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HomeMy WebLinkAboutagenda.council.worksession.20190226CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION February 26, 2019 4:00 PM, City Council Chambers MEETING AGENDA I.Council Meeting with Planning & Zoning Commission 1/1 Page 1 of 2 MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor Skadron and Aspen City Council Planning and Zoning Commission FROM: Jessica Garrow, Community Development Director Jennifer Phelan, Deputy Planning Director RE: Council/P&Z Work session DATE: February 26, 2019 ______________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ REQUEST OF COUNCIL: The purpose of this work session is to provide an opportunity for discussion between City Council and the Planning and Zoning Commission, in support of Council Goal Number 9: “Determine and improve the effectiveness of each board and commission by…Formalizing and enhancing the communication between council and boards…” No formal decisions are requested at this meeting, but staff requests direction on any next steps around topics discussed at the meeting. SUMMARY: Over the past year, City Council and the Planning and Zoning Commission have raised questions to staff about certain processes and aspects of the land use code, and how decisions are made. Within the land use code, different sets of reviews fall under different review bodies. The Planning and Zoning Commission typically reviews applications ranging from new multi-family or lodging projects to variations from residential design standards. Many of the reviews completed by the Planning and Zoning Commission do not continue on to City Council, unless they are part of an appeal or a Commercial Design Call-Up. Examples of these types of projects include: · Variations from Residential Design Standards · Re-establishment of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) · Dimensional Variances not involving height or floor area (when combined with other reviews) · Stream Margin and 8040 Greenline Reviews · Growth Management Reviews involving multi-family buildings Projects that require a Planned Development Review, Subdivision Review, Rezoning, and certain Growth Management Reviews, will include a recommendation from the Planning and Zoning Commission with final reviews at City Council. While Council and P&Z cannot discuss current projects, previous projects that went through different reviews may be a good way to help frame the discussion. Examples of projects that included a recommendation from P&Z with final decision by City Council include the Lift One Loge and Gorsuch Page 2 of 2 Haus Reviews, the Boomerang Lodge, the Aspen Club, and Sky Hotel. In other projects, the Council review was comprised of the Commercial Design Call-Up process, and Council was essentially able to review the design de novo. Examples of Commercial and Lodging projects that included a standard Council Call-Up process have included Hotel Lenado, and 234 E Hopkins Ave (the building on the North West corner of Monarch and Hopkins). Examples of projects that had a final review with P&Z and no review by City Council have included 404 Park Avenue Affordable Housing, Aspen Hills Affordable Housing, and Ranger Station Subdivision Residential Design variations. DISCUSSION: During the various review processes listed above, topics of conversation at one or both boards have involved parking policies, affordable housing creation, which body should have final review authority, and the design review / call-up process. Staff suggests that these are areas in which the work session discussion could focus. Some questions to consider for the discussion: 1. What guidance, if any, would Council like to provide on policies P&Z (and HPC) is sometimes required to interpret such as affordable housing and parking? 2. What does City Council and P&Z like and dislike about the current review processes? Are there any types of projects that should specifically have reviews that end at Council or P&Z? 3. What changes, if any, would City Council and P&Z like to see regarding the Commercial Design call-up process? 4. What areas of technical reviews, such as parking, could be improved through changes in the land use code or other city policies? Aside from the discussion about the topics above, P&Z members have indicated an interest in discussing requirements related to sub-grade spaces in affordable housing units, mobility and parking generally, future green building/renewable energy opportunities, 5G wireless requirements, opportunities to reduce construction impacts in neighborhoods, and improvements to calculations and measurements. Staff suggests that these topics be discussed after the questions listed above have been reviewed, and if additional time is needed, to hold a second meeting in early 2019. Additionally, any changes to review processes, particularly around call-up, will impact reviews that are completed by the Historic Preservation Commission, so follow up discussion with both HPC and P&Z may be needed.