HomeMy WebLinkAboutminutes.council.19901217Regular Meeting Aspen Cit y Council December 17, 1990
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COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS 1
CONSENT CALENDAR 2
LIQUOR LICENSE RENEWAL - Poppycock's 2
CONCEPTUAL SPA ASPEN MEADOWS 2
ORDINANCE #80, SERIES OF 1990 - Hotel Jerome PUD Lot Line
Adjustment 9
ORDINANCE #72, SERIES OF 1990 - 7 34 West Smuggler Condominium-
ization 9
HOUSING OFFICE 1991 BUDGET 10
AMENDING 1990 HOUSING BUDGET 10
ORDINANCE #75, SERIES OF 1990 - Appropriations 10
ORDINANCE #77, SERIES OF 1990 - Senior Citizens Property Tax
Rebate 10
RESOLUTION #58, SERIES OF 1990 - Commercial GMQS Allocation 10
RESOLUTION #59, SERIES OF 1990 - Pitkin County Bank GMQS
Allocation 11
RESOLUTION #60, SERIES OF 1990 - Accepting Cash-in-Lieu 409
East Hopkins 12
RESOLUTION #61, SERIES OF 1990 - Excess Allocation 12
SPECIAL MEETING WITH COUNTY COMMISSIONERS 13
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Regular Meeting Aspen City Council December 17, 1990
Mayor Stirling called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. with
Councilmembers Tuite, Pendleton, Peters and Gassman present.
COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS
1. Dick Butera asked Mayor Stirling whether he was speaking for
the Council or the community when he was quoted in a recent GQ
article about Aspen. Butera said the Mayor was quoted as saying
that people began using Lennie Weinglass and his building as a
benchmark of something not to aspire to. Mayor Stirling said he
was not speaking for the Council nor does the article say he was.
COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS
1. Councilman Peters thanked the staff for a year of great work
in support of the Council. Councilman Peters also thanked John
Reid for organizing a great Christmas party.
2. Councilman Gassman said the housing authority wants to talk
about the Kraut property, specifically the commercial uses.
Council scheduled January 7 as a work session with the County
Commissioners and Housing Authority to discuss the Kraut property
at 5 p.m. and a proposed housing/commercial use on top of the
parking garage at 6 p.m.
3. Councilman Gassman complimented Jed Caswall, city attorney,
on his memorandum on the gazebo. It was very thorough.
4. Mayor Stirling questioned the special meeting with the county
commissioners on the consent calendar. Mayor Stirling pointed out
the Council had voted to meet with the Commissioners in an
executive session at the Courthouse December 18 at 4 p.m.
Councilman Gassman moved to take this off the consent calendar;
seconded by Councilman Tuite. All in favor, motion carried.
5. Mayor Stirling said the Colorado Association of Ski Towns
meeting was held last week in Frisco. The legislative tour is
scheduled for February 1 - 3 in Mountain Crested Butte; transporta-
tion and housing will be the two major issues. Mayor Stirling
reported that the Vail Mayor has supported the Roaring Fork light
right proposal.
6. Mayor Stirling asked staff to make sure the Ski Club and the
ski museum are not precluded in the Winter Club lease. Carol
O' Dowd, city manager, said this lease will help make the ski museum
happen.
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Regular Meeting Aspen City Council December 17, 1990
7. Mayor Stirling reminded Council of the special meeting
scheduled for December 20th at 5 p.m. for the second reading of
Ordinance #78, 1990.
8. Mayor Stirling said he is not in the habit of publicly
denigrating other people.
9. Carol O'Dowd, city manager, presented Council a Christmas card
and thanked them for the Christmas party. Ms. O'Dowd acknowledged
the staff that helped put the event together.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Councilman Gassman moved to approve the consent calendar as
amended; seconded by Councilman Tuite. The consent calendar is:
A. Winter Club Lease
B. Resolution #57, 1990 - Permission to Hotel Jerome for Lot
Line Application
All in favor, motion carried.
LIQUOR LICENSE RENEWAL - Poppycock's
Councilman Peters moved to approve
Poppycock's; seconded by Councilma
carried.
the liquor license renewal for
n Tuite. All in favor, motion
CONCEPTUAL SPA ASPEN MEADOWS
Mayor Stirling reopened the public hearing.
In a tape recording Charlie Marquesee told Council their property
runs from Eighth street on Meadows Road to Seventh street; their
north boundary is the south boundary of the race track. Marquesee
pointed out all professionals and Council since 1972 have preferred
Seventh street as the access to the Meadows. Marquesee said the
Physics Institute is also in favor of the Seventh street access.
Marquesee said they have agreed to deed to the city or consortium
partial lots E, F, G, H, and I, Block 7, representing 150 feet of
frontage to reduce intrusion on the race track and on the circle
of serenity. Marquesee said they have also agreed to have their
view of the race track blocked. Their compromises, have been
enormous. Marquesee said Council has bent over backwards to allow
all citizens to have their input. Marquesee requested Council
approve the plan that is before them.
Jim Adams, Meadows Road, thanked Council for their original intent
to sponsor and to help develop a workable Meadows development plan.
Adams said he supports the present plan 100 percent. John
Schuhmacher, Eighth and Meadows road, presented a petition
regarding the Aspen Meadows development plan. "It is imperative
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Regular Meeting _______ Aspen City Council December 17, 1990
that the current city-sponsored Aspen Meadows conceptual develop-
ment plan be adopted with Seventh street as the major access to the
property. The plan is a result of some very delicate and fragile
compromises and concessions by all the major interest groups within
and adjacent to the property boundaries. The goal is to insure a
future permanent home for the organizations. Neighborhood
concerns: The final issue is proper access. We urge the Council
to address this issue in a clear, objective and long term decision.
The plan's density increases demand that additional traffic impacts
on the surrounding neighborhoods be minimized, twenty years of
thoughtful, professional transportation planning advice relent-
lessly recommended the 7th street access. We also suggest that
Council initiate a west end traffic flow monitoring system to
reduce further undesirable future traffic flow impacts on surround-
ing residential areas". Schuhmacher told Council there are 112
signatures on this petition. Schuhmacher said the issue is whether
the integrity of the process is going to be respected. Everyone
made a commitment to that process. There have been endless
meetings and compromises, reflected in the plan in front of
Council.
Mary Martin complimented the Council on their year and a half
process. Ms. Martin said with a rehearsal facility, there will be
a great increase in traffic on both ends of Gillespie at Third.
Ms. Martin suggested these streets might be made one-way. Elli
Iselin said she is opposed to Seventh street access and to taking
away the last little open space. Elizabeth Means said she is also
against the Seventh street access because it takes away open space
where there is wildlife and a bird sanctuary.
David Kaler, 618 West Smuggler, agreed with statements of Chic
Collins including the new access on Seventh street. Kaler said the
Eighth street access has proved a success over many years and it
should continue. Heather Tharp, Francis street, pointed out there
are two public entities on the west end of Francis, the forest
service and Baptist Church. Ms. Tharp said the access that way is
overloaded and she would rather see the access stay on Eighth.
Mary Ann Schuhmacher, Eighth street, said Seventh street access
is a good compromise.
Jim Markalunas, 628 North Street, stated he is adamantly opposed
to the extension of Seventh street into the race track area. It
is needless destruction of open space which is being lost all over
Aspen. Markalunas said the real problem is the east/west traffic
flow, especially on Smuggler street. Larry Hoffman, 695 Meadows
road, favored approving the Seventh street access. Hoffman said
he has been pleased to be part of this process. Hoffman said the
Council has done more than is required by their codes. Hoffman
said Council ought to follow the expert's advise and to adopt the
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Regular Meeting Aspen Citv Council December 17, 19.90_
logical access on Seventh street. Bill Martin, 710 North Third,
told Council he favors Seventh street.
Karen Coordes, Francis street, told Council she would rather see
more traffic on Eighth street than to see the race track ruined by
another road. Ms. Coordes said another road would encourage more
traffic. Ms. Coordes said it would be better for everyone to get
together and figure out ways to reduce traffic . Les Holst said any
intrusion into the race track would be a detriment to the com-
munity. Jan Collins, 531 West Gillespie, told Council she is
opposed to the Seventh street access. Ms. Collins asked Council
to support preservation of the race track oval. It is important
to the community to hang onto the open space. Patricia Chumas, 800
West Smuggler, is opposed to the paving of the darling little track
and the Seventh street access. Sheryl Alway, 800 West Smuggler,
supports preservation of the race track.
Katharine Thalberg, 4th and Smuggler representing Aspen Society For
Animal Rights, told Council they are very concerned about the loss
of wildlife habitat in the open space of the oval and are opposed
to the Seventh street access. Ms. Thalberg said Council's goals
state "preservation of the natural environment and preservation of
open space". The construction of housing and paving in the race
track are contrary to Council's goals. Ms. Thalberg said anytime
one develops land that is pristine and natural, wildlife will be
lost.
Jimmy Ibbotson, 505 North Fifth, said it is difficult for young
kids to find a place to hang out and the race track oval is a
favorite place to hang out. Ramona Markalunas said she is opposed
to the Seventh street access. It has not been approved by all the
professionals. Several P & Z members have suggested making the
existing road adequate for the access. Ms. Markalunas said it is
unnecessary to disturb the last sage meadow in the city limits.
Ms . Markalunas said another concern is how much of the green spaces
will be dedicated to open space.
Charles Collins, 531 West Gillespie, supports retaining the Eighth
street alignment to the Meadows.- Collins said he is against any
intrusion into the race track area. Mike Logsdon supported the
Seventh street access. George Vicenzi pointed out that the. Eighth
street houses tend to be 50 or 60 feet off the road. The Seventh
streets houses are closer to the road. Vicenzi told Council he is
opposed to the Seventh street access because it will cause the
paving of the track.
Harry Teague, architect, told Council the P & Z , HPC and staf f have
all preferred the location of the rehearsal facility to the east
of the tent. Teague said they have attempted to mitigate the
facility in its location. The basic concept is to come up with a
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Regular Meeting Aspen City Council December 17, 1990
large mound and put the building within the mound. The need is for
a facility of 65 feet by 100 feet and 45 feet high, for acoustic
volume of 150 instruments. Teague told Council the program has
been carefully developed. The FAR is 11,000 square feet, which is
in the master plan. To mitigate this, half the building has been
sunken underground. The roof is the only visible portion of the
building. The top of this building will be about 15 feet lower
than the tent. The rehearsal facility will intrude into the
seating on the east side of the tent. There will be added and
improved seating on the other side of the tent. These improvements
should also enhance the acoustics inside the tent. Teague said he
is making a genuine attempt to make a terrific building and one
with low impact in a sensitive location.
Robert Harth, M.A.A., said they have pledged there will not be
concurrent performances taking place in this facility so the
traffic should not increase. This second facility is to relieve
the pressure that is currently on the tent. The tent is currently
used 7 days a week, 12 to 15 hours a day. There are 5 orchestras,
and they need places to rehearse. Harth said the M.A.A. is
reducing their activities; this request is for an improved
facility. Harth reminded Council he has always asked for 500 seats
and has always said there will be public performances. Harth noted
the M.A.A. has not asked for paved parking; this is a request from
the city. However, paved parking means an increase of only 20
cars. Harth said the M.A.A. would not want to be precluded from
presenting some concerns in the winter. Harth said it is their
intention to do what they do better, and this facility is needed
to do that.
Herb Klein, representing Leonard Lauder, asked the height of the
tent. Teague said the top of the dome is 41 feet. Klein said his
client and the neighbors prefer the westerly site for the rehearsal
facility. They also have some fundamental questions about the need
for the facility and are very concerned about the performance
aspects. Klein said this is a major facility, which should be
pulled out of the SPA plan and go through an appropriate review
process and come back as an amendment to the SPA. Klein said his
clients are concerned about lawn seating and about the visual and
aesthetic impacts. Klein said this mound will dwarf and diminish
the music tent.
Mary Martin agreed the facility should be on the west side. Ms.
Martin objected to the design, stating there should be at least
three conceptual designs. Fritz Benedict said it is clever to echo
the Anderson mounds in this design. The building is being designed
to be of minimal impact. Ann Ibbotson submitted a letter for the
record listing concerns about the M.A.A. rehearsal facility. Ms.
Ibbotson said she does not understand the need for a 500 seat
performance facility, which will have major impact on the west end.
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Regular Meetina Aspen City Council December 17, 1990
Ms. Ibbotson said there is no way to camouflage an 11,000 square
foot building in a flat area. Ms. Ibbotson said this building is
not within the spirit of the Meadows master plan. The proposed
facility is too big with too large an impact. Ms. Ibbotson
suggested the rehearsal hall be eliminated from the SPA. Mayor
Stirling pointed out the master plan indicates an 11,000 square
foot building with a 500 seat capacity with no simultaneous
concerns is an intention of the M.A.A. Ann Altemus stated she is
totally opposed to the building, location and size. Les Holst
agreed to taking this facility out of the master plan and examining
it separately. Holst said this building will not fit into the
Aspen experience.
Jan Collins said the problem is rehearsal versus performance and
performance is driving this facility. Ms. Collins said the
community has voted against a performance facility. Ms. Collins
said winter performances should be held in the Wheeler. Ms.
DeWolfe agreed. Carol Craig said the M.A.A. could use either
Paepcke or the Wheeler for any special events they want to put on.
George Vicenzi said this is a lot different than what people were
lead to believe. Vicenzi implored Council to remove this from the
SPA and allow it to be considered separately. Perry Harvey said
one condition from the P & Z approval is that a detailed descrip-
tion of the use program shall be provided to address seasonal,
daily use and use by outside entities.
John Schuhmacher said the oval is not a race track nor a beautiful
nature preserve or a wildlife sanctuary. This is also not public
land. It is a field covered with sagebrush. Schuhmacher said the
preserve should be down by the river, which is where the game 1 ive .
Jan Collins said the foxes are on the oval track. Katharine
Thalberg said the presence of wildlife is a real asset and benefit
to Aspen's way of life. Charles Collins said he has seen at least
40 deer at least a dozen times this summer using the oval of
tranquility.
Maggie Dewolfe told Council she is very opposed to the underground
parking garage. Si Coleman suggested the automobile be banned
entirely from the Meadows area.
Mayor Stirling said he is ready to accept the compromises that are
essential elements of the master plan and application. Mayor
Stirling pointed out one of Savanah's important issues is to
implement action for recovery of the cost of the land and capital
investment allowing them to grant land to the non-profits and
provide for capital improvement funds. Mayor Stirling said this
is a fundamental tenet and what will be achieved by this action.
Mayor Stirling said the plan stated in goal 3 policy 1, that a new
Seventh street is acceptable for conceptual planning and should be
further studied. Mayor Stirling suggested Council grant develop-
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Regular Meet_ng Aspen City Council December 17, 1990
ment right of 4 lots to Savanah holdings and begin at once
negotiate to purchase the lots for the city. This is 15 to 18
acres in addition to the riparian lots below. Mayor Stirling said
the Council could then limit the expansion to the townhouses and
the new lodging units.
Councilman Peters said he cannot support this proposal as it is too
costly to the land fund. The city would have to sacrifice any
additional trails. Councilman Peters said the city has already
committed over $2 million to the riparian area. Councilwoman
Pendleton said she also does not support this. There are other
projects that will come up that may need to be addressed out of the
land fund. Councilman Gassman agreed. Mayor Stirling told Council
he also researched trying to pull the lots more to the south and
has discovered this is not possible.
Councilman Peters said what is driving the debate on the access is
the commercial development within the Meadows. Councilman Peters
said the additional paving in the race track is wasteful and
redundant, counterproductive and counter to Council's goals.
Councilman Peters said he would rather try and control the impact
of the development within the Meadows; one way to do that is deal
with the uses of the condominiums that are being built. Councilman
Peters said the condominiums have a lot of cash value without short
terming them. Eliminating short term use would also eliminate a
lot of the impact. Councilman Peters said the conceptual plan is
lacking in mitigation of traffic. Councilman Peters suggested an
alternative to use North street in order to pull the single family
homes off the race track or to disperse traffic by giving people
two exits. Councilman Peters said the logical alternative is to
keep the access on Eighth street and try to control the density
within the area. Councilman Peters said that was the logic that
brought Council through the master planning process.
Councilwoman Pendleton said she does not want to stop this process .
The access will impact people no matter which alternative is
picked. The cars have got to be de-emphasized. Councilwoman
Pendleton said with a new highway people will gravitate to Seventh
street as it is easier. Councilwoman Pendleton said she does not
like infringing on the Meadows.
John Sarpa, representing the applicant, reminded Council they have
arrived at the preferred access by what makes sense. The studies
were reviewed by outside consultants. The consultants discussed
safety, the new alignment of the highway, the capacity of the
existing roads, etc. Feldsman, traffic consultant, told Council
he was asked to look at broader issues than just on-site traffic,
like how to get to the Meadows. Feldsman said in looking at the
regional aspects, like getting people from the highway into the
Meadows, Seventh is the principle choice from a traffic engineering
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Regular Meeting Aspen_CitY Council December 17, 1990
standpoint for 3 reasons; (a) it is a direct route as opposed to
a two-turn movement; this will become more critical with the
realignment of highway 82; (b) ease of signing and (c) safety.
Feldsman said south of Smuggler there is more traffic on Seventh
than on Eighth during the peak period on a typical day. North of
Smuggler the opposite occurs.
Councilwoman Pendleton said once one gets past Smuggler, there is
a significant decrease in traffic. Councilwoman Pendleton said
many objections are the infringement upon the race track and
perhaps there is another way for the traffic to go. Sarpa said he
has discussed the various alternatives with the property owner,
Charles Marquesee. There are only certain road alignments that
will work with Marquesee's donation of land. Councilman Peters
said Marquesee's donation is laudable but what is germane is the
plan approved by Council.
Mayor Stirling said Eighth street is an ideal, picturesque drive
and why would the city want to put another drive inside the oval;
two acres of the oval will be lost. Councilman Peters agreed the
race track seems to become the repository of all that is unwanted
in the development. Councilman Peters said if the residential uses
are controlled, Eighth and Meadows can easily be used and avoid
paving the open space. Sarpa pointed out there is 60 acres owned
by a private entity and the object was to see if the community and
property owner can work together to plan this. Sarpa said there
was a public process and master plan, which the Council voted on.
There were public hearings at P & Z; P & Z reviewed the master plan
and voted on it. Mayor Stirling said the Council is in the
process of scrutinizing and evaluating the master plan. Councilman
Peters said the compromise was achieved over a period of time; the
impacts have been reduced through the process.
Councilman Gassman said this process has been very fragile and has
always had the potential to fall apart. Councilman Gassman said
he can live with the Seventh street access as outlined in the
master plan. Councilman Tuite said Seventh street coming in off
a newly aligned highway 82 makes the most sense. Councilman Tuite
said he has not heard complaints about the four new houses.
Councilman Tuite said he is not happy about a 22 foot road;
however, if Charlie Marquesee is willing to give land for this
road, it helps mitigate the impact on the oval. Councilman Tuite
said the location of the 4 houses will have the most impact on the
oval. Councilman Tuite said the traffic has got to mitigated and
one solution may be no parking on the property.
Councilwoman Pendleton said she is concerned about the amount of
additional intrusion into the race track area and asked if moving
the road would stop the process. Gideon Kaufman said it would stop
the process. The Institute has been in the process for 3-1/2
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Regular Meeting Aspen City Council December 17, 1990
years. There is a master plan approved by Council and the
Institute would like to see the major element complied with. This
position is supported by the Physics Institute. Sarpa said if the
fundamental precepts of the plan are changed at this date, the
reaction from the community will jeopardize this process to the
point of stopping it.
Councilman Tuite moved to approve condition #8 stating that Seventh
street shall be the primarily access into and out of the Meadows;
seconded by Councilman Gassman. Councilmembers Pendleton, Gassman
and Tuite in favor; Councilman Peters and Mayor Stirling opposed.
Motion carried.
Councilwoman Pendleton moved to approve condition #9, costs
associated by Seventh street shall be born by the application;
seconded by Councilman Tuite. All in favor, with the exception of
Councilman Peters. Motion carried.
Mayor Stirling moved to continue the Aspen Meadows hearing to 5
p.m. Thursday, December 20, beginning with conditions 19 and 20;
seconded by Councilman Peters. All in favor, with the exception
of Councilwoman Pendleton. Motion carried.
ORDINANCE #80, SERIES OF 1990 - Hotel Jerome PUD Lot Line Adjust-
ment
Mayor Stirling opened the public hearing. There were no comments.
Mayor Stirling closed the public hearing.
Councilman Tuite moved to adopt Ordinance #80, Series of 1990, on
second reading; seconded by Councilwoman Pendleton. Roll call
vote; Councilmembers Peters, yes; Gassman, yes; Tuite, yes;
Pendleton, yes; Mayor Stirling, yes. Motion carried.
ORDINANCE #72, SERIES OF 1990 - 734 West Smuggler Condominiumiza-
tion
Mayor Stirling opened the public hearing. There were no comments.
Mayor Stirling closed the public hearing. Leslie Lamont, planning
office, told Council a site visit determined that the parking does
in fact fit the number of spaces required.
Councilman Gassman moved to adopt Ordinance #72, Series of 1990,
on second reading; seconded by Councilman Peters. Roll call vote;
Councilmembers Pendleton, yes; Gassman, yes; Tuite, yes; Peters,
yes; Mayor Stirling, yes. Motion carried.
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Regular Meeting Aspen City Council December 17, 1990
HOUSING OFFICE 1991 BUDGET
Harry Truscott, housing authority, presented an overall budget for
the housing authority. Truscott told Council everyone is in
agreement with all aspects of the budget. There is funding for
full staff. Councilman Gassman said the housing authority should
be an independent operating entity and the way to do that is to
leave it alone. The solution to perceived problems is not to try
and meddle in the management but to complain to the housing
authority Board. Mayor Stirling said there is a transition between
directors and Council directed the city manager to assist in the
budget. Councilman Peters said he, too, would like to approve the
budget without any strings. The new housing director should not
have to come and plead his case for a budget and with a secretary
position approved.
Councilman Gassman moved to approve the proposed budget; seconded
by Councilman Peters. All in favor, motion carried.
AMENDING 1990 HOUSING BUDGET
Cindy Wilson, finance director, pointed out Council had seen this
earlier. Staff is comfortable with the numbers. There are
payments out of the cash-in-lieu funds for several items in the
budget.
Councilman Gassman moved to approve the amendments to the 1990
housing budget; seconded by Councilman Peters. All in favor,
motion carried.
ORDINANCE #75, SERIES OF 1990 - Appropriations
Mayor Stirling opened the public hearing. There were no comments.
Mayor Stirling closed the public hearing.
Councilman Peters moved to adopt Ordinance #75, Series of 1990, on
second reading; seconded by Councilman Tuite. Roll call vote;
Councilmembers Gassman, yes; Tuite, yes; Peters, yes; Pendleton,
yes; Mayor Stirling, yes. Motion carried.
ORDINANCE #77 , SERIES OF 1990 - Senior Citizens Property Tax REbate
Councilman Gassman moved to table this issue to January 14, 1991;
seconded by Councilman Tuite. All in favor, motion carried.
RESOLUTION #58, SERIES OF 1990 - Commercial GMQS Allocation
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Regular Meeting Aspen City Council December 17, 1990
Councilman Gassman moved to approve Resolution #58, Series of 1990,
granting 1990 commercial allocations; seconded by Councilman Tuite.
All in favor, motion carried.
RESOLUTION #59 , SERIES OF 1990 - Pitkin County Bank GMQS Allocation
Councilman Gassman moved to approve Resolution #59, Series of 1990;
seconded by Mayor Stirling.
This resolution approves payment-in-lieu of $164,500 for employee
housing for the Pitkin County Bank. Councilman Peters reminded
Council of a previous discussion about reserving the discretion to
require on-site housing or allow the developer to chose cash-in-
lieu. Councilman Peters said he would prefer to have the housing
authority develop municipal and county projects and have the
developers be required to build or buy their own units . Councilman
Peters said he would prefer not to accept this resolution.
Councilman Gassman agreed and pointed out there are advantages to
having people living in the downtown.
Sunny Vann, representing the applicant, told Council this is a
modest expansion to an existing building. This will be slightly
below the 1.5:1 FAR. Vann said in order to get additional square
footage for the employee housing, it would have to be taken out of
the commercial square footage or go into the bonus category. Vann
said the cost of buying the employee housing is almost equal to
the budget of building the additional commercial square footage.
Vann said cash-in-lieu is an alternative in a case of a non-
speculative local business expanding to meet its need with its
existing employee base. Vann said staff took the position that new
employees generated or not, a project must meet the minimum
requirement.
Councilman Peters said he is not asking the building configuration
be changed but he would like the applicant to look at the real
estate market and to provide these employee units. Mayor Stirling
said the city is working on a lot of projects and could use the
cash-in-lieu. Councilman Gassman said the cash-in-lieu will not
result in any more housing. Mayor Stirling asked if the applicant
would be willing to pursue the buy down approach and report back
to Council. Vann said the would be willing to do this.
Councilman Gassman said Council get to make the choice too late in
the process. Councilwoman Pendleton agreed this should be decided
earlier.
Councilwoman Pendleton in favor; everyone else opposed. Motion NOT
carried.
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Regular Meeting Asben Citv Council December 17, 1990
Mayor Stirling moved to direct the applicant to pursue the housing
of 4.7 employees, 60 percent mitigation, and that the applicant
report back by no later than February 1st on this progress;
seconded by Councilman Tuite. All in favor, motion carried.
RESOLUTION #60, SERIES OF 1990 - Accepting Cash-in-Lieu 409 East
Hopkins
Mayor Stirling said this is the same discussion as the previous
issue. Joe Wells, representing the applicant, said the difficulty
for an applicant is the cost of the process and negotiating with
HPC. Wells told Council the applicant presented a three story
building, which the HPC did not favor. HPC approved a two-story
plan amounting to a 7,000 square foot commercial expansion. Wells
said there are 3 code amendments in the applications because of the
exactions amount to $2,000,000 under present code provisions.
Wells said the proposed code amendments request a waiver of the
open space payment-in-lieu fee when HPC specifically encourages an
applicant to move a non-historic structure into open space and to
reopen the issue on the exaction that is now required for replace-
ment square footage. Wells said the GMQS issue should be separated
from the code amendments. Wells said the payment-in-lieu would be
$772,800 for 16 employees at 60 percent.
Councilman Tuite moved to direct the applicant to satisfy the 16
generated employees in the market place and respond to Council no
later than February 1st; seconded by Councilman Peters.
Leslie Lamont, planning office, told Council the applicant
identified about 27 employees total. The housing referral comment
questions these numbers; they may be too high. Ms. Lamont said one
condition of approval is that staff and the applicant work out the
exact number of employees generated. Wells said the reason the
number was structured that way was to not predetermine the use of
the space.
All in favor, motion carried.
RESOLUTION #61, SERIES OF 1990 - Excess Allocation
Councilman Gassman moved to approve Resolution #61, Series of 1990;
seconded by Councilman Tuite.
Councilman Gassman said Joe Wells tabulation of commercial
construction over the last few years is persuasive. Councilman
Peters said the GMP allows a maximum amount of growth and the
limits set should be acceptable. Councilman Peters said the city
has enjoyed less than the limit and has had a policy of not
carrying forward the GMP allocation from year to year. Councilman
Peters said he feels this is a good policy. Councilman Peters said
12
Rectular Meeting Aspen Citv Council December 17, 1990
he does not feel this should be taken out of the future. Amy
Margerum, planning director, noted the quotas have been used up in
the past based on exemptions. Jed Caswall, city attorney, told
Council he has made the interpretations that it would have taken
an affirmative act to carry the allocation over from previous
years. This was not done and the allocations are gone.
Wells said Council the code states the city shall make available
30 percent of the quota in any year. Wells said it was felt a
minimum amount of quota should be available every year for the GMP
to be defensible so that people could not be precluded from
applying an on annual basis. Wells' interpretation is that the
city made 2400 square feet available in the 1989 competition. The
code requires Council, by resolution, to either carry over the
allocation or to eliminate the allocation. Wells argued that
decision has yet to be made.
All in favor, motion carried.
SPECIAL MEETING WITH COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Jed Caswall, city attorney, said if Council chooses they can decide
whether or not to go into an executive session and what the subject
matter should be.
Councilman Peters moved to meet in executive session December 18th
4 p.m. with the Board of County Commissioners, Commissioners
meeting room, together with city and county manager and director
of planning office to discuss planning and management issues;
seconded by Councilman Tuite. All in favor, with the exception of
Councilman Gassman and Mayor Stirling. Motion carried.
Councilman Peters moved to continue this meeting to December 20,
1990, at 5 p.m. to discuss Ordinance #78, 1990, and the Meadows
SPA; seconded by Councilwoman Pendleton. All in favor, motion
carried.
d
Kathryn Koch, City Clerk
13