HomeMy WebLinkAboutcoa.lu.pu.Aspen Mountain Lodge.1983 November 29 , 1983
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Planning & Zoning Commission
City of Aspen
130 So. Galena Street
Aspen, CO 81611
Dear Commissioners :
I started visiting Aspen 20 years ago, and have permanently
lived here for the past 13 years . My opinion of the proposed
hotel and "MORE" is shared by many who aren' t heard because
they feel helpless and/or don' t realize the horrendous , per-
manent impact it will bring.
Yes , Aspen' s ailing financially. Everyone, including our
great country, is ailing. Assuming a 5-star HOTEL is our
cure , in this case the cure is worse than the disease. It' s
what accompanies the hotel/convention center "Cure" that will
eventually kill the REAL Aspen.
Aspen' s savior is also willing to help us by requesting to
develop a multi-story free market condominium complex on
Galena Street, plus a development of 40 large million-dollar
duplexes and triplexes at the top of Mill Street. What do
these have to do with the 5-star hotel we originally needed?
He ' ll be adding more employees , more employee housing on Ute
Avenue, not to mention others . He' s donating an average of
400 more cars , summer and winter, and will throw in additional
pollution and congestion in the already most congested part
of town.
These benevolent developers stated in their proposal to the
City that "A significant condominium project planned for the
South end of the site and a smaller condominium project on the
700 S . Galena site would complement the hotel . "
Will their new restaurants , bars , shops , and other businesses
complement our already existing, ail'ing businesses? Will
the 5-story above, 3 below, hotel and other large developments
to come with it, complement our beautiful mountain; remaining
open space; and the true character of Aspen?
Who are we kidding? This humongous project will complement
only the developers and the special few within. The hotel ' s
amenities , such as landscaping, ice rink, etc. , are nice, but
again, only for the special few!
November 29 , 1983
Page Two
They' re asking to use up five years worth of room allotments ,
all at the expense of every other person' s right for oppor-
tunity in the immediate future .
They want the right for more and bigger; to change our pro-
tective growth plan. If this is allowed, it' s only the
beginning for them, and the end of Aspen' s unique and charming
character, for it would probably be unconstitutional to say
"No" to our next applicant for an offensive, imposing project.
40 years ago Miami Beach was also a small, charming community
and resort, until each characteristic old Spanish-type villa
was replaced by a concrete canyon of highrises , blocking the
view of the ocean for miles , except to a special few! Next,
the regular- , long-time, dependable visitors were replaced by
the "trendy" type, coming to the new "IN" resort. They also
left, for the newer "in" resort, with an 8-star hotel ! They
left Miami Beach in a depression, with total loss of its old
charm and character, and forgot to take their concrete mistakes
with them. But they didn' t have to; they built them in the
next resort they ruined!
You say it can never happen here? That' s what they said!
Nothing, not even Aspen, can be all things to all people.
Without selling out our values and character, we thrived with
the support of regulars , of modest taste and/or modest means .
That' s what has kept us unique, charming, and separate from
all the Vails . We must preserve what brought us here and has
kept us here for so long. It' s really permanently threatened!
If Mr. Novak, as his publicity stated, really came here for our
charm, then build a charming, unimposing 5-star hotel with
convention accommodations , and forget all of the other stuff! !
Most of us still haven' t gotten over the Aspen Square, North
of Nell, Mt. Queen, just to mention a few.
It' s mind-boggling that this proposed development can be
seriously considered!
Would Mr. Novak like his proposal to be built next door to his
permanent home in Washington DC? No more than any dog defecates
in its own back yard!
Sincerely,
Carol Fuller
P.S . This letter is not a personal attack on our benevolent
developers , but I bet I don' t get invited to the Grand
Opening, if there is one !
In 1851, Seattle, chief of the Suquamish
and other Indian tribes around Washington' s
Puget Sound, delivered what is considered
to be one of the most beautiful and profound
environmental statements ever made. The
City of Seattle is named for the chief,
whose speech was in response to a proposed
treaty under which the Indians were persuaded
to sell two million acres of land for $150 ,000 .
How can you buy or sell the sky, the warmth of the land? The
idea is strange to us.
If we do not own the freshness of the air and the spark16 of
the water, how can you buy them?
Every part of this earth is sacred to my people. Every shining
pine needle, every sandy shore, every mist in the dark woods ,
every clearing and humming insect is holy in the memory and
experience of my people. The sap which courses through the trees
carries the memories of the red man.
The white man's dead forget the country of their birth when they
go to walk among the stars. Our dead never forget this beautiful
earth, for it is the mother of the red man. We are part of the
earth and it is part of us. The perfumed flowers are our sisters ;
the deer, the horse, the great eagle, these are our brothers .
The rocky crests, the juices in the meadows , the body heat of the
pony and man -- all belong to the same family.
So, when the Great Chief in Washington sends word that he wishes
to buy- our land, he asks much of us. The Great Chief sends word
he will reserve us a place so that we can live comfortably to
ourselves . He will be our father and we will be his children.
So we will consider your offer to buy our land. But it will not
be easy. For this land is sacred to us . This shining water that
moves in the streams and rivers is not just water but the blood
of our ancestors . If we sell you land, you must remember that
it is sacred, and you must teach your children that it is sacred
and that each ghostly reflection in the clear water of the lakes
tells of events and memories in the life of my people. The
water' s murmur is the voice of my father' s father.
The rivers are our brothers , they quench our thirst. The rivers
carry our canoes , and feed our children. If we sell you our land,
you must remember, and teach your children, that the rivers are
our brothers and yours , and you must henceforth give the rivers
the kindness you would give any brother.
We know that the white man does not understand our ways . One
portion of land is the same to him as the next, for he is a
stranger who comes in the night and takes from the land whatever
he needs. The earth is not his brother, but his enemy, and when
he has conquered it, he moves on. He leaves his father' s grave
behind, and he does not care. He kidnaps the earth from his
children, and he does not care. His father' s grave, and his
children' s birthright are forgotten. He treats his mother, the
earth, and his brother, the sky, as things to be bought, plun-
dered, sold like sheep or bright beads . His appetite will
devour the earth and leave behind only a desert.
I do not know. Our ways are different from your ways. The
sight of your cities pains the eyes of the red man. There is
no quiet place in the white man' s cities. No place to hear the
unfurling of leaves in spring or the rustle of the insect' s
wings . The clatter only seems to insult the ears . And what is
there to life if a man cannot hear the lonely cry of the whip-
poorwill or the arguments of the frogs around the pond at night?
I am a red man and do not understand. The Indian prefers the
soft sound of the wind darting over the face of a pond and the
smell of the wind itself, cleansed by a midday rain, or
scented with pinon pine.
The air is precious to the red man for all things share the same
breath, the beast, the tree, the man, they all share the same
breath. The white man does not seem to notice the air he breathes .
Like a many dying for many days he is numb to the stench. But
if we sell you our land, you must remember that the air is
precious to us , that the air shares its spirit with all the
life it supports .
The wind that gave our grandfather his first breath also receives
his last sigh. And if we sell you our land, you must keep it
apart and sacred as a place where even the white man can go to
taste the wind that is sweetened by the meadow' s flowers .
You must teach your children that the ground beneath their feet
is the ashes of our grandfathers . So that they will respect
the land, tell your children that the earth is rich with the
lives of our kin. Teach your children that we have taught our
children that the earth is our mother. Whatever befalls the
earth befalls the sons of the earth. If men spit upon the ground,
they spit upon themselves .
This we know: the earth does not belong to man, man belongs to
the earth. All things are connected. We may be brothers after
all. We shall see. One thing we know which the white man may
one day discover: Our God is the same God.
2 -
You may think now that you own Him as you wish to own our land;
but you cannot. He is the God of man, and His compassion is
equal for the red man and the white. This earth is precious
to Him, and to harm the earth is to heap contempt on its creator.
The whites too shall pass; perhaps sooner than all other tribes .
Contaminate your bed and you will one night suffocate in your
own waste.
But in your perishing you will shine brightly fired by the
strength of the God who brought you to this land and for some
special purpose gave you dominion over this land and over the
red man.
That destiny is a mystery to us , for we do not understand when
the buffalo are all slaughtered, the wild horses are tame, the
secret corners of the forest heavy with scent of many men and
the view of the ripe hills blotted by talking wires.
Where is the thicket? Gone. Where is the eagle? Gone.
The end of living and the beginning of survival.
3 -
First National
Bank
in Aspen
T.S.Starodoj,II TM�a&iWWM'"
President
December 6, 1983
City of Aspen
Planning and Zoning Commission
130 South Galena St.
Aspen, Colorado 81611
Gentlemen:
Aspen is a world class resort, without a first-class hotel facility.
It needs such a facility, and the proposed development on the
Cantrup property deserves every consideration. The proposed model,
presently located in John Doremus's office, represents a sincere
attempt at addressing both the economic and aesthetic issues. Every
effort should be made to provide Aspen with a quality facility.
Sincerely,
Thomas S. Starodoj
President
TSS:vaw
First National Bank P. O. Box 3318, 420 Main Street, Aspen, Colorado 81612 303/925-1450 CA CENTRAL BANCORPORATION,INC.
MEMBER FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION
fP
CRAWFORD PETROLEUM COMPANY
3401 EAST OCEAN BOULEVARD 0 LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA 90803
TELEPHONE 433-7484 AREA CODE 213
November 28, 1983
Planning & Zoning Commission
1.30 S. Galena Street
Aspen, CO 81.61.1
Dear Commission Members:
As a citizen who plans to continue residing in Aspen forever,
I must express my feelings about the proposed Aspen Mountain
Lodge.
It is awesome to think of a five story hotel structure directly
across the street from an existing four story mistake.
Picture yourselves standing on the corner of Galena and
Durant (freezing, of course, because you will be standing in
the shade) and looking south on Galena. A Grand Canyon will be
created, w1h.ich will become a box canyon with the construction
of the multi-story 700 S. Galena condominium complex. Since the
street curves at 700 S. Galena, this particular property is
gUite visible from town. I feel that the Planning & 'Zoning
Commission should make it a requirement of approval. that the
700 S. Galena parcel be landscaped permanent open space so that
we will at least be able to see green at the end of the tunnel.
I am greatly concerned that this hotel, if approved, will use
up our GMP lodge allotment for nearly five years into the future.
This, of course, locks us into having one type of accommodation
(expensive) being built for half a decade to come. For all we
know, in this shaky economy, we will need inexpensive, quaint
bed and breakfast type accommodations to recapture the not so
affluent repeat skier and summer. lover. These more modest
accommodations should not be prevented. By the developer's own
admission, the hotel will be operated by a major hotel chain.
All we need is a "charming" Hilton hotel in the heart of Aspen.
God forbid!
Y Planning & Zoning Commission
November 28, 1983
Page 2
As anyone can plainly see from the plans, the proposed landscaped
open space for all practical purposes will only be viewed by
the hotel occupants. Open space should be shared by all, without
having to walk around many stories of bulk to find it. The other
open space "provided" is laughable, since it is already preserved
above the 8040' line.
There is no question that if the rezoning requested by the developer
is approved, it will create more unnecessary commercial space.
This would be an injustice to our present fine establishments
that desperately need our support.
With the several hundred additional auto trips anticipated in
the area daily, we may need a traffic light at Durant and Galena
to get across the street. Help!
In summary, I strongly urge you to:
1. Require the property at 700 S. Galena to be landscaped permanent
open space.
2. Not give away future year GMP lodge allotments.
3. Not rezone and create more commercial space.
Please give these points your serious consideration. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Don Crawford
L±r 7
PLAiNNING vrFicl
WESTERN AUTO RADIO SHACK SONY AND MITSUBISHI TORO KITCHEN LOFT
Miners, Building Supply
319 East Main Street P.O. Box X Aspen,Colorado 81612
Phone(303)925-5550
12-6-83
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O y '� :,i11�iL 1�l J & LGt111J.T. �.� 1:1 i.L�J�.�10 Iv
In reference to the com-ilex in question at the base
of A. pen Mountain, it is our desire to express the
followin,_ ~)oints ;
I'Myone who has been involved in the building process
in the City of "aspen durin- the east 10 years is quite
knowlegeahle concernin the strin-ent controls which
have beer, thus far enforced. :?jt the time the Miners '
Buildin crc� bein built , we attempted to work closely
with the. planning office. .r c a- result , an Ordinance
was immediately nassed which nullified 'our total plan ,
cuttinz, off the -ear portion of th.e building as being
in the "�Tie�' �1ane `.,'e continued to negotiate until
8 a.tl f2ctoly E olution was reached thOUr h we were
forced to Pacrifice -ood deal of square footage ,
time , funds , etc . At the cenpleti.on, we felt that
our sacrifices were North the effort ONLY if the
City continued to hold true to these sane stringent
zonin- controls. We are now hearing that all rules
.should be bent in the name of a "first class hotel" .
Considering; the fact that most of the lodges in town
were restrained from making the improvements which they
desired in the past- 'few ye`tiro , it does not seem equitable
to no:r give .,ll f.,rowth percent.,-eU for the next five years
to one developer. Let ' s allow the resident-owners to
have this o--,)ortunity, not a bi,,; out-of-town developer.
It is not necessary to house all oarticipants of a
I.athering in one complex or to have enough restaurants
in the coL--,,-)'Lex to feed everyone. Ou.r, town is unique,
1jet ' s not ruin the base of the mountain with this"out-
of nlace" com.nlex.
Sincerely,
DERIVATION OF MULTI-YEAR QUOTA ALLOCATION
Aspen riountain Lodge
UNITS
1. Proposed number of lodge units in the Aspen 447
Mountain Lodge.
2. Existing lodge units verified to date.
214
3 . Additional existing lodge units to be verified. l =—A__2
4. Pew lodge units for which an allocation is required. 172
5. Unallocated lodge units from prior years' quotas. - 37_
140
6 . 1983 L-1, L-2 , CC and CL lodge quota. - 35
105
7 . 1984 L-1 , L-2 , CC and CL lodge quota. - 35
70
8 . 1985 L-1, L-2 , CC and CL lodge quota. ?. - 35
35
9. 1986 L-1 , L-2 , CC and CL lodge . quota. 2 - 35
0
1The thirty-six ( 36 ) lodge units awarded to the Aspen Inn in 1.978
which are presently under construction plus six ( 6 ) additional units
in the Aspen Inn basement, subject to settlement of the Cantrup litiga-
tion , final PUD approval and the transfer of title to the Aspen Inn
site to the applcants.
2Upon deed-restriction and conversion of the Alpina Haus Lodge to
employee housing, forty-four ( 44) units will be credited to the L-
1 , L-2 , CC and CL lodge quota thereby effectively eliminating the
need for the 1986 quota allocation and reducing the 1983 allocation
to 26 units.
RESOLUTION OF THE ASPEN CITY COUNCIL
GRANTING A MULTI-YEAR LODCE GMP ALLOCATIOPT TO THE ASPEN MOUNTAIN
LODGE AND CONCEPTUAL PUD/SUDDTVISION APPROVAL FOR THE LODGE, PORTION
OF THE ASPEN DIOUNTAIP? PUD
Resolution No. 84-_
(Series of 1984)
WHEREAS, in accordance with Section 24-11 . 6 of the Municipal
Code, October 1st of each year is established as a deadline for the
submission of growth management applications for lodge development
allotments within the L-1 , L-2 , CC' and CL .-one districts of the City
of Aspen; and
WHEREAS, in response to this provision, applications were submitted
for the Lodge at Aspen and the Aspen Fountain Lodge requesting development
allotments of forty-six ( 46) lodge units and two hundred and three
(203) lodge units , respectively; and
WHEREAS, a duly noticer_'l public hearing was conducted on November
22 , 1983 by the Aspen Planning and 'Zoning Commission to consider
these lodge growth management applications and to evaluate , score
and rank them in conformance faith the criteria set forth in Section
24-11 . 6 of the flunicipal Code , as amended by Ordinance X35 (Series
of 1983) ; and
WHEREAS, the Commission ('.id evaluate, score and rank the applications
submitted as follows :
1. Aspen Mountain Lodge - 60 . 71 points
2. Lodge at Aspen - 4 .50 points
and
WHEREAS , as a result of the Commission' s scoring, the Lodge
at Aspen failed to receive a minimum of sixty percent ( 60c ) of the
total points available under Section 24-11 . 6 (b) ( 1) , ( 2) , ( 3 ) and
(4) of the Municipal Code, a minimum of fifty-one (51) points ; and
WHEREAS, the Aspen City Council did consider an appeal of the
scoring of the Lodge at Aspen application at their December 27 , 1983
regular meeting and did deny said appeal pursuant to Section 24-11. 6 (e)
of the Municipal Cede ; and
WHEREAS, the Aspen i•-Zountain Lodge application has been revised
in response to var-.ous concerns identified by the Planning Office ,
Resolution No. 84-
Page 2
the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council so as to reduce
the requested development allotment to one hundred seventy-two ( 172)
lodge units ; and
WHEREAS, the available quota for the 1983 lodge growth management
competition is sixty-seven (67) lodge units, consisting of the annual
thirty-five ( 35) unit lodge quota for the L-1 , L-2, CC and CL zone
districts plus an additional thirty-two (32) lodge units which remain
unallocated from prior years ' quotas; and
WHEREAS, the Cit_v Council may award, pursuant to Section 24-
11 . 3 (b) of the Municipal Code, a development allotment for an entire
project to be constructed over a period cf years provided that each
year during the scheduled construction the annual allotment provided
for in Section 24-11 . 1 (b) is reduced by the amount of construction
permitted by the approval ; and
WHEREAS, certain additional reviews and approvals are required
by the Aspen Mountain Lodge pursuant to the subdivision and zoning
regulations of the Municipal Code including, but not limited to,
the following :
1. Conceptual PUD/subdivision approval for the lodge portion
of the Aspen mountain PUD.
2. A rezoning from R-15 to R-G (P%BO) for the Penedict/Larkin
parcel on Ute Avenue on which the applicants ' propose to
construct approximately fifty (50) employee housing units .
3 . Conceptual PUP/subdivision approval for the proposed fifty
(50) unit employee housing project.
4. An exemption from the City ' s growth management allotment
procedures for the construction of the fifty (50 ) employee
housing units .
5 . An exemption from the City ' s growth management allotment
procedures for the conversion of the forty-four (44) unit
Alpina I3aus Lodge to c'eed-restricted employee housing.
G. An exemption from the City ' s growth management allotment
procedures for the reconstruction of two hundred seventy-
five (275) existing lodge units located on the Aspen Mountain
PUD site .
and
WHEREAS, the City Council did consider the applicants' request
for conceptual PUD/subdivision approval for the lodge portion of
the Aspen 'fountain PUD at a study session held on January 11, 1984 ,
and at s-bsequent regular meetings held cn January 23rd and 30th ,
t .
Resolution No. 84-
Page 3
February 6th and 21st, and on March 5th, 12th and 19th, 1984; and —,
WHEREAS, the Planning and Zoning Commission did table its consider-
ation of the applicants ' requests for rezoning of the Benedict/Larkin
parcel , conceptual PUD/subdivision approval of the proposed fifty
(50) unit employee housing project , and exemption from growth management
allotment procedures for the project' s construction pending Council' s
award of a development allotment for the lodge portion of the Aspen
Mountain PUD; and
WHEREAS, the Commission did find, pursuant to Section 24-11 . 2 (j)
of the Municipal Code ; that the conversion of the forty-four ( 44 )
unit Alpina Haus Lodge to deed-restricted employee housing, as set
forth in the Aspen Mountain Lodge growth management application ,
will result in negligible growth impacts on the community, and that
said change in use is exempt from complying with the growth management
allotment procedures of the Municipal Code; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Office and Building Department have verified,
pursuant to Section 24-11 . 2 (a) of the Municipal Code , two hundred
thirty-three ( 233 ) existing lodge units on the Aspen Mountain PUD
site which may be reconstructed exempt from the City' s growth management
allotment procedures; and
WHEREAS, an additional forty-two ( 42) lodge units are eligible
for verification pending the settlement of outstanding litigation
between the Cantrup Estate and the City of Aspen.
NOW, THEREFORE , BE IT RESOLVED the City Council of the City
of Aspen, Colorado:
Section 1
That it does hereby allocate , pursuant to Section 24-11 . 6 (f)
of the Municipal Code, a development allotment of one hundred seventy-
two ( 172) lodge units to the Aspen Mountain Lodge, said allocation
to consist of the following:
1. The thirty-two ( 32 ) lodge units which remain unallocated
from prior years ' quotas ; and
2. Thirty-five ( 35) units each from the 1983 , 1984 , 1985 and
1986 L-1 , L-2 , CC and CL lodge quotas .
The above allocation shall expire , pursuant to Section 24-11 . 7 (a)
i
Resolution No. 84--
Page 4
of the Municipal Code , in the event plans , specifications and-.E•ees
sufficient for the issuance of a building permit for the one hundred
and seventy-two ( 172) lodge units are not submitted on or before
June 1 , 1985 .
The City Council ' s reasoning with respect to the above allocation
reflects the following considerations :
1. The need , as outlined in the Planning Office' s 1982 draft
Short-Term Accommodations Report, to substantially upgrade
the quality of the community' s lodging accommodations while
maintaining a balance between the quantity of our accommodations
and the capacity of our ski areas.
2. The 1.973 Aspen Land Use Plan identifies the Aspen Mountain
Lodge site as the most appropriate location for the development
of new short-term accommodations.
3 . The opportunity for additional lodge development in the
L-1 , L-2 , CC and CL zone districts , beyond that proposed
by the applicants , is limited given the remaining availability
of undeveloped parcels and the relatively limited expansion
capability of the districts ' existing lodges.
4 . Although there are potential growth impacts on the community
associated with the award of a multi-year allocation in
the amount required by this project, such an allocation
is justified given the off-,,setting benefits which are expected
to accrue to the community and the fact that the project' s
construction schedule will help mitigate potential impacts.
5. The approval of a single major project will have the effect
of confining construction to one time period rather than
piecemeal phasing of numerous small projects over many
years .
6. The entire Aspen Mountain Lodge district will benefit from
a project of this magnitude as a result of the applicants '
commitment to participate pro rata in the Commercial Core
and Lodging Commission ' s proposed lodge improvement district.
7. The historical. precedent which exists for the award of
a multi-year lodge allocation.
8 . A desire to ensure the availability of lodge quota for
future competitions in the event the proposed hotel is
unable to proceed in a timely manner .
Section 2
That it does hereby instruct the Planning Office to credit,
pursuant to Section 24-11 . 2 of the Municipal Code , the forty-four
(44) units removed from the lodge inventory as a result of the conversion
of the Alpina Haus Lodge to deed-restricted employee housing to the
L-1 , L-2 , CC an6 CTS lodge quota , said credit to take effect at such
time as the un . .. re deed-restricted and removed from the lodge
inventory.
Resolution No. 84-
Page 5
Section 3
That it does hereby grant conceptual PUD/subdivision approval
pursuant to Sections 20-10 and 24-8 . 7 of the Municipal Code , to the
lodge portion of the Aspen Fountain PUD, as revised, subject to
the following conditions :
1 . The applicants continuing to investigate architectural
revisions to the proposed hotel so as to give the appearance
that , although under common ownership and/or management,
there is more than one lodging facility on the site.
2. The external floor area of the lodge portion of the Aspen
Mountain PUD (i. e. , Lot 1 ) not exceeding 310 , 275 s . f . and
the external floor area for the entire PUD ( i . e . , Lots
1 , 2 , 3 and 4) not exceeding 438 , 200 s. f.
3 . The height of the proposed hotel not exceeding forty-two
(42) feet from natural grade to the midpoint of the roof
with the exception of elevator tower areas which shall
not exceed fifty-five ( 55 ) feet from natural grade to the
midpoint of the roof .
4. The applicants ' resolution of the Fire Department' s concerns
with respect to the accessibility of certain internal areas
of the lodge site for fire protection purposes.
5. A determination by the applicants as to whether or not
the proposed hotel intrudes into the Wheeler Opera House
viewplane and the submission, if required, of an appropriate
request for review pursuant to the view plane provisions
of the Municipal Code.
6. Written clarifications as to which substantive representations
of the TDA, Associates traffic and parking analysis the
applicants intend to implement as part of the Aspen Mountain
PUD, in particular , further clarification with respect
to those techniques designed to mitigate the potential
impacts of occupancy on adjacent streets.
7. Written clarifications as to the nature and extent of the
improvements to be undertaken by the applicants in support
of their request for the vacation of various public rights-
of-way and the granting of encroachment licenses necessitated
by the Aspen Mountain PUD.
8 . The vacation of Dean Street being conditioned upon the
retention of all utility rights , public use of the street
for circulation purposes, and the submission by the applicants
of an acceptable maintenance and use agreement between
themselves anc'.: the Mountain. Chalet.
9. Each utility franchised in the City signing off on all
proposed street vacations so as to ensure that the loss
of these rights-of-wav will not interfere with each utility' s
current or future needs.
10 . The applicants ' submission of a detailed subdivision plat
indicating the specific parceling of the Aspen Mountain
PUD site.
11. The applicants ' submission of an acceptable survey of the
Aspen Mountain PUD site clarifying, property descriptions.
Resolution No. 84-_
Page 6
12 . The applicants ' resolution of the various issues rai-sed
by the Environmental Health Department in their memorandum
of October 22 , 1983 , with respect to various specific details
of the proposed hotel operation.
13 . The reconstruction of existing lodge units being limited
to the two hundred seventy-five (275) units verified pursuant
to Section 24-11 . 2 (a) of the Nunicipal Code, being accomplished
within five (5) years of the date of demolition and being
restricted to the Aspen Ilountain PUD site.
14. Written clarification as to the applicants ' intentions
with respect to ownership of the proposed hotel vis-a-vis
how the hotel will be managed.
15. The applicants continuing to investigate solutions to the
problem of increased pedestrian congestion in the project
area, in particular , the move of pedestrians between the
proposed hotel , Rubey Park and the adjacent commercial
core.
16 . The applicants ' participation in the proposed CCLC lodge
improvement district . said participation to be on a pro
rate basis or on such other basis as the district may deter-
mine.
17 . All material representations of the applicants ' growth
management and conceptual PUD/subdivision applications
not specifically referred to above being made a condition
of this approval.
18. The expiration of Council ' s conceptual PUD/subdivision
approval , pursuant to Section 24-8 . 8 of the INunicipal Code ,
in the event a preliminary PUD/subdivision application
is not submitted pursuant to the provisions of Section
24-8 .11 within six (6) months of the date of this resolution.
19. The above conditions being met prior to preliminary PUD
subdivision approval .
Section 4
That it is the intent of the City Council to consider the applicants'
requests for a rezoning from R-15 to R-6 (rslo) for the Benedict/Larkin
parcel , conceptual PUD/subdivision approval of the proposed fifty
(50) unit employee housing project , and exemption from growth management
allotment procedures for the project ' s construction at such time
as the Planning and Zoning Commission completes its review and that
the granting o.' a multi-year allocation and conceptual PUD/subdivision
approval for the lodge portion of the Aspen Mountain PUD is expressly
conditioned upon the applicants' provision of employee housing consistent
with the representations of their growth management application and
Resolution rlo.
Page -7 sions Colorado
al Code • Aspen ►
the rlunicip City of
of of the
the provi the City Council
A PPROV 'I;n Y b
1Q84 *
eeting on ,!arch h 26 '
it regular m
at the
ASPEIj CITY COUT3CIL
---- ,tirling► rlayor
j,1 i ll i am
ATTEST
rity C1er .
Kathryn I{och.
MEMORANDUM
TO: Sunny Vann
FROM: Alan Richman
RE: Lodging Inventory Analysis
DATE: December 8 , 1983
I have reviewed and updated the data included in our Short-Term
Accommodations Report (April, 1982) so as to respond to various
questions posed by the Planning Commission in recent weeks. Follow-
ing is a summary of my approach and findings.
I reviewed the entire list of short term accommodations in the Aspen
Metro Area from the prior survey and identified approximately 54
facilities which could be considered to be traditional lodging faci-
lities. The remaining accommodations include condominium complexes
and single,-family or duplex houses.
I found that the 54 lodges contain approximately 1727 units, including
1380 lodge rooms (no kitchen) , 259 lodge apartments (1 or more rooms
with kitchen) and 88 dorm units. The condominium complexes and
houses contain 1041 units, for a total short term accommodations in-
ventory in the Aspen Metro Area of 2768 units. The total pillow
count in these units is approximately 10, 750.
I focused on the 1727 units in lodges as being most pertinent to
any questions with respect to the Aspen Mountain Lodge. First, I
categorized these units as to whether they were rented at economy,
moerate or expensive rates. I based this analysis on information pro-
vided by ARA, supplemented by calls to individual lodges, when necessary.
I was able to obtain information from lodges accounting for 1684 total
units. Following is the breakdown among these facilities.
Economy = 291 units = 17%
Moderate = 773 units = 46%
Expensive = 620 units = 37%
The facilities within the Aspen Mountain Lodge project represent a
considerable proportion of the inventory. The Continental Inn includes
172 units, or almost 28% of all expensive units in the Aspen Metro
Area. The Aspen Inn includes 65 units, or about 8 . 5% of all the
moderately priced units in the inventory. The Alpina Haus, Blue
Spruce and Copper Horse collectively include 86 units, or almost 30%
of all economy units in the inventory.
The total lodge inventory includes only 88 dorm units. Of these,
14 are found in the Copper Horse and 7 in the Continental Inn for
a total of 21 dorm units within the project, almost 25% of the entire
inventory. Other lodges with dorm units are as follows :
Snowflake Lodge 2 dorms
Mountain Chalet 3 dorms
Holland House 8 dorms
Highlands Inn 9 dorms
Endeavor Lodge 8 dorms
St. Moritz 12 dorms
Little Red Ski Haus 5 dorms
Boomerang Lodge 1 dorm
Snow Queen Lodge 4 dorms
Heatherbed Lodge 15 dorms
All of the dorm units are located in lodges rated as economy or moderate.
e
Another important question we can answer from our inventory is what
percentage of our lodge units have been .or are about to be recon-
structed. I find that within the past 5 years, the following lodges
have been totally reconstructed:
Woodstone Inn 92 units
Red Roof Inn 50 units
Applejack Inn 35 units
Aspen Ski Lodge 33 units
Ullr Lodge 24 units
Prospector Lodge 23 units
Hotel Lenado 17 units
Coachlight Chalet 11 units
TOTAL 285 units
The 285 units which have already been upgraded represent 16 . 5% (1/6)
of the traditional lodge inventory or just over 10% of the total
short term accommodations inventory.
Projects currently under review would considerably augment the number
of units we have upgraded. These projects are as follows :
UNITS TO NEW
PROJECT BE REBUILT UNITS TOTAL
Aspen Mountain Lodge 269 211 480
Highlands Inn 37 132 169
Holiday Inn 120 -0- 120
Hotel Jerome 39 67 106
Carriage House 6 20 26
Endeavor Lodge 4 -0- 4
TOTAL 475 430 905
Should these projects be constructed, the 475 units which would be
upgraded would constitute an additional 27 . 5% of the traditional
lodge inventory. The total number of units which the community
would have upgraded in about a decade would be 760 units or 44%
of the lodge inventory. The 760 units also represent slightly
more than 1/4 of the total Metro Area short term accommodations
inventory.
We should also take into account the degree to which projects now
being considered would increase the inventory. The 430 new units
plus the 31 units allocated to the Lodge at Aspen in 1982 would
increase the inventory of lodge rooms by 33% (1/3) and the entire
accommodations inventory by 16 . 50 (1/6) . At that point, 1190 of
our lodge rooms would be new or recently rebuilt - . fully 65% of the
1810 total lodge units and 37% of the total accommodations inventory.
Obviously, this analysis does not take into account any attrition of
facilities which may take place during this time, nor any other addi-
tions which may take place among lodges, condominiums and houses.
As a last point, it is worth noting that with the exception of the
Continental Inn and Holiday Inn all of . the units within projects
we are now considering fall in the economy or moderate price
ranges. I would expect that following the reconstruction of these
facilities, the total profile of Aspen' s Lodging might shift more
toward the expensive end of the price spectrum. However, once again,
it is very difficult to estimate whether any existing units will drop
into the lower price categories as a result of the growth in the
lodge inventory.
Ski Capacity/Accommodation Balance
Inventory - Metro Area
54 Lodges with 1727 units
Condo's. S. Fam. and Duplex with 1041 units
Total - 2768 units/10750 pillows
Aspen Metro Ski Capacity
Aspen Mountain - 3000
Buttermilk - 4000
Aspen Highlands- 4500
Total 11,500
Pillows in Existing Units
Continental Inn - 653
Aspen Inn - 186
Blue Spruce - 134
Copper House - 53
Alpina Haus - 80
Total 1106
Hotel Peak Occupancy 980 persons
PUD Peak Occupancy 1189 persons
Need for Upgradin
In last 5 years, 285 lodge units have been rebuilt
Woodstone Inn - 92
Red Roof Inn - 50
Applejack Inn - 35
Aspen Ski Lodge - 33
Ullr Lodge - 24
Projector Lodge - 23
Hotel Lenado - 17
Coachlight Chalet - 11
Total 285 = 1/6 of all lodge units and 1/10 of all accommodations
Aspen Mountain Lodge plus Jerome will rebuild approximately 314 additional units
(2/10 of all lodge units over 1/10 of all accommodations) while adding about 275 new
units.
314 + 285 = 599 units or 35% of all lodges, 20% of all accommodations being rebuilt
by the end of those 2 projects.
t
MEMORANDUM
TO: Aspen City Council
FROM: Alan Richman
RE: Aspen Mountain Lodge PUD
DATE: January 27 , 1984
As Sunny will be abesnt from your meeting on Monday, January 30 , I
will be responsible for presenting information to you regarding the
Aspen Mountain. Lodge PUD.
Mayor Stirling would like to begin the meeting with a definitive
review of the architecture, FAR and height of the proposed building.
The applicants are therefore submitting for your review additional
data regarding project peak occupancies and detailed area and bulk
calculations. I would expect there to be considerable discussion of
these items, including time for comment by Council and the public.
Please note that the Planning Office has not had opportunity to
review the methodology employed by the applicant in calculating the
FAR for the individual sites.
I met with Joe Wells and John Doremus, representatives of the app-
licant, to discuss any.-new issues which might be heard on Monday. I
had wanted to present information to you on the transportation issues
surrounding the project, but the applicant' s consultant on this issue
is not available at this time. The applicant would like to review
transportation issues (i.e. parking, street vacations and encroachments)
with you on February 6 .
The new issues that we would like to focus on for the meeting on
January 30 are those associated with the Planning and Zoning Commission' s
rationale for recommending the allocation of sufficient units to build
a lodge at a maximum of 480 units. The 10 issues we will address can
be found on page 3 of the resolution contained in your packet.
Please call me if I can provide you with any additional information
prior to the meeting.
r
4
ASPEN MOUNTAIN PUD
Project Peak Occupancies
Projected
Hotel-Peak Occupancy as per L&H report of 1/11/84 980
Residential:
700 South Galena - 12 u-nits*- - 35 - - -
Top of Mill - 33 units* 165
Summmit Place - 3 units* 9
Total Occupancy Residential units 209
Total Proposed Occupancies 1,189
Existing
Existing Lodge Units:
Continental Inn (actual Xmas '83) 578
Aspen, Inn Including Chalets &
apartments(actual Xmas '83) 117
Blue Spruce, Including apartments
(actual Xmas '83) 52
Blue Spruce Annex 17 rooms
@ 2.15/unit as per L&H report 36
Existing Residential Units:
Towne Place - 4 units Actual 11
Paas House - 2 units Actual 4
Hillside Apts. - 14 units Actual 32
Chase Duplex - 2 units Actual 1
Melville #2 - 1 units Actual 5
Black - 1 unit* 5
Summit Place - 2 units* 6
Demolished residential units*
6 units* 18
Total occupancy residential units 82
Total Existing Occupancies (865)
Net Increase in persons 324
*Based on formula: 1 bdrm. = 1.5 persons/unit, 2 bdrm. = 3/unit, 3 bdrms. _
4/unit, 4 bdrms. or more = 5/unit.
J. Doremus
1/20/84
TO: Aspen City Council
FROM: Doremus and Company
DATE: January 27, 1984
SUBJECT: Aspen Mountain Lodge
We are forwarding some additional information regarding floor
area and open space for the Aspen Mountain PUD, in response to
questions that came up at last Monday' s meeting. We will
present the information at Monday' s meeting.
As we point out in our applications, when the zoning code was
written and the standards for the L-1 and L-2 zone district
were established, the City could not have anticipated that such
a large parcel in an area near the Commercial Core, designated
for intensive tourist development, would come under one owner-
ship. The PUD regulation was adopted to accommodate considera-
tion of a project such as this and all of the elements of the
proposal can be accomplished within the flexibility provided
for under PUD procedures.
It is very difficult, however, to compare the proposal to the
Area and Bulk Requirements of the Code. The Code does not, for
instance, clearly describe how to calculate maximum development
allowed for sites which lie in more than one zone district
nor for mixed use projects which include both lodge and resi-
dential, development.
For instance, because of a Planning Office interpretation, our
FAR calculations have always omitted the 103, 912 square feet of
land zoned Conservation which is within the PUD. The Code is
silent on this issue, however, and we have included a calcula-
tion in Table 1 which indicates what the FAR would be for the
overall PUD if the Conservation-zoned land is included in the
I calculation.
i
The intent of the PUD regulation is to encourage flexibility,
innovation, and variety in land development. Inherent in the
PUD procedure is a philosophy that development of larger sites
offers both an opportunity for efficiencies as well as
community benefits that are unlikely to be achieved under
piece-meal development of the same land that warrant
consideration of variances from Area and Bulk Requirements.
Because the criteria are quite subjective, the process
necessarily leads to negotiation and refinement between the
City and the developers. We believe our current proposal is
very responsive to the suggestions made by the staff and P&Z
i
E
to date and we anticipate the need for further changes to
address additional concerns raised by Council members . As the
following tables indicate, we believe our proposal responds
well to the PUD intent by clustering the most intensive deve-
lopment in the area nearest the Commercial Core and maximizing
the open space on the more remote portions of the site.
Floor Area Ratio
In response to Councilman Collins' request, we have prepared an
analysis of proposed floor area and floor area ratios on a
parcel-by-parcel basis (See Table 1 ) . The conceptual lotting
plan which is enclosed has been designed to reflect logical
ownerships, rather than to try to balance area and bulk
calculations on an arbitrary basis . For instance, the Top of
Mill condominium owners would retain ownership of the large
tract of land to be included in the Open Space Easement, so
that they can assure proper maintenance.
As Table 1 indicates the FAR for the entire PUD site is 1.27 : 1
if the 103, 912 square foot Conservation-zoned parcel is omitted
from the calculations and 1 .01: 1 if it is included.
Table 2 compares the Lodge proposal first with North of Nell
and Aspen Square which have both been mentioned as projects
which have unacceptable impacts on the community and secondly
with the existing Continental Inn.
Both North of Nell and Aspen Square present imposing full-
block facades immediately adjacent to the sidewalk which
clearly plays a role in the two project' s impacts, but their
above-grade FAR is an additional measure of their relative
impact. In the case of Aspen Square the above-grade FAR is
1 .80: 1 and at North of Nell a startling 2.87: 1 .
In contrast, Table 2 indicates the above grade FAR for the
Aspen Mountain Lodge, as proposed for Lot 1 as drawn, is
1. 49: 1. This can be compared to the present level of develop-
ment at the Continental, which has an above grade FAR of
1 . 36: 1 .
Open Space
Table 3 illustrates open space included in our conceptual
proposal. When there is a minimum open space requirement in
the Code, it is 25% of the site. The open space commitment for
each lot in our PUD proposal exceeds that 25% requirement. The
open space provided on Lot 1 under the new Lodge proposal is
31% of the site. It should be noted that this figure does not
include the open space areas within the room wings. The two
smaller lots, 700 South Galena and Summit Place include 40% and
46% open space respectively. Open space at the Top of Mill
site is fully 75% of Lot 4. For the entire PUD site, the open
space commitment is 53% of the site, in excess of 6 acres,
including 3-3 /4 acres in the Open Space Easement.
January 27, 1984
TABLE 1
ASPECT MJUNTAIN PUD
Proposed Floor Area and Floor Area Ratios by Parcel
Lot 1 Aspen Mountain Lodge
Proposed External Floor Area = 377,650 sq.ft.
Parcel Size = '24T.1144 sf.
External Floor Area Ratio (FAR) = 1.57:1
(Aggregate FAR permitted under existing zoning, ccnsidering the CL zoned land,
is 1.05:1)
Lot 2 S unynit Place C ondcminiums
Proposed External Floor Area = 7,668 sq.ft.
Parcel Size = --T,-24D-s-q-
External Floor Area Ratio (FAR) = 1.46:1
Lot 3 Top of Mill Condominiums
Proposed External Floor Area = 99,000 sq.ft.
Parcel Size = 135 129 sq.
(excluding Coned land)
External Floor Area Ratio (FAR) _ .72:1
(excluding C-zoned lard)
Proposed External Floor Area = 99,000 sq-ft.
Parcel Size = 242,041 sq•
(including C-zoned land)
External Floor Area Ratio (FAR) _ .41:1
(including C-zoned land)
Lot 4 700 South Galena C ondcminiums
Proposed External Floor Area = 19,260 sq.ft.
Parcel Size = sq•
External Floor Area Ratio (FAR) _ .89:1
TOTAL, PUD Site
Proposed External Floor Area = 514,078 sq.ft.
Parcel Size = 406,113 sq.ft.
(excluding C-zoned lard)
External Floor Area Ratio (FAR) = 1.27:1
(excluding C-zoned land)
Proposed External Floor Area = 514,078 s ft.
Parcel Size = 5U
'1U, ' s
(including C-zoned land)
External Floor Area Ratio (FAR) = 1.01:1
(including C-zoned lard)
January 27, 1984
TABLE 2
ASPEN MXWAIN PUD
Canparison of Above-Grade FAR' s for Various Projects
Aspen Mountain Lodge
Parcel size: 241,144 sq.ft.
Above-Grade Floor Area:
Total Hotel Space 495,150 sq.ft.
- Less Below Grade Space 135,000 sq.ft.
Total Above-Grade Space M T,155 sq.ft.
Above--Grade FAR: 360,150 sq.ft. - 1.49:1
4-4 sq.ft.
North of Nell
Parcel Size: 30,750 sq.ft.
Above-grade floor area:
Oommercial Space 27,100 sq.ft.
Condonini ums 61,383 sq.ft.
Total 483 sq.ft.
Above-Grade FAR: 88,483 sq.ft. = 2.87:1
3;756 sq.ft.
Aspen Square
Parcel Size: 54,000 sq.ft.
Above-Grade floor area:
Commercial Space 19,020 sq.ft.
Condanini um 78,294 sq.ft.
Total - 7;314 sq.ft.
Above-Grade FAR: 97,314 sq.ft. = 1.80:1
Continental Inn
Parcel Size: 43,612 sq.ft.
Above-Grade floor area:
Conference Roans 2,587 sq.ft.
Building One 32,342 sq.ft.
South Wing 24,292 sq.ft.
Total -ST,= sq.ft.
Above-Grade FAR: 59,221 sq.ft. = 1.36 ; l
3,612
January 27, 1984
TABLE 3
ASPEN MDUNTAIN PUD
Proposed Open Space Square Footage by Parcel
Land in Additional
Open Space Land in Total % of
Parcel Size Easement Open Space Open Space Total
Lot 1
1
Aspen Mountain 241,144 21,500 54,010 75,510 31%
Lodge
Lot 2
Summit Place 5,240 1,550 850 2,400 46%
Condcmini uns
Lot 3
Top of Mill 242,041 83,000 99, 500 182,500 75%
Condanini uns
Lot 4
700 South Ga 1 ena 21,600 -- 8,700 8,700 40%
Condcmini uns
Total
PUD Site 510,025 106,050 163,060 269,110 53%
1 Does NOT include open space internal to roan wings in courtyard areas.
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ASPEN MOUNTAIN iLYNE BCNYI:Ytl
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The Lodge-Galena•Top Of Mill .
American Century Corporation DATE 1 DECEMBER 1983 --
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ASPEN MOUNTAIN DRAWING 7ITL6ruMn�K DRAWING NO.
Conceptual Plannedr •
The Lodge-Galena-Top Of Mill
Unit Development
American Century Corporation DATE 1 December 1983 DDR 0 w IN
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: January 25, 1984
FROM: John Doremus
RE: For next Monday's City Council meeting
Generally deal with GMP issues (growth, impacts, ) esp: the need
to upgrade the quality of Aspen's lodging; Benefits of site as
most appropriate location for the development of new short-term
accommodations; the perception that the Aspen Lodge takes away
the opportunity for others to compete for development (Wells'
study); the approval period and construction schedule
relationship to short-term impacts of project; historical
precedent and need for multi-year allocation; presentation of
array of hotel amenities and site improvements as justification
for size of project (number of rooms); and a presentation of
FAR and people impact. The issues of pedestrian and vehicular
conjestion and parking solutions will be presented the
following week.
RESOLUTION vF THE' ASPEN PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
RECOMMENDING THE GRANTING OF A MULTI-YEAR LODGE GMP ALLOCATION
TO THE ASPEN MOUNTAIN LODGE, RECOMMENDING CONCEPTUAL PUD/SUBDIVISION
APPROVAL FOR THE LODGE PORTION OF THE ASPEN MOUNTAIN PUD,
RECOMMENDING DENIAL OF THE REQUESTED REZONING TO COMMERCIAL
LODGE OF THE CHASE DUPLEX, TOWNPLACE APARTMENTS , HILLSIDE
LODGE, MOUNTAIN CHALET AND BLUE SPRUCE NORTH SITES,
AND GRANTING AN EXLMPTION FROM GROWTH MANAGEMENT FOR THE
CONVERSION OF THE ALPINA HAUS LODGE
TO DEED RESTRICTED EMPLOYEE HOUSING
Resolution No. 84- 1
(Series of 1984)
WHEREAS, in accordance with Section 24-11. 6 of the Municipal
Code, October lst of each year is established as a deadline for the
submission of growth management applications for lodge development
allotments within the L-1 , L-2 , CC and CL zone districts of the City
of Aspen; , and
WHEREAS, in response to this provision, applications were sub-
mitted for the- Lodge at Aspen and the Aspen Mountain Lodge requesting
development allotments of 46 lodge units and 203 lodge units, re-
spectively; and
WHEREAS, a duly noticed public hearing was conducted on November
22 , 1983 by the Aspen Planning- and Zoning Commission to consider
these lodge growth management applications and to evaluate , score and
rank them in conformance with the criteria set forth in Section 24-
11. 6 of the Municipal Code, as amended by Ordinance #35 (Series of
1983) ; and
WHEREAS, the Commission did evaluate, score and rank the appli-
cations submitted as follows :
1. Aspen Mountain Lodge - 60 . 71 points
2. Lodge at Aspen - 49. 50 points
and
WHEREAS, as a result of the Commission' s scoring, the Lodge at
Aspen failed to receive a minimum of 60 percent of the total points
available under Section 24-11. 6 (b) (1) , (2) , (3) and (4) of the Muni-
cipal Code , a minimum of 51 points; and
WHEREAS, the available quota for the 1983 lodge growth manage-
ment competition is 67 lodge units, consisting of the annual 35 unit
lodge quota for the L-1 , L-2 , CC and CL zone districts plus an addi-
tional 32 lodge units which remain unallocated from prior years; and
I osol.uLi.on Noy. --
11age Two
WHEREAS , certain additional reviews and approvals are required
by the Aspen Mountain Lodge pursuant to the subdivision and zoning
regulations of the Municipal Code including, but not limited to, the
following:
1. Conceptual PUD/subdivision approval for the lodge portion
of the Aspen Mountain PUD.
2 . A rezoning from L-1 to CL, Commercial Lodge, for that por-
tion of the Aspen Mountain PUD site currently occupied by
the Chase Duplex, Townplace Apartments, Hillside Lodge,
Mountain Chalet, and Blue Spruce North.
3 . An exemption from the City' s growth management allotment
procedures for the conversion of the 44 unit Alpina Haus
Lodge to deed-restricted employee housing.
4 . An exemption from the City' s growth management allotment
procedures for the reconstruction of approximately 277
existing lodge units located on the Aspen Mountain PUD
site.
and
WHEREAS, certain of these additional reviews were conducted by
the Commission at a duly noticed public hearing held on November 29 ,
1983, and at subsequent Planning and Zoning Commission meetings held
on December 6th, 13th, and 20th, 1983, and on January 3 , 1984 .
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Planning and Zoning Com-
mission of the City of Aspen, Colorado :
Section 1
That it does hereby find that the 1983 growth management appli-
cation submitted for the Lodge at Aspen is ineligible for a develop-
ment allotment pursuant to Section 24-11. 6 (a) of the Municipal Code
and, therefore, does hereby consider the application to be denied.
Section 2
That it does hereby recommend that the Aspen City Council allo-
cate to the Aspen Mountain Lodge the 1983 L-1, L-2 , CC and CL lodge
quota of 35 units; the 32 lodge units which remain unallocated from
prior years; and sufficient additional quota (approximately 92 units
or two and two-thirds years quota) from future years, as provided for
in Section 24-11. 3 (b) of the Municipal Code, to allow the construction
of a maximum of 480 lodge units, subject to the following conditions:
1. The applicants continuing -to address the Commission' s
concerns with respect to the bulk, mass, FAR and unit count
of the proposed hotel so as to reduce its actual and/or
perceived visual impact and mitigate potential growth
related problems, in particular, increased vehicular and
pedestrian congestion, resulting from a multi-year quota
Iti`:;() I tl L i ()n NO
allocation. Its recommendation with respect to the alloca-
tion of a multi-year quota notwithstanding, the Commission
reserves the right to require a reduction in the total
number of lodge units contained in the proposed hotel as a
condition of preliminary PUD/subdivision approval if neces-
sary to obtain said reduction in the visual impact of the
project and the mitigation of growth related impacts.
2 . The expiration, as proposed by the applicants , of all
allocated quota in the event the applicants fail to submit
plans , specifications and fees sufficient for the issuance
of a building permit for the lodge portion of the Aspen
Mountain PUD on or before June 1, 1985 .
The Commission' s reasoning with respect to this recommendation re-
flects the following considerations :
1. The need, as outlined in the Planning Office ' s 1982 draft
Short-Term Accommodations Report, to substantially upgrade
the quality of the community' s lodging accommodations while
maintaining a balance between the quantity of our accommo-
dations and the capacity of our ski areas.
2 . The 1973 Aspen Land Use Plan identifies the Aspen Mountain
Lodge site as the most appropriate location for the develop-
ment of new short-term accommodations.
3 . The opportunity for additional lodge development in the L-1
L-2 , CC and CL zone districts, beyond that proposed by the
applicants , is extremely limited given the remaining avail-
ability of undeveloped parcels and the relatively limited
expansion capability of the districts ' existing lodges.
4 . Although there are potential growth impacts on the community
associated with the award of a multi-year allocation in the
amount required by this project, such an allocation is
justified given the ,off-setting benefits which are expected
- to accrue to the community and the fact, that the project's
construction schedule will help mitigate potential impacts.
5 . The approval of a single major project will have the effect
x of confining construction to one time period rather than
piecemeal phasing of numerous small proj(,cts over many years.
6. The entire Aspen Mountain lodge district will benefit from a
project of this magnitude as a result of the applicants '
commitment to participate pro rata in the Commercial Core and
Lodging Commission' s proposed lodge improvement district.
7. The historical precedent which exists for the award of a
multi-year lodge allocation.
8 . The applicants' assertion that approximately 480 lodge units
are required to ensure the economic viability of the proposed
hotel given the nature and extent of the ,proposed guest
amenities, conference facilities and overall site improvements
to be provided by the project.
9 The applicants ' 'assertion that the bulk, mass and visual
impact of the proposed hotel can be reduced prior to pre-
liminary PUD/subdivision approval without-. a reduction in the
total number of lodge units.
10. A desire to ensure the availability of lodge quota for
future competitions in the event the proposed hotel is
unable to proceed in a timely manner.
Section 3
That it does hereby recommend that the Aspen City Council grant
conceptual PUD/subdivision approval , pursuant to Sections 20-10 and
ROSOlttLion No .
'Page Four
24-8 . 7 of the Municipal Code , to the lodge portion of the Aspen
Mountain PUD subject to the following conditions :
1. The applicants continuing to investigate architectural
revisions to the proposed hotel, in particular the Durant
Avenue, lower Mill Street and conference entrance facades,
so as to reduce the hotel ' s mass, prevent the shading of
adjacent streets, and maintain and enhance public views of
Aspen Mountain and surrounding scenic areas .
2 . The applicants ' resolution of the Fire Department' s concerns
with respect to the accessibility of certain internal areas
of the lodge site for fire protection purposes.
3 . A determination by the applicants as to whether or not the
proposed hotel intrudes into the Wheeler Opera House view-
plane and the submission, if required, of an appropriate
request for review pursuant to the viewplane provisions of
the Municipal Code.
4 . Written clarification as to which substantive representa-
tions of the TDA, Associates traffic and parking analysis
the applicants intend to implement as part of the Aspen
Mountain PUD, in particular, further clarification with
respect to those techniques designed to mitigate the poten-
tial impacts of peak occupancy on adjacent streets.
5. Written clarifications as to the nature and extent of the
improvements to be undertaken by the applicants in support
of their request for the vacation of various public rights-
of-way and the granting of encroachment licenses necessi-
tated by the Aspen Mountain PUD.
6 . The vacation of Dean Street between Monarch and Mill Streets
being conditioned upon the retention of all utility rights,
public use of the street .for circulation purposes, and the
submission by the applicants of an acceptable maintenance
and use agreement between themselves and the Mountain
Chalet.
7 . Each utility franchised in the City signing off on all
proposed street vacations so as to ensure that the loss of
these rights-of-way will not interfere with each utility' s
current or future needs.
8 . The applicants ' submission of a detailed subdivision plat
indicating the specific parceling of the Aspen Mountain PUD
site.
9. The applicants ' submission of an acceptable survey of the
Aspen Mountain PUD site clarifying property descriptions.
10. The applicants ' resolution of the various issues raised by
the Environmental Health Department in their memorandum of
October 22 , 1983 , with respect to various specific details
of the, proposed hotel operation.
11. The reconstruction of existing lodge units being limited to
those units verified pursuant to Section 24-11 . 2 (a) of the
Municipal Code .
12. Written clarification as to the applicants ' intentions with
respect to ownership of the proposed hotel vis-a-vis how the
hotel will be managed.
13 . The applicants continuing to investigate solutions to the
problem of increased pedestrian congestion in .the project
area, in particular, the movement of pedestrians between the
proposed hotel , Rubey Park and the adjacent commercial core.
Itesol.tiV ion Noy. ;
Kaye 1,'ivu
14 . The applicants' participation 'in the proposed CCLC lodge
improvement district, said participation to be on a pro rata
basis or on such other basis as the district may determine.
15. All material representations of the applicants' growth
management and conceptual PUD/subdivision applications not
specifically referred to above being made a condition of
this recommendation of approval.
16. The above conditions being met prior to preliminary PUD/sub-
division approval.
Section 4
That it does hereby recommend that the Aspen City ,Council deny
the applicants' request for a rezoning from L-1 to CL, Commercial
Lodge, for that portion of the Aspen Mountain PUD site currently
occupied by the Chase Duplex, Townplace Apartments, Hillside Lodge,
Mountain Chalet, and Blue Spruce North for the following reasons :
1. The uses proposed by the applicants for the area to be
rezoned are inconsistent with the intent of the CL zone
district.
2 . The uses proposed by the applicants are currently allowed by
right or by special review under the existing L-1 zoning
classification.
3 . The primary reason for the applicants' request is to enable
them to take advantage of the more favorable FAR ratio
available in the. CL zone district. Since the FAR provisions
of the existing L-1 zone district may be varied pursuant to
the PUU regulations, a rezoning merely to reduce the extent
of the requested variance is inappropriate.
4 . The proposed rezoning is inconsistent with the surrounding
zone district classifications.
Section 5
That it does hereby find, pursuant to Section 24-11. 2 (j ) of the
Municipal Code, that the conversion of the 44 unit Alpina Haus Lodge
to deed-restricted employee housing, as set forth in the Aspen Mountain
Lodge growth management application, will result in negligible growth
impacts on the community, and that said change in use is exempt from
complying with the growth management allotment procedures of the
Municipal Code subject to the following conditions :
1. The deed restriction of the 44 units, as proposed by the
applicants and recommended by the Housing Authority, to a
maximum rental price guideline of 25% of the employee ' s
average annual income, or $250 . 00 per person per month,
whichever is less.
2 . The deed restriction of the 44 units to a maximum occupancy
of 47 employees with first priority given to employees of
the Aspen Mountain Lodge.
3 . The retention of all existing on-site parking spaces and the
submission of various alternatives for the mitigation of
Resolution No. - �
* Page Six
potential impacts resulting from the non-conforming status
of the Alpina Haus ' parking, said alternatives to be included
in the applicants' preliminary PUD/subdivision submission.
Section 6
That it does hereby recommend that the Aspen City Council in-
struct the Planning Office to credit, pursuant to Section 24-11. 2 of
the Municipal Code, the 44 units removed from the lodge inventory as
a result of the conversion of the Alpina Haus Lodge to deed-restricted
employee housing to the L-1, L-2 , CC and CL lodge quota, said credit
to take effect at such time as the units are deed restricted and
removed from the lodge inventory. The Commission' s reasoning with
respect to this recommendation reflects the following considerations :
1. The Alpina Haus Lodge is a non-conforming use in the R-MF
zone district. As a result, the 44 units removed from the
lodge inventory may be credited to either the L-1, L-2 , CC
and CL lodge quota or to the L-3 lodge quota.
2. The relatively limited build-out remaining in the City' s L-3
zone district and the adequacy of the existing annual L-3
quota to ensure the limited expansion of existing lodges
consistent with the intent of the City' s adopted L-3 zone
district regulations.
3. Since the conversion of the Alpina Haus Lodge to deed-
restricted employee housing is an integral component of the
Aspen Mountain Lodge growth management application, the 44
units removed from the lodge inventory should be credited to
the quota for the lodge district in which the proposed hotel
is to be located.
APPROVED by the Planning and Zoning Commission of the City of
Aspen, Colorado, at their regular meeting on January 17 , 1984 .
ASPEN PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
By
Perry rvey, Chair ma
ATTEST:
i4-, , tA,
Barbara Norris, Deputy City Clerk
• a
MEMORANDUM
TO: Aspen City Council
FROM: Sunny Vann, Planning Director
RE: Aspen Mountain PUD - 1983 Lodge GMP Competition
DATE: January 11 , 1984
The attached Planning Office memorandums are intended to serve as
background information to be used throughout Council ' s consideration
of the lodge portion of the Aspen Mountain PUD. Given the complexity
of the memorandums, and the fact that they were not available until
this morning, I do not expect you to be able to wade through them in
their entirety prior to tonight ' s work session. All we really hope
to accomplish this evening is to provide you with an overview of the
project, identify and briefly comment on the relevant reviews re-
quired by the project, and summarize the Planning and Zoning Commis-
sion' s actions and recommendations with respect to the project to
date. The more detailed analysis and discussion of the various issues
associated with this project are expected to be dealt with in subse-
quent meetings.
MEMORANDUM
TO: Aspen City Council
FROM: Sunny Vann, Planning Director
RE: Aspen Mountain PUD - 1983 Lodge GMP Competition
DATE: January 11 , 1984
The applicants for the Aspen Mountain Lodge are requesting PUD/sub-
division approval for the development of their approximately 11. 7
acre site located south of Durant Avenue between Galena and Monarch
Streets at the base of Aspen Mountain. The proposed resort hotel
to be constructed at the north end of the site , involves the recon-
struction of approximately 269 tourist units currently located within
the Continental Inn, the Aspen Inn and the Blue Spruce Lodge . The
applicants are requesting a GMP allocation for an additional 211 units
bringing the total hotel project to 480 tourist units.
The applicants also propose to construct on-site in conjunction with
the resort hotel, an approximately 22 , 500 s. f . conference facility,
a 4 , 500 s. f. health club, extensive restaurant and lounge areas and
various recreational amenities , including two swimming pools and an
ice skating rink. In addition to the hotel , an approximately 33 unit
residential project is planned for the southern portion of the site
and a smaller, 12 unit project for the adjacent 700 S . Galena parcel .
The applicants' objective is to provide Aspen with a high quality,
full service resort hotel with an array of year round tourist facilities
and services and extensive on-site amenities and public spaces. The
ability to provide these four facilities is directly related to the
size of the hotel project. While the Planning Office supports the
reconstruction and upgrading of existing facilities as well as the
provision of much needed tourist conference facilities and amenities ,
a project of this size will invariably impact the City in a variety
of ways and trade-offs between competing community objectives will
obviously be required.
The lodge_ portion of the Aspen Mountain PUD successfully competed in
the 1983 lodge GMP competition which was conducted by the Planning
and Zoning Commission on November 22 , 1983 . As I pointed out in my
memorandum which forwarded the results of that competition to City
Council , the project is quite complex and required extensive addi-
tional review by P&Z . The Commission has essentially completed its
review of the lodge portion of the PUD and has prepared a draft
resolution summarizing their recommendations. This resolution is
expected to be formally adopted on January 17 , 1984 . The purpose of
tonight ' s meeting, is to initiate Council ' s consideration of the
applicant' s request for a multi-year lodge GMP allocation and to
consider the various additional reviews required by the lodge portion
of the Aspen Mountain PUD.
The various additional review requirements of the lodge portion of
this PUD include : PUD/subdivision review, two requests for rezonings ,
exemption from growth management for the lodge ' s employee housing,
a change in use exemption,. two street vacations, and, possibly, view-
plane review and an amendment to the 1978 Aspen Inn GMP submission.
Condominiumization of the lodge rooms will probably also be requested
by the applicants at a later date. The Planning Office ' s comments
with respect to each of these additional reviews are outlined below.
Our specific recommendations are summarized at the end of this memo-
randum.
Aspen Mountain PU.
January 11, 1984
Page Two
CONCEPTUAL PUD/SUBDIVISION
While the Municipal Code allows the Planning Office to waive con-
ceptual PUD/Subdivision review for those projects which have re-
ceived a development allotment, the complexity of the proposed
resort hotel and the applicants ' request for a multi-year lodge
allocation necessitate, in our opinion, conceptual PUD/Subdivision
review by both the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council .
A residential GMP application was submitted in December for the
700 South Galena project as well as a request for a GMP reconstruc-
tion exemption to allow the development of the approximately 33
unit res.identia.l project at the top of Mill Street. Conceptual
PUD/Subdivision review for these two portions of the overall Aspen
Mountain PUD will occur concurrently with the applicants ' residential
. GMP application and request for GMP exemption. A commercial GMP
application will also be required for the non-accessory restaurant
space to be constructed in conjunction with the hotel.
To be eligible for PUD approval, an applicant must demonstrate the
reasonableness of his application and plan, its conformity to the
design requirements of the PUD regulations, the lack of adverse
impacts of the proposed development, and the plan' s compliance with
the intent and purpose of the planned unit development regulations.
The purpose and intent of the regulations is to encourage flexi-
bility, innovation and variety in the development of land so as to
create a more desirable environment than would be possible through
strict application of the zoning code. In our opinion, this appli-
cation is consistent with these objectives and with the design
requirements of the PUD regulations.
In order to achieve PUD design objectives, the PUD regulations
permit variation in most of the area and bulk requirements of the
zoning code. No variation, however, is allowed in permitted uses
or density. While several rezonings are requested in conjunction
with this application, the uses to be included in this PUD are
currently allowed under_ existing zoning. The major variations from
the area and bulk requirements which the lodge portion of the PUD
will require involve the applicable FAR and height requirements of
the underlying zone districts. All of the elements of the applicants'
proposal , however, can be accomplished within the flexibility
provided for in the PUD regulations. Additional information with
respect to the extent of the zoning variations requested by the
applicants will be provided at your January - ll work session.
.Generally speaking, the impacts of the proposed resort hotel are
reflected in the scores which the project received in the GMP
process. Similarly, the receipt of a GMP allocation would tend to
indicate that the majority of those impacts have been successfully
mitigated. However, given the fact that it is possible to obtain a
GMP allocation without scoring the maximum points available in each
category or without mitigating all project related impacts, the
Planning Office recommends that the following additional issues
with regard to the applicants' conceptual PUD/Subdivision applica-
tion be resolved prior to preliminary PUD/subdivision approval.
Architectural Design/Visual Impact
The Planning Office' s major area of concern with respect to the
lodge portion of the Aspen Mountain PUD lies in the architectural
design and visual impact of the proposed resort hotel - a concern
which is reflected in the relatively low scores recommended by the
Planning Office in these two GMP categories . While the PUD regula-
tions provide for detailed architectural review at the preliminary
PUD stage of the process, we believe it is important to identify
our concerns with respect to the bulk of this project at the con-
ceptual level .
Aspen Mountain PUb
January 11, 1984
Page Three
To reiterate our GMP review comments, we believe the architectural
design to be innovative in that it makes use of extensive excavation
to reduce the perceived bulk of the buildings and to maintain public
views of Aspen Mountain. There are, however, in our opinion, elements
of the project which are clearly incompatible with surrounding develop-
ments and with the overall scale of Aspen in general . The applicants'
use of traditional architectural treatments and the use of compatible
building materials helps to blend the hotel buildings into their
surroundings. However, both the main hotel and conference entrance
areas substantially exceed the height limitation of the applicable
zone district, resulting in major building masses which are out of
scale with the surrounding lodge district. These building masses
restrict public views of Aspen Mountain and will , to varying degrees,
alter scenic background views from Durant Avenue, Rubey Park and
Wagner Park.
While variations in the height and bulk of the proposed resort hotel
are allowed under the PUD regulations, we believe that the approxi-
mately 50 foot plus height of the Durant Street or conference en-
trance facade are excessive. We strongly recommended to P&Z that
the applicants reduce the visual impact of these building masses by
revising the architectural design and/or reducing the overall number
of lodge units. Such a reduction, if required, would also reduce the
growth impacts associated with a multi-year lodge allocation. The
Planning and Zoning Commission concured with our recommendations and
have requested the applicants to investigate architectural revisions
to the proposed hotel so as to reduce the hotel ' s mass, prevent the
shading of adjacent streets and maintain and enhance public views of
Aspen Mountain and surrounding scenic areas as a condition of concep-
tual PUD approval.
Two additional design related concerns which have been identified at
this time include the adequacy of access for fire protection purposes
and the potential intrusion into the Wheeler Opera House viewplane by
the proposed hotel. Although the applicants have represented that
state-of-the-art fire protection techniques will be employed in the
resort hotel, the fire department has questioned the accessibility
of the internal areas of the site for fire protection purposes. This
issue is to be explored further by the applicants in conjunction
with the fire department and resolved prior to preliminary PUD approval.
The applicants' representations notwithstanding, the Engineering
Department has indicated that the proposed hotel may protrude into
the Wheeler viewplane. The issue of whether or not the project
violates this viewplane is to be addressed by the applicants and
an appropriate request, if required, submitted consistent with the
viewplane review provisions of the Code prior to preliminary PUD
approval.
Traffic Impacts/Parking Requirements
While the existing road network in the vicinity of the proposed
hotel is adequate to handle the increased traffic generated by the
project, the TDA Associates report submitted in conjunction with
the applicants' GMP submission refers to numerous actions to be
undertaken by the applicants which are designed to further reduce
traffic impacts in the general site area. The report also addresses
a number of proposals to further reduce the demand for off-street
parking generated by the new hotel . While these various actions
are referenced in part in the GMP submission, the specific pro-
posals to be undertaken by the applicants as part of this project
should be outlined in detail as part of their preliminary PUD
submission-
Street vacations/Encroachments
The vacation of two City streets will be required to implement the
lodge portion of the Aspen Mountain PUD: 1) two blocks of Dean
Street between the Galena Street and Monarch Street rights-of-way,
i
Aspen Mountain PUL
January 11, 1984
Page Four
and 2) Lawn Street from the Monarch Street right-of-way east to its
termination within the Aspen Mountain site. The vacation of public
rights-of-way is accomplished through ordinance of City Council.
However, given the implications of such requests on the overall
street network of the City, the Council typically requests input
from the Planning and Zoning Commission to facilitate their review.
As a result, the applicants requested P&Z ' s .consideration ' .of
the proposed street vacations as a part of the PUD review process.
The Engineering Department has reviewed the applicants' request and
has concluded that the proposed vacation of the two blocks of Dean
Street and the Lawn Street right-of-way east of Monarch would not
adversely impact the general area from a circulation standpoint.
Lawn Street is a dead-end right-of-way that is currently used
almost exclusively for access to the applicants' property and is of
little value to overall circulation in the area. Of the two blocks
of Dean Street for which vacation is requested, one block will be
maintained as a public street through the site and will continue to
provide access to the south side of the Mountain Chalet. In light
of the overall circulation improvements and reduction in vehicular
conflicts created by the site plan, elimination of the one block of
Dean Street from the area street network does not represent a
significant problem.
The portion of Dean Street between Monarch and Mill Streets will be
vacated to the benefit of both the applicants and the Mountain
Chalet. This block of Dean, although requested for vacation, will
remain a public street within the proposed PUD. The Engineering
Department recommends that this vacation should be conditioned
on the maintenance of all utility rights as well as public use of
the street itself. For those rights-of-way which are to be com-
pletely eradicated, i.e . , Lawn Street and Dean Street between Mill
and Galena, the Engineering Department further recommends that the
City should be reimbursed by the applicants for the rights being
vacated in each instance. The reimbursement could take any number
of forms, but the Department recommends that the applicants be
required to undertake off-site street improvements comparable in
value to the value of all rights the City vacates. This could
include, in addition to the improvements already suggested by the
applicants, the reconstruction of the Monarch and Durant intersec-
tion and the reconstruction of the full extent of Galena from
Durant Avenue to Mill Street.
Inasmuch as the various public rights-of-way which are to be vacated
contain numberous existing utilities, the Engineering Department
recommends that each utility franchised in the City, regardless of
whether or not they maintain utility easements in the rights-of-way
in question, sign off on the requested vacations in order to verify
that the loss of these rights-of-way will not interfere with their
current or future needs.
The proposed resort hotel will require, in addition to the vaca-
tions discussed above, substantial structural encroachments into
the underground portions of Durant Avenue and Mill Street as well
as an overhead encroachment on Mill . The Mill Street encroachment
involves the creation of an underground connection between the
parking structures as well as an overhead pedestrian bridge inter-
connecting the major public areas of the proposed resort hotel.
The Engineering Department recommends that an encroachment license
be granted for the Mill Street structures since both encroachments
serve to accommodate circulation of pedestrians and vehicles between
the two adjacent sites, thus removing both people and vehicles from
street level . This provides much safer and simpler circulation
within the hotel complex and removes. numerous potential conflicts
from the street. Engineering conditions its recommendation, how-
ever, upon the provision by the developer of off-site improvements
of offsetting value.
d
1lspen Mountain PL
January 11, 1984
Page Five
The Engineering Department further recommends that the site plan be
modified to eliminate any encroachment into Durant Avenue. The
plan currently suggests that the underground vehicular access into
the eastern parking structure will loop into the Durant right-of-
way. Unless the developer can provide substantial evidence of the
need for this encroachment, Engineering will recommend against it.
The Commission essentially concured with the Engineering Department' s
recommendations. The specific conditions which they attached to
their conceptual PUD/subdivision approval are outlined in their reso-
lution.
Subdivision
Although this issue is not addressed in the applicants' GMP/Con-
ceptual PUD submission, subdivision of the Aspen Mountain
PUD parcel will be required in order to accomplish the various
ownership proposals contained in their application. Based on the
information submitted to date, the Planning Office does not en-
vision the subdivision of the parcel to be a major area of concern
at thie time. A condition of conceptual PUD approval, however,
should be the submission of a detailed subdivision plat indicating
the specific parceling of the PUD site prior to the preliminary
PUD/Subdivision approval.
Ownership
The City Attorney has reviewed the applicants ' ownership documents
for compliance with Sections 24-8 . 5 (a) and 20-10 (b) (4) of the
Municipal Code. It is the attorney' s opinion that the Aspen
Mountain Lodge GMP/Conceptual PUD/Subdivision submissions have
met the substantive requirements of these Code provisions . The
attorney recommends, however , that an acceptable survey of the
hotel site be submitted to the City clarifying property descriptions,
or, in the alternative, that the Engineering Department accept the
property descriptions as substantially correct prior to the award of
any lodge allotment by the City Council.
The Engineering Department also raised the question of the avail-
ability of an up-to-date property survey and suggested that the pro-
vision of a new survey be a condition of conceptual PUD/Subdivision
approval.
Miscellaneous
The Environmental Health Department has also reviewed this project
and has raised several questions of a more detailed nature, the
specifics of which relate to conditions of preliminary PUD approvals.
The applicants, however, are encouraged to review the Health Depart-
ment' s comments and address the issues which have been raised prior
to preliminary PUD submission.
REZONINGS
The Aspen Mountain PUD application includes a request for four re-
zonings, two of which are directly related to the lodge portion of
the PUD. The applicable zoning regulations require that the Planning
and Zoning Commission conduct a public hearing to consider rezoning
requests and report its recommendations to City Council for their
consideration. The P&Z held a public hearing on November 29th, 1983 ,
and adjacent property owners were notified. The two lodge related
requests for rezonings which were considered are examined below.
L-1 to CL
A rezoning to CL (Commercial Lodge) was requested for the Chase
Duplex, Townplace Apartments and Hillside Lodge sites (Lots A
through D, Block 91) and for the Mountain Chalet and Blue Spruce
North sites (all nine lots in Block 84 to the west of Block 91) .
Aspen Mountain PUL
January 11, 1984
Page Six
As the applicants' attached exhibits indicate, these parcels are
presently separated from the commercial core by Rubey and Wagner
Parks.
Rezoning applications by private applicants are typically heard by
the Planning and Zoning Commission only during meetings . scheduled
by the Commission for this purpose in the months of April and
October of each year. An applicant, however, may request either
the Planning and Zoning Commission or City Council to _sponsor their
request for rezoning, thereby circumventing the twice yearly re-
striction. The applicants, in order to allow consideration of
their rezoning requests in conjunction with their lodge GMP applica-
tion, requested the Planning and Zoning Commission to sponsor their
application for rezoning from L-1 to CL.
In reviewing a request for rezoning, the Planning and Zoning Commis-
sion and City Council are requested to consider the following evalua-
tive criteria: 1) the compatibility of the rezoning proposal with the
surrounding zone district and land uses; 2) the impacts of the re-
zoning upon traffic, parking and utilities; 3) the impacts on air and
water quality; 4) the community need for the rezoning; 5) the compati-
bility of the proposed rezoning with the Aspen Area General Plan as
amended; and 6) the extent to which the proposed rezoning will promote
the health, safety and general welfare of the residents and visitors
to the City of Aspen.
The applicants' principal argument in favor of this rezoning is
that "the rather dramatic. increase in traffic along Durant Street,
particularly associated with public transportation, that has occurred
since L-1 zoning was originally applied to the area makes it unde-
sirable to locate lodge rooms at ground level immediately adjacent
to and oriented toward Durant Street. " They therefore believe that
commercial uses at ground level, as allowed under CL zoning, are
more appropriate.
While there is unquestionably some truth in the above observation,
the uses proposed by the applicants on these sites, e. g. , the main
hotel lobby, guest drop-off, etc. , are clearly inconsistent with
the intent of the CL zone district. To. refresh your memory, the
intent of this zone is to provide for the establishment of commer-
cial uses at street level but requiring that all additional stories
be lodge accommodations. With the exception of the proposed lease-
hold commercial restaurant space to be constructed at the corner of
Monarch and Durant Streets , ground level uses of the proposed hotel
are limited to essentially non-commercial , hotel related support
services. , Were the applicants taking advantage of this zoning classi-
fication to provide street level non-accessory commercial space ad-
jacent to the transportation center at Rubey Park and to allow archi-
tectural variation in the .Durant Avenue building masses , the Planning
Office might be more inclined to support this rezoning.,
In our opinion, the applicants ' primary reason for requesting this
rezoning is to enable them to take advantage of the more favorable
FAR ratio available in the CL zone district. By utilizing the
district ' s 2 : 1 external FAR ratio, the applicants can reduce, at
least statistically, the overall FAR of the lodge portion of this
PUD. As noted in the conceptual PUD discussion, the applicants are
requesting a variance from the underlying FAR requirements of the
applicable zone districts . Obviously, the greater FAR allowed in
the CL zone district would make the proposed resort hotel appear
smaller than if FAR were calculated under L-1 zoning. Inasmuch as
the underlying FAR requirements of any zone district may be varied
pursuant to the PUD regulations, we see no benefit in rezoning this
property from L-1 to CL simply to produce a more favorable FAR
figure. The Planning Office , therefore , requested' that, P&Z deny the
applicants ' request for sponsorship of the rezoning and recommend
denial to City Council. The Commission unanimously recommended
denial.
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Aspen Mountain PUL
January 11, 1984
Page Seven
R-15 to R-6 (RBO)
The applicants are also requesting a rezoning to R-6 (RBO) for an
approximately 7 . 5 acre site on Ute Avenue on which they propose to
build a 50 unit employee housing project. Sponsorship of this
request by the Planning and zoning Commission or City Council is not
required as the Code allows requests for residential bonus overlay
rezonings to be heard at any time during the year. This rezoning is
required in order to accommodate the proposed mix of employee housing
unit types called for in the employee housing proposal developed for
the hotel. The City granted a similar request for rezoning to R-6
(RBO) for the same site in 1982 for an employee housing proposal
filed by the Little Annie Ski Corporation. The City Ordinance
granting the rezoning, however , provided for its expiration on
December 31, 1983 in the event the Little Annie Ski Area were not
under construction at that time.
The Planning Office reviewed this request for rezoning and, while
we found it generally consistent with the Residential Bonus
Overlay review criteria, we requested that P&Z not take formal
action on this issue at its November 29th meeting. There were a
a number of details requiring clarification and/or submission of
additional information on behalf of the applicants which needed to
be addressed prior to formalization of the Planning Office ' recom-
mendation. The applicants are currently working with P&Z to resolve
various problems associated with this request and the public hearing
has been tabled until February 7 , 1984 . The Commission recommenda-
tions will be forwarded to Council upon completion of their review.
GROWTH MANAGEMENT EXEMPTIONS
The applicants of the Aspen Mountain PUD are requesting three exemp-
tions from the GMP allotment procedures for the hotel portion of
their proposed project. These exemptions are requested for the
following development activity: 1) the reconstruction of 269 exist-
ing lodge units pursuant to Section 24-11. 2 (a) of the zoning regula-
tions , 2) the construction of a 50 unit employee housing project on
the Benedict/ Larkin parcel pursuant to Section 24-11 . 2 (f) , and 3)
the conversion of the Alpina Haus Lodge to deed restricted employee
housing pursuant to Section 24-11. 2 (j ) . Each of these requests is
examined below.
Reconstruction
The resort hotel to be constructed as a part of the Aspen Mountain
PUD will essentially replace the existing Continental Inn, Aspen
Inn, and Blue Spruce Lodge. The applicants, with the assistance of
the Building Department, have inventoried these facilities and have
submitted to the Planning Office a request for the verification of
277 existing lodge units. After review of the applicants' documenta-
tion, the Planning Office and Building Department have agreed to the
verification .of 269 lodge units . Eight additional units are cur-
rently undergoing further review by the staff. A decision with
respect to the eight units should be forthcoming prior to Council ' s
award of the lodge quota.
No specific P&Z or Council action is required with respect to this
request for exemption. The Planning Office, however, suggests that
any conceptual PUD approval with respect to the hotel portion of this
project include the following conditions which are consistent with
the reconstruction provisions of Section 24-11. 2 (a) of the Code.
1. The applicants should be limited to the reconstruction of
only those units verified pursuant to Section 24-11. 2 (a) .
2 . The reconstruction of these lodge units must be accom-
plished within five years of the date of demolition.
Aspen Mountain PU
January 11 , 1984
Page Eight
3 . The reconstruction of the demolished lodge units should be
limited to the Aspen Mountain PUD site.
Employee Housing
As discussed under the request for R-6 (RBO) rezoning, the appli-
cants propose to construct a 50 unit pure employee housing project
on an approximately 7 . 5 acre site located northwest of the Ute
Cemetary on Ute Avenue. These units will house a portion of the net
new employees generated by the proposed resort hotel. The site,
known as the Benedict/Larkin property, is presently zoned R-15 and
will require rezoning to R-6 (RBO) to allow construction of the
proposed employee housing units. Exemption from GMP allotment
procedures is allowed pursuant to Section 24-11. 2 (f) subject to the
special approval of the City Council based on the recommendation of
the Planning and Zoning Commission.
The review of any request for exemption of employee units from the
development allotment procedures requires a determination of com-
munity need considering, but not limited to, the project' s complianc.e
with any adopted housing plan, including the number and type of
units proposed, their location, the number of bedrooms in each unit
.and the size of the unit; the rental/sales mix of the development;
and the proposed price categories to which the units are to be deed
restricted. The Aspen/Pitkin Housing Authority and the Housing
Office staff have reviewed the proposed employee housing project for
consistency with the above requirements and have recommended approval
of the applicants' request for GMP exemption subject to the following
conditions :
1. The 50 unit project is to consist of 24 one-bedroom units
averaging approxiately 550 sq. ft. each and 26 two-bedroom
units averaging approximately 750 sq. ft. each. Ninety
hotel employees are to be housed in the project with the
applicant reserving the right to house an additional 11
unspecified employees at a future date.
2 . The hotel employees are to be given first priority in
renting or purchasing the 50 units.. If vacancies should
occur, the applicant may rent to any qualified low or
moderate income employee of the Community.
3 . The 15 units are to be deed restricted to the City' s
adopted moderate income housing price guidelines .
4 . The Housing Authority reserves the right to review rents
sales, prices, and other restrictions to guaranteee com-
pliance with the City' s housing guidelines.
The rezoning required - to permit the construction of this employee
housing project is still under review by P&Z and therefore no action
has been taken by the Commission with respect to this GMP exemption.
Change in Use
In addition to constructing the 50 unit employee housing project on
the Benedict/Larkin site, the applicants also propose to deed restrict
for employee housing purposes two existing structures - the 47 unit
Alpina Haus Lodge, and the 14 unit Copper Horse Lodge. Together these
two facilities will house the remainder of the net new employees
generated by the proposed resort hotel , or a total of 90 employees.
The Alpina Haus has historically operated as a non-conforming lodge in
the R-MF zone district and therefore will require a change in use
exemption from the GMP allocation procedures pursuant to Section 24-
11. 2 (j ) for its conversion to long-term residential use. The Copper
Horse, however, is an individually historically designated structure,
and, as such, is exempt from the change in use provisions of the
Municipal Code. A rezoning of the Copper Horse from L-3 to O - Office,
however, will be required in order to accomplish the conversion of the
r
Aspen Mountain PUD
January 11, 1984
Page Nine
lodge units to deed-restricted employee housing as multi-family resi-
dential units are a prohibited use in the L-3 zone district. The
applicants are expected to file a request for this rezoning as part of
their preliminary PUD subdivision submission.
To be eligible for a change in use exemption, the units must be con-
tained in an existing structure which has a certificate of occupancy
for at least two years and the applicant must demonstrate that the
change in use will result in negligible growth impacts on the community.
Growth impacts are defined as any activity which results in more than
a negligible increase in employee housing or parking spaces; generates
more than a negligible increase in traffic, water and sewer needs,
fire and police protection requirements, off-site drainage and road
demands; or otherwise requires the provision of more than a negligible
increase in governmental services. The Planning Office has reviewed
the applicants' request for the conversion of the Alpina Haus and
believes it to be consistent with the requirements of the change in
use exemption.
The proposed change in use will offset the demand for employee housing
created as a result of the construction of the resort hotel by deed
restricting the existing lodge rooms at the Alpina Haus to employee
housing guidelines. Similarly, traffic may actually decrease slightly,
since there is generally less turnover within a long-term residential
project than in a short-term lodge. Fire, police, water, sewer and
governmental services needs will remain relatively the same resulting
in no additional impacts on the community. Existing parking, however,
is currently non-conforming and, therefore, should be retained. The
Planning and Zoning Commission concured with the Planning Office ' s
recommendations and is prepared to grant a change in use exemption
from growth management to the Alpina Haus Lodge subject to the follow-
ing conditions:
1. The deed restriction of the 44 units, as proposed by the
applicants and recommended by the Housing Authority, to a
maximum rental price guideline of 25% of the employee ' s
average annual income, or $250. 00 per month, whichever is
less.
2. The deed restriction of the 44 units to a maximum occupancy
of 47 employess with first priority given to employees of
the Aspen Mountain Lodge.
3 . The retention of all existing on-site parking spaces and the
submission of various alternatives for the mitigation of
potential impacts resulting from the non-conforming status
of the Alpina Haus ' parking, said alternatives to be in-
cluded in the applicants ' preliminary PUD/subdivision sub-
mission.
MEMORANDUM
TO: Aspen City Council
FROM: Alan Richman, Planning Office
RE: Analysis of Award of Allocation
DATE: January 11, 1984
Since the Aspen Mountain Lodge is the only L-1/L-2 lodge development
project submitted in 1983 which met the minimum scoring threshold, it
is eligible for a 35 unit allocation by you. The applicants have
also verified that 269 units exist on the site which can be rebuilt
without having to compete for an allocation. The applicants, there-
fore, have the capability to , build 304 units_ as a result of having
successfully won this year' s competition. You should also recognize
that 8 other units which are found on the site may also be eligible
for rebuilding.
The applicant proposes to build a total of 480 lodge units by having
you award the following additional units to the. project:
The 32 units which remain as unallocated from prior years.
The 44 units which are being changed in use from lodge to
residential at the Alpina Haus and which therefore must be
deducted from the residential quota and added to either the
L-1/L-2 or the L-3 quota (P&Z recommends adding them to the
L-1/L-2 quota) .
100 units from future years of quota (the 1984 and 1985
quotas, plus 30 of the 35 units for the year 1986) .
Following below is an analysis of the pros and cons of the discre-
tionary request for the additional 176 units needed to complete this
project. This analysis is an updated version of a similar presenta-
tion to the P&Z made in November, 1983.
PRO CON
1. Full allocation would permit 1. Granting the full allocation
the substandial upgrade in will result in an unusually
the quality of our lodging high rate of growth in the
inventory in return for the Aspen Metro Area over the
expansion of that inventory short term, particularly if
(Note: the reconstruction of combined with construction
approximately 269 lodge of the Centennial , Hotel
rooms represents about 25% Jerome and Highlands Inn
of the entire inventory of projects .
lodge , rooms in Aspen) .
2 . The allocation of future
2 . The development of this years of quota will virtually
facility would constitute preclude any other L-1/L-2
the first addition to the applicant from obtaining a
lodge inventory in Aspen substantial allocation to
since the 54 unit expansion expand an existing/build a
to the Woodstone in 1976 . new downtown lodge (Note
that with the exception of
3. The proposed addition of the Little Nell parcel and
units on this site is con- a smaller parcel near Lift
sistent with the intent of 1A, virtually no vacant par-
the 1973 Aspen Land Use Plan cels exist in the L-1/L-2
to centralize our tourist district which are not under
accommodations at the base the ownership of this appli-
of Aspen Mountain. cant. Note also that the
Analysis of Award Allocation
Page Two
4. Full allocation provides the construction of the Hotel
developer with the capability Jerome project will require
of building a full service us to further use future years
hotel complex, including of quota, amounting to about
substantial tourist amenities 65 units. Finally, note that
such as conference rooms, the 10 unit per year L-3 quota
ballroom, and recreation will continue to be available
facilities . regardless of this project) .
5. The development of a facility 3 . The construction of such a
of this magnitude in this high large project may be a sign
profile location may change to the skiing industry that
the popular image of the the next growth cycle in
quality of Aspen' s lodging in Aspen is underway and it is
one shot. time to plan for ski area
expansion. There may also
6 . By awarding a full allocation, be a cyclical impact on
we permit the master planning the commercial sector,
of the entire area, the where vacancies and under-
accomplishment of the total employment at existing
upgrade of that area, and the businesses may be replaced
minimization of the length of by full occupancy and
construction impacts upon maximum employment, with
Aspen. commensurate impacts on the
Community.
7 . There is no substantial
benefit to be gained from 4 . There may be a short term
making the project compete inability of certain
again for an allocation in a portions of the infra-
future year provided that you structure to accommodate
support the development of a the growth associated with
project of this scale. this project, particularly
if combined with a community-
8. Since it will take two years wide economic resurgence
to construct this facility, such that units with low
there is an automatic phasing occupancy and commercial
mechanism built into the space which is vacant are
project. once again full. Facilities
which we feel will be
9 . There is a precedent for especially hard hit include
awarding a multi-year lodge the sewage treatment
allocation, since in 1978 plant, transit center,
Council awarded 76 units, airport terminal and the
taken from the 1977 , 1978 , road network (both into
1979 and 1980 quotas, as well Aspen and inside Aspen) .
as 4 units from 1981.
5. The increased competition
in the lodging industry may
result in the attrition of
some of the smaller,
somewhat marginal operations.
In fact, should the project
proceed as proposed two
small facilities (the
Copper Horse and Alpina
Haus) will be taken out of
the inventory.
6 . The addition of these new
units will further concen-
trate lodging in Aspen
while the bulk of our
skiing capacity is outside
of Aspen or in Snowmass.
As can be seen, there are substantial reasons both in favor of and
opposed to the allocation of the additional 176 units requested. The
upgrade in the quality of our most visible accommodations and the
creation of a major conference facility are consistent with the
Analysis of Award Allocation
Page Three
growth policies which the Planning Commission has been developing.
The accomplishment of a master plan for lodging in this area is
consistent with the 1973 Aspen Land Use Plan, as well as the wishes
of City Council , when it last reviewed the proposed amendments to the
Aspen Inn construction project. However, building this facility in a
single increment is not consistent with the growth rate policy and
will virtually preclude any other major downtown lodge expansions in
Aspen for several years. By its very magnitude and importance, the
project is likely to have spin-off impacts on .other portions of our
economy and may set off a new growth cycle in Aspen.
Given the very real need at this high profile location in Aspen for
lodging facilities which provide quality and value, the Planning Com-
mission and the Planning office both feel quite strongly that the 32
units which remain as unallocated from prior years and the 44 units
made available as a result of the change in use of the Alpina Haus be
allocated to the Aspen Mountain Lodge project. However, P&Z found it
much more difficult to address the question of allocations from
future years. Issues which were raised repeatedly by the Planning
Commission included the impact of the project on the growth rate,
over the short term, as measured by the impacts on community facilities,
its considerable size, its cyclical impact on other lodge operations
and its spin-off effects on the commercial and skiing sectors of our
economy.
Ultimately, a majority of the Commission felt that the growth related
impacts of awarding about 3 years of future quota were manageable, when
balanced with Aspen' s need for a major new lodging facility which
will not only upgrade approximately 25% of our basic lodging units,
but also be large enough to justify the creation of substantial
conference capabilities and other tourist amenities. The Commission
also recognized that their concern with the bulk of the project could
be mitigated by design alternatives available to the applicants which
would not affect the number of rooms it contains. The Planning Com-
mission therefore recommends that you award the project a sufficient
allocation to build a 480 unit hotel, subject to the applicant being
able to address the Commission' s design concerns at the preliminary
PUD stage of review.
Lodge Buildout Potential
Aspen Mountain vacant Parcels
Parcel Name Site Size Current Buildout Current Units New Unit Buildout Potentiall
A Mountain Edge Parcel 62,068 SF -0- -0- 922
B 601 Aspen Street 50,700 SF -0- -0- 75
C Shadow Mountain R-15 238,000 SF -0- -0- 233
Lodge PUD
D Mine Dump Apartments 45,000 SF -0- 24 residential units 24
E Above- Lift lA 31 ,000 SF -0- -0- 46
F Top of Mill 50,000 SF -0- -0- 74
G Commercial Lodge 27,000 SF -0- -0- 904
Property
H Along Mill Street 24,000 SF -0- -0- 36
I 700 S. Galena 21 ,600 SF -0- 16 residential units 215
1 employee unit
J Little Nell R-15 114,700 SF -0- -0- 113
Lodge PUD
K Little Nell 55,000 SF -0- -0- 2006
L The Lodge at Aspen 15,400 SF -0- 31 lodge units 31
4 employee units —
TOTAL: 723
Notes
1 Based on standard lodge FAR of 0.67:1 tourist rental space and a room size of 450 square feet unless otherwise indicated.
2 Would require rezoning from R-15 to L-1 or L-2.
3 Based on area and bulk requirements of R-15 zone district.
4 Based on 2: 1 allowable FAR in CL zone, with 1 .5:1 assumed tourist FAR.
5 Based on rezoning of property to RBO.
6 Based on rezoning of surrounding property to SPA.
Lodge Buildout Potential
L-1/L-2 Existing Lodges
Parcel Name Site Size Current Buildout Current Units New Unit Buildout Potential
1 Iverness 6,000 SF 7,392 SF 20 -0-
2 The Pines 6,000 SF 7,158 SF 9 -0-
3 Snowflake 19,000 SF 19,464 SF 26 2*
4 Limelight 36,000 SF 25,822 SF 60 15**
5 Deep Powder 6,000 SF 4,364 SF 9 2**
6 Aspen Manor 12,000 SF 7,913 SF 25 6**
7 Skiers' Chalet 18,590 SF 10,110 SF 18 1 *
8 Holland House 7,150 SF 8,179 SF 19 -0-
9 Hotel Jerome 47,712 SF 42,204 SF 39 67***
10 Prospector 12,000 SF 8,528 SF 23 5**
11 Mountain Chalet 15,000 SF 22,032 SF 48 -0-
12 Blue Spruce 111 ,270 SF Not Available 81 ****
13 Aspen Inn
14 Continental Inn 31 ,612 SF 38,870 SF 177 -0-
15 Tipple Lodge 7,200 SF 4,930 SF 12 :*
16 Woodstone Inn 26,000 SF 42,145 SF 92 -0-
17 Carriage House 15,000 SF 4,989 SF 6 20***
664 132
TOTAL:
Notes
* Based on demolishing and reconstructing the facility at a tourist FAR of 0.67:1 with rooms of 450 square feet.
** Based on an addition to the existing facility, with the addition occurring at a tourist FAR of 0.67:1 with -rooms of 450 square feet.
*** Based on application currently under review.
**** Due to current uncertainties regarding this site, the buildout potential was not calculated.
ALMA
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RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 100 Leaves
FORM•.0 C.F.HnEr Y.f 1.B.P.A L.CO. — —'
Continued Meeting Planning and Zoning Commission December 13 , 1983
Chairman Perry Harvey called the meeting to order at 5: 08 p.m. with members
Jasmine Tygre, Roger Hunt, David White, Pat Fallin, and Paul Sheldon
present.
+ ASPEN MOUNTAIN LODGE ADDITIONAL REVIEW REQUIREMENTS
Harvey noted this was originally scheduled as a transportation discussion.
Staff requested rescheduling. P & Z decided to have a study session on
December 27th.
White told P & Z at the last Council 'meeting, the Council threw out L-3 ,
CC and CL as zones permitted for time share . The Council will have a meetinc
to discuss this December 27 , and White said the P & Z should be there.
Vann recapped the results of the December 6th meeting at which the P & Z
addressed the visual impact considerations of this project. The F'-6/RBO
rezoning request was tabled until January 3 , 1984 , so that the applicant can
meet with the neighbors and look at alternative solutions . The Commission
discussed the change in use exemptions for the Copper Horse and Alpina Haus .
Vann said he would like to clarify the planning office ' s review of the
change in use issues. The applicant has taken some directives from P & Z
and has made revisions to the facade.
Vann said the P & Z needs to discuss the multi year allocation. The planninc
office gave a presentation on the pros and cons of this year. Vann would
also like to so through the list of suggested conditions. The P & Z needs
to approve or deny to conceptual PUD subdivision submission; approve or deny
change in use requests for the employee housing, and the award quota for
the winner of the 1984 competition.
Vann told P & Z Council had a brief presentation from the applicant' s at
last night ' s meeting. Vann said the P & Z had intended to have a resolution
at this meeting; however, they will try for December 20 . There has been an
j appeal filed on behalf of Lyle Reeder, which may be heard at the December 27
Council meeting. The applicant would like some P & Z direction to the
{ outstanding issues .
Vann said the change in use issue was not in the application, and initially
the planning office only picked up on the change in use issue at the Copper
Horse, which is zoned L-3 and would require this review. Subsequently, it
became evident the Alpina Haus would also require a change in use to be
deed restricted. The P & Z raised questions about the zoning, the legal
jimplications of change in use, parking, and impact on the lodging inventory
itself.
The Alpina Haus, at 925 Durant, is zoned RMF, operated as a lodge or a non-
conforming use in the zone district. Vann pointed out several of these
units were deed restricted for another project. There are 44 units which
house 47 people, 40 lodge rooms, 3 studio apartments and one dorm apartment .
Rational behind change in use in the Code requires the applicant to demon-
strate there are negligible or mitigatible impacts from the growth point
of view in order to change the use of a project. One of the criteria is
that this be an existing structure with a c/o for two years.
In changing the use fro short term to long term use, the code requires the
P & Z to find there are no impacts on employee housing. The demands of
employees for the resort hotel will be off set by the deed restricting of
these units; there will be no additional demands for employee housing as a
result of the conversion. The Code also requires no additional demand for
parking be generated. This is a problem here. There are 44 units in the
building and there are 11 on site parking spaces. This makes it non-conform
ing under the existing regulations.
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Continued Meeting Planning and Zoning Commission December 13 , 1983
i
Vann said a change to long term use could result in a greater demand for
parking since local residents are more apt to have automobiles . The P & Z
could give the applicant the opportunity to offer some techinique to mitigate
the demand for additional parking. Another criteria in the Code is traffic ,
and Vann said there may be a slight reduction in traffic because of less
turnover. Vann said the applicant will house less than the number of people
associated with this site. The other impacts are police, fire protection,
water, sewer. The planning office feels these would be relatively the same
because this is not an increase in occupancy.
Vann said the planning office is recommended granting the change in use
exemption from growth management exemption for the Alpina Haus for deed
restricted employee housing subject to; (1) use of the project be restricted
to that use proposed by the applicants; (2) that the housing price guidelines
be subject to housing authority approval and deed restricted accordingly,
(3) that the applicant demonstrate prior to final plat or P & Z final approval
I reasonable alternatives for dealing with substandard parking on the existing
site.
Vann said this is a non conforming use in the RMF zone and the applicant
could technically occupy the project. The applicant is seeking points for
the use of this housing through the growth management plan. Vann stated
since it does constitute a change in use, review and approval by P & Z is
essential to use it for employee housing under the lodge competition. Vann
said since it is non-conforming, the Code requires that the quota be adjusted
as a result of change in use. This use is going from lodge to residential ,
and therefore, the lodge quota should be credited in the number of units
being removed from residential . Vann suggested this be credited to the L-1
I L-2 zone, which would increase the backlog of units to be eligible for award
by Council upon recommendation of the P & Z .
Harvey asked the Commission how they feel about the change in use, with the
conditions , and how they feel about crediting the L-1 , L-2 with 44 rooms .
Hunt said he has reconciled himself to the conversion of this structure.
However, he is concerned with converting lodge rooms from the low end and
jreplacing them with high end units. Hunt said there is some lodgic in using
these units to mitigate years in advance quota; however, that exacerbates
I cutting off low end units . Hunt said there does need to be some mitigation
of the parking problem. Hunt said there is parking problems and road clearin
1 problems all over town.
1 White supports changing the use at the Alpina Haus; the parking has to be
handled somehow. White said he would put the quota back into L-3 . White
would like to take the quota from both the Copper Horse and Alpina Haus and
split them between L-2 and L-3 so there would be more upgrading. Vann said
the Copper Horse, if P & Z agrees to its conversion, will go into the L-3 .
Sheldon said he would like to hear the statistics on the lodging profile so
the P & Z can do what they are doing consciensly. Sheldon said he does not
have a problem with the parking. The Alpina Haus quota should go back into
L-1, L-2 .
Ms. Tygre said the change in use for employee housing would be all right.
Ms. Tygre said the rooms are fairly small. The applicant said they fall in
j the minimum size. Ms . Tygre said the parking is not that much of a problem
as it is within walking distance. If the applicants are willing to indicate
some way to make it easy for the employees to get to the lodge, that would
be nice. Ms. Tygre said she has concerns about the balance of the lodging
industry, there will not be much new construction of low income units .
Ms . Tygre said the the Alpina Haus is being taken out of the low end category
it seems more logical to put the quota into L-3 .
I Ms. Fallin said the conversion is fine; she would prefer the quota to go to
parking is generally a problem in the city limits
L-1 , L-2 . Ms . Fallin said
and getting worse. The city needs to deal with the parking problem.
Harvey said there is a consensus, with which he concurs, on the change in
use. The parking should be a condition of preliminary PUD with solutions .
Harvey said he feels strongly this quota should go into L-1 , L-2 as he feels
comfortable with the L-3 quota and the P & Z is conscientious for getting
;
upgrading of older lodges. Harvey said there is a problem with the multi-
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' RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 100 Leaves
FORM•.0 C.i.HOECK FL fl.0.A 1..CD. __-'....
7 Continued Meeting Planning and Zoning Commission December 13 , 1983
i -3-
year quota, and anything the P & Z can do to condense the time period would
help. Adding these 44 units to the L-1 , L-2 quota will take more than one
year off the multi-year allocations.
Vann addressed the Copper Horse, which has come to the attention of the
planning office that this is individually historically designated by
Ordinance #57 , 1981 . As a result of this it is exempted from the change in
use requirements pursuant to growth management exemptions. An historic
1 structure may change its use at will . However, the Copper Horse is currently
zoned L-3 as a result of the class action rezoning; originally it was zoned
O, office. While an historic structure can change use without going through
the process, it can only change its use to a use permitted in the zone
district. In L-3 , employee housing can only be accessory to the lodge opera-
tion.
Vann said there may be an argument that as part of the PUD, the housing is
i accessorty to the L-1 , L-2 lodge; however, the planning office feels that
the accessory provisions of the L-3 zone refer to the intent of the zone.
One could assume that the employee housing is accessory to the lodge that is
being preserved. Vann told P & Z in the office zone , multi family housing
is allowed by right. By rezoning the Copper Horse to O, office, they
could change the use to deed restricted employee housing under a GMP housing.
The rezoning requires P & Z to make certain findings. Vann suggested if
P & Z is favorable to this rezoning, that the applicant request a formal
rezoning so that this can be published. This was previously zoned office,
and the applicant is requesting to go back to the original zoning, which is
consistent to the master plan and adjacent properties. Vann said the project
is non conforming regarding parking; there are only four spaces. Vann
recommended giving the applicant the opportunity to present some alternatives
as in the Alpina Haus.
Harvey asked when the parking would be addressed in this time table. Vann
j said these two properties are not part of the PUD. The Alpina Haus is a one
step process, and the P & Z can hold off on it until the applicant has a
presentation. This could be done as part of the preliminary PUD. The
Copper Horse the parking could be dealt with in the rezoning process. Harvey
asked if the Copper Horse could be rezoned to 0, office, with specifics such
that it not be used as offices. Vann said the applicant would suggest his
conditions as an inducement of rezoning.
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Alan Richman, planning office, told P & Z he went to the short term accommo-
dations report to address the Board' s concern about balance in the lodging
industry. Richman said he found 54 lodges containing approximately 1727
units , including 1380 lodge rooms with no kitchen, 259 lodge apartments and
88 dorm units. The condominium complexes and houses contain 1041 units, for
a total short term accommodations in the Aspen Metro area of 2768 units with
a total pillow count of 10 , 750 .
Richman told P & Z he focused on 1727 units that the P & Z indicated concern
about and obtained price information on 1684 units. The ARA rates units by
economy, moderate and expensive. Economy has 291 units, which is 17 per
cent; moderate 773 units at 46 per cent, and expensive. 620 units at 37 per
cent. Richman said the Continental Inn is rated expensive and accounts for
28 per cent of the market. The Aspen Inn is rated moderate with 8 . 5 percent
of that category. The Alpina Haus , Blue Spruce and Copper Horse of 86 units
are 30 per cent of the economy units .
There are only 88 dorm units, of which 21 units are included in the Aspen
Mountain Lodge project; 14 at the Copper Horse and 7 at the Continental Inn,
which is 25 per cent of the inventory. All dorm units are rated economy or
moderate. Richman said another point is the percentage of units that are
in the process of being reconstructed or up graded. Richman pointed out in
the last five years , 8 projects have come through the P & Z for upgrading.
Continued Meeting Planning and Zoning Commission December 13 , 1983
285 units have been upgraded in these last five year, which is 1/6 of the
traditional lodge inventory. Richman said there are six projects in the Aspen
Metro area in the approval process with Aspen Mountain Lodge, Highlands Inn,
Holiday Inn, Hotel Jerome, Carriage House, and Endeavor Lodge and these
projects propose to Upgrade 475 units . These units plus the ones that have
already upgraded, there is an additional 44 per cent of the lodging inventory
being upgraded. This is complying with the policy P & Z has been addressing.
The additional proposed units of 430 added with the others total 1190 units
which represents 65 per cent of the lodge inventory. Richman pointed out
with the exception of the Continental Inn and Holiday Inn, the rest of these
units fall into moderate and economy. Richman pointed out the total profile
of Aspen' s lodging will probably shift toward the expensive end. Richman
said there may also be a shift of existing units dropping into the lower
price categories . Richman said if the proposed new units of 430 are built,
it would be a 33 per cent increase in the size of the lodge inventory.
Vann pointed out a goal to upgrade the quality of the lodging carries an
increased price tag with it. The market place will determine whether there
is an adjustment for other facilities.
Ms. Tygre said rezoning the Copper Horse seems the simplest method and she
would support a rezoning with conditions to make sure these remain deed
restricted employee housing units. Ms. Tygre said she is concerned about
the parking, transportation impact because of the location. Richman said
one of the criteria in rezoning is parking, , which the applicant would have
to address. Hunt said he would not support the rezoning as it takes away too
high a percentage of the low end economy lodging. White said if the parking
can be solved, he would support it. Sheldon said he feels taking low units
out of the supply is an planning issue that needs to be discussed by the
Commission. Sheldon feels the town may be faced with a market trend, that
the demand for economy units is dropping.
Vann said there is a parking problem, and without rebuilding the structure, no
more spaces can be located on the site. Vann asked what solutions would be
acceptable to the Commission. Hunt said when there are residents, there are
automobiles on site . Hunt said generally lodges do not have a parking storage
problem, but a traffic problem. Harvey said there could be a traffic
generation problem by impacting the lodge site by employees driving to the
site. White said the lodge could offer some long term parking at the site for
their employees and run a shuttle.
Ms. £allin moved to table the change in use exemption on the Alpina Haus until
the first regularly scheduled meeting in January at which time the applicant
will deal with the concerns on changing this to employee housing under the
employee housing guidelines, dealing withthe concern on parking and transpor-
tation problems involved in making this employee housing; seconded by Hunt.
All in favor, motion carried.
Vann said the remaining issues are the multi-year allocations and the concep-
tual PUD. Vann said the area and bulk problems should be addressed prior
to preliminary plat, and the applicant could have a work session. Harvey
said assuming the transfer of the 44 units into L-1 from the Alpina Haus ,
there are 50 units in .the backlog and 35 units for 1983/4 , totalling 129 .
Richman said to get the entire 480 units requested, the allocation would have
to go out 2-1/3 years. Vann said the applicant has requested the reconstruc-
tion of 277 units; the staff has verified 269 units . Six units will have to
be decided between the building department and the attorneys office.
Harvey said he has a problem with the number of units from the mass and
impact point, and he would like a discussion of the massing before the P & Z
decides about the number of units they will allocate.
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RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 100 Leaves
FORM+0 C.F.NOECKFL B.B.
Continued Meeting Planning and Zoning Commission December 13 , 1983
•-5-
Larry Stricker, architect for the project, said at the last meeting, the P & Z
indicated they would like some flexibility with the height regulations to
alleviate the four story wall along Durant street. Stricker said the could
eliminate the top story and incorporate them somewhere else. Stricker went
i through drawings for the P & Z . - The lobby structure has been moved back 30
feet and put in a courtyard effect. The units can be relocated on the site.
Stricker said he feels these plans reponds to the openness everyone is lookinc.
for. Harvey asked the maximum height on Durant. Stricker said they have come
down 10 feet to a .maximum of 42 feet.
Harvey said he feels it is important that this hotel make a statement, if
the view can be protected. The concerns were the view and a huge expanse of
building in terms of the scale of Aspen. Alan Novak said these are only
studies in response to the concerns of the P & Z . Stricker said the applicant
would like an indication from the Commission they are going in the right
direction, and that one of the presentations is preferred over another.
Sheldon said the discussion is whether it is reasonable for the applicant to
be designing the building at 480 units. Sheldon said these plans present an
effort to mitigate some of the impacts.
White said he likes scaling down the Durant avenue, is concerned about the
height of the spire . White said he would rather see these units in the back.
Hunt said the right plan lowers the mass and gives more walking visual view.
Hunt said he is not totally against the spire, depending on where it is
located. Hunt said the applicant is on the right track. Hunt said he does
have a problem with total number of units. Ms . Fallins said she likes the
j plan on the right, does have problems with the height of the spire. Ms.
Fallin said she does not like the bridge .
Stricker said the bridge could become a focal point for the town. Ms. Fallin
questioned the number of rooms; the Hotel Jerome is going to expand. Harvey
said the P & Z should be looking at the impact on the site and on the neigh-
borhood. Ms. Tygre said she is favorably impressed by the applicant ' s desire
to look at the Commission concerns. Ms. Tygre said the plans presented
represent a reasonable attempt to look at the problem's of the Durant
facade. Ms. Tygre said some of the concerns have been mitigated from a desigr
standard; however, there is a lot of mass being stuffed into the site.
Ms. Tygre said one of the perceptions of the tourist is how crowded is the
mountain in relation to the lodging. An overcrowded mountain will have a
negative effect on the tourist. Ms. Tygre said she is concerned about 900
people descending on Durant street at 10 a.m. and said what to do with all
these people should be addressed.
i' Harvey said the applicants know the concern about massing on Durant street anc
the view. How these concerns are dealt with is a function of what works for
the city and what works for the applicant. Harvey said he felt the applicant
has done a good job responding to the concerns of the P & Z and their requestE
Vann said the P & Z should talk about the number of units , the quota implica-
tions, growth impacts, the non-bulk and mass issues. If the P & Z can reach
a consensus about the number of units, the applicant will have a direction
how to deal with the design.
Alan Novak said the applicants have studied the growth management plan and
since its inception in 1976 , there have been no lodge units built. When this
lodge opens in 1986 , it will be the first lodge to open in ten years. This
application is for a deteriorating, undeveloped center of town. There have
only been two applicants in eight years. Novak said since there are an
additional 12 units per year that can be allocated in L-1 and L-2 , they feel
there is little impact on other developers in the lodge district. Novak
said he feels this lodge will enhance the retail and restaurant businesses
in town.
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Continued Meeting Planning and Zoning Commission December 13, 1983
1
Richman pointed out that the growth management policy the P & Z has been
working on reaffirms that 32 per cent growth rate is not a target it is a
cap. Jerry Blann, Aspen Skiing Company, said one of their focus in the
marketing program is to get more people in the shoulder season. Blann said
this town needs a high quality full service hotel . Blann said it takes a
high number of units to support this type of hotel . Blann said the Skiing
i Company would support a multi year allocation for this project.
Gary Plumley, Commercial Core and Lodging Commission, said the CCLC has been
working on a lodge improvement district in this area for two years. Plumley
' said this applicant is willing to work with the CCLC on the lodge improvement
district for basic things like curb, gutter, sidewalks, street lights , parking :
and circulation.
{ Alan Shaffer said this application is beautifully put together; however, it
generates mores questions than it gives answers. Shaffer said in the tabula-
I tion of density along with the lodge, lock out rooms, one and two bedrooms
suites, it totals 700 rooms. Doremus said based on their studies , the 480
rooms are to have an average occupancy of 713 guests . Hunt said this project
would be very convenient to Little Nell and asked if there were any plans to
develop lift 1A. Blann said there are plans to develop better access to 1A.
Plumley said the CCLC has discussed this and it will probably be an issue in
the lodge improvement district to get people from town and the lodging distric�
to that lift. Plumley said the CCLC would like to find a way to better
utilize lift 1A. Plumley said this project could enable some form of trans-
] portation to lift 1A.
Sheldon said the impact on the airport of 211 additional units in the peak
season on Saturdays would -be an additional 7 plan loads. Sheldon said he
does not feel it is in keeping with the growth management plan to do all the
units at once, this is exceeding the limits of the planned policy. Vann said
if the Commission feels a hotel such as this is appropriate and the size is
necessary to support the cost of the property, the conference facilities and
the amenities , consideration of a multi year quotia is appropriate and is
consistent with the Code which allows the flexibility to do this . Vann said
the planning office feels the less multi year allocation that is used, the
" I better for the objectives .
Ms. Tygre said the Commission does have to weigh the trade offs between what
is there now and a first class hotel, which is a valuable public service.
The developer has made a good attempt to provide a first class facility. Ms .
Tygre said she is concerned about the number of units , and about the balance
of units. ' Ms . Tygre said by granting so much future quota, it would be
precluding development of more moderate facilities. This may be manipulating
{ the market. Ms. Tygre said although not part of this particular proposal,
the P & Z has to keep in mind other proposals for the rest of the site. Ms.
j Tygre said she has no problem using the backlog of quota and this year' s quota,
j and the conversion of the Alpina Haus units. Ms. Tygre said she would like
to reduce the cumber of units down from 480 to get a more aesthetically
pleasing building.
Ms. Fallin said she has no problem with giving out prior years quota and with
the reconstruction. Ms . Fallin said she has a problem with 480 units especial
. . with what may come from other projects. Ms . Fallin said she arrived at 406
units giving reconstruction at 277 , 44 from the Alpina Haus, this year and
prior quotas.
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Hunt agreed he does not have problems with allocating future year' s quota since
if this applicant waited until 1986 and no units had been built, there would
be a backlog of units . Hunt said the P & Z said not allocating the future
quota any more than what they are building._ Hunt said the lodge district is
built out at this point. Hunt said he has a problem with the sheer enormity
of the project on this site. Hunt said he is in favor of a first class hotel .
Hunt said he would like to reduce some number of the rooms and get some of
the bulk minimized. Hunt said he does have a problem with 480 units.
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 100 Leaves
FORM•0 C.F.HOECNEL B.B.B L.CO. --
Continued Meeting Planning and Zoning Commission December 13 , 1983
_7_
White said he feels the town needs a quality hotel. The Commission needs to
look at the overall impact , how many pillows there will be. White said
because of the bankruptcy, the P & Z should be flexible. White said he feels
the allocations should be 440 rooms.
Sheldon said he would .love to see this project built; the Commission needs
also to look at the airport, other potential projects and not create an
imbalance. Sheldon said he would give the applicant 277 units for reconstruc-
tion, 44 units from the Alpina Haus, 85 units from previous years and the 14
units from the Copper Horse for 421 units . Sheldon said the 480 units project
is too big for impact coming on line all at once. Sheldon said he would like
to see a first class hotel , but giving a quota of 480 units may cause trouble
in the future for other projects.
Harvey said he has a problme with the number of rooms because of the massing
and bulk, and because of the future allocation. Harvey said he would like
I to keep the allocation at two years beyond this year. Harvey said the P & Z
has the ability to allocate future years allocations . Harvey, said fewer
number of units will impact the area less. Harvey said a reduction by 50
rooms is -a maximum he would like to see and is comfortable with 440 rooms .
The applicant can work with the massing and design to meet the problems that
the community and P & Z has expressed. The P & Z should look at the important
elements, the bulk, massing, impact on the area, and the product gained for
the community.
Novak said the applicant came up with the number of units after studying what
they felt the site could accommodate, and what is a viable project, and they
need 480 units for thisproject. Novak said 30 rooms will not impact a lot
on this project; it is a big project. The applicant has many fixed costs that
will not change, such as the parking costs, employee housing, excavation and
development costs. Novak said every room taken away from this project will
hurt the project. Ms . Tygre suggested scaling down the conference facilities .
i Novak said the conference facility is all underground plus a conference facili
for a first class hotel has to be a certain size.
Hunt brought up the restaurant on the corner of Monarch and Durant, and said
there is a parking problem in this area. Hunt said the only way he could
j tolerate the restaurant is if there is valet parking for the restaurant.
Sheldon said there is a quality !-.1:f -!.J -Fe in Aspen. The P & Z has stated in
{ its goals to strike a balance between economic development and the quality of
life. The town is close to the capacity of water service, sewage, there is
impact on schools , police, fire, etc . Sheldon said the town should keep the
rate of growth in this community at a level that can be handled. Sheldon said
_j a project of this size coming in line at once will alter the services in town
-,a
handling peak loads.
Harvey said if the P & Z allocates future year' s quota, given the time schedul
of this project, the growth management plan will be exactly on target. The
time table of this project takes it to the end of 1985 . Hunt said a big
project requires a big allocation. Hunt said this project seems to be in
tune with the time . Most of the units are from prior year allocation and
i from reconstruction or conversion. Hunt said he does not understand the
resistance of giving future allocations if the project is necessary. Hunt
said he feels the project is necessary but is not sure of the exact number.
Joe Wells showed the areas designated for lodges or hotels, and the only
designated sites for hotel units outside the applicant' s ownership are the
Skiing Company parcel , the Lodge at Aspen, the Carriage House site and the
Jerome. of those four sites, 31 units have been allocated to Lyle Reeder,
26 for the Carriage house and 66 to the Hotel Jerome, which leaves only the
Skiing Company site which has not received approval for units in the entire
area.
Continued Meeting Planning and Zoning Commission December 13, 1983
Ms. Tygre said 480 units on this site is too much in one place at one time
Ms. Tygre said she would feel comfortable with 406 units. Ms . Fallin agreed
with 406 units , reconstruction and past year' s allocations . Novak said at
cutting 30 or 40 rooms, the P & Z is taking the chance that the project will
not be built. The project cannot carry itself at 400 rooms. Novak said
cutting part of the spire would eliminate 16 units , which is the transfer from
cutting down the lobby and facade on Durant avenue.
Doremus pointed out this is a five acre site , and if they came in for five
years for lodges with a 1 :1 FAR and no amenities , they would have the same or
more people on the site . Sheldon said he is concerned about the shot term
impact on this site that the town cannot handle. Harvey said he would like
the P & Z to have a consensus on the number of units, and suggested 460 units.
Sheldon said he would be comfortable recommending to Council one additional
year' s allocation for a total of 440 units. White agreed with 440 units.
Ms.. Fallin said she would go along with this. Ms . Tygre said 420 units.
Harvey asked if the P & Z has discretion regarding the Copper Horse units.
Vann said the Commission can make a recommendation on these units . Hunt said
the Copper Horse belongs in L-3 . Hunt said he could live with 440 units unless
the applicant cannot live with it financially.
White moved to recommend an allocation of 450 rooms to Council ; seconded by
Hunt.
White said he arrived at this figure with reconstruction of 269 , past quota
and one and a half years quota.
Ms. Tygre, nay; White, ayQ; Sheldon, abstain, Ms. Fallin, nay; Hunt, aye;
Harvey, nay. Motion NOT carried.
Ms. Fallin moved to recommend approval of 464 room allocation for the Aspen
Mountain Lodge; seconded by Harvey. . Hunt, aye; Ms. Tygre, nay; White, naye;
Ms. Falline, aye; Sheldon, aye; Harvey, aye . Motion carried.
Sheldon moved to continue the meeting to December 20 , 1983 , to discuss the
conceptual PUD; seconded by Hunt. All in favor, motion carried. Commission
left Chambers at 9 :00 P.M.
Kathryn S . Koch, City Clerk
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1 RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 100 Leaves
i
FORM M C-F.HOECKEL B.B.a L.CO.
Regular Meetinq Planning and Zonin Commission December 6 , 198
° Chairman Perry Harvey called the meeting to order at 5: 05 p.m. with members
Jasmine Tygre, Pat Fallin, Welton Anderson, Lee Pardee, David White , and
Paul Sheldon present.
Commissioners Hunt told the Board he has been informed by the Assistant
Comments Chief of Police that signs are coming for parking on the
j south side of city hall
Nicholson -
� lanning office, told P & Z this is located
Change in Use Colette Penne, p
{ in the O, office zone, it is the Park Central West. The
request is to change unit 101 from office to a one-bedroom
residential units. This meets the criteris for exemption tc
be in existence for two years. Ms. Penne said the conversio_
should not result in any increased traffic, or water, sewer,
police and fire protection requirements.
Ms . Penne said the office space accommodated six people.
This will be a one bedroom unit occupied full time. One of
the conditions is that. 15 parking space be reinstated on
the site. There are 11 spaces currently, and there is room
for 16 . The park dedication fee will have to be paid and
! covenants should be drafted to indicate this has gone throug'
a change in use. Harve asked if the condominium association
has approved this request. Al Nicholson said the change in
use will not be effective until it has been approved by the
condominium association.
1 Hunt moved to approve change in use of the Park Central West
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building from office use to residential use for unit 101 wit'
the conditions in the planning office memorandum of
December 6 , 1983; seconded by Anderson. All in favor, motio:
carried.
Resolution -
Growth Manage- Alan Richman, planning office, presented a resolution and
ment Policy Planrecommended P & Z approve it and recommend to Council this
Update intent to adopt this . If Council approves it, it will
come back to P & Z for adoption Richman told P & Z the
language is essentially the same as in October. There have
j been some minor changes that came out of the growth manage-
ment policy forum. Richman said one of the things he heard
! in the forum was that P & Z should be doing something as
i a residential environment.
`x Sheldon said he feels this is a thorough condensation of a
lot of information. Hunt pointed out there is a shortage
' of transportation related information in this. Richman
said these are growth goals and objectives. Richman said
the transportation planning will be part of P & Z ' s .
discussion early 1984 and it is being worked on by staff.
Anderson moved to adopt Resolution 83-13 stating P & Z ' s
intent to adopt it and forwarding same to Council requesting
them to endorse and comment on the goals , objectives and
policies and refer comments back to P & Z; seconded by
Ms . Fallin. All in favor, motion carried.
Aspen Mountain Sunny Vann, planning director, reminded P & Z they had
Lodge - started to discuss the additional review requirements for
Additional this project; the public hearings on the two rezoning
Review requests, review requirements on the PUD subdivision
Requirements request, exemptions from GMP for employee housing. The
only item disposed of at the last meeting was to turn down
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4
Planning and Zoning Commission December 6 , 1983
REgular Meeting g '
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rezoning request from L-1 to CL. The planning office requested additional
information the the land located on Ute avenue the application is requesting in the
to be rezoned from R-15 to R-6RBO. There are
thisobe tabledns Nothing
planning office, and the applicant has requested applicant is
requires the P & Z to consider the rezoning at this time. The
eligible for GMP allocations . Anderson said at the last meeting there was
some public input about located that many units on Ute avenue. This problem
will take a great deal of work.
j Harvey re-opened the public hearing on the rezoning from R-15 to R-6/RBO on
Ute Avenue.
1. Wright Hugus, attorney for Lyle Reeder, said he has no objections to
tabling assuming there is a good faith effort to meet with the neighbors
or determine an alternate site. is
2. Norma Dolle, resident in the area, said she is con
theesite.beMsusDollesaskec
a small piece of property. Ute Cemetery P
if Silverking phase IV will be developed, and are there other places for
employee housing. Ms. Dolle questioned the absolute need for employee hous-
ing in an area which is already overcrowded.
3 . Bob Hughes, representing adjacent property owners, who object to the
application in the current form but will not object to tabling as long as
they can work with the applicants.
Harvey continued the public hearing.
Harvey asked if the applicant has plans to meet with the neighborhood to
hear their concerns and to respond. Doremus said no plans have been made,
6
but they will.
Anderson moved to table the rezoning from R-15 to R-6/RBO for 7. 5 acres site
on Ute avenue to the first regular meeting in January with the condition
that the city re-publish notice and that the applicant has agreed to bear
the cost, and that if the applicant comes back in for further consideration
of this rezoning request, that they have meet with the neighborhood repre-
sentatives to hear their concerns; seconded by Ms. Fallin.
Hunt said the applicant is not getting the benefit of the P & Z ' s concerns .
One of the reasons this site was approved for employee housing for Little
Annie was that the applicant was going to improve Ute avenue.. Historically
Ute avenue has stayed as a pristine street without much load on it. Vann
said the applicant' s have inquired about meeting with P & Z in a work
session to discuss the Board' s concerns before the next hearing. This
application needs to be moved forward to deal with the code requirements to
a
give out the quota allocation prior to the end of the year.
All in favor, motion carried.
Vann said the remaining issues for the lodge portion of this request do not
a require public hearing. Some of the issues are final action by P & Z and
some by Council. P & Z has not addressed the issues of architectural- J
desing and impacts. Outstanding issues are request for exemption of the
employee housing project on Ute; the rezoning has been tabled, so this should
be discussed after the rezoning action. Other GMP exemptions being requested
cover two existing structures to be deed restricted for employee housing.
These conversions will require change in use determination. The other issue
the P & Z must decide is that of multi-year allocations. At the last meeting
the staff presented the pros and cons of this issue. The final item is to
review the conditions the planning office- has suggested and direct staff to
prepare a resolution so that this item can be forwarded to City Council .
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RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 100 Leaves
FORM!9 C.E.HOECNEL B.8.&L.CO.
Regular Meetinq Planning and Zonin Commission December 6 , 1983
I -3
Vann addressed the change in use for employee housing, the solution to the
{ lodge portion of the GMP is a three phased approach. As part of the GMP
application, the applicant proposed to house 60 - 63 per cent of the net
increase in employees generated by the lodge. The proposal is to do it at
the Alpina Haus , which is zoned *RMF with 44 units to be deed restricted
e:nployee housing, and the Copper Hor
- se, which is L-3 and has 14 units.
These two parcels would house half the employees generated. The remaining
the Benedict site, if rezoned and would have
employees would be housed on
50 units. The applicant is trying to house a variety of employees in
varying different configurations.
The conversion of the Copper Horse from L-3 to deed restricted housing would
invoke the change in use provision, which requires P & Z to find the appli-
cant has mitigated or there are negligible impacts in terms of growth in
the community. Vann said the planning office feels the conversion to deed
restricted housing is consistent with change in use, the would be reducing
existing occupancy by 10 people . Harvey asked about the parking. Vann said
the parking is sub-standard or non-conforming. The planning office would
suggested a condition be that the parking not be reduced below what exists
and that the applicant explore ways to supplement parking on-site.
Vann said since the last meeting with the P & Z , the staff has additional
information on the Alpina Haus. The Alpina Haus is zoned RMF and some of
its units were deed restricted already for other approvals as employee units
for the Woodstone. Vann said there is some question as to whether the
Alpina Haus is operated short term accommodations or long term. If the
Alpina Haus is going from short term to deed restricted units, it would be
subject to the change in use provisions. If the P & Z finds it is a long
term multi family use, then the existing units may not be required for
change in use.
Harvey asked the current status of the Alpina Haus. Alan Richman said in
the short term accommodations report of 1982 , they reported themselves as
a ledge. Vann said if this is converted to employee housing, it is a
community benefit because housing is being met without increasing buildings.
There is an impact on parking. Joe Wells told P & Z there are 10 - 15
spaces on site, which the applicant would commit to maintain.
Sheldon said he would like to see .numbers of how many low priced lodge beds
there are in the lodging inventory and what percentage are less that $25
per night, and how many or what percentage are being removed by the request
for change in use. Sheldon said this be taken into consideration because
? the change in use is changing the profile of the lodaina community be
removing low income beds and replacing them with high income beds. Ms . ;'
Fallin asked if the Copper Horse were weekly or seasonal rental. Sheldon
said they are nightly during the season, weekly, monthly in other parts
of the year.
Anderson said he feels the Copper Horse and Alpina Haus historically have
served a segment that is important to Aspen and are not appropriate for
conversion to employee housing. Anderson said he would like the applicant
to come up with an alternative to house employees for this proposal . Pardee
disagreed and pointed out the P & Z has tried to disperse employee housing
throughout the community. This proposal is a chance to do that, and Pardee
is in favor of this . The impact of this changE, is use is parking, and
there will be fewer people at this site.
Harvey asked to find out what percent of the low income market these two
conversions would be. Anderson said he does not want to see a cut off in
the low end to supplement the high end of the market. Sheldon guessed
the Copper Horse might represent a:� much as 25 per cent of the dorms beds
in Aspen. Ms. Tygre pointed out in the existing lodge rooms of Blue Spruce ,
k
Regular. Meeting Planning and Zoning Commission December 6 , 1983
Continental , and Aspen Inn, there was a variable pricing structure and some
of the rooms were not so great. Ms. Tyg.re said the loss of cheap hotel
rooms has to be factored in. one of the issues is value perceived and
received for what a person is spending. There should be rooms available
for the person who does not have a lot of money.
Vann said the Alpina Haus is zoned RMF and they could chose to rent to ,
employees long term without a deed restriction. The applicant is requesting
a deed restriction. Vann said the criteria for change in use findings, the
applicant must -demonstrate that the change in use will result in negligibly
growth impacts on the community. one of these is an activity that will
result in an increase in employee housing, these are becoming employee
housing. Another is increase in parking, traffic, water, sewer, drainage
etc. The impact on lodging is not specifically addressed as a criteria in
the change in use exemption.
Harvey suggested giving the applicant specific informational needs and
direction from P & Z. Harvey listed current pricing on the lodge rooms at
these two places, what percentage that represents of comparable priced
pillows in the lodging corL-nuriity. Anderson said these two facilities
fulfill a worthwhile function in Aspen for tourists. Anderson said he would
like to see some other facilities in the estate used for employee housing;
there should be some other options.
Pardee said P & Z made a strong stand on employee housing. The community
warts it. The P & Z has encouraged it to be dispersed throughout the
community. The applicant is proposing to take some exising lodge units and
7p _ has `;.o to e a
convert them to en!ployee housing. Pardee -said the P & Z
step in order to get employee housing that is a benefit to the community.
Pardee said no one can make a perfect project.
Lee Miler said the lodging community has had the finger pointed at. it
because of the lack of quality. Here is the opportunity to take two lower
end lodges and get .the benefit of employee housing. A person who pays a
package deal to come here does not know exact13T what they are paying per
nip ht. Miller encouraged to Colrffi �ssion to convert these 3.odr es to employee
housing.
Carol Fuller said she resent-s taking something from the hist-oric i.nve story
and turn-n? it into employee housing. fs, Fuller said the u'mplo_R'ees Should
be housed at the lodue Project. This is changing the character of Aspen.
Maureen. McCloskey said it not just a question of losing these two lodges.
There is a gradual erosion of low cost rooms for people to come stay in
T �� with, applicants tr na to iie 1p
Aspen. .,ira Curtis said he has worked ��ith the app y
with employee housing. Clart i s observed this is a catch 222 5.�-tlat:ion.
The GC1^'sT;Lr1tV iit:S stresSe3 i:i: � -eed for employee housing and for employers
;ie housing,. Everyone is looking For the perfect sol uf-i��rt, as
to provide t
lone as it is not in their bac.yard.
Marge Riley questioned what kind of employees will be using these units,
will they be happy with a sharing arrangement. Vann said if the units are
deed restrict ic:d.,
- -they would be subject to the income and occupancy guide-
lines of the 1�ot?sing authority. Vann said the A±pirxa. F�aus is z+ rod R1SF
and raulti fawily :.i:;es ar. e al cn ed by right. The planning. office is suagest-
ing deed restricting them in order to meet the employee housing commitment
of the GMP. The planning office is recommending going through the change in
uge procedure. because there are quota implications .
Harvey said for the Alpina Haus as a lodge, the P & Z. cannot insist that a
non-conforming use be continued. Vann said he would have to check whether
a deed restriction on the Alpina Haus would require a change in use .
Richman said the use proposed for the Copper Horse is not allowed in the
zone district and would probably involve a rezoning. This is a master plan
issue. Vann suggested the staff check into the change in use will be
required by deed restriction, and if the applicant can meet the employees
units. The staff will look at the parking issues for these project; will
look at the impacts on the low end of the lodging market associated with
a change in use of these facilities, the implications from zoning if the
Copper Horse needs rezoning.
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i RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 100 Leaves
FORM vl C.F.HOECNEL B.B.B L.CO. "-
I Regular Meeting Planning and Zoning Commission December 6 , 1983
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{ Architectural Design and Visual Impacts. Vann said the PUD request is for
1 the entire site. The P & Z is considering the lodge portion of that PUD.
The planning office raised several concerns in scoring of the GMP with
respect to design and impact of the project. The P & Z scores reflected
that concern. Vann said the concern is the mass of the building along
Durant street in the vicinity of Rubey park, the intersection of Durant and
Mill streets, the conference center entrance , and the intersection of Monarch
! and Durant streets.
Vann said since the scoring, the applicant has spent time working on these
elevations and has come up with some things to address that concern. Vann
noted the PUD regulations allow a variance of the area and bulk requirements
with the exception of uses and density. The applicant is request a variance
from the height regulations, which are 28 feet and from the applicable FAR
for the zoning. Vann said there are about six zone district in the entire
PUD site. The staff did rough calculations and approximately 360 , 000 square
feet could be constructed under the underlying zoning on the entire PUD
site, which is a composite external FAR of . 88 :1 .
Vann told the Board the upper portion of the site is zoned R-15, and the
external FARs are calculated on lot size, and it depends on how they are
subdivided. Under the rezoning of Top of Mill to L-1 , which has been
requested but not heard, and assuming Council would also deny the rezoning
request on the hotel from L-1 to CL, the maximum FAR would be 425,000 to
430 , 000 square feet, for an FAR of 1 . 05 :1 . Vann said a significant portion
of 103 ,000 square feet is zoned conversation, which cannot be used for FAR
purposes. The total build out for the site proposed by the applicant,
including the residential , is 510 , 000 to 520 ,000 square feet for an FAR of
1. 25 :1, which is 40 per cent greater than what would be allowed under the
underlying zoning. The entire site is 510 , 000 square feet if that portion
zoned conservation is counted. Vann opined the real issue should be the
visual appearance, height,. compatability with adjacent structures, how it
will work in in terms of the surrounding land uses.
Larry Stricker, architect for the project, presented the model and told the
Commission he has tried to keep the height and mass down and still provide
the number of rooms to keep the project viable . Stricker pointed out the
height of the building has been mitigated in the wings by breaking the
building into smaller segments. They have taken the Durant street elevations
and the rooms facing Wagner park and dropped them a floor to Great an
additional break in the roof, which has reduced the impact on Durant street.
Stricker described the treatment of the exterior . Stricker said the model
shows the overall massing of the building; the drawings show how the building
will be broken up by the detailing of the facade.
Harvey asked the maximum height of the building on Durant street. Stricker
said the peak of the roof is 52 feet. They have been looking at a structural.
system to reduce the floor to floor height. In the original submittal the
height was over 60 feet . Stricker demonstrated that the site line is
considerably less than the Mountain Chalet, which is right on Durant street.
Vann said the issue is that the Durant street elevation, which is the main
conference entrance, will extend all the way from Galena to Mill street.
The architect has broken up the visual perception; however, one will be
looking at a nine lot long structure . Vann is concerned about the compati-
bility with adjacent buildings in terms of scale.
Doremus pointed out there are already three building that exceed the height
of the hotel . The Code suggests addressing the surrounding neighborhood
for height rather than what the Code says for height . Doremus said these
buildings do not look bad because they are going up a hill , the background
keeps getting higher. Vann agreed that a variance from the height may be
Regular Meeting Planning and Zoning Commission December 6 , 1983
appropriate. The wings of this project going up Monarch, Mill and Galena
do work. Doremus said the building is set back 50 feet from Durant so
that the perception of the view blocked is lower. Vann said a concern is
ilding , regardless of whether it blocks the
the perceived bulk of the bu
view of the mountain. Stricker showed the side street elevations, which
have been softened by bringing some two story roof elements in. Alan Novak
went through some of the design changes. Novak said the applicants do not
believe they are substantially blocking views of the mountain.
Novak said in a PUD the applicant works with the staff to get a project.
One cannot design a hotel instantly, there has to be design development to
come up with a quality design and addressing concerns. Vann pointed out
the detailed architectural review occurs to preliminary PUD stage . However,
it is appropriate the architect be notified of P & Z ' s concerns so they do
not proceed with the design if the Board has problems. Vann suggested there
are visual bulk concerns with certain elements of this building and the
applicant should address that as part of the subsequent review of this
project.
Mike Strang said things are happening in this community, there is a revitali-
zation of pride. The community is talking about a large good hotel in Aspen,
renovation of theWheeler , building a performing arts center. Strang urged
the community to approach this with a positive approach.
Don Crawford said the model is nice but one cannot get the impact from a
model. Crawford said he would not like the 28 height limitation to be
violated. Crawford said he was shocked to find that the developer is condo-
miniumizing the hotel , which will create a real estate depression. Crawford
said no more units are needed on the market. That will take the hotel out
of the world class category. Crawford said the amenities are needed to
attract conventions and questioned if the town wants conventioneers wandering
around town.
Marge Riley said she is concerned about the pollution that will be caused
by the development of this size, and how the traffic will be handled with
475 cars more daily in the summer. Norma Dolle read a letter to the P & Z
from Carl and Katie Bergman who are opposed to this project. Fritz
Benedict suggested moving in large trees to help disguise the effect.
Benedict said the developer is dedicated to doing a good project for Aspen.
Benedict said he felt the design is an unusual solution to try and lower
the building. Benedict said this hotel will help maintain Aspen' s position
in a competitive resort world.
Ralph Melville, owner of the Mountain Chalet, said his building is only 30
feet wide; this building is 270 feet wide. This is a lot of project to have
to look at from downtown. This hotel changes the character of downtown.
Melville said this is too much and too high for one building. Stricker said
it is not possible to take in the entire building in one ' s vision.
Mark Freidberg said there is difficulty in accepting change . Freidberg said
unless this town is prepared to put up a first class hotel to accommodate
that portion that is not coming to Aspen that will help Aspen with their
activies, Aspen will not overcome their problem. Freidberg said the
applicants have done a good job trying to resolve the mass and the number
of rooms to make this project viable. This town should be ready to go
forward. Tom Griffiths , Bank of Aspen, said he feels this project will have
a significant positive impact on the entire town, and is in favor of the
project.
Harry Teague said he is not too excited about this project in terms of design
and massing; however, it seem the project might be able to have it seem less
bulky if the Commission is flexible in response to height. Teague said the
architect, in trying to keep the height down, is forcing the bulky mass.
Teague suggested letting portions of the building be higher, and portions
lower. This is a possible solution - to the massing. This is one of the
largest buildings in town, and it is appropriate that it be taller than
other buildings, like the Wheeler, Hotel Jerome and Catholic Church.
Alan Shaffer said he is concerned with the overall use of the mountain; it
hs to be handled very carefully. Shaffer agreed Aspen has to have a first
class lodging in town. Shaffer said he disagrees with certain elements of
i
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 100 Leaves
FORK•A C.F.KOFCKFL S.B.S L.CO.
Regular Meeting Planning and Zoning Commission December 6 , 1983
- -7-
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! this and its significant impacts . Shaffer said these impacts have to be
addressed. Shaffer said the Commission is talking about design and massing.
The Commission ought to look at Woodrun Place at Snowmass to get a balance
1 and equilibrium. Woodrun Place is a facility of condominium units of 55
units. The Commission ought to then look at the models and renderings and
i reflect on the possibilities. This proposal is for 520 units on 112 acres .
This project has visual impact, impact on transportation and other city
services. The open space should be changed some . Shaffer said town has
got to have the hotel, but footprint, bulk and size have to be mitigated.
Alan Novak said the applicants have not decided on the method of financing
but are considered condo-kel (?) financing, which is a security offering.
Perry Harvey read a letter from the First National Bank supporting the
project and saying every effort should be made to provide Aspen with a
quality facility.
Pardee said he agreed with Teague' s suggestion about flexibility with height
to lessen the bulk. Pardee said he is concerned about the Durant street
facade, also. Pardee said he is willing to allow higher height limitations
in different areas , as long as the views are protected. Pardee said his
concerns are view planes and bulk. Pardee said the number of units are
secondary compared to the view plane and visual impact. Pardee said he is
not convinced about the bridge and feels it is just as easy to have a tunnel .
Pardee said the applicant owes the P & Z explanations as to the trade offs
for the street vacations . Pardee said with some architectural freedom, this
building can have an exciting front.
Ms. Tygre said a lot of concerns about the project center around the Durant
street facade, and therefore, agreed with flexibility of height. Ms . Tygre
said she would be willing to varying the heights in order that gets somethinc_
that looks better. The applicant should have the opportunity to play with
the numbers in terms of height. -Ms. Tygre said she did not want to address
the number of rooms at this time.
Ms. Fallin said she felt the site, at present, is a disgrace and it has to
be improved. She is concerned about the mass and bulk. Ms. Fallins said if
the Commission is willing to work with the applicant on the height variation-.
she would like to see the bulk reduced. - Ms. _ Fallin said she is concerned
about the number of rooms, but would like more information before making a
decision. This interacts with what happens with the Jerome and the L-3
zone and what will happen at .ne Institute.
Sheldon said he likes the spirit of the application. The applicants have
worked hard to come up with a design to work for them and for the community.
Sheldon said he likes the pools and they contribute to the aesthetics of
the site. The aesthetics are pleasing from the interior. Sheldon said he
likes the Monarch facade with the varied heights, designs and exterior
facades. Sheldon said he does have problems with the application; it is
too many rooms. Sheldon said he does not feel the hotel has to be 480 rooms
to make it a world class hotel . Sheldon said the P & Z did not address the
issue of the convention facility in the GMP. Sheldon said he does not like
the bridge, especially as a bar or lounge, this is public space and it is
not appropriate to be used as a private facility. Sheldon said the public
trade offs have to be discussed. Sheldon said the facade should be broken
up. The issue is one of quota and mass, impact on growth management policies
Sheldon said fe feels, architecturally, this is an innovative, workable
design.
White said that Aspen needs a quality hotel , and this group is trying.
White said aesthetically he likes it, he likes the amenities. The mass on
Durant street bothers him. White agreed with varying the height to change
the mass on Durant street. White said on the room issue, he does not know
as he is not a hote expert. The bridge does not bother him that much.
Regular Meeting Planning and Zoning Commission
December 6 , 1983
on of the traffic on Durant street
White said he does not see any mitigati
and wants some solutions.
Anderson said this is going to be one of the most important structures in
this town. Anderson said he feels �hneedhtoldominateatheltownrbutsneedseto.
Anderson said the structure does n o
state what it is. Anderson objected to the tunnel effects up mill street.
Anderson said he does not feel the project incompatible
onDuat with
sreetneedsetoubeound-
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ing buildings. Anderson said the ele4
re-arranged. Anderson said he does not mind the bridge.
;
Hunt agreed with previous statements about the apparent
bulk. Hunt agreed tr
about varying roof heights. Hunt said the new andeMonarch streetshe right hasack.sign
Hunt said regarding the restaurant on
grave reservations about that. The only way he could deal with it is if the he
hotel has valet parking and all the cars go in the garage. Otherwise,
cannot deal with the restaurant. Hunt does not want a premier hotel that
is c
ondominiumized. The number of rooms, Hunt cannot address because it has
to do with the financial aspect of the project.
Harvey said the P & Z is dealing with the perception of the size of the
1
r and the massing. Harvey agreed with previous statements on the
project osed to the bridge . Harvey said
height variation. Harvey said he is not opp
he would like to see more architectural drawings on the brddge to get a
better feel for
it.
Vann said the P & Z could deal with the sthedlcanlc ntinueh this lmeeting
allocations and the conditions of approval ,. Y the P & Z wants to see
until the next week. Harvey said at this meeting, deal with the multi
information about the number of rooms, Y
year allocation.
Anderson moved to continue the meeting to Tuesday, December 13 , at 5 :00 P.m. ; ;
seconded by White. Meeting concluded at 7 : 55 p.m.
-21Kathryn S och, City Clerk
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PLANNING OFF" RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 100 Leaves
I FORM 4 C F.HOECKEL B.B.d L.CO. _..
Regul ,• ei;; o.-Winning and Zoning Commission November 29 , 1983
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Vice Chairman Welton Anderson called the meeting to order with members David
White, Jasmine Tygre, Lee Pardee, Paul Sheldon and Rogert Hunt present.
L-1/L-2 LODGE GMP COMPETITION - Aspen Mountain Lodge Additional Review
' Requirements
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ISunny Vann, planning director, said this meeting it to review other requiremen't.
in the application and to make a decision on the quota, if possible. Vann
presented a scoring summary. The GMP process for the Aspen Mountain Lodge is
only the first step for this project. All the steps will be reviewed by P & Z
and/or by Council . Vann said other reviews are conceptual PUD/ subdivision
review, two rezonings, exemption from GMP for employee housing, two change in
use exemptions, two street vacations, a possible view plane review and a
possible amendment to a previous application on this site. The Commission
scheduled a site visit for 4 p.m. Tuesday, December 6th.
Vann said the site is a composite of parcels and presented a chart showing
these. The applicant proposes to build a 480 unit hotel on the northern
portion of the site, 30 to 35 residential units on the southern portion, and
a 12 unit project at the 700 South Galena. This applicant has competed for
the lodge portion of the project. The residential competition will take
place in January. The applicants want a restaurant association with the hotel
which will have to go through the commercial competition in the spring. The
P & Z is looking at conceptual PUD for the lodge portion of the overall site.
To be eligible for PUD, the applicant has to demonstrate reasonableness of
the proposal , conformity to design requirements, lack of adverse impacts on
the community, and consistency with the planning regulation. These regulation;
were designed to encourage flexibility; these regulations enable the P & Z to
vary the area and bulk requirements except for density and uses. Vann said
the hotel and residential uses can be accommodated without rezoning. Vann
said where the applicant is taking advantage of PUD regulations is in the
overall external FAR and the heighth regulations. L-2 zone has a 28 foot
height restriction.
Vann told P & Z the planning office feels that this project is consistent
with the intents, purposes and design parameters of the PUD process. Vann
said, generally, successful competition in GMP indicates the majority of
impacts or mitigated or an applicant would not score high enough in the
categories to win the competition. The planning office feels, in this project,
j under the conceptual PUD process there are a number of concerns that should be
addressed.
The major area of concern has to do with Architectural design/visual impact of
this project. This concern is echoed in the planning office scores and also
those of P & Z . The planning office thinks the project is innovative and the
applicant has tried to reduce the bulk associated with a project of this size.
A substantial portion of the project is subgrade, all parking is subgrade.
Vann said in several of the elevations, the scale of the project is inconsis-
tent with adjacent uses with a substantial impact from a visual point of view.
Vann said a major concern is the facades of the building that are visual from
town as a whole. The applicant asked this be addressed later to see if the
architect will arrive.
Vann said the applicant scored highly in traffic, parking and circulation;
however, the planning office is concerned about the implications of the impact
on parking and traffic associated with a project this size. Vann said he
. would like specific proposals the applicant intends to implement to mitigate
parking and circulation before preliminary PUD. Another area of concern is
the requested street vacations and a number of encroachments into public rights.
of way. The applicant is requesting the vacation of Dean street between
Galena and Monarch and Lawn street from Monarch to the interior of the site.
Regular Meeting Planning and Zoning Commission November 29 , 1983
1
The applicant is requesting an encroachment on Mill street for the pedestrian
i bridge, and encroachments for the parking garage . Jay Hammond, engineering
department, pointed -out the vacations on the map. Lawn street is a dead end,
two full blocks of Dean street. Hammond said the engineering department views
Lawn street as relatively unimportant for circulation; it dead ends within the
site. Lawn street services properties all owned by the applicant. The
{ westerly block of Dean, the circulation impacts would be minimal if vacated
because .it would remain a street through the site. Hammond recommended if
the street is vacated, public use be maintained. Hunt questioned if this plan
would allow semi-trucks access. Hammond said both bridges should be of a
height to allow . semis to pass under.
Hammond said the other block of Dean would be eradicated by the site plan and
would be lost to circulation. Hammond said in the cases where the rights-of-
way are lost, he is suggesting it should be made clear that the city can have
contact with those utilities in the rights-of-way. These utilities should
either not be impacted and that any routing needs that may be impacted are
i accommodated by the site plan in another fashion. Hammond said the site plan
will improve circulation significantly. There are currently a number of
conflicts in that area; this site plan will reduce these conflicts to only
four points, as opposed to existing 12 points of conflict. Hammond said
the engineering department view the trade offs as positively.
Hammond said in any vacation the city is giving up certain rights. The site
j plan should be evaluated so that the off site improvements proposed by the
applicant would compensate the city for the rights-of-way through the project.
Hammond said the encroachments include a bridge, the underground structure
that will connect the two underground parking structures , loop access to the
underground parking, and a grease trap extending into the sidewalk. On Mill
street there is a pedestrian structure that will connect the two main hotel
structures. Hammond supports this request as it will allow guests to access
either side without getting to the street level . In the case of the under-
j ground encroachment, it will allow the site plan to work more efficiently.
Sheldon asked if the overpass would only be pedestrian access. Vann said therc
will be a lounge there. Hammond said another encroachment is a loop structure
for parking on Durant, and' the grease trap on Monarch. The engineering depart-
ment support the Mill street request but does not support either Durant or
Monarch encroachments at this time . Hammond has asked the applicant for more
details for these two. Hammond said he felt the grease trap should be
laccommodated on site.
John Doremus said the loop onto Durant is because the site is constrained due
{ to the number of parking spaces requires. There will be two levels of parking
Doremus proposed to have a revocable license for this encroachment should the
city need it in the future. Doremus said the grease trap may not be important
and they will try and find another solution. Doremus said the applicant is
willing to discuss the rights the city wants on Dean, it should be a shared
I use. Doremus said as far as payment in-kind for the rights-of-way, he would
like to be able to prove the applicant is going beyond normal expectations as
far as improvements for the whole neighborhood. Hammond said what he is
i asking is that it be clear the developer is doing alot of off site impr ovement.
which will be of value to the neighborhood and the city.
Hunt said on west Dean street the Mountain Chalet has visitor parking there ,
and what rights will the Mountain Chalet have . Hammond said in the vacation,
the entire street would be vacated to the applicant with the exception of
the frontage of the Mountain Chalet. If the city vacates this street, the
Mountain Chalet would have to pick up the other half. Pardee said he is
uncomfortable with the licensing approach. The P & Z should either allow the
encroachment or not.
Pardee said he feels very strongly against the bridge across Mill street.
Pardee said he feels the city needs the project but is should be kept as
invisible as possible and fit into the other structures as possible.
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RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 100 Leaves
FORM 10 C.I.HOECNEL B.B.!L.CO.
Continued Meeting Planning and Zoning Commission November 29 , 1983
-3-
White suggested if the city vacates the street, there should be an exchange for
an overpass pedestrian walkway to Rubey park. This area of the city is very
dangerous for pedestrian. This could be underground rather than an overpass
just some way of transporting pedestrians to Wagner and Rubey park. Pardee
said if the applicant is going to improve the intersections , maybe they would
heat the intersections and sidewalks to make it safer. White said he feels
strongly something should be done for people crossing Durant street. White
} said he also would like the arrival of buses at this site addressed by the
architect.
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Ms. Tygre said she is not thrilled with the overpasses, this adds to the visua_
jimpact. Ms. Tygre suggested the bridge be lowered to still allow vehicular
access but lessen the visual impact. Ms . Tygre said she like the idea of
heated sidewalks because Durant street is very icy and the facade of the hotel
will exacerbate the problem. Hunt agreed the Mill street bridge should be
kept to a minimum height. Hunt would like to see some access to Rubey park
for pedestrians . Hunt said he would rather see an underpass to Rubey park
than surface or an overpass .
The applicant told P & Z the traffic consultant did not feel an overpass over
Durant street was practical or productive. The applicant said they will go
back to the traffic consultant for suggestions and ideas . Vann said the P & Z
could add their concerns to the review over circulation or Rubey park, the
issue of reimbursement and what the applicant is proposing to do off site, and
have the applicant come back with additional information at the preliminary
1 plat stage. Pardee said the vacations could be acceptable if there are
1 sufficient reimbursements in-kind to the neighboring community, the traffic
jflow, access to Rubey park.
Vann said this project is a subdivision to separate the lodge portion of the
PUD from the residential portion. This is not referenced in the conceptual
PUD and the plat should be submitted at preliminary PUD. Vann said an area
of concern is the ownership of the property. The city attorney said after
reviewing this, ownership is sufficient to allow competition under GMP as well
as PUD review. There needs to be a survey of the area as a condition of
1 conceptual PUD. Ms . Tygre brought up the Woodstone application and that
I several units at the Alpina Haus were deed restricted for employee housing for
the Woodstone. With the change in ownership, these units seem to have
disappeared. Ms. Tygre said when the ownership is straigtened out, she would
like these units to stay on the books as deed restrictied units. City
I Attorney Taddune said his policy is that any deed restrictions that benefit
the city be placed first priority over any encumbrances. Taddune said the
-� problem is that deed restrictions are placed on record after prior liens .
Taddune suggested that any deed restrictions with this project be established
first in priority. Taddune said his opinion is that these deed restrictions
were put in after the mortgages on the property, that the foreclosure has
voided those restrictions. Taddune said this might not affect this project,
but the Woodstone is being noticed this might jeopardize their approval .
Vann said these units will not be lost from the inventory; however, the
Woodstone will have to provide some units .. Taddune said the solution may be
money in lieu. Ms. Tygre said generally over the years units have been deed
restricted and then disappear. Taddune agreed he is upset that approvals are
granted based on providing employee units; the approvals are granted, but the
j city does not get employee units . Hunt agreed and stated he voted against
the Woodstone approval because of the provision of employee units at the
Alpina Haus and parking at the Continental. Taddune said the parking situatic
I is the same .
Pardee asked what the letter of consent is- consenting to Vann said this is
a request from the city attorney' s office as part of the ownership documents .
Continued Meeting Planning and Zoning Commission November 29 , 1983
Taddune said his concerns have been satisfied. Vann told P & Z the health
j department, in its referral , has noted specific concerns dealing with the
operations proposed. The are not appropriate to conditions for conceptual
been j approval. These have p .
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Anderson said because of the effect of the Can
bankruptcy on the general
economy of Aspen, he would like a requirement to use local contractors as much
as practical and possible. Taddune said that may be the inclination of an
applicant, but to impose that as a condition would be irregular. Anderson
said there is a precedent for doing this legislatively. Taddune said there
is precedent for this in public projects. Pardee said he feels this is not
part of the P & Z venue. The contractors here will bid like the rest of
7 people in business. Doremus told P & Z they are of the same mind themselves ,
and want to use locals wherever possible. where this is
Sheldon said the are
germaine is in in-kind concessions to the city of Aspen in exchange for the
street rights-of-way.
+ Pardee said this is the biggest project ever for Aspen, and this will take up
allocations for future years. No one can be sure the project will be built,
I there are a number of contingencies, etc . Pardee said he felt any future
allocations should be contingent upon absolute starting of the project and
keeping to schedule. Pardee said he is uncomfortable about giving future
allocations to this project and having it sit around like all the others.
Vann said the architect cannot make it, and suggested taking up the design
issues next week and continue through the issues in the memorandum.
Vann said the applicant is requesting four rezonings, only two of which are
germaine to the lodge portion of the project. One rezoning is on the hotel
site, which is the L-1 strip just south of Durant street which takes in
the Blue Spruce, Chase duplex, Mountain Chalet, parking lot. The applicant is
requesting it be rezoned to C-L. The second rezoning relates to the employee
housing which is off site. The planning office requests this be postponed
pending further information.
Vann said CL is a zone district which allows commercial useage at street level
and lodge uses above. This is a transition zone between the commercial core
and pure lodge uses. Vann said private rezoning requests are heard in April
i and October. The code allows P & Z or Council, upon request, may sponsor a
rezoning request. The rationale for this request at this time is that it may
I be heard at the same time as the PUD. The applicant' s argument is the
{ increased traffic on Durant street makes it no longer practical for construc-
tion of lodge uses at ground level , and CL zoning is more appropriate. Vann
said the planning office feels there is some truth in the statement. The
l architectural design does not provide the types of uses allowed under CL
zoning and is inconsistent with the intent of the CL zone district. The
street uses as proposed as accessory hotel operations, not street level
commercial uses.
I
Vann said the planning office feels the primary reason for this request is to
take advantage of the greater FAR in the CL zone. The L-1, L-2 FAR is 1: 1 ,
the FAR in CL is 2 :1 . However, an application under PUD allows the variance
of the FAR requirements of the underlying zone district if the project meets
the criteria for PUD development. If this is zoned CL, the variance being
requested is less than that in L-1 district. Vann said the planning office
feels a rezoning should not be gone through just to make the numbers look
better but if the project makes sense as a project. Vann said he feels there
I is no benefit, even to the applicant, other than a statistical one, or to
the city by rezoning this property.
i
{ Vann said the Mountain Chalet is a co-applicant in the rezoning of their
i property to CL. This would provide an opportunity, under CL, for the recon-
struction of the Mountain Chalet. This would allow a 32 foot height
restriction in the CL, rather than 28 feet. Vann said it is not necessary to
facilitate the uses proposed by the applicant. Vann told P & Z the one non-
accessory use in the proposal is a restaurant where the Blue Spruce is locatec
Vann said an accessory commercial space may be constructed in conjunction witr
a lodge GMP application. This restaurant will require a commercial GMP
allocation because there is no credit in the existing property. This is a
conditional use in the L-1 zone district. Vann said the CL is not required
in order to allow the construction of this restaurant.
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 100 Leaves
FORM U C.E.HOECKEL B.B.R L.CO.
Continued Meeting Planning and Zoning Commission November 29 , 1983
-5-
The planning office recommends P & Z deny the request to sponsor the rezoning
and recommend to Council if they consider sponsorship, they also deny the
request for rezoning.
Doremus said there were some things the applicant did not know about the code
when they proposed this rezoning. Doremus said he had not realized a restau-
rant could be a use by special review in the L-1 zone. Doremus said the
applicant was not sure that a restaurant was the only commercial they wanted
for that space. Doremus said if the park were not across the street, it
would be zoned CC and this site would be a could CL transition zone. Doremus
said rooms on the first floor at this site are totally unappropriate .
1
Pardee said if this is not rezoned, the only thing the applicant would lose
is the flexibility of the 8 , 000 square foot parcel . Pardee asked what the
jother conditional uses are. Vann ' said satellite dishes, time sharing and
restaurant. Vann agreed if the park was not across the street it is possible
this might have been zoned CC or CL, but the park is there and it is an
amenity. The L-1 and L-2 zones extend to the west and to the north and is
j a logical transition to the development patterns that have occurred. Vann
said the staff is concerned about extending CL up to Monarch, and the ability
to maintain an argument against further CL zoning.
i
Hunt said from a land use point of .view, he feels it inappropriate to allow
buildings with store fronts facing on a park. Hunt said he is not disposed
towards rezoning. Joe Wells told P & Z the applicant is filing this week
the PUD for the balance of the site, the residential GMP application. Wells
said there has been a change in the residential program. Vann said the
planning office is deferring comments until they have seen the new material.
White said he is concerned if this goes to CL zoning, it has doubled the
price of the Mountain Chalet. There will be pressure from other lodges to
do the same thing. The P & Z recommended against CL zoning for the Buckhorn.
{ White said the Commission should make variances for this project through
other means other than rezoning.
' 1
Anderson opened the public hearing for rezoning from L-1 to CL.
I
I Don Crawford, citizen, is opposed to the rezoning and creating more commercia-
-
zones. The existing establishment need support not more competition. Vann
j gave a letter from Crawford for the record. Carol Fuller, resident, said
she resented this being treated by some individuals as a public project.
The amenities are meant for the hotel ' s guests. Ms. Fuller said she could
not believe that this concrete corridor with this density up two main streets
blocking the view of Aspen mountain can be considered. Ms. Fuller said there
_Ji is nothing charming about this project. Vann gave a letter from Ms . Fuller
i for the record.
j Alan Shaffer asked if P & Z could approve a rezoning qualified by the appli-
cant to restrict his FAR. Vann said it is difficult to condition rezonings.
1 In this application, P & Z could rezone the site and achieve the same result
through the PUD restrictions. The P & Z could rezone to give flexibility
for the use but reduce the bulk through PUD. Vann said he did not feel
rezoning should be used to permit uses at this site when the implications
for the Mountain Chalet are so signficant. Taddune said if the applicant
i offers restrictions to induce the city to rezone, the restrictions become
more legally enforceable. Richman said the concerns of the planning office
go beyond the FAR; disbursement of commercial zones throughout the community
is not desirable. Vann said the staff finds it difficult to support this
request within the rezoning requirements .
I
Marge Riley, representing the committee to preserve- open space, stated
the committee does not object to the hotel but does object to the extra
commercial space proposed and the rezoning. The committee feels that
,
Continued Meeting Planning and Zoning Commission November 29 , 1983
present zoning is sufficient. The committee would like to know how much
commercial space would provided under existing zoning and how much would
exist with the zoning change. The committee would like to know how many
hotel rooms would be allowed under the existing zoning and how many with the
change in zoning. Vann said this will be addressed at the next meeting under
design discussions. With respect to the commercial question, the entire
ground floor from Monarch to Galena could be commercial space. The construc-
tion of that space would be submit to GMP review. The rezoning would not
allow the construction of that space but would facilitate it.
Barbara Sharp told P & Z she agrees with every word Ms. Fuller said and totall,
i opposes the zoning. Jeff Costly said if the planning office has reviewed the
rezoning request and has denied it because there is no viable benefit to the
city, the P & Z should follow this recommendation. Mary Peyton said if the
only way the developer can have a- commercial success is to build a 50 foot
high way a block long, the Commission should question whether insuring a
developers commercial success is more important than maintaining the scale
and atmosphere.
Anderson closed the public hearing.
! -Sheldon moved to deny the applicant' s request for sponsorship of a rezoning
from L-1 to CL for the Chase duplex apartments, Hillside lodge, and Blue
Spruce and Mountain Chalet and that a resolution be drawn to send to City
Council outlined the reasons for this denial; seconded by Hunt. All in favor
motion carried.
Vann said there° is a second request for public hearing and rezoning, which is
the applicant' s request for 50 employee housing units on Ute avenue. There
i are some technical issues that need to be clarified. Vann asked the P & Z
continue this hearing until they have the information. The rezoning is
necessary to accommodate the mix of employee housing proposed for a 71-, acre
site located where the Little Annie area is . The city Council has previously
j approved a similar rezoning for this site, which will lapse on December 31st
in the event Little Annie is not under construction. This should be continued
to another meeting and discussed in detail .
i
3 Anderson opened the public hearing.
i
Fred Pierce, attorney representing the Gant Condominiums, said he felt there
are some issues to be resolved and is glad this is continued. The Gant is
'{{ located close to these proposed 50 units for 101 employees . The Gant is a
1 luxury condominium and would like to maintain the integrity of the surround-
ing area. The Council did approve a rezoning for Little Annie, which expires
j in December. This was on-site employee housing for Little Annie on their
property. This applicant is not putting the burden of employee housing on
their site but off-site. Pierce said he felt the applicant should bear the
burden of employee housing on-site. The Gant condominium association opposes
h more information about the proposal perhaps
the rezoning at this time, wit
some concerns could be alleviated.
I Don Crawford said a lot of people use Ute avenue for jogging and bicycling anc
he would not like to see this rezoned and become heavily congested with
J 11 employee housing. Pierce said the Little Annie approval required them to
.a widen Ute avenue for the additional traffic . Carol Fuller asked if the 400
? cars in this proposal included cars for the employee housing. Doremus said
the car count did not include employee cars . One of the requirements of
employees is not to drive to work. Vann said the work for the GMP app icatio2
addressed the traffic in the vicinity of the hotel for guests and also for
employees. Joe Wells said the lodge district is designated for intense
tourist use; using that area for employee housing seems to be in contradictio;
with the land use plan. There are stringent employee housing requirements in
r the city Code, and there are limited sites offerring potential for employee
housing.
Hunt moved to table action on the rezoning of R-15 to R-6 (RBO) and continue
the public hearing to December 6 , 1983 ; seconded by Ms . Tygre. All in favor
motion carried.
I
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 100 Leaves
FORM U C.F.MOECKEL S.0.S L.CO.
Continued Meeting Planning and- Zoning Commission November 29, 1983
l -7-
Vann said the next area is exemptions from the Code in GMP. There is a chang!
in use for the conversion of some existing units. Vann said the Copper Horse
and Alpina Haus, planned for employee units, will require change in use.
9 This should be deferred to December 6th.
Vann said the applicant is requesting 480 units in this lodge. These are not
all units. The Code provides for the ability to tear down existing units
and reconstruct them outside GMP, as there is no net impact on the growth
rate associated with reconstruction. The applicants have conducted an
inventory on existing lodge, commercial and residential structures on their
property, verified it with the building department. The applicant submitted
a request for 277 lodge units; the staff concluded they could verify 269
units. The difference is some units that appear to illegally constructed or
demolished without a permit. The 269 units come from the Blue Spruce,
Continental and Aspen Inn plus 36 units currently under construction at the
Aspen Inn. Taddune said the 36 units are involved in litigation and are
part of an on-going review.
Vann told P & Z the applicant is requesting 211 units under the GMP process .
The successful competing in the GMP process allows the applicant 35 units
under the 1984 quota. The applicant is requesting a backlog of lodge units ,
not counting the 36 at the Aspen Inn, which is an additional 50 units . The
applicant is also requesting 3�2- years of future quota to construct this
project.
Alan Richman said there are 50 units remaining from previous years, 35 units
for 1984 , and a request for 126 units from future years. The applicant is
requesting six years of quota plus one unit. Richman said on the pro side,
the clearest reason for wanting to give the entire allocation is that it is
1 a substantial upgrade to the community lodging inventory. Richman said
reconstruction of 269 units is an upgrade of 25 per cent of units in the
inventory. Richman said this would be the first addition to the lodge
inventory, and there is some justification to doing something substantial
1 for lodging in Aspen.
Richman said the proposal is consistent with the 1973 Aspen land use plan,
i
showing lodging accommodations at the base of Aspen mountain. Another pro
is by allowing the project, it would allow the developer to build the whole
project with amenities for tourists. Richman pointed out by allowing this
project at the base of the mountain, right across from the transit center,
this will help change Aspen' s image. If P & Z gives the full allocation, it
{ will minimize the construction impacts as opposed to phasing it. Richman
_f said the P & Z must consider how they feel about a project of this magnitude
and to question what benefit there would be in making the project compete
in future years.
Richman said it will take a two year construction period for this project
and by the time the project is finished, another year of allocation would
have taken place. Richman said there are numberous cons to such a large
allocation. The most clearest con is the incompatibility with the basic
growth rate and policy of the community. There would be a large growth rate
in the city over the short term. Richman said there are other projects in
review, Centennial , Hotel Jerome, and Highlands Inn. If they all go, there
would be substantial growth rate. Another con of this allocation is that it
1 would preclude any other L-1 , L-2 project from increasing their lodge or
building a new building. Richman said even if the P & Z allocates the
entire request, in each of the next three year 12 units would be available
{ Hotel Jerome ' s 65 units will also come out of
on top of the quota. The
{ future years quotas .
i
i Continued Meeting Planning and Zoning Commission November 29 , 1983
i Richman said the L-3 quota of 10 units per year would continue as a separate
quota. It the Copper Horse is taken out of L-3 and made employee housing,
that would bump up -the L-3 quota. Richman said another con is if this
project would be a sign to theprivate section that a new boom is on the way.
j Richman said if this does touch off some cyclical growth, the P & Z may
i experience some inability of the infrastructure to handle the growth rate.
For instance, the transit center is undersized for the community now.
Another con, this project might result in some attrition in smaller operation::
in town due to competitiveness. The addition of 200 units at the base of
{ the mountain will -Further concentrate lodging in Aspen with the skiing
capacity located out of town.
i Richman said P & Z has been .working on growth policies, and this policy
suggests if P & Zsees. a proect that meets a substantial community priority
and does something necessary for the community, the policy suggests that
1 P & Z can use the quota flexibily, in terms of multi-year allocations, or
1 adjusting the quota. If P & Z feels this project meets an important community
priority, it is reasonable to consider a multi-year allocation. Richman
said the planning office feels the argument in terms of past years allocation
'., is very persuasive; however, there are problems with a 3, years future
allocations with the bookkeeping and with the short term impact. Richman
said P & Z should consider how important it is to them to get the tourist
amenities the project is proposing. If P & Z can accept scaling down of the
amenities, perhaps the project is too large. {
Vann pointed out it is important to consider that this applicant is upgrading
25 per cent of the existing lodge inventory, which may not happen if they do
not get the multi year allocation. The present owners of these lodges may
chose not to upgrade the lodges. This is a community priority in the
growth management policies. This project would provide a caliber of lodging
which does not exist in this community.
Ms. Tygre said the existing 269 units to be reconstructed, this years quota
of 35 and past years quota would be 354 . Ms. Tygre asked the applicant if
the project would be viable with 354 units and phasing the rest over years .
l Vann said he felt the number of units is probably driven by the cost of
acquiring the parcel. Doremus told P & Z in the planning of this project,
they used numbers that were feasible. The applicant took the numbers to
consultants, who studied these and said the numbers were feasible. There
are other projects to help support the hotel, like the residential projects .
It was carefully worked out, not only to be acceptable, but to be a winner
and to be feasible. Doremus said as a long time resident, he has resolved
this project will be a benefit to the community. There is a need for this
j type of facility in this town.
Alan Novak told the Commission, the applicants imposed limitation upon them-
selves and took into account th— acceptcd views of Aspen. The applicants
a were concerned to have a facility with aitienities to make it viable for year
round conference business and provide quality that is lacking on that site.
It is a plus to take the existing facilities and upgrade them. Novak said
they had discussed phasing the project, because Aspen likes to stick to the
growth management plan. Novak said this project cannot be built in sections .
j The design attempted to make competitive facilities , and to take in the level
`j of amenities to make the project competitive, they have to be put in all at
once. They have excavated the project down two stories, there is variation
in height of two to four stories. The applicants have tried to do everything
within the rules and regulations and within the framework of the community.
Sheldon raised another point with the increased competition in the lodging
community and the attrition of smaller units, the Copper Horse would be
taking off 50 units off the bottom of the lodging community. The project
i would be adding 211 units to the top. There would be a decrease of budget
units available. Sheldon said the airplane traffic arriving on Saturdays
for this project should be addressed. Pardee said he is hesitant . grant
future allocations for this project unless they proceed as planned.
{ Ms. Tygre moved to adjourn at 7. 45 p.m. ; seconded by Hunt. All in favor,
motion carried.
I -
Kathryn S Koch, City Clerk
ALAO
I
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 100 Leaves
FORM 7a C.F.MOECKEL B.B.8 C.CO.
Regular Meeting Planning and Zonin Commission November 22 , 1983
Chairman Perry Harvey called the meeting to order with members Jasmine Tygre,
Pat Fallin, Welton Anderson, Lee Pardee, David White, Roger Hunt and Paul
Sheldon present.
Commissioners Roger Hunt said the Commission should speak to the police
Comments department about their parking south of City Hall. Hunt
said he would be willing to talk to them.
Paul Sheldon said there is a new transit agency, and they are
effecting the transportation in Aspen. Sheldon asked if the
agency would come to P & Z or Council for comments . Sheldon
pointed out the route on Hyman Avenue was removed with no
consultation from the city. Sunny Vann said this can be
addressed in the transportation planning. The transit agency
is trying to get going with no major change in existing
service.
Harvey asked the Commission how they would like to handle the
scoring of the projects. Pardee said he would like the
planning office, applicant, public hearing, and the planning
office can be totalling the scores while the Board hears the
next presentation. Sunny Vann told the P & Z that in
addition to the scoring, one of the projects is requesting a
multi-year allocation. Vann said after both projects have
been scored, the Board will hear a presentation to the
appropriateness of a multi-year allocation. Harvey said he
would like the scores handed in and tabulated by staff.
Harvey said he is employed as a consultant for the Hotel
Jerome, and that could be construed as a conflict of interest
in judging these applications . Harvey read a letter from
the owner of the Hotel Jerome into the record. In the letter
Gilmore stated he feels there is no conflict as he is support
ive of new lodge development if of quality, sensitive in
' scale, etc . Harvey read a letter from himself into the
record disclosing his position as a consultant working with
Gilmore on the upgrading of the Hotel Jerome. Harvey stated
his dedication to the Jerome project derives from the con-
viction that Aspen needs to upgrade its lodging inventory.
Harvey said new lodging is in keeping with the work on the
Jerome and his belief about Aspen' s lodges. Harvey said he
feels no conflict on his work on the Jerome and his position
on P & Z .
Wright Hugus, attorney for Lyle Reeder, said he had no
objection to Harvey hearing these applications . Art Daily,
attorney for Commerce Savings Association, said he sees no
conflict. Assistant City Attorney Gary Esary said the proses
ure outlined in the letter is consistent with conflict of
interest questions. Anderson stated he is one of the credit-
' ors in the bankruptcy. Anderson said he does not feel biases
in this. Hunt said he is in the same position and feels the
same as Anderson. Hugus -asked if either members had any
specific creditor problems with this real estate. Hunt and
Anderson answered no. Hugus said then he felt there was no
conflict of interest in this application. Daily stated the
Aspen Mountain Lodge does not feel these members have a
conflict.
Sheldon, the alternate member, said he is the manager of the
St. Moritz lodge. Sheldon said the potential conflict is
1 that additional lodge rooms in a limited market could effect
him. On the other hand, eleimination of the Copper Horse
i
Regular Meeting Planning and Zoning Commission November 22, 1.983
I and Alpina Haus from short term accommodations is significant--
to the St. Moritz as they could benefit from the elimination
of dorm rooms. Sheldon said he - participates in the P & Z
as an individual but would listen to objections. Sheldon
said this would only become 'relevant if he were to vote.
Pardee said he feels this situation may be a problem.
Pardee said if the vote is close, it is wiser to have someone
step down. A manager of a competing hotel has a conflict to
some degree.
Esary read from Ordinance #50, 1979 (1) (h) the definition of
substantial interest; "substantial means and includes a
situation where, considering all of the circumstances , a
reasonably prudent person would expect a marked tendency to
make a decision other than an objective decision" . Harvey
said he would not be at the next meeting, and Sheldon will
be in a voting position. Daily said he feels Sheldon does
not have a conflict. Hugus said they have no problem.
Hunt moved to not remove Sheldon from the Commission for the
reason that the applicants and other Commission members have
no objections; seconded by Fallin. All in favor, with the
exception of Pardee. Motion carried.
1984 L-1/L-2
Lodge GMP Sunny Vann, planning director, stated there are two projects
Competition before P & Z for consideration for a 1984 GMP lodge alloca-
tion; The Lodge at Aspen, submitted by Lyle Reeder, and the
Aspen Mountain Lodge, submitted by American Century Corpora-
tion, Commerce Savings Association and Alan Novak. The
process for this meeting will be an overview of each of the
projects. Vann told P & Z that Reeder submitted and success-
fully competed for a GMP allocation two years ago for a
similar project on the same site. Alan Richman will give
information on the implications of that prior GMP application.
Vann said these projects are reviewed by individuals in the
planning office. The recommendations are then reviewed by
the entire planning office staff. The composite recommenda-
tion is forwarded to P & Z as planning office scores under
the various procedures . The P & Z does not have to concur
with the planning office recommendation. Vann reiterated the
staff will go through their recommendation, will then allow
each application to make a presentation, P & Z can then ask
questions, the public hearing will be opened, the P & Z will
then score the project. Vann said the Aspen Mountain Lodge
is requesting a multi-year allocation, and the planning office
does have a presentation on the pros and cons, if the project
is successful.
Harvey said this is a competition for 1984 , and asked how many
units are available for allocation. Vann said this is a
competition in 1983 for construction in 1984 and there are
35 units available. Harvey asked what the holdover of units
is. Vann said approximately 50 units. Harvey asked if the
Aspen Mountain Lodge were successful , and they convert units
in the Copper Horse and Alpina Haus from lodge to residential ,
will that affect the multi-year allocation. Vann said the
Copper Horse will be a change in use and will have a separate
review as it is going from L-3 lodge to residential . The
Alpina Haus is R/MF and will go to deed restricted employee
housing and no change in use will be required. Vann said the
quota will be affected and there will be an adjustment. The
Copper Horse units will be credited to L-3 quota, and the
residential quota will be debited.
t
i
i
i
I
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS 100 Leaves
FORM 10 C.F.HOECKEL R.B.&L.CO.
Regular Meeting Planning and Zoning Commission November 22 , 1983
-3-
The Lodge at Alan Richman said the P & Z scored this project a few years
Aspen ago, in a similar but somewhat different configuration.
This is a proposal to build an entirely new facility on the
corner of Ute and Original next to the Aspen Alps . The
proposal is for 46 tourist rooms and six employee units.
The units are about 216 square feet each. The lot size is
' slightly of 15 , 000 square feet; it is a small , constrained
site. Richman said previously, the applicant won an alloca-
tion to build 31 tourist units and four employee housing
units. Richman said the planning office feels this project
has a net effect on the quota of 15 units. The applicant
would relinquish the previously awarded 31 units, if he is
awarded the 46 units requested in this submission.
Richman said there are some desirable and some undesirable
features in the project. Richman said important aspects are
underground parking, 1 per bedroom; the lodge is quite close
to the ski area. Richman said the applicant has proposed
some on-site amenities for guests, dining and health faciliti�
although the staff has some problems with some of the quality
of those. The applicant is proposing to house about 80 per
cent of the lodge employees. Richman said the proposed rooms
of 216 square feet are extremely small. The previous rooms
were 320 square feet. There is a question if these are the
type of units that are desirable in the Aspen lodging market.
Richman told P & Z there is a substantial degree of paving on
the site. Richman said there is a landscaping plan. There i
no outdoor -recreational or open space amenities of any
magnitude on this site. Richman said in the water system,
there was a commitment by the applicant to sharing the cost
of a looped water system. Richman said the applicant is
willing to provide the cost for the loop involving this
particular project; therefore, the applicant is improving the
level of service for this project only. Richman said it is
unlikely the quality of service to the area would be improved
by this proposal and the city does not have any funds to
share in this project. The planning office scored this area
a one (1) .
{ Richman said in storm drainage and fire protection there are
substantial upgrades . There is a proposal to extend the
storm sewer up Aspen mountain road, which would improve a
neighborhood drainage situation; therefore this got the
maximum rating of two (2) . In fire protection, the applicant
proposes the installation of a hydrant, which would improve
fire protection services.
Richman said the road proposal is simply a proposal to black ,
Aspen mountain road, which is only cosmetic, not service
related. Harvey noted the applicant proposed the fire
hydrant in the northwest corner and the fire department
prefers it at the northeast corner. Richman said the P & Z
may find. that the hydrant located in the northwest corner
would primarily benefit the site and not the general area.
Ric:iman said the staff scaled the height of the building and
found the peak of the roof too high allowed in the L-1 zone
Q district; therefore, there is a major flaw in design. Richm�
said the applicant may be able to technically clarify the
position regarding the height. The information provided to
Regular Meeting Planning and Zoning Commission November 22 , 1983
staff indicated a design flat:. Richman said this would not be
considered a design flaw it the roof were brought within the
heighth limitations. Richman said within the conceptual
nature of an applicant' s presentation for growth management
approval, the staff would not typically reject an application
exceeding the code by a few feet. The applicant would have
an opportunity to clarify the situation.
Richman pointed out in site design there are three curb cuts
proposed; two on Ute avenue and one on Aspen mountain road.
The engineering department does not feel three curb cuts on
a site of this size was necessary and not a desirable site
design. Richman said the staff feels this is a major design
flaw in terms of site design.
Richman said the proposal has an ambitious parking scheme with
two levels of underground parking. The engineering department
is questioning the turning radius, it may not be adequate.
Richman said there was no information provided on the trash
facility,it' s location and the extent of it.
Richman told P & Z for the guest amenities, these are rated
with the size of the lodge, size of the facilities and
quality of facilities. The planning office finds the common
meeting facilities somewhat inadequate; there are only
meeting areas in the lounge and lobby. The lounge area will
also be a dining area as well as a sitting area. There is no
area for conference facility. There are lodges in Aspen of
this scale with common meetings�'� he planning office finds
this to be a design flaw with not even a small area of the
lodge dedicated to meeting areas.
Richman told P & Z the lodge does provide restaurant facilities
for guests , which is fairly standard. The problem with the
recreational facilities - the saunas and exercise room - is
their location, in the parking area below grade. Richman
said the staff does not feel the quality of those facilities
meets the standard of Aspen. Harvey said in amenities a score'
of one (1) indicates services which are deficient in terms of
quantity or spaciousness. Harvey asked if the planning office
had standards of square footage per person for menities .
Vann said the staff does not have a quantitat measure .
The staff looks at the number of rooms provid nd address
whether the applicant has included the space the sole
purpose of gaining points or whether they hav, ied to come
up with an area, through design, which tries t . ._)rovide an
amenity for the guest. Richman pointed out the L-1, L-2
district requires 25 per cent of the lodge to be non-unit
space, not rentable, not employee housing. This facility has
27 per cent, which meets the requirement.
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Esary said there is a standard, total non-unit space should be
25 per cent. This project has 27 per cent. The P & Z can
look at this application and come up with a ratio which can
be determined of rooms to square footage. Richman said
another comparison the planning office used was evaluation of
similarly sized facilities in the community and the amenity
package provided. Richman said he had visited many of the
lodges in the 40 to 50 room size and moast of them have
meeting rooms and outdoor recreational facilities .
Richman said the application indicates it will house all 15
employees of the project on and off site . The on-site
proposal is for 12 employees in 6 rooms. The off-site housing
proposal contained no information as to specifics of location.
Richman said no progress has been made in firming up a
specific proposal . Pardee said the P & Z cannot expect an
applicant to go buy 3 condominium unit in the expectation he
will get an allocation.
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. Vann noted the housing office must review the specifics of a
proposal to determine if it complies with the guidelines.
Harvey said there are two applications before the P & Z . One
application estimates its employee requirement for one for
every two rooms; the other, one for every three rooms. Harvey•
asked if this estimate for this project of 15 employees is
the staff' s estimate , or the applicant' s . Richman said this
is the applicant' s figure, which was reviewed by the housing
office. Harvey asked if it were fair for P & Z to consider
two applications with different requirements for employees .
Richman said the housing office has standards it uses for
number of employees per hundred beds. The standard the
housing office feels comfortable with is for every 100 beds ,
between 13 and 23 employees will be generated based on the
level of service the lodge is trying to provide to its guests .
Richman said the difference in the two applications is probabl
level of service. Richman said the P & Z would not want to
have all lodges with the same level of service as there is
a variation of market.
Harvey asked if the number of employees takes into considera-
tion the widely varying occupancy rates during the year.
Richman answered this is dealing with peak, fulltime equiva-
lency. Richman pointed out the P & Z had difficulty with this
application in 1981 with the number of employees proposed.
The applicant said he would house 100 per cent of his employee
but it did not appear he had identified 100 per cent of his
employees . The new lodge quota system was written to reflect
the concerns of P & Z , with detail listing of employees
required to serve the lodge. Richman said the housing office
finds 15 employees to be adequate. Vann said it is suggested
the applicant contact the housing office to discuss reason-
ableness of employees needed and discuss any problems . Usual!
the staff and applicant wind up with a mutually agreed upon
number .
Lyle Reeder presented a model of the project and passed out
comments in written form. Reeder said he would like to
comment, generally, about the P & Z competition, and to
address the specific deficiencies that planning did in scoring
this project. Reeder said the Lodge at Aspen is a 52 room
project, 46 lodge rooms and 6 employee rooms. This project
will cater to ski clubs and budget-minded skiers. Reeder
said he feels that the proposed demolitition of the Continentd
and Aspen inn, to be replaced with a first class world hotel
will create a deficiency in the low and medium price range.
The Lodge at Aspen with smaller rooms can offer more reason-
able price accommodation than a hotel offering large rooms ,
energy consuming swimming pools and elaborate health facilities
which some guests may never use. Reeder said he has some
i objections to the Aspen Mountain Lodge project. The first
regards Ordinance #35, 1983. Harvey said this is not
pertinent to the review of the Lodge at Aspen. Harvey said
he would like Reeder to clarify any points.
Reeder presented a summary of the planning office scoring,
showing where rated below the maximum, the multiplier and the
total number of points he has not received. Reeder, in his
memorandum, then addresses each category of review. Reeder
said the city' s water department director has indicated a
neighborhood deficiency, and the Lodge as Aspen ' s proposal
to share the cost of the looped water main would bring about
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a Regular Meeting Planning and Zoning Commission November 22 , 1983
I
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o correction of the neighborhood water system inadequacies.
. Reeder stated the water consumed by this project will be
, metered and paid for resulting in increased revenues to the
.Z city. Reeder stated he feels a two (2) rating would be
appropriate .
Reeder said the applicant will pay sewer tap fees and the
i sewer assessments. Harvey asked the applicant if he was
sticking to the commitment to share the cost of the water
improvement. Harvey pointed out of Markalunas says there
r' are no city funds available to construct any portion of the
water system, there is a problem. Reeder told P & Z this
comes from two years ago when Markalunas indicated the city
was willing to pay a share. Reeder said he feels sharing
the cost is adequate and other people will benefit from the
loop, and the city should share the cost of providing for the
loop.
Harvey asked if Reeder was going to do anything to improve
the service beyond the scope of his project, or just take
care of his specific needs . Reeder said the water line is
in the street; he could run to the water line and not even
contribute to the loop. Harvey said it appears to him that
the Lodge would be adequately serviced by providing the loop
but not just be adding into the water line. Richman read
from the referrals , "If the applicant is willing to provide
the referenced improvements (the loop) at its own expense
without any concrete assurances the city would participate,
we would certainly endorse the application as an improvement
to the water distribution system" .
Reeder said the costs would be paid for all sewer construction
and the sewer facilities seem to be adequate and a two (2)
rating is appropriate. Reeder said he feels the Aspen
mountain road is more important than indicated in the planning
office report. It is access to the Ajax condominiums and a
house, and continues over Aspen mountain and is used in the
summertime. Reeder said he feels a score of two (2) would
be more appropriate.
Reeder said the proposed lodge will be built within the legal
constraints of the 33 foot height limitation. Reeder pointed
out PUD procedures are not available to the Lodge at Aspen,
restrictions are imposed which limit architectural design
potention. Reeder said compatibility with existing neighbor-
hood developments is to be considered in evaluating archi-
tectural design. Also size of rooms is not a factor. Reeder
said he believes the design fits in well and should have a
higher rating than that given by the planning office .
Reeder said the site design was prepared observing the setback
requirements of the city. Reeder said he is willing to reduce
the curb cuts from three to two. Reeder said it appears that
concentration of tourist rooms at the base of the mountain
will have desired results such as reducing automobile use by
lodge guests. Harvey asked which curb cut the engineering
department wanted removed. Richman said one on Ute most
adjacent to the Alps. Sheldon asked where the entrance would
be. Reeder said on Ute avenue. Pardee said a technical
clarification is acceptable, but to change from 3 to 2 curb
cuts is in response to rating. People come in with a presen-
tation not knowing what the competition is and are rated
accordingly. Pardee said the P & Z cannot accept the fact
the curb cuts will go from three to two. Richman agreed
changing the site design does put this process into some
question.
Reeder said the trash removal was not gotten into the original
presentation because normally it is no big deal. The trash
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November 22 , 1983
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facility will be located near the southeast corner of the
property. Hunt pointed out that area is grated down for the
parking. Reeder said there would be a retaining wall .
en
Hunt asked how it would be accessed. Reeder said by p
mountain road. Hunt asked how the people from the building
would get to the facility. Reeder pointed out the sidewalk
area.
Reeder said for snow control , the lodge twill have
hengineered
snow stops installed to retain tape
system installed on the edge of the roof to control ice
build up; heat systems will be installed in the sidewalks and
driveyway and on site dry wells will handle any runoffs .
A snow plow will be kept on site for clearing snow, and
contract snow removal will be used for emergencies in heavy
snow fall.
Reeder said parking for the project is provided of one space
per lodge and employee bedroom, which is a requirement of the
L-1 and L-2 area and bulk requirements. Reeder said the
turning radius for cars in the parking area was laid out
according to the city' s parking standard. Harvey said in the
application an auto elevator into the parking garage was
mentioned and asked if that was because the site constraints
are such that a ramp cannot be constructed. Reeder said in
doing engineering work, if a ramp is not adequate, they will
go to an elevator. Hunt asked about the snow and ice control
on the ramp. Reeder said there will be heat in the concrete
with drains at the bottom.
Reeder said the height of the building will be reduced slight]
to stay within the area said
the Lodge at Aspen
enhance the visual appearance from the street.
Reeder said in the amenities section, the commission shall
consider each application with respect to the quality and
spaciousness of its proposed services for guests as compared
to the size of the proposed lodging , project. Reeder said it
appears that a smaller lodge will be limited in its ability
to provide amenities . Reeder said he feelsthat a common area
of 1120 square feet of lounge and lobby is sufficient for a
46 room lodge. Reeder pointed out the restrictive nature of
ts, conference facilities in a
the area and bulk requiremen
small lodge are unrealistic.
i
Reeder said in the L-1 zone, restaurant for public use is
prohibited except as a conditional use . This lodge is
located within walking distance of the commercial core .
Harvey asked if the applicant intends to serve food to the
guests. Reeder said there is a kitchen, they will serve
breakfast, after ski snacks, etc. Reeder said being located
so close to town, he does not want to be in competition with
restaurants in town. This is more of a convenience item.
Harvey noted that the applicant seems to have changed the
marketing from the original application where it is going to
be a small , elegant lodge catering to an affluent market.
Reeder agreed after considering the original application, in
the sense they have small_ rooms , they will change the
approach.
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Regular Meeting Planning and Zoning Commission November 22 , 1983
a
Reeder said as far as the recreational facilities, this is a
small lodge site . There are two athletic clubs within walking
distance. The indoor hot tub at the garden level will look
out at a landscaped area, and will be much more energy
efficient. Vann pointed out in upgrading the L-1 , L-2 scoring
the issue of providing amenities was debated at length, and
P & Z felt they should be provided in size and relationship
to the specific project.
Sheldon asked if Reeder proposed to be a moderately priced `
lodge. Reeder said yes . Reeder said the Lodge at Aspen
proposes to house 100 per cent of its employees. Three
employees will be housed off site . The Lodge at Aspen will
either enter into long term leases or purchase three condo-
miniums . Reeder feels this will provide a better lifestyle
for employees, particularly if they have families . Harvey
asked if this project passes threshold, is the applicant
prepared to enter into an agreement with the city regarding
this housing. Reeder said he is , and will have the units
stay within the housing guidelines. Reeder told P & Z the
employee unit at garden level will be built to meet building
code requirements for habitation. A door to the outside of
the building will be provided, and minimum window requirements
will be designed into the unit. Reeder said he feels this
project qualifies for 15 points for employee housing. i
Reeder said this applicant represents the first attempt since
GMP adoption to construct an entirely new lodge. The
submission addresses the upgrading of a key corner location
with proximity to the base of Aspen mountain and the proposed
Little Annie ski area. Reeder said the design of this lodge
represents an attempt to develop an intimate scale lodge, in
keeping with a megastructure approach. Reeder said the
project can be built within any deficiencies in water, sewer,
storm drainag,e fire protection, sidewalks, etc. The
location is within walking distance to the commercial core
and public transportation. Reeder said the design of the
proposed lodge will not interfere with the pedestrian traffic
sight line of Aspen mountain. These address bonus points
considerations .
Harvey opened the public hearing.
Jerry Hewey, manager of Aspen Alps, presented a letter to the
Commission. Hewey presented pictures of Ute avenue and the
general area and said it is quite difficult to park in the
area during the ski season. Hewey said the roads in the area
are very narrow and is concerned about safety. Hewey said
this is a nice, small lodge. He has been in the lodge business
39 years and the economics of running a small lodge are very
difficult, particularly a new development. Hewey said if the
lodge is going to have three limosines running 16 hours a
day, it will take 7 employees just to run the limosines .
Hewey said he did not three limosines were needed anyway.
Alan Shaffer, realtor, said he does not think that a fairness
doctrine with respect to hotels is in this scoring . Shaffer
said there could be a lodge. without any amenities to guests
and still be a nice place. Shaffer said he feels amenities
is an improper and subjective scoring area.
Wright Hugus, attorney for the applicant, presented a letter
for the record containing technical and legal comments and
objections to the entire GMP procedure in general and the
Mountain Lodge in particular. Hugus said some of his legal
objections are directed toward scoring and the point system;
therefore, he would like his letter considered prior to the
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Regular Meeting Planning and Zoning Commission November 22 , 1983
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Lodge at Aspen. Hugus said he would be guided by the P & Z
` pleasure . Harvey said this a not a comparative process where
the projects are analyzed together; they are rated by the
' criteria in the scoring categories . Hugus said his objections
are to irregularities and basic procedure in connection with
the lodge GMP proceedings.
Hugus first objection is that the Aspen Mountain Lodge is
being considered as both a PUD and a lodge competition and
has certain advantages . The second objection is that amenitie-
scored 9 in Reeder' s application and 21 in the Mountain Lodge.
Hugus said it is difficult to equate the amenities for 480
rooms versus 46 . The third objection is eliminating 269 rooms
means the Mountain Lodge only needs 211 units from the GMP.
Hugus said it seems to him that the Commission should only
consider 211 units ;
Hugus said a project the size of the Mountain Lodge is diffi-
cult to conceive in this small town. It seems to be a compari-
son between projects. The fifth objection requires that an
applicant for a GMP lodge competition has certainestanding,
either owner, contract purchaser, option to buy, g
odge is an assignment for
said the applicant for the Mountain L
the rights of the owner to file an application. Hugus said
he did not feel this is proper.
The sixth point is the request that the Mountain Lodge receive
units for the next five years , which would insure using up
the future. It is difficult to predict what Aspen will need.
Point seven, in September 1983 , the City Council received a
proposal to change the law pertaining to city owned property
in applications . Hugus said the law at that point required ar
applicant who was including city owned property to have the
i consent in the application of the city, and required the
scoring process to be done with the city owned property and
without the city owned property. Hugus said this was tabled
until an October meeting, and passed changing the law so that
if an applicant had city owned property included, the city
did not have to approve in the application. Hugus said the
Mountain Lodge has city owned property within it, and the
application had to be in the planning office October 3 . At
the time the application was received, the city had not
approved it.
Esary said it is clear in the GMP process that scoring in fror
of P & Z is not a reliance event. Esary pointed out that an
i award of an allotment in front of Council is not a reliance
event. Esary recommended that scoring proceed. The P & Z
has accepted Hugus ' s letter.
Harvey closed the public hearing regarding the Lodge at Aspen
j
Hunt questioned the energy conservation and asked how many
hours of sunlight in the winter the project receives to use
solar collectors. Sheldon estimated 4 to 5 hours . Harvey
jsaid in the pre-application, back up on number of employees ,
i back up on solar research should be gotten so the P & Z can
evaluate these. Richman agreed; however, the planning office
did not do a pre-application because this project had been
presented before.
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Planning and Zoning Commission November 22 , 1983
Regular Meeting g
1
v Vann said the P & Z will hear the planning office recommenda-
tion on a multi-year quota , if appropriate, this evening.
The P & Z is scheduled to hear the additional review require-
ments on the Aspen Mountain Lodge next week. The recommenda-
tion that will go forward to Council is the scoring on the
GMP application, recommendation on multi-year quota, and a
recommendation on PUD conceptual and associated review
requirements.
Aspen - acre
Mountain Lodg" Sunny Vann told P & Z this consists of 111,
street
located located between Galena street
Durant avenue, with a piece of land located on Mill street at
the base of Aspen mountain. Vann said the PUD is a multi-
phased project. The applicant is competing at this time for
a lodge portion of the project. There is a separate residen-
tial at the top of Mill , there is a residential at the old
700 South Galena site, adjacent to the hotel site. Some of
these will require a GMP allocation, which will not be
submitted until December. The Board is considering only the
appropriateness of the lodge GMP application and consistency
with GMP scoring criteria.
Vann said the site is currently zoned L-1 , CL, R-15/PUD-L,
and conservation. The actual hotel is located on L-1 and C-L
which allow construction of a lodge . The application is
requesting several rezonings to take advantage of area and
bulk requirements permitted in those zone districts . These
will be considered at the conceptual PUD review. The request
for rezoning is not germaine to the GMP scoring categories .
Vann told P & Z the lodge portion consists of 480 unit resort
hotel; this involves reconstruction of 269 existing units
located at Continental Inn, Aspen Inn and Blue Spruce lodge.
The application is requestion exemption from GMP for the
reconstruction of those existing units. This request will be
heard at the next meeting.
The additional reviews are rezonings, exemption from GMP for
employee housing, request for reconstruction of existing unitF
change in use exemption for conversion to deed restricted
employee housing, street vacations, a possible view plane
review. Recommendation to Council for any allocation will be
contigent upon Council ' s approval of additional reviews .
Vann said he would like to discuss architectural design and
visual impacts of this project. Vann said the site plan is
very well done; however, the planning office is concerned
about the bulk of this project on Durant street facade. The
lodge wings on Mill , Monarch and Galena are basically consis-
tent with the surrounding uses in the lodge district. The
height varies, and they have taken advantage of architectural
techniques to reduce the bulk.
The facades on Durant and Dean streets are substantial in
terms of height and bulk. In the PUD process , the applicant
will be requesting a variation from the FAR and from the
height restrictions of the underlying zone districts . The
intent of PUD regulations are to provide that flexibility.
As far as the GMP scoring categories, the architectural desig:
which considers impact on the adjacent neighborhood, in the
visual impact, there are a major design flaws. These issues
can be addressed as part of the conceptual PUD submission.
1 The applicant would have an opportunity to deal with site
specific architectural concerns.
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The planning office feels the variances from the height
regulations , which would be required for these facades, are
inconsistent with the surrounding development and would block
views of Aspen mountain.
Harvey said he is concerned and unclear about the number of
units requested, number of units to be reconstructed, the
Alpina Haus being lost to employee housing, calculation of
net employees . Vann said the applicant is requesting recon-
struction of the Aspen Inn, Blue Spruce, and Continental.
The Code requires the applicant submit for staff consideratic
inventory of the units to be demolished for verification.
The staff reviewed the request for reconstruction of 277 unit:
and physical survey and documentation, the number was reduced
to 269 units. The discrepancy involves the legality of some
of the units the applicant was claiming for reconstruction.
Vann said the Code, in addressing employee housing , it requir,
the applicants provision of the net increase in the number of
employees, those units that are being added. The employees
for the units being reconstructed is not discussed. Harvey
asked if the applicant puts employee housing on the Benedict
land, what does that do to Little Annie ski area. Vann said
the employee housing for this project is provided off-site,
and the applicant proposes to house 60 per cent of the net
increase of employees. Some units will be provided by
conversion of existing structures . Fifty units will be
provided on the Benedict site, these units were considered
as part of the Little Annie proposal and are located on the
same portion of the site . Should Little Annie ever build,
they would be looking for other employee housing.
John Doremus, representing the applicant, presented drawings
and photographs and told P & Z they have been presenting thes,,.
to the public for three weeks to acquaint them with what is
being proposed. Doremus pointed out the employee housing in
three locations. Doremu °pointed out the hotel site and the
buildings overlaid -on it. The hotel site is over 5 acres .
Doremus pointed out all the land the applicant has acquired,
showed where the residential projects are proposed.
Doremus said large projects do have impacts but they can also
provide "goodies" that small projects cannot. There are
trade offs. This project is able to provide considerable
amount of open space, trails, underground parking. Doremus
said the applicant would like to see the implementation of
the lodge improvement district. The applicant is upgrading
the utilities and underground the utilities .
Joe Wells addressed the relationship of this proposal to the
scale of the neighborhood. Many buildings are 35 to 40 feet
and two are over 60 feet. Wells showed a drawing of elevatioi
perspective. Wells said architecturally, they had tried to
minimize the bulk of the building, as it is a large building.
The facade is varied in height, ranging from two to four
stories. The building has been set back from Durant street
for the entrance and to prevent excessive shading of Durant.
Doremus said he would like to review the GMP scoring points
as they feel they deserve some bonus points. They are
adding a 12 inch water main, which will upgrade the distribu-
Regular Meeting Planning and Zoning Commission November 22, 1983
tion network in the area. This will also increase fire
flows in the area. This provides a third 12 inch V for the
city. The project will add 3 or 4 fire hydrants . The i
applicant requests bonus points in water. The applicant
requested upgrading from 1 to 2 in sewer points as they are
going to put in a new line and eliminate two on Durant that
have caused maintenance problems. This will improve the
capacity of the main and allow more treatment.
Joe Wells said in storm drainage, the applicant deserves not
only an upgrade to 2 but bonus points. Wells said in additio:
to handling the 100 year run off and the 5 year historical
run off , which is an upgrading because the run off is
presently being dumped into the street, the city needs to
retain 2 . 5 acre feet of water. The applicant is offering
to construct that facility in the upper portion of the PUD.
The control of it will reduce the flow to no more than 13
cfs at a given time. Wells said he feels they are helping
the city solve a significant problem.
Pardee asked why the planning office scored this area 1 point .
Vann said the representation was that it was not construed
this upgraded the city' s collection and discharge system.
Vann said he will look at the drainage study. Wells said in
fire protection, they are offering additional hydrants to
service this and adjacent projects. The building will be
fully sprinklered; there will be a computer smoke alarm
system, with stand by power and back up. This will be state
of the art in fire protection. The applicant requests bonus
points in this category.
Larry Stricker, architect, addressed quality of design and
visual impact. Stricker pointed out they will excavate and
submerse the buildings to mitigate the heighth of the build-
ing. Stricker said this is an innovative design, it is not
standard on grade building. Stricker showed visual lines
from Durant. Stricker pointed out the building is set back
50 feet from the curb at Durant. Stricker showed the view
from the Mill street mall , how the building fits in and
other surrounding buildings .
Harvey asked the height at the main entrance. Stricker said
the mean height is 42 feet and peak height is 47 feet.
The applicant is still in the process of mitigating wherever
possible, diminishing the height. Harvey asked for a
discussion of square footage, floor area ratio and that
below grade area. Wells said the rooms below grade as a
result of excavation are counted in the floor area ratio.
The rest of the space below grade which is non-habitable is
exempt.
Vann said the handling of the wings , stepping them back and
fitting them in with surrounding buildings works quite well.
However standing to the east, the building creates a canyon
effect and blocks the view of the upper mountain. There
will be a 50 foot wall where there is a vacant parking lot
now. The planning office raises the problem of the facade
along Durant street. Vann said he feels through further
design refinement, the design flaw can be fixed and lessen
the impacts.
Harvey recommended the Commission take a site visit before
the next meeting. The applicant told P & Z they are prepar-
ing an elaborate model that should be ready for the next
meeting. Vann said the assistant city engineer, Jay Hammond
has looked at the drainage study in this application.
Vann said the improvements in the application for storm
drainage would be eligible for scoring.
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Wells said the applicant feels they should be considered for
bonus points under site design. Wells said all surface
parking has been eliminated. Utilities will be undergrounde
The trees on Durant will be preserved or relocated. The
applicant will construct a major trail link in the trails
master plan; provide ski access. The proposal includes a
major open space commitment.
Hunt asked what happens to the nine parking spaces at this
site for the Woodstone lodge . Vann said the problem is
whether Cantrup had the right to deed restrict parking space.
to the city, what the effects those agreements have as a
result of the bankruptcy proceedings . Wells said if it is
found to be the legal responsibility of the applicant, they
will fulfill it.
Pardee asked if the applicant has addressed the question of
management. Alan Novak said they have been looking careful
at hotel operators , with the criteria for the best reputatic
Novak said Aspen is such an attractive place , there has not
been a shortage of hotel managers who have expressed an
interest in running this hotel .
Wells brought up energy conservation, the planning office
scored the maximum points. The room orientation was chosen
to . take advantage of passive solar gain. There are limita-
tions to active systems in the area. Insulation exceeds the
minimum requirements. The subgrade space will minimize the
energy requirements. The HVAC system will be computerized
so when rooms are vacated, there will be an adjustment in
the system. They would like bonus points .
Doremus said if any project should get full bonus points for
amenities for guests, it should be this project. The three
areas, dining , conference, and recreation facilities deserve
bonus points .
Harvey opened the public hearing.
Spencer Schiffer said in years past, it was the intention
of the P & Z (of which he was chairman) to encourage the
development and reconstruction for lodges in this precise
location. Schiffer said he feels this applicant is
deserving of the P & Z ' s approval and allocation. Schiffer
said a facility like this is needed in town.
Carolyn Doty, committee to preserve open space, said the
committee recognizes the need for a quality hotel . They
congratulate them on good design, landscaping, trail propos-
al , much needed conference facility, undergrounding utilitie
and the courtyards. However, they are concerned over some
issues; the commercial plan inside the hotel, as Aspen is
presently over built. The project will double the density
in the neighborhood, which will have negative impacts.
The building will cause visual impact in the view plane of
Aspen mountain, cut out sunshine for surrounding buildings,
and take away open space. The open space figure of 32 per
cent is misleading because some of this is above the 8040
greenline and is not intended to be built upon. The project
is too high for the area. 480 units is over building for tr
present need of Aspen. They oppose the employee units beinc
Regular Meeting Planning and Zoning Commission November 22 , 1983
for this project when Silverking phase IV is being built at
the same time. They oppose the bridge and restaurant over
Mill street as it will further block the view of Aspen
mountain. Ms . Doty read some recommendations to P & Z .
One is that a comprehensive plan be submitted for all
parcels owned by this group. The committee recommends that
the applicant be allowed to replace the existing rooms and
36 units allocated to the Aspen Inn under existing zoning
and a normal GMP process. Aspen has maintained its quality
because of quaintness, beauty and open space. They feel
a 480 room hotel at the base of the mountain and blocking
views is not preserving the quality of Aspen.
Fred Pierce asked for the planning office recommendations
on employee housing, especially in the Little Annie area.
Vann said the area at Little Annie will require an exemption
from growth management; the conversion of the Copper Horse
will require a change is use. These will be considered on
November 29 . Vann said the review is not complete at this
time and will be available for the next meeting. Vann said
a lot of these concerns will be addressed through the PUD
process.
Mike Otte said he has seen a lot of applications, none of
them perfect. However, this application has more positive
points and few negative points.
Lyle Reeder said the Aspen Mountain Lodge height exceeds the
height of the North of Nell building by 16 feet. Reeder
asked if a person could come all the way down the ski trail
to the Durant bus stop. Wells said the ski trail ends at
Mill street.
Harvey continued the public hearing.
Esdry advised the Commission that if anything said in the
public hearing would have changed the scores on the first
application, they should change the scores before the scores
are announced.
i
P & Z scored the application. Richman announced the Aspen
Mountain Lodge received 59 . 6 , and the Lodge at Aspen received
49 . 5. The Lodge at Aspen did not make the 51 point thresh-
hold and is not eligible for an allocation. Vann said
tomorrow copies of the score sheets will be available . The
recommendation will be forwarded to Council. The Lodge at
Aspen did not meet the threshold but has an opportunity to
appeal. P & Z will meet next week to discuss the rest of
the requirements for Aspen Mountain Lodge.
Anderson moved to forward the results of the scores to
Council with the caveat the Commission is now forwarding
any recommendations pending further review; seconded by Ms .
Tygre. All in favor, motion carried.
Anderson moved to adjourn at 8 : 45 p.m. ; seconded by Ms . Fallir
All in favor, motion carried.
Kathryn Koch, City Clerk