet within the
unit. The carport integrates storage, retaining walls and trash and recycle areas. Shaw
showed the relationship between phase I and II that the edges are soft and melted
together; there are paths between phases to integrate the pedestrian system.
Will pointed out the design has brought the edges down. Will presented elevations of the
various buildings, breaking down the mass and being aware of the pedestrian elements
and bringing down the sense of scale. Miller told Council the design team has discussed
phasing of the project. The design is not at the level of detail to decide which concept to
16
Regular Meeting Asnen Citv Council June 28, 2010
use; there are different ways to phase the project. Everson said approval of this gives the
design team enough direction to move forward into detailed design and confidence they
will not have to do a lot of redesign, causing delays in the project.
Mayor Pro Tem Skadron opened the public hearing. There were no comments. Mayor
Pro Tem Skadron closed the public hearing.
Council agreed this should be voted on by the entire Council. Councilman Torre moved
to continue Resolution #42, Series of 2010, to July 12; seconded by Councilman Romero.
All in favor, motion carried.
Councilman Romero moved to continue the meeting to June 29`h at 5 p.m.; seconded by
Councilman Torre. All in favor, motion carried. Council left the meeting at 10:55 p.m.
Kat ~ Koch, City Clerk
17