HomeMy WebLinkAboutcoa.lu.an.Oden deannexationMEMORANDUM
TO: John Worcester, City Attorney t
THRU: Julie Ann Woods, Community Development Director /
1
FROM: Chris Bendon, Senior Planner l�
RE: Oden petition for disconnection
DATE: October 16, 2001
SUMMARY:
The Oden property, subject of this disconnection request, lies along the Roaring Fork
River at the northern entrance to the City on Red Mountain Road. The City currently
has jurisdiction to regulate development on this property and the ability to achieve its
goals with respect to the type, density, and character of development on this parcel.
Disconnecting this parcel would eliminate the City's jurisdiction over this property
and the City's ability to achieve its development objectives.
The criteria for disconnecting land is similar to that of annexation — is the action in
the best interests of the City? The City currently has an opportunity to ensure,
through its own laws and processes, that the proper type and character of development
occurs on --this property. More importantly, the City currently has the ability to make
critical decisions concerning this property in the best interests of Aspen's citizens.
Allowing this property to disconnect eliminates the City's ability to ensure the
property is developed in the best interests of the City. Decisions would be made by
the County with, at most, a non -binding referral. The property could be rezoned,
subdivided, etc. with very little input from the City. Disconnection would provide the
opportunity for the property to be developed in conflict with the best interests of the
City.
Staff does not believe this disconnection is in the best interests of the City.
DETAILED .ANALYSIS:
The City's Land Use Code responds to the concerns City citizens have about
development within the City. The County's Land Use Code regulates development in
a manner historically important.to County residents. The two codes are not identical.
Below are a few highlights of the differences with respect to this property.
Floor Area:
The primary difference between jurisdictions is the amount of Floor Area that can be
achieved. The landowner may be seeking this disconnection in order to market the
vacant Lot # 1 with a higher floor area ratio.
The City of Aspen
City flaornev's Office
Memorandum
' TO:
Mayor and Members of Council s
FROM: John P. Worcester
DATE: October 22,_ 2001
RE; Dr. Oden de -annexation
Francis Krismaiiich who is representing Dr. and •
Attached please find a copy of a letter from certain lots that
Mrs
Oden in a request, to the City to disconnect (or de -annex) from the City
they own.
owner may petition a municipality to "disconnect" their
o
Under Colorado law, a property ,
property from the City. The applicable sfatute reads, as follows:
Sec. 31-12 501. When the owner of a tract of land within and adjacent to the boundary of
wner
a city or town desires to have said tract disconnected from such city or town, such dance
a apply to the governing body. of such city or town for the' enactment of an application, it
may PP Y
disconnecting such tract of land from such city or town. On receipt of a c lication, and, if
is the duty of such governing body to give due consideration to such . p l or town _will not,
such governing body is of the opinion that the best interests ofrdirty ce effecting such
be prejudiced by the disconnection of -such tract, it shall enact. an o
disconnection... .
for roving a petition to disconnect is that the tract of
As you can read, the only real standardPP
d' acent to the boundary of -the' city, and that City Council give due
land be within and a _�___
consideration, to
the issue whether the disconnection of the tract of land is in the best int however,, is .of
he
the city. Whether to grant the petition is a legislative act of the City Council, Council
rec
ord should reflect that due consideration was given to the application by the City
The Community Develo
pment ment staff 'has reviewed' the request and, has prepared a memo
addressing the
issue as to whether it is in the ' City's best interests to grant this particular re
l.
to disconnect request
ect land from the City. The attached ordinance is drafted to disconnect the pa
,
cc: Community Development
JPW-10/15/2001-G:\john\word\memos\oden-disconnect.doc
• 1
Memorandum
TO: Mayor and Members of Council
FROM: John P. Worcester
DATE: November 26, 2001
RE: Ordinance No. 43, Series of 2001- Dr. Oden de -annexation
Ak-
The flity of ffspen
Oft ffmornev's Office
Attached please find a copy of a letter from Francis Krismanich who is representing Dr. and
Mrs. Oden in a request to the City to disconnect (or de -annex) from the City certain lots that
they own.
Under Colorado law, a property owner may petition a municipality to "disconnect" their
property from the City. The applicable statute reads as follows:
Sec. 31-12-501. When the owner of a tract of land within and adjacent to the boundary of
a city or town desires to have said tract disconnected from such city or town, such owner
may apply to the governing body of such city or town for the enactment of an ordinance
disconnecting such tract of land from such city or town. On receipt of such application, it
is the duty of such governing body to give due consideration to such application, and, if
such governing body is of the opinion that the best interests of the city or town will not
be prejudiced by the disconnection of such tract, it shall enact an ordinance effecting such
disconnection... .
As you can read, the only real standard for approving a petition to disconnect is that the tract of
land be within and adjacent to the boundary of the city, and that City Council give due
consideration to the issue whether the disconnection of the tract of land is in the best interests of
the city. Whether to grant the petition is a legislative act of the City Council, however, the
record should reflect that due consideration was given to the application by the City Council.
The Community Development staff has reviewed the request and has prepared a memo
addressing the issue as to whether it is in the City's best interests to grant this particular request
to disconnect land from the City. The attached ordinance is drafted to disconnect the parcel.
cc: Community Development
JPW-11/20/2001-G:\john\word\memos\oden-disconnect.doc
Francis X. Krizmanich
Land Use Planning
0079 Light Hill Road
Snowmass, CO 81611
(970) 927-4263
August 31, 2001
Aspen City Council
130 South Galena Street
Aspen, CO 81611
Re: Oden Property — Petition for Disconnection
Dear Council Members:
Dr. Robert R. Oden (retired) and Nancy Oden are the owners (in various forms of ownership for
estate planning purposes) of three parcels of land that were annexed by the City of Aspen on
March 29, 1989. The three properties, known as Lot 1 and Lot 2 of the Oden Lot Split and an
adjacent property described by metes and bounds, are depicted on the attached Oden Site Plan.
Dr. and Mrs. Oden request that the City Council accept this letter as a Petition to Disconnect the
Oden properties from the City of Aspen pursuant to Section 31-12-501 of the Colorado Revised
Statutes.
This request arises from the changes to the City's Land Use Code as applicable to the Oden
properties which were annexed into the City after land use approvals had been granted by the
County, for which Dr. and Mrs. Oden made several concessions. The Oden properties comprise
Lots 1 and 2 of the Oden Lot Split, which was approved by Pitkin County on May 17, 1988. Lot
1 is not developed. Lot 2 contains the Oden residence. The adjacent metes and bounds property
was purchased from Pitkin County in July of 1987. The metes and bounds property is vacant.
The City of Aspen began the annexation process for the "Lower Smuggler Area" soon after the
Oden Lot Split was approved, which included the Oden properties. However, the Oden
properties had a unique PUD zoning separate from other properties included in the annexation.
Dr. and Mrs. Oden did not object to the annexation because the City Staff assured them that the
City zoning code would not adversely affect the zoning of the property or reduce the allowed
floor area. In fact, at that time, the City and County codes allowed a similar floor area. It was
also the City's practice when annexing properties to attempt to zone newly annexed properties in
a manner that allowed for similar floor areas. Since the annexation, however, the City has made
significant changes to the Land Use Code that have severely impacted the properties. Building
envelopes were established on the Oden properties without consideration of any City of Aspen
slope reduction or stream margin review limitations, which were not in existence at the time
Oden Subdivision was approved by the County. During the 1990's, the City then adopted floor
area reductions based on slope, which resulted in a floor area reduction of approximately 1000
Memorandum
TO: Mayor and Members of Council
FROM: IJohn P. Worcester
DATE: October 22,_ 2001
RE: Dr. Oden de -annexation
%Ji Aw I
The City of Aspen
City AttorneY's Office
Attached please find a copy of a letter from Francis Krismariich who is representing Dr. and
Mrs. Oden in a request to the City to disconnect (or de -annex) from the City certain lots that
they own.
Under Colorado law, a property owner may petition a municipality to "disconnect" their
property from the City. The applicable statute reads as follows:
Sec. 31-12-501. When the owner of a tract of land within and adjacent to the boundary of
a city or town desires to have said tract disconnected from such city or town, such, owner
may apply to the governing body of such city or town for the enactment of an ordinance
disconnecting such tract of land from such city or town. On receipt of such application, it
is the duty of such governing body to give due consideration to such application, and, if
such governing body is of the opinion that the best interests of the city or town will not
be prejudiced by the disconnection of -such tract, it shall enact an ordinance effecting such
disconnection... .
As you can read, the only real standard for approving a petition to disconnect is that the tract of
land be within and adjacent to the boundary of -the city, and that City Council give due
consideration to the issue whether the disconnection of the tract of land is in the best interests of
the city. Whether to grant the petition is a legislative act of the City Council, however, the
record should reflect that due consideration w x.r given to the application by the City Council.
The Community Development staff has reviewed the request and. has prepared a memo
addressing the issue as to whether it is in the City's best interests to grant this particular request
to disconnect land from the City. The attached ordinance is drafted to disconnect the parcel.
cc: Community Development
JPW-10/15/2001-G:\john\word\memos\oden-disconnect.doc
1
MEMORANDUM
TO: John Worcester, City Attorney }
THRU: Julie Ann Woods, Community Development Director 1` L
FROM: Chris Bendon, Senior Planner
RE: Oden petition for disconnection
DATE: October 16, 2001
SUMMARY:
The Oden property, subject of this disconnection request, lies along the Roaring Fork
River at the northern entrance to the City on Red Mountain Road. The City currently
has jurisdiction to regulate development on this property and the ability to achieve its
goals with respect to the type, density, and character of development on this parcel.
Disconnecting this parcel would eliminate the City's jurisdiction over this property
and the City's ability to achieve its development objectives.
The criteria for disconnecting land is similar to that of annexation — is the action in
the best interests of the City? The City currently has an opportunity to ensure,
through its own laws and processes, that the proper type and character of development
occurs on this property. More importantly, the City currently has the ability to make
critical decisions concerning this property in the best interests of Aspen's citizens.
Allowing this property to disconnect eliminates the City's ability to ensure the
property is developed in the best interests of the City. Decisions would be made by
the County with, at most, a non -binding referral. The property could be rezoned,
subdivided, etc. with very little input from the City. Disconnection would provide the
opportunity for the property to be developed in conflict with the best interests of the
City.
Staff does not believe this disconnection is in the best interests of the City.
DETAILED ANALYSIS:
The City's Land Use Code responds to the concerns City citizens have about
development within the City. The County's Land Use Code regulates development in
a manner historically important to County residents. The two codes are not identical.
Below are a few highlights of the differences with respect to this property.
Floor Area:
The primary difference between jurisdictions is the amount of Floor Area that can be
achieved. The landowner may be seeking this disconnection in order to market the
vacant Lot #1 with a higher floor area ratio.
The City has traditionally regulated house size to address community character and
aesthetics. When property owners apply for annexation into the City of Aspen, staff
typically identifies City FAR standards as a community goal to be achieved through
such annexation. Often times, the Council will condition an annexation upon
compliance with the lower City FAR in order to ensure the potential development will
be compatible with adjacent City neighborhoods. Disconnection will eliminate the
City's opportunity to ensure this property is developed compatible with the adjacent
City neighborhood.
Upon disconnection, the County will be required to assign zoning to the property.
There has been no agreement (such as a pre -disconnection agreement) with the
County concerning zoning or any other land use action the landowner may be seeking.
The adjacent County zoning is R-30, although the land was apparently zoned R-15
prior to annexation into the City.
Allowable Floor Area:
Lot One
Lot Two
City R-1 SA County R-1 S County R-1 SA County R-30
45119
45997
5,500
41,060
5,263
1 4,436
5,500
3,604
City - Subgrade space is mostly exempt (depends on the size of light wells,
walk -outs, etc.). Up to 375 square feet for garage is exempt.
County - Up to 4,000 square feet subgrade is exempt. 750 square feet for a
garage is exempt.
The above floor areas are estimates based on information provided by the applicant
and do not create a legal or vested right.
Stream Margin:
The landowner may be interested in disconnection to avoid the City's Stream Margin
Review. This provision of the City Land Use Code regulates development along the
City's river corridors to protect this environmentally sensitive area. Protection of this
ecosystem has been a long-standing Aspen goal.
The land was annexed into the City of Aspen with an approved building envelope.
This building envelope is a vested right, subject to compliance with the City's
regulations, including Stream Margin Review. Since the property was annexed into
the City of Aspen, the County has changed its regulations regarding development on
30% slopes. (A substantial portion of the building envelope is in excess of 30%
slope.) Upon disconnection, the County may choose to void the previous building
envelope, although that determination has not been made.
When property owners apply for annexation into the City of Aspen, staff typically
identifies compliance with Stream Margin standards as a community goal to be
achieved through such annexation. Conditions of annexation are sometimes placed
on land by City Council to ensure compliance with these standards. Disconnection
N
would void Aspen's ability to require a sensitive development strategy along the river
corridor.
Residential Design:
The City of Aspen requires all new residential development to comply with a set of
design standards. These regulations were enacted to ensure new development is
compatible in scale, proportion, and character compared to the City's existing
neighborhoods.
The County has no regulations addressing residential design. Staff considers this
disconnection potentially diminishing the City's neighborhood compatibility goals.
Lot Line Adjustment:
The landowner may be interested in disconnection to achieve lot line adjustments
between two or three of the parcels. The process for this action in the City is
administrative as long as no increase in development rights results from the action.
This includes no increase in FAR. An adjustment that affects development rights in
the City is treated as a regular subdivision and requires public hearings with the
Planning and Zoning Commission and the City Council.
The County's process for amending lot lines is identical. An adjustment not
increasing development rights, including FAR, can be approved administratively.
Other adjustments are considered substantial subdivision amendments and are
reviewed by the Board of County Commissioners.
There may be some benefit to the City realized by moving the current lot lines. A
greater setback from the river, for example, could be provided. Because both the City
and County allow for adjustments with similar process, staff does not consider
disconnection furthering City goals with respect to amending lot lines. In fact, the
County may encourage an adjustment counter to how the City may approach an
adjustment, possibly defeating City goals.
C
ORDINANCE NO.
(Series of 2001)
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ASPEN, COLORADO,
APPROVING THE DISCONNECTION FROM THE BOUNDARIES OF THE CITY OF
ASPEN A TRACT OF LAND COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS THE ODEN PARCEL.
WHEREAS, on August 31, 2001, Dr. Robert R. Oden and Nancy Oden, the owners of
three parcels of land within and adjacent to the boundaries of the City of Aspen, did petition the
City of Aspen to disconnect said parcels from the boundary of the City of Aspen; and
WHEREAS, Section 31-12-501 of the Colorado Revised Statutes authorizes the City
Council to disconnect from the boundaries of the City of Aspen tracts of land that are within and
adjacent to the City boundaries, if it is determined to be in the best interests of the City of Aspen
to do so; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has determined that it is in the best interests of the City of
Aspen to approve Dr. and Mrs. Oden's Petition for Disconnection.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF ASPEN, COLORADO:
Section 1. That the tract of land described in Exhibit A, appended hereto and by this
reference made a part hereof as if fully set forth, is hereby disconnected from the boundaries of
the City of Aspen.
=a
Section 2. That the City Engineer shall make the requisite corrections to the City
Section 3. That the City Clerk shall cause to be recorded two copies of this ordinance
with the Pitkin County Clerk and Recorders Office with instructions that the County Clerk shall
file one copy with the Department of Local Affairs as provided in Section 24-32-109, C.R.S.
Section 4. That if any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or portion
of this ordinance is for any reason held invalid or unconstitutional in a court of competent
jurisdiction, such portion shall be deemed a separate, distinct and independent provision and
shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions thereof.
Section 5. That this ordinance shall not have any effect on existing litigation
and shall not operate as an abatement of any action or proceeding now pending under or by
virtue of the ordinances amended as herein provided, and the same shall be construed and
concluded under such prior ordinances.
A public hearing on the ordinance shall be held on the day of
in the City Council Chambers, Aspen City Hall, Aspen, Colorado.
, 2001,
INTRODUCED, READ AND ORDERED PUBLISHED as provided by law by the City
Council of the City of Aspen on the day of
ATTEST:
Kathryn S. Koch, City Clerk
.2001.
tleien &aim manaerua, mayor
2
FINALLY adopted, passed and approved this day of
Helen Kalin Klanderud, Mayor
ATTEST:
Kathryn S . Koch, City Clerk
JPW-10/15/2001-G:\john\word\ords\oden-disconnect.doc
2001.
LEGAL DESCRIPTION
LOTS 1 AND 2, ODEN LOT SPLIT, PITKIN COUNTY, COLORADO;
AND
A PARCEL OF LAND SITUATED IN THE NORTHWEST 1/4 AND SOUTHWEST 1/4 OF
SECTION 7, TOWNSHIP 10 SOUTH, RANGE 84 WEST OF THE 6TH P.M., PITKIN COUNTY, AS
FOLLOWS:
BEGINNING AT THE NORTHWESTERLY CORNER OF THE PITKIN COUNTY COMMUNITY
CENTER PROPERTY, FORMERLY ASPEN VALLEY HOSPITAL PROPERTY, WHENCE THE
WESTERLY 1/4 CORNER OF SAID SECTION 7 BEARS SOUTH 50.00 FEET AND WEST 930.60
FEET,
THENCE EAST 119.00 FEET ALONG THE NORTHERLY BOUNDARY LINE OF SAID
COMMUNITY CENTER PROPERTY,
THENCE SOUTH 175.45 FEET,
THENCE SOUTH 40.46' EAST 118.73 FEET,
THENCE SOUTH 66.0 FEET TO THE INTERSECTION WITH THE NORTHERLY
BOUNDARY LINE OF THE RED MOUNTAIN ROAD;
THENCE ALONG SAID NORTHERLY BOUNDARY LINE THE FOLLOWING COURSES
AND DISTANCES: 36 32' WEST FOR 84.00 FEET; THENCE 63.00 FEET ALONG THE ARC OF
A CURVE TO THE LEFT HAVING OF 300.00 FEET, THENCE NORTH 47 34' WEST 143.68
FEET TO THE POINT OF INTERSECTION WITH THE WESTERLY BOUNDARY LINE OF SAID
COMMUNITY CENTER PROPERTY; THENCE DEPARTING SAID RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE AND
ALONG WESTERLY BOUNDARY LINE NORTH 118.10 FEET TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING,
CONTAINING 24,904 SQUARE FEET, MORE OR LESS.
The applicant requeot) to U�ks (">wooD U rom City �.�oojluse of the belief
that the City made oleo imp Iici`br voo,-gem it annexed the property to
accept the approved subdiviskw, hic(� pc>>o-u((,� tG�o ouo o lhi(g Envelope antI �'' (� - ued
G C'J
Floor area.
The,--, oa shy slooff o v) i Rcnlicated that i t �njo QO 'Wre— r��m Margin P-vio�ul ,
The of foo of Vhis review wiH be the re-oWiol°im of the
build sic oaveIope because of a fiftee, n-f of fpom the lop of o0
bank and also a "progressive" 4 5 -degree seTi b ck frnwuC tho toqp.A of the
The be `Nhco ° he Oden `�rmve, �oc,,r�
ohoMGoi he ex onp ro",i further �JoMc-:�mj because it is, pEoirt of cmii�i a ppb-i>> "' ol,
subdivi-Mou Hiadf 3uo CitV am cIlsf on it annexed the
ciohte Gkblem S-ubocaHvision Building Envelope is approximat dy 7o800
ou tre goo h�-� '000 Sv're jim A�;vq� 'c, Phview requirements, including ( o foot
� o�o crvl-� u �� vc; `oo `� �� O «f tdho lbcns lk�o ���y ��oc���ct the SuiGding Envelops to
tf(Jkjvll �o a1ffjx,,POx1viiNQtuady 2,000 sauolPo, foo in size thul Mf0 be, sovoPo y
VJogtPiCtL o? 000c u-(5?o o f G-o co-, c�oliVi �� iot, G o 09 �r e 2otLb) ck.
The, u` C�����OOI Dt Jo
o�Do(''C oI coloD ��i Ofr��? of Uoo� U << � o G��;=��4f�� U'(:'r CVDe or P1tJL O co'
(0 U= `U hi c�:� ())[p) r0vencol o oolj Vo D U "'(1i
:Ci v (rogq�<j rc)j tu �f� )orh c} ra d oyo`op `U D ���flDl y and home s0zo® pieuse n c7 C fU UDC?! U�no
e�ra of I;-oc. of consists of 9arge multi -family
V(S9oIonAk(�l0 �(wo, j� ecc— % The-, toms�%)xon&7(J not create a large structure by
VI, oi9 P �h o,U VII cu)) iP�" cm, JP E�. 11,�I C,)IC,u', the tree property size includes Lot 1 and
tGbo ���o9 jcIoUI-9," apnd Di unc(.)N) �cwoperty, . The combined 01creage of they
two properties is al pproxi� ahi;I `741,1717 square feet. a home size of
approxivnately 5,672 square feet as vHginally allowed when the property
was annexed would be approxi matt,,) �y 1,300 square feet less than allowed by
the existing City zoiadfig if the `�,��tc_D pproperty area is consid 00010
Oden Lot I Lot Areas. 26,227 Square Feet
Oden Metes & Bounds parcel (not used f or f loor area): 24,900 Square Feet.
i i Area • d' Lot I t • den Metes & Boundsparcel 51,127 Square
Current Floor t Allowed : " City of • '
Lot Area that the City of Aspen Allows for Floor Area is based on Slope:
Lot I Area: 0-20% Slope - 7,925 Square Feet
• t i Area
7,925+1,632.5 •' - ' (access •
,537.1
Floor area for 9,000 Square feet 4,080
Floor area for 537.5 square feet 537.5 / 100 - 5.37 (7) =
Floor area home with a garage = 4,117.59 - 125 (garage f loor area that
counts toward f loor area) = 3992.59 + 375 (exempt garage f loor area)
surface.
Sub -grade space is exempt according to the percentage of exposed wall
When Oden Lot One was Annexed, prior to Slope and Stream Reductions,
the City of Aspen considered the Lot to contain 26,227 - 20 (access
i 26,207 SquareFeet ofLot Area.
The allowed Floor i {
15,000 Square i ii i Area 4,500 Square Feet
11,207 Square of _{ 00Square Fee
•
500 Square Foot Garage was also permitted.
Annexation,The Total Home and Garage Square Footage was 5,672.42 Square Feet.
Since
' •+, Square Feetor
Area:#den Lot 1 Lot Areas. 261,227 Square Feet.
Hunter Creek • ,
Lot Area Minus Creek = 251102 - 20 (access easement) = 25,082 Square
Feet
Floor area plus garage of750square(exempt • •• area)
Sub -grade space is exempt up to 4,000 square feet - no above grade
exposureispermitted.
*Please note that the original Lot size of 31,230 Square Feet was reduced
to 261227 Square Feet due to a donation by the Odens to Pitkin County of
a portion of the Lot for the right -of -way for Red Mountain Road.