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REGULAR MEETING ASPEN PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION JUNE 4TH, 2025
Commissioners in attendance: Charlie Tarver, Maryann Pitt, Eric Knight, Tom Gorman and Teraissa
McGovern
Staff present:
Daniel Folke, Planning Director
Jeff Barnhill, Senior Planner
Jim True, Special Counsel
Tracy Terry, Deputy City Clerk
Commissioner Comments: Mr. Tarver asked about changing the quorum number or changing the
bylaws to change the number of commissioners. Mr. True said it would require a code amendment.
Staff Comments: None
Public Comments: None.
Minutes: Ms. McGovern introduced the minutes for January 7th, 2025, and asked for a roll call vote to
approve.
Roll call vote: Mr. Tarver, yes; Ms. Pitt, yes; Mr. Knight, yes; Mr. Gorman, yes; Ms. McGovern, yes. Motion
passes 5-0.
Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest: None
Submission of Public Notice for Agenda Items: Notice was provided.
Public Hearing: 823-825 E Dean St – RDS Variation & Alternative Compliance
Applicant Presentation: Seth Hmeilowski, Z Group Architecture and Interior Design
Mr. Hmeilowski introduced Melanie Noonan and Max Hemmy. He explained that this is the project they
brought before and asked about deconstruction and reusing materials. They have an alternative design
to the Residential Design Standards.
Ms. Noonan said they need a variation for a non-flexible and flexible RDS standard. The three criteria
that the RDS are trying to meet are the connection to street, respond to neighboring properties, and
reflect traditional building scale. They pushed the second story mass further back from the front of the
house to give a smaller scale. One of the flexible design standards is that the living space is required to
be 5 ft larger than the garage. There is no alleyway so there is a garage at the front of the house. They
are squeezing in the 2-car garage and are off by about 6 inches to the five-foot living space. The second
standard is responding to neighboring properties. There is a three-story building on one side and a one
story on the other, so by pushing the mass of the upper level back they have aligned it with the three-
story building and the other side slopes down to the smaller one-story home on the other side. They are
over the maximum depth for the articulation of building mass standard of 45 feet and are asking for a
variation.
Board Questions:
Ms. McGovern asked when the address will be picked. Ms. Noonan replied that they are trying to figure
out which address is correct as there are differing addresses in the City and County.
REGULAR MEETING ASPEN PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION JUNE 4TH, 2025
Mr. Gorman asked how much open space is left behind the house. Mr. Hmeilowski replied the yard
space is not reduced.
Staff Presentation: Jeffrey Barnhill, Senior Planner
Mr. Barnhill went over the project, location, and design standards that apply to this project. He said
they meet the connection to the street standard, garage dimension standard, and Articulation of
Building Mass standard. Staff find the applicant has provided an alternative design, and the criteria is
met and recommend approval of this project. Staff does acknowledge that in remodel circumstances
that some of these standards are hard to meet so they take that into mind when these applications
come in front of them.
Mr. Gorman asked if 54 feet is acceptable in this instance, why stay with the 45 foot maximum in the
code. Mr. Barnhill replied that because they are having to push back the garage to meet that standard, it
makes sense to allow them to push it into the back.
Board Discussion:
Mr. Gorman said it’s a wonderful design.
Ms. McGovern said they met the intent.
Mr. Knight agreed with everyone and is in support of the project.
Ms. Pitt said it seems like a good upgrade to the neighborhood, and she will support.
Motion:
Mr. Gorman moved to approve resolution 7 series 2025 granting approval; Mr. Knight seconded.
Roll call vote: Mr. Tarver, yes; Ms. Pitt, yes; Mr. Mr. Knight, yes; Mr. Gorman, yes; McGovern, yes; Motion
passes 5-0.
Adjourn:
Mr. Gorman motioned to adjourn; Mr. Knight seconded. All in favor.
Tracy Terry, Deputy City Clerk