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HomeMy WebLinkAboutminutes.council.19980126Asoen City Council Regular Meetin~ January 26, 1998 Mayor Bennett called the meeting to order at 5:10 p.m. with Councilmembers Richards, Vickery and Markalunas present. CITIZEN COMMENTS There were none. COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS 1. Councilman Markalunas commended the street department for the excellent job they did last week. Councilman Markalunas encouraged citizens to move their vehicles to facilitate plowing on their block when they know the streets are being plowed. CONSENT CALENDAR Councilman Markalunas moved to read Ordinance #3, Series of 1998; seconded by Councilman Vickery. All in favor, motion carried. ORDINANCE NO. 3, SERIES OF 1998 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ASPEN, COLORADO, AMENDING SECTIONS 12.04.020 AND 12.04.030 OF THE ASPEN MUNICIPAL CODE PERTAINING TO THE "DEPOSITING OF GARBAGE, TRASH, AND ASHES" AND THE "AREA AROUND DUMPSTERS MAINTAINED FREE OF TRASH, GARBAGE" was read by the city clerk Councilwoman Richards said for second reading she would like more background on where recycling fits into this or how the ordinance could help encourage recycling measures. Councilwoman Richards said she also wants to know what the costs to the tenants would be. Many landlords have a triple pass on costs to tenants and this could be expensive to tenants. Councilwoman Richards moved to adopt the consent calendar; seconded by Councilman Markalunas. The consent calendar is: Asoen City Council Regular Meetin~ January 26, 1998 Resolmion #7, 1998 - Naming "Remo" Park Resolmion #8, 1998 - Morgridge Annexation James E. Moore Pool Hot Tub Donation Ordinance #3, 1998 - Code Amendment - Garbage, Trash and Ashes All in favor, motion carried. RESOLUTION #6, SERIES OF 1998 - Child Care Trust Fund Loans Doug Smith, city treasurer, introduced the committee - Jaylene Park, Colorado National Bank; Carl Britton, Pitkin County Bank; and Mike Taets, Norwest Bank. Smith said he was asked to put together a program to increase the earnings of the child care trust fitnd. Smith said the committee came up with two ideas which accomplish the goals of increasing yield in the trust fitnd and also to assist with housing. Smith said the first program would be to assist with non-conforming mortgages, where the debt to equity ratios are too high for the borrower. The child care trust fitnd could purchase these loans at a fixed rate for 3 to 5 years. The originating bank will handle the paperwork and the trust fitnd will receive a check for the principal and interest. Smith said this program would increase yield for the trust fitnd by 1/2 to 3/4 of a percent. The second program would assist people who are unable to come up with the 20 percent down payment. This will alleviate purchasers from having to pay mortgage insurance which is about $65 a month. Councilman Vickery asked if this is a legitimate use of child care trust fitnd. Smith said it is. Councilman Vickery asked about the risk. Mike Taets said the risk is minimal as the city or housing attthority are guaranteed by buy the property back. Council said these are creative and exciting ideas. Councilman Vickery moved to adopt Resolution #6, Series of 1998; seconded by Councilman Markalunas. All in favor, motion carried. 2 Asoen City Council Regular Meetin~ January 26, 1998 RESOLUTION #9, SERIES OF 1998 - Smuggler Area Traffic Plan Nick Adeh, city engineer, told Council this project was to improve traffic movement and pedestrian safety in the Smuggler area. Adeh said he did several mailings and public notices on neighborhood meetings. There were traffic counts done. As a result of this, alternatives and conceptual designs were done. Adeh said step two is construction plans and actual construction of the 1998 improvements. Adeh requested Council approve this step. Adeh showed Council the traffic counts and street hierarchy for the area, showing which streets are "collectors" and which are "local". Adeh pointed out the Smuggler Area Pedestrian Safety and Traffic Improvements study by Charlier Associates is attached to the resolution. Adeh showed Council the design concepts for the 4 intersections favored by the participating neighborhood residents. The Red mountain/Mill/Gibson intersection includes a roundabout, which is $120,000 above the budget. This intersection has the highest traffic volumes and largest number of pedestrians in the area. The roundabout is recommended because is slows traffic without requiring fitll stops. Adeh showed the Lone Pine/Red Mountain intersection favored by the residents and which include a raised crosswalk. The hillside at Lone Pine road and Red Mountain would be graded to improve the sight distances. The next intersection is Gibson/Lone Pine/South and the design includes the curb extension by the city with raised crosswalk to tie into the existing sidewalk. There would be a sidewalk on the south side of Cottonwood Lane; the existing bicycle trail would be realigned to match the intersection. The South Spruce/Park intersection includes a sidewalk on the south side of South Avenue, a speed calming, raised sidewalk right before the 3 way intersection with Smuggler trailer court. The residents request enhanced bus stop at this intersection. The Neale Herron park design should be delayed so the design can be integrated with the parks department master plan for Herron Park and the Rio Grande trail. Adeh noted the "No Problem" bridge is fitnctionally obsolete but has another 15 years of life. This bridge and realignment of the street will have to be looked at. Adeh showed a map of the pedestrian corridors with existing conditions and improvements. The highest priorities for these improvements as rated by the neighborhood are to complete the missing sidewalk links on Neale and Gibson west 3 Asoen City Council Regular Meetin~ January 26, 1998 of Neale, missing sidewalk links along Midland and Park avenues, and the installation of street lights at designated crosswalks. Adeh said the intersections are pressing but the sidewalk linkages are more pressing, according to the residents. The intersections for 1998 project are North Mill/Gibson; South Avenue/Spruce street and Gibson Avenue/Lone Pine Road. Councilwoman Richards said she would like to see some improvement to the Neale Street bridge area as it is heavily used, especially by children. Councilwoman Richards said she likes the bridge as it is a traffic calming measure. The guard rails could be addressed this summer. Councilman Markalunas agreed with the emphasis on the pedestrian improvements. Councilman Markalunas said he put the roundabout at Red Mountain at the bottom of the list. Councilman Vickery said if the Red Mountain roundabout is not fitnded, thought be given to affordable improvements as this intersection is heavily used and very dangerous. Adeh said they could neckdown the intersection, which would have to be tom out if the roundabout is installed in the fitture. Mayor Bennett asked what specific improvements are being approved by Resolution #9. Amy Margerum, city manager, said the improvements are 4 intersections and the pedestrian improvements listed by Adeh. Ms. Margerum suggested staff rework the Resolution to include the specific improvements or attach the improvements to the resolution outlining exactly what will be done in 1998 reflecting what was presented to Council at this meeting. Councilwoman Richards said she would like the 1999 improvements included. Adeh said the 1998 projects will cost $280,000 without the roundabout. This leaves a balance of $180,000 for 1999. Councilman Markalunas moved to adopt Resolmion #9, as modified with a list of improvements for 1998 and 1999; seconded by Councilwoman Richards. Councilwoman Richards said she is interested in the cost and phasing attached to each improvement. Councilwoman Richards said she would like to know what the lighting improvements are that will be part of this project. Adeh said there are 2 illumination schemes; one is to enhance the intersections and the other is to try and illuminate the trails. All in favor, motion carried. Adeh showed Council the "speed humps" that are planned for this summer to replace the "speed bumps". 4 Asoen City Council Regular Meetin~ January 26, 1998 ORDINANCE #2, 1998 - Code Amendment - RMF Zone Councilwoman Richards moved to adopt Ordinance #2, Series of 1998; seconded by Councilman Markalunas. All in favor, motion carried. ORDINANCE NO. 2 (Series of 1998) AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ASPEN, COLORADO, APPROVING AN APPLICATION TO AMEND CHAPTER 26 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE, LAND USE REGULATIONS, SECTION 26.28.090, "RMF, RESIDENTIAL MULTI-FAMILY ZONE DISTRICT, TO ALLOW TWO DETACHED UNITS WITH A MINIMUM LOT SIZE OF 6,000 SQUARE FEET Amy Guthrie, community development department, told Council RMF is located mostly in the east end of town and one only needs 6,000 square feet to build a duplex, 2 units with a certain degree of attachment. Ms. Guthrie reminded Council for historic landmarks, one can break the buildings into separate structures. There are 2 projects currently under construction under the historic code amendment. Ms. Guthrie told Council there is no increase in floor area. This code amendment is to apply to any property in the RMF zone district. It is not a change in growth management. There is a proposed change in the setback requirement to allow a 3 foot sideyard setback, which is intended to give greater design flexibility. Ms. Guthrie said neither the fire nor police department are concerned about the change in sideyard setback. Ms. Guthrie said a duplex is permitted use in RMF and 2 detached dwelling are a conditional use. There should not be a distinction between the two; they should both be a permitted uses. Alice Davis, representing an applicant, told Council she had a GIS map done to show where all the RMF properties are in the city and which one are condominiumized. Ms. Davis said there are 71 lots with 6,000 square feet or greater zoned RMF; only 20 of these do not have condominiums. Ms. Davis said she did a driving survey and feels there are only about 8 lots that are underdeveloped. Mayor Bennett asked if these detached dwellings would also have to have ADUs. Ms. Guthrie said ADUs would still be required. Mayor Bennett brought up the FAR requirements and suggested these be the same for duplexes and detached dwellings. Stan Clauson, community development director, told Council there are 4 densities in Asoen City Council Regular Meetin~ January 26, 1998 the RMF zone district; .8 for single family; .9 for duplex; 1:1 for multi-family, and 1.1:1 by special review for extraordinary multi-family project. Mayor Bennett suggested the FAR for duplex and detached dwelling be the same. Mayor Bennett said he feels .9 is too large a floor area ratio for a residential zone. Councilman Markalunas said he is concerned abom reducing the side yard setback and the snow load falling off the roofs into this space and creating a canyon effect. Ms. Guthrie said the fire code regulations would have to be met. The Uniform Building Code has a minimum of 6 feet between buildings. Councilman Markalunas said he is concerned about buildings being too close together. Ms. Davis told Council she discussed the sideyard setback with the building department. The UBC addresses the snow load concern and each property owner is responsible for the snow load off their roof. Councilwoman Richards said she would like a discussion and some examples for second reading about possible increase in site coverage with 2 detached dwellings. Councilwoman Richards said she is comfortable with 2 detached dwellings but does not favor a decrease in side yard setback. Councilwoman Richards suggested the external setback remain 5 feet but the setback between the 2 buildings internally be decreased. Ms. Davis said the applicants agreed to keep the FAR at duplex, which is 3600 square feet, rather than two of 2 detached dwellings, which would be 2400 and 2400 for a total of 4800 square feet. Councilman Vickery pointed out adopting this code amendment would broaden a benefit currently allowable only for historic sites. Councilman Vickery said historic projects are reviewed by the HPC for design and for how they fit into the neighborhood. This code amendment has no mechanism for review. Councilman Vickery said he favors smaller houses on smaller lots but does not see the logic for reducing the side yard setback. Councilman Markalunas said he does not favor new construction being so close to an adjacent property that they deprive someone of their light. Councilwoman Richards moved to adopt Ordinance #2, Series of 1998, on second reading; seconded by Councilman Vickery. Roll call vote; Councilmembers Vickery, yes; Markalunas, yes; Richards, yes; Mayor Bennett, yes. Motion Carried. Councilwoman Richards moved to adjourn at 7:15 p.m.; seconded by Councilman Markalunas. All in favor, motion carried. 6 Asoen City Council Regular Meetin~ January 26, 1998 Kathryn S. Koch, City Clerk 7 Asoen City Council Regular Meetin~ January 26, 1998 CITIZEN COMMENTS ..........................................................................................1 COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS .......................................................................1 CONSENT CALENDAR ........................................................................................1 Resolution #7, 1998 - Naming "Remo" Park .......................................................2 Resolution #8, 1998 - Morgridge Annexation .......................................................2 James E. Moore Pool Hot Tub Donation ..............................................................2 Ordinance #3, 1998 - Code Amendment - Garbage, Trash and Ashes ..................2 RESOLUTION #6, SERIES OF 1998 - Child Care Tatst Fund Loans .....................2 RESOLUTION #9, SERIES OF 1998 - Smuggler Area Traffic Plan ........................3 ORDINANCE #2, 1998 - Code Amendment - RMF Zone .......................................5