HomeMy WebLinkAboutagenda.council.worksession.20160712
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
July 12, 2016
4:00 PM, City Council Chambers
MEETING AGENDA
I. World Cup Finals Update
II. Com Dev Work Program
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MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Nancy Lesley, Director of Events and Marketing
DATE OF MEMO: July 8, 2016
MEETING DATE: July 12, 2016
RE: World Cup 2017
REQUEST OF COUNCIL: Staff is updating Council on the previous request of the applicant,
the Aspen Skiing Company and their wish for help from the City of Aspen in regards to the 2017
FIS Ski World Cup Finals to be held on Aspen Mountain March 15th through March 19th. The
Aspen Skiing Company is asking the City of Aspen staff for the following assistance; Wagner
Park, Parking, Transportation, Recycling, Compost and Waste management and the Police
Department.
BACKGROUND: The Aspen Skiing Company, and Aspen, Colorado have been awarded the
rights to host the 2017 FIS Ski World Cup Finals. This competition will take place on Aspen
Mountain with teams arriving on Sunday, March 12th, competition starting on Wednesday, March
15th and running through Sunday, March 19th. While the competition is certain to be intense, the
real part of this event is the opportunity to host an amazing festival and experience around the
races. Because of the proximity to the race course, Wagner Park is a natural location to host all
off-hill aspects of this event. Community events, daily après-ski, music, sponsor booths,
merchandise, food and alcohol, art, and a big screen would all be part of what could be
programmed in Wagner Park. The Aspen Skiing Company is vetting the following community
and kids activities (as the schools have parent/teacher conferences during the competition days):
parade, live music, coach/athlete soccer game, art displays, kids decorating project, and several
themed parties focused on families. The 2017 FIS Ski World Cup Finals will attract a live global
broadcast audience of tens of millions, with the USSA partnering with NBC to provide extensive
coverage of the five day event including live broadcast and digital streaming.
DISCUSSION: Aspen Skiing Company is asking the City of Aspen for the following help
before/during and after the event in the following areas.
Wagner Park/Parks Department
Aspen Skiing Company will be exclusively using Wagner Park for the event village and various
programming from Saturday, March 11th through Wednesday, March 22nd. Use of Wagner Park
will require the Parks Department staff to be on site for the entire time to ensure proper care of
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the field is maintained throughout the load-in process of all stages, tents, (potential flooring)
vendors, fencing and continue through the load out process. All other activities on Wagner Park
will need to be closely monitored.
Parking
The current parking request is for a total of 304 parking spaces, starting as early as Monday,
February 20th and going through Monday, March 27th. The majority of the request is from
Monday, March 6th through Sunday, March, 19th, which is the single biggest revenue period for
the parking department. This time period is actually bigger than the week between Christmas
and New Year’s. The request of the Parking Department including posting signage, managing the
No Parking and Towing when necessary and use of the Parking Garage. Please see attached
maps for requested parking locations.
Transportation
There are several requests with the transit plan:
• Additional busses on the Galena Street Shuttle – including an earlier start for two days
• Perhaps the elimination of event exclusive public shuttles
• With concerts programmed daily in Wagner Park, staff feels extra security (similar to
other concerts in Aspen) is warranted at Rubey Park.
• In order to ensure restrooms are in good, clean condition throughout, staff is requesting
additional funding for extra staffing and materials for Rubey Park.
Recycle, Waste and Compost Management
The request is for the City of Aspen to manage the entire program, including providing staff,
volunteers, materials (tri-stations and bags), supervising the removal of the waste and doing a
post event evaluation is deemed by staff to be too large. Staff would like to assist, as they do
with all events, to ensure compliance and help educate, but have the Ski Co manage the entire
program.
Police
Based on the listing of events proposed (i.e.-daily après-ski, music, sponsor booths, merchandise,
food and alcohol, art, big screen, parade, live music, coach/athlete soccer game, art displays and
themed parties) along with the vehicular/foot traffic in town and the attendance estimate from the
applicant, the Police Department will not only be fully staffed but believes additional officers
will be needed from every neighboring agency.
Because of the size and impact of this event, the Police department will request the Pitkin County
Incident Management Team be activated. There will likely be costs related to this activation
which will be determined in the future. The applicant usually absorbs any costs related to IMT
activation.
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FINANCIAL/BUDGET IMPACTS:
Parks
• The parks use fee for Wagner Park over 11 days will range from $55,000 to $82,500.
• Staff time (for snow and ice removal, trash pickup, restrooms, monitoring daily load in
and out) will range from $6,000 to $12,000.
Parking
• The use of 304 parking places starting on February 20th and ending on March 20th
• Estimated cost will be between $15,000 and $21,000
• Estimated cost of overtime will be between $2,000 and $4,000
Transportation
• Galena Street Shuttle additional hours and days would range from $3,000 to $8,000
• Additional security and operational supplies for Rubey Park $1,500 to $4,000
Recycle, Waste and Compost Management
• Staff would like to have the applicant/Aspen Skiing Company handle this component
under the supervision of City of Aspen staff
Police
• While there are too many unknowns to determine overtime costs completely estimated
cost will range between $25,000 and $35,000
Estimated cost range is between $52,500 and $84,000
Estimated cost range is between $107,500 and $166,500 ***with the Wagner Park use fee
STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends only the following departments are involved to the following extent. Staff
recommends all overtime for the following departments be approved, with the knowledge the
exact amount may change as plans become finalized.
Parks
• Staff recommends no waiver of the parks fee
• Staff recommends utilizing parks staff for snow and ice removal at Wagner Park only,
vendor, trash, restroom and all other park management.
Parking
• Staff recommends that the Parking Garage be utilized for visitor and resident parking
only, no event parking.
• Staff recommends that they work with the applicant to minimize the parking impacts to
the Lift 1A and Wagner Park area.
• Staff recommends the applicant create, put up and monitor No Parking signs
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• Staff recommends overtime approval
Transportation
• Staff recommends adding hours of operation to only the Galena Street shuttle for the
event.
• Staff recommends adding additional personnel to Rubey Park for security and facility
cleanliness
Recycle, Waste and Compost Management
• Staff recommends the applicant manage this component to the standards set by the city
and with staff oversight
Police
• Staff recommends that the additional overtime be approved
Attachments
A) Parking Impacts - overview
B) Parking Impacts - details
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Memo :
TO: City of Aspen Mayor and City Council
FROM: John Rigney, Aspen Skiing Company, VP Sales & Events
DATE: July 7, 2016
Re: 2017 World Cup Finals
Aspen Skiing Company and the Organizing Committee for the 2017 FIS World Cup Finals would like to thank City staff
for the recent planning sessions and the attention this historic event has been given. The vision for the event includes
a community-wide effort to honor our Aspen’s rich racing history by hosting an amazing event both on and off hill in
March with the resort in all its glory, celebrating athletic achievement and supporting the Aspen Idea.
City Department Support
The involvement of City of Aspen Parks, Parking, Transportation, Events and Police departments are critical to the
success of the event and productive planning in the permit process. The Organizing Committee for the event is
working closely with each department to ensure that resources are efficiently used and impacts are minimized. The
largest core aspects of the event (races and concerts) are being consolidated from other times throughout the winter
into one week to create a classic celebration around the skiing and ski racing in Aspen. While the races that normally
take place in November and the Hi Fi concerts that happen throughout the winter always receive significant City
support, we are consolidating many of our programming efforts around the Finals in March to maximize the guest
experience and minimize the impact on staff.
Wagner Park
The vision for use of Wagner Park as the central hub during the event is a result of a desire to bring the celebration of
World Cup ski racing into the core of Aspen in an open and inclusive way. The family oriented programming with
après-ski activities, athlete autograph signings, bib draw, art, partner activations, ski industry demo booths and music
is being created in Wagner to optimize the experience for locals and destination guests during event week. This is
being created at a significant cost (time, resources and funds), but we feel strongly this is the best approach to a true
community event and thus the support of City of Aspen for the use of Wagner Park is vital.
Financial Support
In addition to Wagner Park use and the critical in kind and operational support from aforementioned City of Aspen
departments, the 2017 Organizing Committee is also requesting a $150,000 cash contribution from the City of Aspen
to support this event. This will be one of the bigger events to ever come through Aspen, and will bring with it a host of
influencers in the ski industry as well as an unprecedented amount of global television coverage and social promotion
of our resort. Hosting this event is designed to drive both short and long term benefit for the community. Currently
Aspen Skiing Company is relying heavily on our lodging partners in this community to support event needs, along with
AVSC and the passionate volunteer pool that we’re so lucky to have. And we’ll be tapping every resource available
internally at a time when all four mountains and properties will be operating at full speed. ASC has invested much
time, capital and budgetary dollars to secure the event and meet host requirements. Our operating budget for next
season is significant. We respectfully ask for City support on the above and look forward to the discussion.
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7.12.2016 Council Work Session Memo
Community Development Department Work Program
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MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Jessica Garrow, Community Development Director
MEETING DATE: July 20, 2015
RE: Community Development Department work program review
SUMMARY: This memo outlines the Community Development Department’s current work program, as
well as other priorities previously identified by City Council, P&Z, HPC, and staff. Council may wish
to re-evaluate the priorities, but based on the department’s staffing levels, realistically the department
cannot add new work program items without deleting others. The purpose of this work session is to
update City Council on the Community Development Department’s work program in advance of
Council’s retreat.
The Department is currently focused on the moratorium and updates to the land use code to better reflect
the AACP. Staff anticipates these will be completed at the end of 2016, and possibly into the first
months of 2017. In addition to these projects, staff continues to work on regular work items, such as
building permits and current caseload. Staff requests City Council identify any work program items that
should be a priority for 2017. Staff will use this as a guide to prepare the 2017 budget.
CURRENT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WORK PROGRAM ITEMS: Beyond the general planning
services the city provides (processing land use applications, providing walk-in services, etc), community
development staff is working on the following items. Each item lists the primary staff contact for the
project, as well as the AACP Policies the work would implement.
1. AACP Land Use Code Amendments / Moratorium (Council Goal #2). The Community
Development Department’s main work program item in 2016 is an effort to further align the land
use code with the Aspen Area Community Plan. This is a broad and comprehensive effort that
includes five separate work program areas, as well as extensive community outreach. These
have taken up the bulk of staff’s time in 2016, and are anticipated to be the main work program
items through the end of the year. These are outlined in more detail topic-by-topic:
A. Community Outreach. The basis for all the upcoming code amendments is broad
community outreach. I an effort to gain broad community input, the department has engaged
a multi-tiered approach to soliciting feedback. This includes a new city website,
www.AspenCommunityVoice.com, which provides an interactive platform for community
members to provide feedback. In addition, a number of stakeholder and general community
meetings on each topic are being held throughout the summer with staff and the various
consultants assisting with the efforts. A series of pop-up workshops are being held at various
events and locations around town, and a series of walking tours and videos will be released in
the coming weeks. To date, more than 400 people have been engaged in the effort to update
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the land use code. Staff: Jessica Garrow, Phillip Supino, Justin Barker, Reilly Thimons,
Marika Kopp.
B. Commercial Design Guidelines & Public Amenity Space. Council expressed interest in
updating the Commercial Design Guidelines, which have not been updated since their
adoption in 2007. A number of zoning changes have been approved since the adoption of the
Commercial Design Guidelines which need to be incorporated into the document, including
reductions in allowed heights and changes in allowed uses. This effort will also include an
update of Public Amenity requirements generally, as well as specifically along the Pedestrian
Malls. This effort in anticipated to be completed by the end of 2016. Staff: Jessica Garrow,
Justin Barker, Amy Simon. AACP: Transportation Policies 1, 2, III.1, and V.1.
C. View Planes. Council expressed interest in updating the requirements for view planes to
ensure they remain relevant and effective. There are seven (7) different protected view
planes in Aspen. Updates to these requirements will be informed by the Commercial Design
Guidelines update, and are anticipated to be completed in conjunction with or following
those updates. This effort in anticipated to be completed by the beginning of 2017. Staff:
Jessica Garrow, Justin Barker, Reilly Thimons. AACP Managing Growth Policies IV.4, V.3,
and VIII.2.
D. Off-Street Parking Requirements & Mobility. This work focuses on a re-write to the
City’s parking requirements, which have not been updated in 10 years. These are the parking
requirements for development, not street parking, though the Nelson/Nygaard consultant
team is examining how parking requirements for development may influence and be
influenced by street parking or other parking managed by the City. This effort in anticipated
to be completed by the end of 2016. Staff: Jessica Garrow & Reilly Thimons. AACP:
Transportation Policies 1, 2, III.1, and V.1.
E. Commercial Mix. This work focuses on ensuring a vibrant mix of commercial business
in the downtown. There has been concerns expressed that the unfettered market will result in
commercial businesses that do not serve locals and a diverse base of visitors, which
ultimately could threaten Aspen’s vitality and economy. There is also an interest in
understanding the “nooks and crannies” around town and how they create opportunity for
small business and vitality. This effort in anticipated to be completed by the end of 2016.
Staff: Jessica Garrow & Reilly Thimons. AACP: Managing Growth Policies I.4 and V.1.
F. Residential Use Mix. One of the main reasons the moratorium was established was to
address the impact free-market residential uses have on commercial uses in the same
building. Amendments will examine if free-market should be allowed uses in commercial
zone districts, and if so what regulations should be in place to ensure continued viability of
commercial uses in commercial zones. This effort will also examine what allowances for
affordable housing units should be in commercial zone districts. This effort in anticipated to
be completed by the end of 2016. Staff: Jessica Garrow & Reilly Thimons. AACP:
Managing Growth Policies III.1-2 and V.1.
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2. Affordable Housing Mitigation Updates. Council has expressed interest in understanding
what mitigation can be required of existing development that never provided affordable housing
mitigation. This effort is being examined under the moratorium work with assistance by
consultants Mark White and Alan Richman. Work on this is anticipated to be completed by the
end of the year. Staff: Jessica Garrow. AACP: Managing Growth Policy VII.
3. Sign Code Update. The city’s sign requirements need to be updated to ensure compliance
with case law. This effort is being undertaken in conjunction with the City Attorney and with the
help of consultant Mark White who is a national expert in sign codes. Work on this is
anticipated to be completed in the beginning of 2017. Staff: Phillip Supino.
4. Uphill Economy (Council Goal #7). For the past two years, City Council has had a top ten
goal focusing on creating a framework for encouraging industry, events, and other economic
activities tied to the “Uphill Economy." The effort builds on the popularity of this outdoor
movement by attracting events and businesses to Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley that can
provide economic development that is not tied to the built environment. In February 2015 and
2016 the City hosted a successful uphill event and expo that coincided with the Power of Four
race. Staff is currently working with a consultant team to create the City’s first economic
development plan that focuses on ways to ensure a thriving economy separate from the
development industry. This goal has generally been supported by all City boards over the past
few years. Staff anticipates there will be implementation requirements (estimated by the
consultant at $25,000 - $50,000) following the final Uphill Economic Plan to ensure continued
progress on this initiative. Staff: Jessica Garrow & Hillary Seminick. AACP: Aspen Idea Policy
I.3-4; Managing Growth Policy I.3-4.
5. Small Lodge Preservation Program. In 2015, the City adopted a Small Lodge Preservation
Program intended to assist small lodges in continuing to operate. In 2016, two fractional lodges
have joined the program, and five (5) lodges have applied for and received grants through the
energy efficiency program. Staff is working with member lodges to utilize the other benefits in
the program. This program is in effect until June 2020. Staff: Jessica Garrow & Phillip Supino.
AACP: Managing Growth Policies IV.1-4.
6. Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) Code Amendment. Staff is working on an update
to the ESA chapter of the Land Use Code. This section requires a heightened review for any
project located near our rivers and streams, within an established view plane, located near
Hallam Lake, or located within 100 feet of the 8040 elevation line. This code amendment
requires extensive work with other city departments and the development community, which has
been ongoing for two (2) years. This work was put on hold in 2016 to address the moratorium.
Staff anticipates work will pick back up in the beginning of 2017. Staff: Jessica Garrow. AACP:
Environmental Stewardship Policies III.3 and VII.1.
7. Historic Property Inventorying. The City is required to periodically update the official
inventory of historic properties with updates pictures and technical analysis. No changes to
which properties are designated is part of this effort. This update is a requirement to maintain
the city’s Certified Local Government (CLG) status with the state. Due to workload, this effort
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will be pushed out to 2017. Staff: Amy Simon. AACP: Historic Preservation Policies I.1-2 and
III.1.
8. City-Owned Property AspenModern Designations. In 2010 City Council approved the
AspenModern program, which allows for voluntary designation of Aspen’s post-war historic
resources. The program requires review by the HPC and City Council, with applicants able to
request various benefits in exchange for designating their property. Earlier this year, City
Council directed staff to hire a consultant to assist with investigation of the eligibility of five City
owned properties for local designation. The Community Development Department is partnering
with departments with a specific interest in the eligible properties, including the Asset
Department, Manager’s Office, the Park’s Department, and Kids First to investigate and
potentially bring forward these designations. Staff anticipates an RFP will be issued later this
summer, with completion in late 2016. Staff: Amy Simon. AACP: Historic Preservation Policy
III.1, and Managing Growth Policy VI.2.
9. Permit Process Change. The Community Development Department is working on a
complete overhaul of the building permitting process, from initial pre-planning inquiries through
the issuance of a CO. This also involves conversion to a new software system and digital plans
review. This is a significant effort and involves all Community Development staff and multiple
review agencies of the City. Efforts will be ongoing though the end of the year and into 2017.
Staff anticipates coming to City Council in the fall with the proposal for a new permitting
software system. Staff: All of Community Development. AACP: Managing Growth Policy
VIII.2.
10. Building Code Updates (Council Goal #8). Every few years the International Building
Code Council updates building codes. Each jurisdiction can choose to adopt them. Aspen is
currently on the 2012 codes, and needs to be updated to the 2015 codes. However, Building
Department staff are intimately involved in the International Code Council, and are aware of
changes, particularly around energy efficiency, that are being contemplated for the 2018 codes.
Staff is working with a consultant to ensure the next building code adoption results in codes that
are as up to date as possible, particularly related to energy efficiency. Staff anticipates the codes
will be ready for adoption in the fall of 2016. This effort also support’s City Council’s energy
efficiency goal (Goal #8). This has been budgeted from the department’s services budget.
Staff: Stephen Kanipe, Mike Metheny & Denis Murray. AACP: Environmental Stewardship
Policies V.4-5.
11. Wildfire Mapping. The City’s wildfire ordinance requires periodic updates to the wildfire
maps to ensure city requirements best address wildfire protection and mitigation needs. This
mapping needs to be updates, and is scheduled to be completed by November 2016. Building
code amendments may be pursued in 2017 to address any necessary code changes found in the
mapping update. This has been budgeted from central savings and the fire district. Staff:
Stephen Kanipe & Denis Murray. AACP: Environmental Stewardship Policy VII.1.
12. Miscellaneous Code Amendments. Throughout the year, staff keeps a “redline” version of
the code that identifies areas of the code that are confusing, contradictory, or do not address
emerging issues. These primarily focus on the calculations and measurement section of the code
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– that is, how buildings, fences, etc. are measured for height, floor area, net leasable/livable, and
setbacks. The most recent update was completed at the end of 2016, but various minor items
should be updated for clarity. This includes the technical calculations for height and basements
on sloped sites. Staff has begun compiling a list of potential changes and anticipates bringing a
code amendment forward in early 2016. In the past, Planning & Zoning Commission members
have suggested that an examination of interior lighting be added to these efforts. Staff: Phillip
Supino. AACP: Managing Growth Policy VIII.2.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT STAFF SUGGESTIONS:
1. Update Historic TDR Review Criteria. The Review Criteria for the City’s TDR program
are based on a mathematical formula – if there is additional available floor area on the lot that
floor area is eligible to be severed as a TDR. The Review Criteria do not address such things as
if the creation of TDRs will benefit the historic property or represent an important preservation
effort. Staff proposes an update to the Review Criteria to include some additional context-
specific criteria. In the past, the HPC has supported updates to the criteria in order to respond
more effectively to unique site specific characteristics. Staff anticipates that this effort can be
conducted in house and would take 4-6 months to complete. AACP: Historic Preservation
Policies II.3 and V.1.
2. Continued development of educational websites and publications about Aspen’s historic
resources. Adding information to the two existing websites; aspenmod.com and
aspenvictorian.com is an on-going effort. Staff has interest in expanding outreach and perhaps
developing an Aspen Victorian booklet as a companion to the AspenModern booklet produced
for the City by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 2011. AACP: Historic
Preservation Policy I.1.
3. Future Land Use Map. Recently, the city has received annexation requests for county
parcels located adjacent to the city boundary. While the Aspen Area Community Plan provides
general policy guidance it is not a future land use map. Staff recommends a future land use map
be created to assist in the evaluation of future annexation requests. This effort would require
consultant assistance and community outreach. Staff anticipates that this effort would cost
$50,000 and would take 10-12 months to complete. AACP: Managing Growth Policy I.5.
4. Renewable Energy Allowances. The Aspen Area Community Plan focuses on encouraging
renewable energy sources as a way to decrease the city's carbon footprint. The policies and goals
in the AACP are also supported by the City's Canary Initiative. While the city has focused on
ways to increase the amount of renewable energy in its electric portfolio as well as focusing on
ways to generally reduce dependence on non-renewable sources, there has not been a focus on
making individual alternative energy sources easier to construct (i.e individual solar panels on a
home). The Land Use Code allows for alternative energy production equipment, but often
requires a review process with the Planning & Zoning Commission, which can be a deterrent for
homeowners. Staff proposes implementing the AACP Action Items that focus on removing
barriers to individual renewable energy development, such as solar panels in a back yard or on
retaining walls. Staff anticipates this work would require some consultant assistance and budget
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for community outreach (estimated at $10,000) and would take approximately six months to
complete, including public outreach. AACP: Environmental Sustainability Policies V.4-5.
5. Local Food Production. The Lifelong Aspenite Chapter of the AACP includes a goal to
"promote and provide access to organic and sustainable and regional food production." Staff
suggests that the Land Use code be examined for potential barriers to local food production. For
instance, certain rooftop or backyard garden structures are not allowed under floor area or height
requirements. Exemptions for the production of local food could be added. Staff anticipates this
work would take 8-10 months, including public outreach and would require some consultant
assistance (estimated at $5,000). AACP: Lifelong Aspenite Policy III.7.
6. Multi-Family Replacement Updates. One of the items identified by City Council during the
lodging discussions is a need to update the city’s Multi-Family Replacement requirements. This
includes an examination of the “look back” for the program – currently any property that has
ever housed a local working resident is subject to the requirements – as well as an examination
of the general requirements. The ability for AH Credits to be used to meet replacement
requirements should also be examined. Staff anticipates this work would take 4-6 months, and
could be completed in house. AACP: Managing Growth Policies IV.1 and VIII.2.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: The current Community Development work program has been
budgeted for. Additional monies may be needed if Council is interested in jump-starting or moving
more quickly on any of the current items. Any additional work program items identified by City
Council will require additional budget monies.
ATTACHMENTS:
Exhibit A: AACP Implementation items since 2012
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AACP Implementation
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AACP WORK COMPLETED SINCE 2012
Since the adoption of the Aspen Area Community Plan (AACP) in 2012, there have been a
number of items reviewed and implemented by City Departments and City Council. The AACP
includes many policy priorities and a variety of policy direction on topics from growth to the
transportation to historic preservation to the environment. Every year since the AACP adoption,
City Council has prioritized various work program items from the AACP. Some items have
been made into City Council goals or processed as code amendments, while others have not yet
been selected by City Council for implementation. This exhibit outlines the AACP policies the
City has completed worked on since 2012.1
Master Plan Process – Added a new chapter outlining the process for any master plan. (Ord 31,
2012). AACP: General implementation from the overall 2012 AACP Process.
Aspen Idea Chapter:
• Uphill Economy – In 2015 the City began work to support the “Uphill Economy.” The
effort builds on the popularity of this outdoor movement by attracting events and businesses
to Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley that can provide economic development that is not tied
to the built environment. In February 2015 the City hosted a successful uphill event and
expo that coincided with the Power of Four race. AACP: Aspen Idea Policies I.3-4;
Managing Growth Policy I.4.
Managing Growth For Community & Economic Sustainability Chapter:
• Code Amendment Process – Updated process for code amendments, allowing more Council
oversight and more immediate action (Ord 11, 2012). AACP: Managing Growth Policies
VIII.1-2.
• Downtown heights & uses – Reduced heights to 28 feet, eliminated SFR/Duplex as allowed
use in C-1, reduced allowed Free-market FAR (Ord 12, 2012), and amended heights to
address south/north sides of street, eliminated Free-market residential as an allowed use in
CC and C-1 (Ord 25, 2012). AACP: Managing Growth Policies I.6 and V.3.
• Mitigating Impacts of Development Report – Report analyzing the impacts of
development on Parks/Open Space/Recreation/Trails, Transportation, the Environment,
Affordable Housing, Construction, and Public Health/Human Services. Council chose to
move forward on Housing and Transportation. (Report issued May 2012). AACP: Managing
Growth Policies VII.1-2.
• Lodging Charrette & Report – Provided an analysis of existing conditions in the lodging
sector (Report issued August 2012). AACP: Managing Growth Policies IV.1-2.
1 While the AACP is a joint plan between the City and the County and includes potential work items for the City,
County, and community non-profits, this exhibit focuses only on the work conducted by the City of Aspen.
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• Employee Generation and Double Dipping – Updated the City’s Employee Generation
Study for commercial and lodging zones, and eliminated the so-called “double-dip provision”
in Growth Management that had allowed project to only mitigate for their highest
requirement (Ord 4, 2013). AACP: Managing Growth Policy VII.2.
• PUD/PD – A complete re-write of the Planned Unit Development (PUD) chapter, renamed
chapter to “Planned Development”, established new review criteria, Council decision on
projects made sooner in process, went from 4 required review steps to 3 (Ord 36, 2013).
AACP: Managing Growth Policies VIII.2-3.
• Subdivision & Development Documents – A complete rewrite of Subdivision chapter,
updated review criteria, established clearer requirements for development documents through
creation of a new chapter, established clearer subdivision review types (Ord 37, 2013 –
Subdivision; Ord 41, 2013 – Development Documents). AACP: Managing Growth Policy
VIII.2.
• Lodging Economics & Demand Report – Report outlining the economics and general
demand around the lodging and short-term rental sector in Aspen and other resort
communities (Report issued June 2013). AACP: Managing Growth Policies IV.1-2.
• Double Basement – Eliminated the ability to build double basements in single-family and
duplex development (Ord 31, 2014). AACP: Managing Growth Policy III.2.
• Lodge Incentive Program – Created program intended to provide incentives for existing
lodges and condominiums to upgrade, and to enable new lodging products to be developed
(Ord 19, Series 2014 – rescinded). AACP: Managing Growth Policies IV.1-4 and VII.3.
• Public Projects – Updated the COWOP Chapter to address all Public Projects and to address
state law (Ord 11, 2015). AACP: Managing Growth Policy VIII.3.
• Small Lodge Preservation Program – Created a 5-year program to assist existing small
lodges to upgrade, refurbish, and expand, in an effort to enable them to remain a lodge. (Ord
15, Series 2015). AACP: Managing Growth Policies IV.1-2.
• Downtown Residential Uses – Legalized existing free-market residential units, while
prohibiting any new free-market residential units and any expansion of free-market
residential space to address non-conforming status created by Ordinance 25, Series 2012
(Ord 25, Series 2015). AACP: Managing Growth Policies III.2 and VIII.2.
• Vested Rights Update. Updated requirements to ensure major amendments to projects are
subject to the current land use code, not a previous land use code (Ord 27, 2015) AACP:
Managing Growth Policy VIII.2.
• Timeshare Regulations. Updated timeshare regulations for clarity and to be consistent with
state requirements (Ord 36, 2015) AACP: Managing Growth Policies IV.1-2.
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• Residential Design Standards Update. Updated the fifteen (15) year old Residential
Design Standards for clarity and to be more user-friendly while retaining requirements for
buildings consistent with Aspen’s small town character (Ord 48, Series 2015). AACP:
Managing Growth Policies III.1-2
Transportation Chapter:
• Transportation Mitigation Requirements – Implemented a new system for all new
development to mitigate its new trips through TDM and MMLOS measures (Ord 8, 2014).
AACP: Transportation Primary Policies 1-2, and Policies III.1, III.3; Environmental
Sustainability Policies I.3, II.1 and II.4; Managing Growth Policy VII.2.
• Bus Stop Improvements – Remodel and updates of Rubey Park, and replacements and
updates of stops along the Hunter Creek route. AACP: Transportation Primary Policies 1-2,
and Policy I.1.
• Bus Service Improvements – Includes the remodel of Rubey Park, and ongoing efforts
including “shopping of routes,” ongoing discussions and coordination with RFTA regarding
customer and service issues, and promotion of BRT. AACP: Transportation Policies I.4 and
VI.3.
• Education and Outreach Efforts – Ongoing efforts by Transportation Department to make
more people aware of bus system and incentivize use. This has included contests,
appreciation events, and outreach and marketing to hotels. AACP: Transportation Policies
I.3 and VI.1.
Housing Chapter:
• Capital Reserves Policy – Policy development is currently in process, with timing
associated with resolution of issues at Centennial. APCHA partly funded capital reserve
studies for those HOA’s who opted in. This enabled some of the HOA’s to create capital
reserves and begin to collect the funds. AACP: Housing Policies I.1 and I.3.
• ADUs – Ongoing work to address the ADU option for housing mitigation. AACP: Housing
Policies II.5-6.
• AH Credits Conversion – Provide a system of conversion between categories (Ord 32,
2012). AACP: Housing Policy III.2.
• Non-mitigation units – APCHA and City continue to work on ways to partner on housing
and increase community involvement in creation on non-mitigation housing. This includes
ongoing discussions with Habitat for Humanity, continued refinements to the Housing
Credits Program, and RFPs for the City’s land-banked properties. AACP: Housing Policy
III.2.
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• Housing Guidelines – Updated Housing Guidelines to make them easier to understand and
to include new procedural information (anticipated effective date August 2015). AACP:
Housing Policy V.1.
• Community Outreach and Engagement – The Housing Office has provided a number of
seminars and other educational opportunities for homeowners, including information on
CCIOA. AACP: Housing Policies I.4 and V.1.
• Management and Enforcement – Increased audits and inventorying of each unit as to
household size, employment, etc. Increases in qualified tenants. AACP: Housing Policy V.2.
• AH Credits Update – Update program to limit creation of affordable housing credits to
private sector developers, to full units (no dorm units), to within city limits, to Categories
with cash-in-lieu figures in the Housing Guidelines, and to address the creation of fractional
credits in mixed-use buildings (Ord 34, 2015). AACP: Managing Growth Policy VIII.2 and
Housing Policies IV.2 and V.1.
• Single-Family and Duplex Housing Mitigation. Updated the fee-in-lieu requirements for
single-family and duplex development, eliminating the ADU option for mitigation, and
lowering the amount of cash-in-lieu by right (Ord 35 & 37, 2015). AACP: Housing Policy
V.1
Parks, Recreation, Open Space & Trails Chapter:
• Park Acquisitions – Acquired a number of parcels for both active and passive parks,
including the Dolinsek property, the Lindsey parcel, and Smuggler Mineral Rights. AACP:
Parks Policies I.1 and III.2-3.
• Park Balance – Continue to maintain a balance between active recreational parks and
passive parks, this has included efforts at Ajax Park, Pioneer Park, Bugsy Bernard Park, and
Garrish open space. AACP: Parks Policy I.2.
• Recreation Business Plan – The Recreation Department is working on an update to their
business plan. AACP: Recreation Policies II.1-2.
• Protecting Open Space – Implement improved noxious weed management, enforcement of
illegal camping, and clean-up efforts at Cozy Point. AACP: Parks Policy III.1, and
Environmental Stewardship Policies VI.1 and VII.1.
• Trail Improvements – Implemented trail enhancements and new connections, including
Cozyline, Airline, Ditchline, Deer Hill trail, Burlingame connector, Hummingbird traverse,
Lollipop extension, and Hunter Creek Extension. AACP: Parks Policies IV.1 and IV.3.
• Regional Trail Planning – On going work on the Upper Roaring Fork trails plan (draft
expected September 2015), and coordination with multiple jurisdictions on trail planning,
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including Pitkin County, US Forest Service, Snowmass Village, and Aspen Skiing Company.
AACP: Parks Policy IV.2.
• Community Outreach – Enhanced communications and outreach efforts regarding city
parks, open space, trails, and recreation, including online surveys, new summer and winter
trail maps, new Smuggler self-guided tour map, and a new Nordic website. AACP: Parks
Policy V.1.
Environmental Stewardship Chapter:
• Greenhouse Gases – GHG emissions were down by 7.4% in 2014 from the baseline year.
Voluntary programs exist to encourage energy reduction. AACP: Environmental
Stewardship Policies I.1-4 and V.1-5.
• Complete Streets – Adopted and implemented a “complete streets” policy that encourages
street design for all form of transportation, including bikes and pedestrians. Implementation
has included the work along the Main Street corridor. AACP: Environmental Stewardship
Policy I.3
• Air Quality Monitoring – Participate in the Colorado State Patrol’s biannual Heavy Duty
Diesel Vehicles safety checks, including performing emissions checks on all trucks to
determine if they meet state air quality standards. Conduct weekly vehicle idling
surveillance throughout the winter. Provide air quality trainings to all new RFTA bus
drivers. AACP: Environmental Stewardship Policy II.1
• Ozone Monitoring – Implement updated air quality monitoring system to provide accurate
real-time data to the public. Real-time ozone and particulate data in both a health based form
as well as raw form is available at www.aspenairquality.com. AACP: Environmental
Stewardship Policy II.1-2.
• Stormwater Updates –Urban Runoff Management Plan (URMP) requires all development
sites to treat stormwater runoff with a preference for on-site treatment. Larger scale
community projects have also been completed to help treat water in the rivers, including at
Rio Grande Park and the John Denver Sanctuary. AACP: Environmental Stewardship
Policies III.4, III.6 and III.7.
• Trash & Recycling Requirements – Updated requirements for trash and recycling for all
use types (Ord 13, Series 2013). In addition, the city has been working with Pitkin County
and Waste Management staff to encourage use of the Rio Grande Recycling Center. AACP:
Environmental Stewardship Policy IV.1.
• Bag Ban – Instituted a ban on plastic bags in May 2012. The Bag Bank program continues
to offer free reusable shopping bags to residents and visitors through 12 different locations.
Environmental Health staff has also been training the checkout personnel at the two grocery
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stores to ensure they are complying with the Waste Reduction Ordinance. AACP:
Environmental Stewardship Policy IV.1.
• Composting – The City’s Environmental Health Department and Pitkin County Solid Waste
Center were awarded a $200,000 grant from the Colorado Department of Public Health and
Environment to expand the compost collection program (SCRAPS). Funds from this program
are making a wider array of curbside collection containers available to residents and
businesses at no charge. AACP: Environmental Stewardship Policy IV.1.
• Deconstruction Requirements – Instituted a tracking and reporting system as part of the
Construction Management Plan process to track the amount of deconstruction and to
encourage reuse and recycling of materials. Approximately 60% of the total waste brought
to the landfill is diverted. 63% of the waste brought to the landfill is Construction and
Demolition waste. This has helped in efforts to increase the life of the landfill. AACP:
Environmental Stewardship Policy IV.2 and IV.4
• Snow Storage Requirements – The Engineering Department has updated requirements to
address snow storage requirements, requiring a minimum functional area of 30% of the
paved area to be provided for snow storage on site. Detached sidewalk requirements also
provide areas for snow storage. AACP: Environmental Stewardship Policy IV.3
• Aspen Electric Utility – Aspen Electric has achieved 100% renewable energy. AACP:
Environmental Stewardship Policy V.1-2
Historic Preservation Chapter:
• Historic Districts – Clarified that non-historic properties located within a Historic District
are subject to the City’s historic preservation requirements. (Ord 33, 2012). AACP: Historic
Preservation Policy II.1.
• AspenModern Website – Implemented website dedicated to Aspen’s Post-WWII era
properties. The website was completed in April 2014 and includes information on each style
of architecture and each architect modern properties (http://www.aspenmod.com/) Staff
continues to update the website as new properties are designated. AACP: Historic
Preservation Policies I.1-2.
• AspenVictorian Website – Implemented website dedicated to Aspen’s Victorian era
properties (http://aspenvictorian.com/). The website went live in September 2014, and
continues to be updated with information. AACP: Historic Preservation Policies I.1-2.
• TDRs – Expanded TDR landing sites by allowing up to 3 TDRs on large lots (Ord 33, 2014).
AACP: Historic Preservation Policies II.2-3; Managing Growth Policy III.3.
• Updated Historic Preservation Guidelines. Updated guidelines to address emerging
issues such as landscaping and to ensure the guidelines result in development that respects
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Aspen’s historic buildings and districts (Ord **, 2015). AACP: Historic Preservation
Policies II.1 and V.1.
Lifelong Aspenite Chapter:
• Childcare Access – Kids First has ongoing efforts to ensure affordable child care is available
to residents and workers, including offering financial aid above the Colorado Childcare
Assistance Program maximum income. In 2014, 81 families received childcare financial aid,
with an average award of $31.93 per day. All the families live or work in Aspen. Kids First
financial aid serves approximately 15% of the total children enrolled in licensed childcare in
Pitkin County. AACP: Lifelong Aspenite Policy I.1.
• Early Childhood Mental Health – Kids First provides early childhood mental health
consulting in the childcare programs; services include developmental screenings, behavioral
challenges, emotional challenges, and family concerns. Their consultant (MA, LPC) also
provides parent training and coaching sessions for childcare staff and families on social –
emotional development. AACP: Lifelong Aspenite Policy III.1 and III.4.
• Nurse Consulting Services – Kids First provides Nurse Consulting to the childcare
programs that includes topics such as safety, nutrition, disease prevention, immunization
policy and procedures, and medication administration. Their registered nurse also offers child
dental, vision and hearing screenings, as well as teaching CPR and First Aid to childcare
staff. AACP: Lifelong Aspenite Policy III.1, III.4, and III.5.
• Continuing Education – Kids First offers scholarships and incentives to childcare staff to
attend college courses to advance their learning in early childhood education. In 2014 over
70% of all staff working in licensed childcare programs took at least one 3-credit college
course. AACP: Lifelong Aspenite Policy IV.1.
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