HomeMy WebLinkAboutExhibit L_Public Comment post 7.5.16Jennifer Phelan
From:
J V Prunskis <jvp.illinoispain@gmaiLcom>
Sent:
Tuesday, July 05, 2016 8:43 PM
To:
Jennifer Phelan
Cc:
Karen Hartman; Steve Skadron
Subject:
I first came to Aspen in 1976 and bought in Shadow
Dear Ms. Phelan and Planning and Zoning Commission members,
I was prepared to give oral testimony and waited from 4:30 until 7:15 today at the meeting to do so. I regret I was not
allowed to give such testimony. I will not be in Aspen during subsequent hearings.
I first came to Aspen in 1976 and bought in Shadow Mountain about 10 years ago.
I am against Gorsuch Haus as proposed.
Defining Conservation zoning - when you buy a property with Conservation zoning adjacent, you do not expect a hotel.
Turn around cul de sac will be noisy, polluted car exhaust,back up beeps, congestion, raises traffic on Aspen St. and once
again noisy and is in front window of Shadow Mountain Townhomes.
Absolutely do not agree with having a regular bus route(regardless of the size the bus) coming regularly to the hotel at
the top Aspen Street.
Suggest:
1, closed subgrade vehicular access with internal garage entrance invisible from the street or 2.only emergency vehicular
access with parking remote at bottom of the hill with transportation of guests, workers, food, supplies etc. via a gondola,
tram, funicular etc. There should be no personal or commercial cars or trucks allowed on or outside Gorsuch Haus
premises.
Story poles are up and show excessive height and mass especially as it relates to Shadow Mountain. Must have structure
consistent with Lodge zoning as maximal size.
Commercial liquor serving establishments with late night hours would create excessive noise to current neighbors
I have not heard the support of Skico of this project.
10 year vesting too long. 3 years as per state law should be max limit.
Sincerely,
1 Prunskis
John V. Prunskis
Jennifer Phelan
From:
Randall Eis <randalleis@me.com>
Sent:
Wednesday, July 06, 2016 12:10 AM
To:
Jennifer Phelan
Cc:
Randy Eis
Subject:
Gorsuch Haus Developement
Ms. Phelan
I would like to go on the record supporting the project in general. I think it is a well thought out and solid development
in the tradition of historic lodging in Aspen. I like it.
As a Paramedic with both Aspen Mountain Ski Patrol and Aspen Ambulance District I want to see the developers
maintain or improve on the Toboggan and Ambulance evacuation of patients. Also access for snowcat and snowmobiles
should be maintained. The developers have addressed these issues so far but I will keep an eye on this as it moves
through the process and if it gets built as Highlands plans did not deliver the access that was promised originally when
finally built.
Thanks
Randall Eis
Jennifer Phelan
From: Jessica Garrow
Sent: Wednesday, July 06, 2016 2:56 PM
To: Jennifer Phelan
Subject: FW: Yes on Gorsuchhaus
Comment for the next P&Z meeting.
Jessica Garrow, AICP
City of Aspen
Community Development Director
130 S Galena St
,Aspen, CO 81611
970.429.2780 (office)
970.319.9799 (cell)
www.aspenpitkin.com
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opinions and information contained herein do not create a legal or vested right or any claim of detrimental reliance.
From: Adam Frisch
Sent: Wednesday, July 6, 2016 8:34 AM
To: Mel <melron347@gmail.com>
Cc: Jessica Garrow <jessica.garrow@cityofaspen.com>
Subject: Re: Yes on Gorsuchhaus
Thanks Mel -
With a live application, I am very limited in my comments on the project, but thank you for reaching out.
-a
From: Mel <melron347@email.com>
Date: Saturday, July 2, 2016 at 12:31 PM
To: "adam b. frisch" <adam.frisch@citvofaspen.com>, Ann Mullins <Ann.MullinsC@cityofaspen.com>, Steven Skadron
<steve.skadron@citvofaspen.com>, Art Daily <art.daily@cityofaspen.com>, Bert Myrin <bert.myrin@citvofaspen.com>
Subject: Yes on Gorsuchhaus
Hi,
I've been reading both sides of this, fast becoming a contentious, issue that you will have to decide on.
In my opinion this project is a long overdue, well needed, reasonable approach to upgrading this area of our lovely City.
I can only hope that you folks will see this position as well and vote for the project.
Thanks,
Mel Ronick
t
Gorsuch Haus: Good Objectives But Bad Plan
My family and I have owned property and been skiing in Aspen for over 50 years (4 generations)
We have seen lots of changes (some good, some bad) but Aspen is still one of our all-time favorite
places.
Given my long time here and love for Aspen, I feel that the current Gorsuch Haus proposal has
some good objectives (fostering FIS and other ski racing and improving access to and use of the west
side of Aspen Mountain), but is a very bad plan. As the city staffs own analysis has stated, the current
proposal is very massive and very high. It is out of scale with the site and would block views of the
mountain. It would also reduce access to the lift for everyone except the people living there. For all
those reasons, this is not a good plan. Let me offer 2 alternatives.
First, the town could meet the ski racing and mountain access objectives by (1) having Skico put
in a new lift (since they benefit from greater worldwide recognition), (2) enhancing access to the lift via
some form of connection to Dean Street and/or a better connection to S. Aspen Street, (3) cleaning up
the area around the lift and providing racing amenities on a temporary or permanent basis. Doing those
3 things, combined with the positive visual impact of the 2 new developments going in at the top of S.
Aspen St. (which will be a huge improvement over how the area has looked for the last 5-10 years)
would certainly satisfy FIS and make that side of Aspen Mountain more accessible and more attractive
to all Aspen residents and visitors.
If the town and its citizens wanted more development around the lift (and/or getting money
from a developer was the only way that Skico would build a new lift), then I would urge the town to
require Gorsuch Haus to comply with Lodge zoning. Lodge zoning would be required anywhere else in
town and would result in a much less massive and lower development that would much better fit the
site. Lodge zoning would also allow the development to be designed and sited to improve access to the
lift (locating the lift lower and, ideally, providing a connection to Dean St.). In addition, Lodge zoning
would provide the opportunity to much better deal with the other issues identified and raised by city
staff (size of cul-de-sac/ drop off area/ linkage to S. Aspen St., width of ski runs/ return to the lift, views
of the mountain, pedestrian and disability access, additional on -site employee housing, etc.)
So, in closing, while I am all in favor of keeping FIS and improving access to and use of the west
side of Aspen Mountain, let's do it in a smart way. Let's do it in a way that doesn't reduce access, and
doesn't create a massive / out of scale development.
Bill Seelbach, Cleveland, Ohio
Lift One Condominium Association
131 East Durant Ave.
Aspen, Colorado 81611
it )� 2016
u1 j i UV r'a6PLN
Date: January 18, 2016
To: Members of the Aspen City Council and the Aspen Planning and Zoning Commission
In Re: ski access: Shadow Mountain Lift - Willoughby Park
We have been closely following the development proposals for the east side of South Aspen Street
which include the "Lift One Lodge", the proposed Gorsuch hotel, and the related remodeling of the
existing ski lift by the Aspen Ski Company. We have participated in a supportive manner in the now
approved PUP project for the "Lift One Lodge" and have attended public presentations and consulted
privately with Norway Island concerning that project. We appreciate your insistence that projects must
protect and benefit the public interest. This includes the City of Aspen, the residents and guests in the
proximate neighborhoods, and the general public. We support your approach to the development of
the east side of South Aspen Street; but we believe that there are two concomitant and critical elements
that must be protected:
Ski Corridor. We believe that the Council must protect and preserve the existing and long standing ski
corridor between Lift 1A (Shadow Mountain Lift) and Willoughby Park; and
Upload System. We believe that the Council should insist upon the provision of a surface lift (or some
other method) to facilitate the elevation of skiers and pedestrians from Willoughby Park to Lift 1A
(Shadow Mountain lift) or its relocation.
Let us briefly explain our thinking.
1) Ski Corridor. The efficacy and benefits of the ski corridor plainly are well understood by the Council
as well as by the residents and guests in Aspen. We are delighted that Council has included
maintenance and preservation of the corridor in the Lift One Lodge PUD it approved. The corridor has
been in continuous public use for more than 69 years (since 1946). We urge the Council not to
surrender this valuable and effective public easement.
Not only is the corridor an iconic piece of Aspen skiing, but, as Council understands, it
benefits the City in general by providing an alternative way off of the mountain without the downhill
walk from Lift 1A, by affording easier access for residents and renters in west Aspen and by providing
relief from crowding at the Gondola base. The narrowing of Aspen Street near its top, allowed as part of
the Lift One Lodge PUD, creates a greater need for preservation of the corridor as a safe means for
skiers to exit the mountain and reach town. The developments and the resulting vehicular traffic will
make it all the more difficult to safely walk down Aspen Street in boots, while carrying skis.
2) Upload System. The possibility of, and the indication of need for, a method of moving skiers (along
with guests and employees of the uphill developments) up to the lift is also included in the approved Lift
One lodge PUD. We urge the Council to make it a requirement. Many of the reasons for preservation of
the ski corridor also apply to the need for an upload system:
1. it would produce a reduction in vehicular traffic while safely separating pedestrian/skier
movement from the diminished vehicle traffic that might remain.
2. It brings about greater use of Lift 1A, relieving crowding on the east side of the mountain.
3, Provides much broader public access to the original world class ski facility in Aspen, restoring
the grandeur of "Americas Downhill°: Ruthies, Aztec, Spring Pitch, Strawpile.
In short; an upload system will increase the safety of skiers and pedestrians and will facilitate and enable
greater use of the new lift while providing residents and guests in west Aspen an effective and attractive
alternative to access the mountain.
Thank u for your consideration.Sincerelysubmitted,
Roane Lacy, Jr., President
Lift One Condominium Association
131 E. Durant Ave.
Aspen, CO 81611
Endorsements: We, the undersigned agree with the recommendations to the City of Aspen expressed In
this letter.
James DeFranciaT
For Norway island, LLC
David Ellis, President
Timer Ridge corporation
ti
The DancingEl&r4-t^(Julws NO,&,
Richard Eddy, President
Pines Lodge Development
Galen Bright, President
for South Point Condominium Assn.
Lift One
From:
Maureen Poschman<maureen@promocommunications.com>
Sent:
Tuesday, January 19, 2016 2:10 PM
To:
liftone@rof.net; Roane Lacy
Subject:
Lift one letter - Jim DeFrancia for Norway Island LLC
Attachments:
JDF Signature and Initials.doc
Mary and Roane,
Here is Jim DeFrancia's electronic signature.
This may be used for the letter to the editor/City about the 1A access.
The signature Line should read: Jim DeFrancia for Norway Island LLC.
Thanks.
Maureen