HomeMy WebLinkAboutFile Documents.334 McSkimming Rd.0073-2020-BRES (30)
18th January 2020
Attn: Hailey Guglielmo, PE - City of Aspen Engineering Dept
From: Nicholas Valentino, PLA
UTILITY EASEMENT VARIANCE REQUEST
Project: 334 McSkimming Rd, Aspen CO. 81611
Bldg Permit: #0073-2020-BRES
Please accept this application for a variance request which allows for the planting of trees within
the utility easement associated with the demolition and construction of a new single-family
residence.
In response to your directive and comment from building review process, we provide the
following documents to support this request.
ATTACHMENTS:
• Request for Variance and Code Response
• Owners Cover Letter and Request for Variance
• Landscape Architecture - Proposed Mitigation and Reveg Plan Exhibit
• Civil Engineering - Analysis Report and Utility Easement Exhibit
• Neighbors Letters of Support for Variance Request
04/08/2021
Reviewed by Engineering
09/24/2021 12:02:31 PM
"It should be known that this review shall not
relieve the applicant of their responsibility to
comply with the requirements of the City of
Aspen. The review and approval by the City is
offered only to assist the applicant's
understanding of the applicable Engineering
requirements." The issuance of a permit based
on construction documents and other data shall
not prevent the City of Aspen from requiring the
correction of errors in the construction
documents and other data.
334 McSkimming Road, Lot 11 Aspen Grove
Utility Easement Variance Request
18th January 2021
Page | 2
CODE RESPONSE:
Sec. 29.01.060. - Variances.
(a) Authority. The City Engineer may grant variances to the design standards. Variances are
deviations from the terms of this Chapter which would not be contrary to the public
interest.
(b) Standards. In order to authorize a variance from the design standards the following
standards shall be met:
(1) There exist practical difficulties and unnecessary hardships inconsistent with the
purpose and intent of the design standards.
The dimensional site constraints and many goals of varying departments result in a further
reduced viable solutions for desired tree replacement, canopy cover, screening, and
mitigation efforts. A lack of trees and screening in said location would have a negative
impact for the property and surrounding neighbors. The proposed planting is in keeping
with the current conditions and desire to maintain the sites natural character by
replacing those trees removed for construction. Not allowing for tree planting in this
easement would result in shifting the replacement trees to alternate locations, which
may be less desirable, less beneficial, or counterproductive such as areas of
preservation.
(2) The issuance of a variance shall not compromise the safety of a site or structure.
Based on our findings we believe the issuance of a variance which allows for the planting
of trees within the utility easement would not compromise the safety of said site or
structure, or those surrounding. On the contrary, not being able to encroach into the
easement would force tree locations to shift closer to the proposed structure and further
into the already compromised defensible space. Further the utility easement in question
is functionally abandoned, due to circumstances it is not anticipated to be utilized as a
preferable route now or in the future by the owner or surrounding properties.
(c) Application. Requests for variances from the standards, policies or submittal requirements
of this document shall be submitted in writing with appropriate documentation and
justification to the City Engineer. An application for a variance from the design standards
shall include, at a minimum, the following information:
(1) The criteria from which the applicant seeks a variance.
Extensive landscaping not permitted within utility easements. The utility easements need
to remain usable. -H.G. comment, ref bldg review
The applicant is requesting variance to allows for the planting of trees within the utility
easement as indicated in the plans. Overall, the site consists of a 15’ utility easement
centered along the property line, with 7.5’ allocated to either property.
04/08/2021
334 McSkimming Road, Lot 11 Aspen Grove
Utility Easement Variance Request
18th January 2021
Page | 3
(2) A written justification outlining why the criterion cannot be met.
The dimensional site constraints and many goals of varying departments result in a further
reduced viable solutions for desired tree replacement, canopy cover, screening, and
mitigation efforts. Not allowing for tree planting in this easement would result in shifting
the replacement trees to alternate locations, which may be less desirable, less beneficial,
or counterproductive such as areas of preservation.
(3) An alternate criteria or standard that is proposed to comply with the intent of the
criteria from which the variance is sought.
The following criteria is proposed, as reflected in the revised landscape plan.
1. Minimal encroachment/impact into the easement (reduced from previous plans).
a. Reduced quantity of trees located in or encroaching within the utility
easements.
b. Reduced dimensional impact to easement footprint (lf/sf).
2. Limit the encroachment to 2.5’ offset from the existing utility easement (measured
to CL of tree) to maintain ~5' clearance through the utility easement (currently 7.5').
3. Proposed coordinated screening and utility routing with neighbors.
4. Conditional approval of the variance for proposed plantings with agreement that
the owner is responsible for the replacement of said trees in the event the easement
need to be utilized.
(4) Supporting documentation, including necessary calculations, etc.
Please reference attached documents and exhibits.
(5) An explanation of any potential adverse impacts of the proposed variance to
adjacent landowners.
No adverse impacts are anticipated by the proposed variance, please refer to the
variance analysis by the Civil Engineer for additional information. Reference the owners
cover letter for explanation to neighbors, to accompany documents which explains the
proposed variance request, absence of adverse impacts, and request for support.
(6) An analysis of the variance request must be signed and stamped by a Professional
Engineer licensed in the State of Colorado.
Please refer to Memorandum - Utility Easement Variance Request Engineering Analysis
and Exhibit Plan - by Michael Grzesiak, PE
04/08/2021
04/08/2021
04/08/2021
1517 Blake avenue, suite 101
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
970-945-8676 phone
970-945-2555 fax
www.hceng.com
An Employee-Owned Company
MEMORANDUM
To: Hailey Guglielmo, PE – City of Aspen Engineering Dept.
From: Michael Grzesiak, PE
Date: January 11, 2021
Project: 334 McSkimming Road – Lot 11 Aspen Grove Subdivision
Subject: Utility Easement Variance Request Engineering Analysis
This memo shall provide the engineering analysis for a utility easement variance request for the proposed
private residence located at 334 McSkimming Rd.
The project is located at Lot 11, Block 2 of the Aspen Grove Subdivision. The site is located at the
physical address of 334 McSkimming Road. The site is currently developed with a single-family
residence that will be demolished and a new single-family residence is to be constructed. The property is
bordered by Lot 7 to the south, Lot 9 to the west, Lot 10 to the north, and McSkimming Road right-of-
way to the east.
Block 2 of the Aspen Grove Subdivision plat includes 15-foot wide utility easements centered along the
side and rear lot lines on all lots. The project proposes tree plantings within the utility easements in order
to meet several requirements from the City Parks department. A variance request is to be submitted to
allow these plantings within the 15-foot utility easements.
Water, sanitary, gas, and electric mains are located within McSkimming Road right-of-way. Individual
lot services for water, gas and electric are served directly from right-of-way, and sanitary services for lots
uphill of McSkimming Road are served directly from right-of-way.
Lot 11 utilities are currently served from the following locations:
Water & Gas – McSkimming Road
Sanitary – Lateral near southwest lot corner
Electric – Service near southwest lot corner
Cable – Pedestal near southwest lot corner
An electric transformer is proposed at the southeast property corner and a new electric service for the lot
will be routed through the property from the main within right-of-way. The existing electric service route
from the southwest property corner is to be abandoned. Lot 10 to the north was previously developed
with a single-family residence. That residence has been demolished and the lot is now vacant. An
abandoned electric service for the demolished house is routed through the utility easement along the
western property line. When a new residence is constructed on Lot 10, a new electric transformer is
anticipated to be located near right-of-way with an electric service routed directly from right-of-way
rather than through the easement where the abandoned service is currently routed.
Civil engineering Land surveying
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Center of Colorado
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