HomeMy WebLinkAboutminutes.council.19880906Continued Meeting____ Aspen Citv Council September 6, 1988
Mayor Stirling called the meeting to order at 5:05 p.m. with
Councilmember Tuite and Isaac present.
ASPEN MOUNTAIN LODGE PUD AMENDMENTS
Mayor Stirling said Council is going to go over the amended PUD
agreement, to determine whether this project should be exempted
from Ordinance #31, the demolition moratorium, and decide issues
of recording the plat, the foundation permit and what period of
time will be required f or an extension to accomplish this so the
final amendment will be in place. Mayor Stirling said Council
will then discuss the two ballot issues for the October 11, 1988,
election; the initiated petition and the potential land trade on
the Thomas property for employee housing.
Mayor Stirling said he was disturbed by the decision made by the
HPC to move the "Berko" house. Mayor Stirling proposed a joint
work session with HPC, P & Z and planning staff to discuss some
issues that have been raised. Councilman Isaac asked if there is
a mechanism to change the HPC decision. Mayor Stirling said the
HPC would have to do this internally. Alan Richman, planning
director, told Council the majority of P & Z member expressed the
same sentiment and could not believe there was no recourse to the
HPC decision. The P & Z is interested in learning was can be
determined from this process and what can be done about the
process. Council requested staff select some proposed dates for
a study session.
Mayor Stirling asked if staff got clear enough direction from
Council on Ordinance #31. Richman said he has put together the
public hearing notice. A lot of ideas and solutions will evolve
out of the public hearing process (Councilwoman Fallin came into
Council Chambers). Mayor Stirling said this is an opportunity to
deal with issues of density, GMP issues related to employee
housing. The code does not allow the flexibility that the town
may need. (Councilman Gassman came into Council Chambers).
City Manager Bob Anderson told Council the school board would
like to meet jointly with Council and the BOCC. Anderson
suggested starting the scheduled meeting September 19th at 4 p.m.
The school board would like to discuss school locations and other
issues. This meeting is scheduled to hear from COG.
Mayor Stirling said at the last meeting the applicant gave the
Ute City Place to be included in the housing plan for phase one
of the Ritz Carlton. Mayor Stirling said after the audit is done
in two years, the Ute City Place will not be credited to future
development. Mayor Stirling said this is a tremendous contribu-
tion and is 20 percent beyond what is required under the existing
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Continued Meeting Aspen Cif Council September 6, 198.8
employee housing regulations. Mayor Stirling acknowledged the
response to the employee housing problems in town.
Alan Richman, planning director, told Council staff has gone over
the PUD agreement and has made many changes. Richman said staff
feels comfortable with the agreement. The commitments and
representations that have been made through the process are
included in the PUD agreement and adequately represent the
requirements that should be placed on the project. Richman said
the first issue touches on extension of this approval process.
Richman pointed out page 6 of the agreement establishes a
detailed project construction schedule. The agreement calls for
a date by which the applicant shall complete submission and
obtain a sequential, i.e. foundation permit. Richman said the
applicant s have suggested they will be completed by October 3,
1988. Richman said this is a reasonable date for staff to have
completed review of the agreement, the plats and to go through
foundation review. Richman said there is no possibility this can
be completed by September 12.
Perry Harvey, representing the applicant, told Council they
should have the plats in to staff tomorrow. Harvey said he is a
little concerned about the October 3 date because the city has a
new chief building inspector and the assistant is on vacation.
Harvey told Council staff has been excellent in the timeliness of
their response and review. Harvey said the applicants can meet
what they need to do for the October 3 deadline. Richman said
staff can commit to meeting to October 3 deadline.
Councilman Isaac moved to extend the date to October 3 for
completion of the review of the foundation permit and whatever
else needs to be done; seconded by Councilman Tuite.
City Manager Bob Anderson said there has been some contention as
to what a building permit means under the law. Anderson asked if
staff has reviewed the term "sequential building permit" and is
comfortable with this phrase. Richman said staff is comfortable
this does not relieve the problem of the continuous process
versus the series of incremental permits. Richman said staff has
been looking at this as a series of permits. Mayor Stirling said
he would hate to have to do another extension and would like this
date to be realistic.
All in favor, with the exception of Councilman Gassman and Mayor
Stirling. Motion carried.
Richman said in the previous agreement there was a table to
indicate approximately when construction would begin and end but
it gave the owner the ability to start earlier and end later.
Richman said this section tried to be more specific about how
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Continued Meeting Aspen Citv Council September 6. 1988
the phasing would occur. The foundation work will begin after
October lst and will be completed on or about March 1, 1989.
Structural work will take place over the next 3 months to the
summer of 1989. Exterior facade erection and interior finish
will take the project into the remainder of 1989. Richman said
these dates are not binding but are to give the city an indica-
tion of the phasing and the length of the process.
Richman said starting on page 8 there is language which tracks
from the prior PUD agreement recognizing all the details of the
construction, like barricades and entrances, authorizes the city
engineer and building inspector to be in charge of those details.
There is language stating the staff needs to keep in mind the
disruptive activities should be scheduled to minimize activities
on adjacent property owners. John Sarpa, representing the
applicant, suggested this page also state October 3 f or consis-
tency. Harvey said this page said he would like to clarify the
last sentence to read "structural erection above grade".
Mayor Stirling asked the difference between fast track building
permit and sequential building permit. Richman said fast track
is the colloquial term used in the building department. It is
the process when the city has not seen the plan for all phases of
construction and an earlier permit is being issued. Anderson
told Council there is nothing technically called a fast track
building permit; it is taking advantage of the code which allows
the sequencing to move along. Harvey said the permit process has
already been split, and they wanted to keep that going. Mayor
Stirling suggested the term should be sequential throughout the
agreement. Council agreed.
Councilman Isaac said page 7 discusses Summit Place and Galena
place gives the dates of October 1, 1988, for construction to
start and completion on or after October 1989. Councilman Isaac
said this is not very precise. Harvey said the applicants do not
know when these projects will be built. Councilman Isaac asked
when the approvals for these projects expire. Richman told
Council once these projects receive their building permits, they
are under the UBC f or expiration, which has to do with a certain
amount of progress every 180 days. Harvey said the applicants
are concerned about access to Summit Place during construction
of the Ritz. Harvey said this agreement acknowledgs that upon
submission of a building permit, detailed construction will come
in. Richman said these are not large projects and there is not
a lot to be learned from being more detailed. Councilman Isaac
said he would like a cut off date that these projects would have
to come back to the city for another permit. Richman said
Galena Place is a growth management project, and they need to
have their building permit approved in the next year. Summit
Place is reconstruction credits. Richman said the dates are in
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Continued Meeting Aspen City Council September 6, 1988
the agreement to put the city on notice f or planning purposes.
Richman said he is comfortable with the language the way it is.
Richman said page 9 sections are the descriptions of the six
aspects of th e PUD. Page 9 points out the limitations estab-
lished in Resolution #11 for number of units and FAR. This also
refers specifically to a plat, which will have the elevations as
part of the plat document.
Richman said pages 10 and 11 are the basic utility, public
improvement program associated with phase one. Page 12 has to do
with reopening South Mill and guaranteeing it will be open on or
before September 1, 1988. The applicant has specified the manner
in which it will be open and the way it will be reconstructed and
repaved.
Richman said the language on pages 13 and 14 on landscaping is
from the code and the prior agreement and includes financial
assurances. Richman told Council the financial assurances that
have already been provided deal with public improvements. These
are not assurances that the hotel will be built or that any
aspect of the private improvements will be built. These are
assurances that the utilities will be in place, the landscaping
will be done. Richman said the costs were estimated and the
bonds secured before excavation started in April. Richman told
Council he noticed that the landscaping was only guaranteed to
100 percent; both the old Code and new Code requires this be 125
percent of the costs . The r ea son f or thi s i s to have money
available for replacement. 25 percent above the 100 percent is
held by the city for 2 years to cover replacement costs. For
public utilities, the city holds 10 percent until one year after
the improvements are in place. Richman said because the landsca-
ping is increased to 125 percent, additional security will need
to be posted by the applicant. Richman said there are some items
that were not listed for financial security, and these two will
increase the amount of the bond the city is holding. Richman
said an item added was guaranteeing the paving of Dean street.
Mayor Stirling asked how much the applicant will be posting above
the $1,228,000. Harvey said the landscaping is $400,000; an
additional 25 percent will be $100,000. Harvey said it is his
understanding that the paving on Dean street is an on-site
improvement, not an off-site improvement because the street was
vacated, and it was not required to be guaranteed. Jay Hammond,
city engineer, told Council the rationale for considering Dean
street as an item of guarantee is that the city reserved this for
pedestrian and emergency access. This should be guaranteed to a
basic city standard.
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Continued Meeting Aspen Citv Council September 6. 1988
Councilman Isaac asked if any of the public improvements have
been started. Harvey said the applicants have completed about
$95,000 for the 12 inch water main on Galena, which was put in in
conjunction with the improvement district. Next week the
applicants will start work on the storm sewer. Harvey told
Council there has been over $500,000 of undergrounding work done.
Harvey said there will be $828,000 f or off-site improvements and
$500,000 to guarantee 125 percent of landscape improvements.
Mayor Stirling asked where things stand with loan commitments.
Sarpa said the applicants are working through selection of a
lender with Morgan Stanley. Specific loan provisions have been
offered, and the applicants are negotiating these terms. Sarpa
said a bank will want to know that the official zoning process is
complete before any disbursements are made. Sarpa said it will
take another 3 or 4 months until there is a closed loan. Sarpa
said the applicants are prepared to move forward immediately. If
they can obtain the f oundation permit, they will move toward the
next phase.
Mayor Stirling asked if the applicants are involved in a project
in Scottsdale. Sarpa said they are. Mayor Stirling said he had
contact with a realty group in Mesa, Arizona, who indicated that
the loans were in default. Mayor Stirling said he talked to
Meribank also and there was some difficultly with the city of
Scottsdale and the golf course. Sarpa said there was no techni-
cal default. There were extensive interactions with golf course
design, hotel and residential designs. The process took longer
than anticipated. Sarpa said the project was acquired by them at
a time when it was running out of time. Sarpa said they brought
Ritz in. Sarpa told Council Hadid Development Company has never
had a default, never had a foreclosure from a bank. Sarpa said
the hotel in Scottsdale is about 300 rooms; Ritz feels if they
are to be successful there, they have to rely on group business.
Mayor Stirling asked if the applicants have financing in place
for that project. Sarpa said they do not; that project is months
behind the one in Aspen.
Richman pointed out on page 16 the paragraph that starts, "Any
time and from time to time", this is a provision that allows the
owner to substitute the form of the financial guarantee from one
form to another as long as that form meets the requirements of
the code. Mayor Stirling asked if the code requires Council
approval. Taddune said the code requires that the city attorney
approve it as to form as well as the city manager. Taddune said
this has been referred to the Council as information items.
Councilwoman Fallin moved to add the words, "and with Council
approval"; seconded by Councilman Tuite. All in favor, motion
carried.
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Continued Meeting Aspen City Council September 6, 1988
Richman told Council the applicants posted $650,000 for the
excavation of the hotel site. This is separate from the
$1,228,000. The owner is requesting when a foundation permit is
issued and construction begins on the foundation that they will
have the right to obtain that $650,000 back. Richman said this
language was anticipated in the escrow instructions associated
with the $650,000. Richman said he is concerned that the
construction work will stop and not commence again and the city
is without protection to fill that hole back up. Richman
suggested until this project is above grade, that the city
retains the money. Council agreed.
Sarpa told Council this was not required as part of the PUD or
the Code at the time. Sarpa said it was suggested by staff that
the applicants might make a gesture to the city about protecting
it. As part of these negotiations, it was committed that the
5650,000 would be posted until the foundation permit was pulled.
This is how the current escrow agreement reads. This was
confirmed in resolution #11. Sarpa said this is a change in the
original agreement. Sarpa said the applicants recognize staff
has a valid point. The applicants would like to address that
gap.
Sarpa said there are questions about the 4 or 5 month period if
the applicants get a foundation permit, how far does this go
until permanent financing is in place, and what happens if
permanent financing takes longer. Sarpa said it is difficult
for the applicants to get a partial bond. The applicants will
have in place a guarantee from the contractor to do that portion
of the work. The applicants will be willing to commit to
building up to grade so the city's risk is nothing more than
filling the hole. The applicants will only come up to grade
until they have full and permanent financing in place.
Harvey said if the applicants get a bridge loan to do the
foundation, they want to assure the city they would not do just
that work. Sarpa said the applicants will leave the 5650,000
guarantee in place through that period. The applicants will
agree to amend the escrow agreement to bring the construction to
grade. Council agreed with that amendment.
Sarpa said in consideration for the 25 percent on top of the
total 51,800,000 the applicants currently have posted, they
would like to be able to use some of that 5650,000 to off set that
extra 25 percent. Sarpa said when the city finds that they do
not need the 5650,000 in place, the applicants could use that to
cover the 125 percent for landscaping. Mayor Stirling said that
seems fair. Richman said he has no problem with that and will
add it to the agreement.
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Continued Meeting Aspen City Council September 6, 1988
Richman said the next section on page 18 i s employee housing .
The commitment is to 198.5 employees; 161.5 that are required
plus the 37 at Ute City Place. Harvey said the commitment is to
provide 161.5; the applicants are providing 198.5. The PUD
agreement is all right as stated. Richman said the agreement
goes through all the employee housing components as described in
the original agreement. The units at the Grand Aspen are new,
and the Ute City Place is back into the agreement.
Mayor Stirling asked if there is any intention to upgrade the
Alpina Haus or Copper Horse. Harvey said in the prior PUD there
was inspection by the building department with upgrades required.
These have all been accomplished with the exception of one exit
stairway at the Alpina Haus. Harvey told Council at the time
these are required f or housing, the applicants will look at the
properties to see what is required. Sarpa said the applicants do
not own these properties and part of the problem is the extent of
making investments on behalf of another owner. These are deed
restricted and the applicants have the requisite to maintain them
at certain levels.
Saul Barnett asked what the employee housing requirement is and
how it differs from the Roberts PUD phase one. Richman said
during this amendment process, the staff recalculated the
employee housing requirements based on the current program f or
this project, looking at hotel rooms, residential units and
commercial space. Richman said the restaurants space in the Ritz
is significantly less than in the Roberts program. This reduced
the employee housing generation significantly. Richman said when
the applicants went to P & Z, they did not have to replace the
Ute City Place because the employee generation was much lower.
Ute City Place has been re-introduced, although not required.
Barnett said the total number of employees housed under the
Roberts PUD is less than in this agreement and how much less is
it. Harvey said it is a matter of a few employees. The appli-
cants have reduced phase two by 105 hotel rooms so there should
be a decline in the impact of phases one and two.
Mary Martin asked how many employee units were required of the
Ski Company hotel and the Hotel Jerome. Richman said 7 units
were required for Little Nell and 19 employees at the Hotel
Jerome. Ms. Martin asked why there is such a wide discrepancy.
Richman said the Hotel Jerome was not under the growth management
system but under exemption for a historic structure. Richman
said today a project like that would be required to provide
substantially more housing. The Little Nell project is much
smaller. The applicants did an analysis of employees required,
which was presented to the staff and it was accepted as reason-
able. The Skiing Company's commitment was to provide 35 percent
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Continued Meeting Aspen City Council September 6, 1988
of employees generated, which was the minimum at the time. The
requirement is now 60. This applicant was required to meet the
35 percent, and they provided 60 percent.
Richman pointed out page 20 of the agreement. Richman said this
is the first time there is a major off-site development of
employee housing going along with a new development project.
Richman told Council the owner suggested language that if Ute
City Place is started but not completed, they want to be able to
obtain a c/o on the Ritz. The applicant is providing rooms at
the Grand Aspen as security to be provided as employee housing.
Richman said the agreement recognizes that the applicants has not
closed on Ute City Place yet and is not able to file the deed
restrictions. Richman said page 24 refers to the audit and the
language is as positive as it can be for the city's interest.
This recognizes that 198.5 employees are being provided with
housing. Richman said the city talked about if the audit shows
there were less employees than were being provided with housing,
the owner would receive a credit. Richman said he assumed the
credit would come in at less than 161.5 employees and Ute City
Place will never provide the owner with any additional credit.
Richman said the language is written if there are more employees
than 198.5, the owner is required to provide for 60 percent of
those employees. If the requirement goes below that, the
employee units remain as they are. Richman said the applicants
have gone beyond what their earlier commitment was during the
review process. Richman said he is pleased with the language in
this section. The applicants have also agreed that the auditors
can be chosen by the housing authority.
Councilman Isaac brought up the issue of smaller parking places.
Harvey told Council the applicants are initiating a code amend-
ment on that. Richman said staff preferred not to have this
addressed in the agreement but to indicate the city is encoura-
ging a code amendment. Harvey told Council the applicants
submitted a parking plan showing 220 full size parking spaces so
they are meeting the terms of the agreement.
Richman pointed out on page 36 regarding phase two, the commit-
ments made earlier regarding the number of rooms and the square
footage is committed to. Councilwoman Fallin said if ownership
for phase two changes, does this PUD run with the land and not
the owner. Gannett said the agreement runs with the land.
Hughes said anyone who buys this property, buys lots with these
constraints. Richman said most of the language regarding phase
two is premature; answers of financial, housing and site improve-
ments are not known.
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Continued Meeting Ashen Citv Council September 6. 1988
Richman said page 38 identifies the requirements for the proposed
ice rink and addresses the rezoning. This clarifies that the
owner will apply for rezoning within 90 after receiving the full
building permit for phase one or no later than April 1, 1989. If
by April 1, the owner has not fulfilled his obligation, the
planning office will initiate that rezoning. The applicants have
agreed to pay for administrative costs.
Richman brought up #3 on page 41 has new language regarding
demolition of the Grand Aspen hotel. The applicants have agreed
to demolish the Grand Aspen within 3 years of the date of the c/o
on the Ritz. Richman said the agreement says if the owner has
not demolished and the city sees fit, the city can demolish and
the applicant will pay for it.
Richman reminded Council at the last meeting, they wanted to look
at the automobile disincentives, particularly as they applied to
employee housing, and audit them at the same time when the
employee housing audit takes place. This is addressed on page
42. Richman said #9 is the commitment towards the Aspen Ski Club
replacement building and has not changed from the last agreement.
Richman said #10 on page 43 is the commitment to fund $250,000
towards drainage improvements, including drainage study and
obtaining easements. The language has to do with how the city
can draw down on that money. Taddune said there is a notice and
provision section in this language, if the city engineers intends
to draw down for specific purpose and the applicants do not think
it is within the spirit of the plan, it goes to Council for
resolution. Jay Hammond, city engineer, told Council the city
will not begin a study until spring or summer of 1989. Council
agreed to put April 1, 1989, in the agreement.
Richman said page 46 replaces the original language regarding the
old lodge improvement district. This language commits the owner
to provide improvements which correspond to the improvements
being built on South Galena and South Mill and to construct one
portion of those improvements with money the district is transf-
erring back to the applicant. The language needs to tightened up
so that the improvements are completed. Taddune said there
should be a schedule indicating that the applicants are commit-
ting to certain level of improvements. Hammond said he has this
in the f orm of a deduct change order from the contractor, which
would be the appropriate exhibit to this agreement.
Richman said page 48, reconstruction, is a repetition of the
earlier agreement. This refers to schedule 8 of the attachments.
Richman told Council there are 275 hotel units and 42 residential
units that either have been or are intended to be reconstructed
during the course of the PUD construction schedule. Richman
reminded Council the code sets a 5 year time table from which
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Continued Meetinq___ Aspen Citv Council September 6. 1988
have made agreement on the employee housing units. Harvey
pointed much of the acceptance and negotiations by the applicants
has been on reliance that for the applicants to look at a new set
of rules, throws the negotiations into limbo. Harvey said the
essence of the administrative delay is to examine and create a
reconstruction requirement and on-site requirement for sub-
division. Harvey noted the applicants have a reconstruction
requirement in the overall employee housing schedule for 161.5
employees.
Councilman Isaac moved to exempt the Aspen Mountain PUD from the
administrative delay of Ordinance #31; seconded by Councilman
Tuite.
Mayor Stirling said Council tried to establish criteria for the
exemptions heard last week. Mayor Stirling said he feels this
project meets the threshold and it would be fair to grant an
exemption.
All in favor, motion carried.
Saul Barnett said in the PUD agreement there are a significant
number of items to be done by the applicant following construc-
t i on and an issuance of certificate of occupancy of phase one .
Barnett asked what is the city's position if things that are
supposed to occur do not and what remedies does the city have.
Richman said the city has tried to collateralize some of the
requirements like demolition of the Grand Aspen, provision of
housing at Ute City Place. Richman told Council staff spent a
lot of time on these commitments. Barnett said he would 1 ike to
be sure there are remedies the city has and that whatever
assurances are given are adequately secured. Richman said the
ultimate remedy is not to permit occupancy of the building if
the conditions of the PUD agreement are not met. Barnett said if
the city wants to collateralize this, perhaps they should have a
mortgage on the property to secure the financial obligations.
Sarpa said the applicants have spent an inordinate amount of time
looking at all the assurances. Sarpa said the assurances in the
agreement and those already done are very strong. Barnett said
when he ready the Roberts agreement, he was not sure there is any
effective enforcement the city has to make sure that the require-
ments that are supposed to be accomplished after phase one is
completed are anything other than the right to sue the applicant
for damages under a breach of contract. Hughes pointed out this
is a five-lot planned unit development. The city does have some
approvals they can withhold from the applicants. Hughes said the
applicant cannot walk away from the remaining 4 lots of the PUD.
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Continued Meeting Aspen City Council September 6. 1988
Paul Hamwi said if the city spends money or performs work on
property owned by someone else, they would have some lien right.
Taddune said the agreement could be amended to provide for lien
right that would be superior to any existing financing. Hamwi
said this would mean a lending institution would be taking a
second position. Taddune said this would require that the
financier would have to satisfy the condition in order to
maintain a security interest. Sarpa told Council the applicants
plan to make as part of the construction loan a line item of the
financial assurances already given. Taddune ask if the lender
would commit to the city. Sarpa said this is asking the appl-
icant to increase the funding f or the project. Hughes said the
city can always withdraw the c/o on the Ritz. Richman told
Council he will present a resolution for Council's action on the
September 12 meeting.
RESOLUTION #28, SERIES OF 1988 - Special Election Ballot Ques-
tions
Fred Gannett, city attorney's office, told Council he tried to
put in language that was more neutral that addressed the concept
of what this question deals with. Gannett said the inserted
language has the Ritz Carlton in it. Councilwoman Fallin said
she does not like the language. Councilwoman Fallin said this
question should be a separate issue and not a yes or no vote
specifically on the Ritz Carlton. The question carries an
implication for land use that is far beyond what happens with the
Ritz. Councilwoman Fallin said she feels the question should be
on the ballot without any editorial comment. Councilwoman Fallin
said it is up to both sides to campaign prior to the election to
make their case before the election.
John Sarpa told Council the reason they suggested this language
was that after the petition was circulated the applicant had a
lot of people comment that they were confused and did not under-
stand what it's impact is. Sarpa said this is a confusing ballot
and there were attempting to clarify its impact. Mayor Stirling
said he does not like the idea of legislating by ballot except by
electing the people who are elected to legislate. Mayor Stirling
said this petition exemplifies that people are expressing a lack
of confidence in the elected officials. Mayor Stirling said the
people who circulated the petition feel time is of the essence.
Mayor Stirling agreed this ballot issue has long term conse-
quences f or the city. Mayor Stirling said he does not support
the additional language.
Mayor Stirling moved to pass Resolution #28, striking the
underlined portion in question #1; seconded by Councilwoman
Fallin.
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Continued Meeting Aspen Citv Council September 6. 1988
Councilman Isaac stated he does not feel question #2 should have
to go to the voters and this decision should be made by Council.
Mayor Stirling amended his motion to not have the underlined
language in question #1 and deal with the entire resolution
separately; seconded by Councilwoman Fallin.
Mayor Stirling read the underlined language; "Said ordinance is
intended to apply to all proposals within the Aspen city limits
for hotels or other multi-family dwellings meeting the definition
of a hotel for which approval may be or has been sought under the
planned unit development limitations and guidelines of the Aspen
Municipal Code, including the proposed Ritz Carlton hotel and ice
rink and park". Mayor Stirling said this is a generic ordinance
that deals with long range consequences. Mayor Stirling said it
is inappropriate to put a separate paragraph in a generic ballot
issue.
Wainwright Dawson said if there is going to be an ordinance that
came about because of the Ritz, then the Ritz should be in the
question. Dawson said if this is going to be a generic ordi-
nance, it should be a generic ordinance for the future and
explain to the voters how it will effect the town and its future.
Councilman Tuite asked what the city is going to do for the
election. Councilman Tuite said he would like some explanation
to the voters so that this is a coherent ballot issue. Mayor
Stirling said the Council can determine what they want to do for
the election. Councilman Isaac said the planning office was to
give Council an analysis of what this will do to the land use
code, the parcels effected and the ramifications.
All in favor, motion carried.
Mayor Stirling said question #2 is a proposed ballot question to
deal with the use of the western portion of lot 4 of the Thomas
subdivision by the Aspen Valley hospital for employee housing.
Fred Gannett, city attorney's office, said this piece of property
is almost an island. Gannett told Council the Thomas property
was purchased in 1972. The city is asking for a small piece to
be sold or transferred to the hospital or the housing authority.
The property is not deed restricted by sixth penny f unds nor by
use. This property was annexed in 1979 and was subdivided in
1982. This ballot is for one portion of lot 4. The third issue
on the ballot is to ask that the right-of-way be replatted so
that it conforms with the construction.
Gannett said this is currently zoned public and will have to be
rezoned to RMF. Councilwoman Fallin said she wants to make sure
this gets public hearings. Walter Ganz, hospital board, pointed
out this is a technical issue and would be hard to explain. This
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Continued Meeting AspenCity Council September 6. 1988
is 1/3 of an acre. This is not land that was ever dedicated for
public or park purposes. Ganz said the city has authority to
transfer this land without going to a vote of the people. Mayor
Stirling said the city recently had an election and asked for
permission to transfer about 1/4 acre. The voters turned this
down. Mayor Stirling said he is very sensitive to the issues of
open space and feels it is prudent to ask the voter to dispose of
land owned by the city. Ganz said this will not effect major
issues of the community.
Jane Ellen Hamilton, representing the hospital, reminded Council
this is not a transfer to a private party but is something that
is going to benefit the public. The units will be available to
the public. Ms. Hamilton said this is not asking the city to
give the property away but to work in conjunction with the
hospital. Councilman Isaac said there will be public hearings
on this project. The city will participate in the process.
Councilman Isaac said the city is asking private businesses to
take care of their housing needs yet the city is not addressing
the needs of the city staff.
Mayor Stirling said he never feels issues are too technical for
the voters. Councilman Tuite said this is not going solely f or
the hospital; units will be available to the general employees.
Councilwoman Fallin moved to adopt Resolution #28; seconded b y
Mayor Stirling. Councilwoman Fallin and Mayor Stirling in favor;
Councilmembers Tuite, Gassman and Isaac opposed. Motion NOT
carried.
Councilman Gassman moved to adopt Resolution #28, Series of
1988, without questions 2 and 3; seconded by Councilman Tuite.
All in favor, with the exception of Councilwoman Fallin and Mayor
Stirling. Motion carried.
Meeting adjourned at 7:26 p.m.
Kathryn,. Koch, City Clerk
14
Continued Meeting Aspen City Council September 6, 1988
demolition occurs to when reconstruction can occur to make sure
that there is not construction unanticipated by the city and
service shortfalls occur. Richman said 116 previously demolished
are mostly Blue Spruce and Aspen Inn units. Many of the
residential units still stand. Some of the residential units
have been demolished more than 5 years ago, and this was extended
by Council in an earlier process.
The applicant is asking for a 5 year period of reconstruction of
the hotel units commencing on the date of recordation. Richman
said he fails to see the need for this because once a foundation
permit is obtained for reconstruction, these units are vested and
the reconstruction provision of the code is irrelevant. Richman
said some of the residential units may not be demolished for
several years. Richman said he can see the rationale for
paragraph (b) but not for paragraph (a). Richman reminded
Council the demolition of the Grand Aspen is scheduled for 3
years after the c/o on the Ritz.
Harvey said when the applicants install the park, they will tear
down the units. The applicants want to tie the reconstruction of
those to the demolition permit on the Grand Aspen. Harvey said
these date should jive. Harvey said there are people living in
units where the park will be. Mayor Stirling said the time for
the hotel units is too long. Mayor Stirling suggested substitut-
ing the 5 year period for 2 years after demolition of the Grand
Aspen. Richman said for the lodge units, the code covers the
issue and it does not need to be addressed in this agreement.
For the residential units, the applicants are asking for some-
thing that goes beyond the length of the code. Richman recom-
mended deleting paragraph (a). Richman said the reconstruction
units will all be used in the development of the Ritz. Harvey
said the applicants want some verification that these are
existing units because it corresponds with the growth management
allotment. Richman said this update verifies these units.
Council agreed to delete (a) and makes (b) (a) , leaving it as it
reads. There will be a schedule 9 attachment. Richman said
staff needs to verify the park dedication fees; this will be done
at the foundation permit stage.
Councilman Tuite moved to direct staff to make the changes on the
PUD agreement and bring the final corrections to the September 12
meeting; seconded by Councilman Isaac. All in favor, motion
carried.
Harvey said the applicants have requested to be exempt from
Ordinance #31, the demolition moratorium. Harvey told Council
the PUD agreement is an integrally related agreement and each
portion relates to another. The applicants are required to
process submission on phase two and the ice rink. The applicants
10