HomeMy WebLinkAboutordinance.council.030-95
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ORDINANCE NO. 30
(SERIES OF 1995)
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ASPEN, COLORADO,
ADOPTING RESIDENTIAL DESIGN STANDARDS, REVISIONS TO FLOOR AREA
CALCULATIONS AND OTHER AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 24 OF THE ASPEN
MUNICIPAL CODE
WHEREAS, the community Character Analysis for the Aspen area,
done in Fall 1991 as part of the Aspen Area Community Plan (AACP)
process, targeted a number of issues, including studying aspects
of the allowed buildout to determine which should be revised to
preserve existing character and to achieve the preferred vision,
creating additional historic districts, and establishing a City-
wide architectural review mechanism; and
WHEREAS, the recommendation adopted through the AACP was to
create a set of "Neighborhood Character Guidelines" which could
provide clear direction to "maintain design quality and
compatibility with historic features of the community, by promoting
design which will enhance neighborhood character and integrate
neighborhoods in terms of visual appearance, improve community
livability and reduce house sizes; and
WHEREAS, the Historic Preservation Commission, staff and a
consultant studied the issues and created a set of "Neighborhood
Character Guidelines," which were adopted and implemented through
Ordinance 35, Series of 1994, as a temporary means of reviewing all
residential structures which exceeded 85% of a site's allowable
F.A.R., except in the R-15B zone district; and
WHEREAS, a Design Symposium was held on October 6-7, 1994,
during which time an expert panel and approximately forty-five
members of the community met to define the problems facing Aspen's
residential neighborhoods and to consider an appropriate long term
solution; and
WHEREAS, the result of the Design Symposium was the
establishment of seven goals which are important to preservatipn
of neighborhood character; and
WHEREAS, the Community Development Department, with the
assistance of a nationally recognized consultant, proceeded with
an in-depth review of the existing land use regulations, identified
zoning requirements and area and bulk calculations which could be
amended to produce the desired outcomes based on the goals from
the Design Symposium; and
WHEREAS, the development of a long-term'program to replace
Ordinance 35, Series of 1994, has involved the members of the
Historic Preservation commission, Planning and Zoning commission,
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city council, and volunteers from the community; and
WHEREAS, the Community Development Department has held several
public meetings, kept interested members of the public updated on
progress throughout the interim period, held neighborhood meetings,
issued press releases, engaged local architectural firms in case
studies of the proposals and in many other ways attempted to engage
the public in the process; and
WHEREAS, the Community Development Department has recommended
a program which entails a checklist which will be administered at
the staff level and applied to all residential development, along
with code revisions to the method of the calculation of allowable
floor area ratios, measurement of height, volume, and sUb-grade
spaces; and
WHEREAS, this program includes many incentives which encourage
new development to be of a mass, scale and relationship to the
pedestrian streetscape which has been identified as appropriate to
Aspen, and the program can be administered in an objective manner
so as to avoid personal value judgements and to allow designers and
homeowners creativity and flexibility; and
WHEREAS, staff and the consultant find that the proposed
program sufficiently address the problem so as to make an overall
reduction in F.A.R. unnecessary at this time; and
WHEREAS, Section 24-7-1103 of the Municipal Code provides that
amendments to Chapter 24 of the Code, to wit, "Land Use
Regulations", shall be reviewed and recommended for approval by the
Planning Director and then by the Planning and Zoning commission
at public hearing, and then approved, approved with conditions, or
disapproved by the City Council at public hearing; and
WHEREAS, at a duly noticed public hearing held on May 9, 1995,
the Planning and Zoning commission considered the proposed
revisions and those applicable standards as contained in Chapter
24 of the Municipal Code, to wit, Division 11 of Article 7 (Text
and Map Amendments), the Planning and Zoning commission has
recommended approval of the text amendments recommended by the
Planning Director pursuant to procedure as authorized by Section
24-6-205 (A) (5) of the Municipal Code; and
WHEREAS, the Commission considered a presentation from staff,
took public testimony, and contemplated the staff's proposed text
amendments to the Land Use Code; and
WHEREAS, the Commission did continue the public hearing to ~ay
16, 1995, in order for staff to review and consider additional
recommendations and corrections suggested by the public and the
Commission; and
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WHEREAS, the Commission, at the continued public hearing,
considered the proposed changes to the text amendments and voted
5-2 to adopt Resolution 95-8; and
WHEREAS, the Commission recommends to the city council
approval and adoption of the text amendments, as adopted in
Resolution 95-8, to create residential design standards and amend
existing sections of the Chapter 24 of the Municipal Code of the
city of Aspen; and
WHEREAS, the Aspen City Council has reviewed and considered
the text amendments under the applicable provisions of the
Municipal Code as identified herein, has reviewed and considered
those recommendations and approvals as granted by the Planning and
Zoning Commission, and has taken and considered public comment at
public hearing; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that the text amendments meet
or exceed all applicable development standards and that the
amendments are consistent with the recommendations of the AACP and
the consensus statements from the Aspen Design symposium.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
ASPEN COLORADO:
section 1: Pursuant to section 24-7-1102 of the Municipal Code,
the city Council finds as follows in regard to the text amendments:
1. The proposed text amendments as set forth in this Ordinance
are not in conflict with the provisions of Chapter 24 of the
Municipal Code or the Aspen Area community Plan.
2. The proposed text amendments are consistent and compatible
with the community character in the city of Aspen.
3. The proposed text amendments will promote the public interest
and more importantly will attempt to preserve the traditional
character of the City of Aspen.
4. The proposed text amendments are a result of the changed
conditions affecting the character of Aspen's neighborhood.
Section 2: Section 3-101 of Chapter 24 of the Municipal Code of
the City of Aspen, Colorado, which Article defines certain terms
is hereby amended to read as follows:
Article 3. Definitions
Sec. 3-101. Definitions as used in this chapter.
Breezeway means a covered walkway which connects portions of the
same structure.
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Character means the density, height, coverage, setback, massing,
fenestration, materials, and scale of materials. H, Historic
Overlay District, historic landmark development guidelines, and
Residential Design standards shall be established to give further
explanation of the qualities that compose character.
Floor Area means the sum of the gross horizontal areas
story of the building measured from the exterior walls, or
center line of the party walls, including the floor
accessory uses and of accessory buildings and structures.
of each
from the
area of
In measuring floor areas for floor area ratio and allowable floor
area, the following applies:
(A) General. In measuring floor area for the purposes of
calculating floor area ratio and allowable floor area,
there shall be included that floor area within the
surrounding exterior walls (measured from their exterior
surface) of a building, or portion thereof.
(B) Decks, balconies porches, loggias and stairways. The
calculation of the floor area of a building or a portion
thereof shall not include decks, balconies, stairways,
terraces and similar features, unless the area of these
features is greater than fifteen percent of the maximum
allowable floor area of the building. Porches shall n'ot
be counted towards FAR. Loggias shall be calculated 'as
0.5 FAR.
(C) Garages, carports and storage areas. In all zone
districts except the R15-B zone district, for the purpose
of calculating floor area ratio and allowable floor area
for a lot whose principal use is residential, garages,
carports and storage areas shall be excluded up to a
maximum area of two hundred fifty (250) square feet per
dwelling unit; all garage, carport and storage areas
between two hundred fifty (250) and five hundred (5010)
square feet shall be calculated as .5 FAR; all gara~e,
carport and storage areas in excess of five hundred (50,0)
square feet per dwelling unit shall be included as pairt
of the residential floor area calculation. For any
dwelling unit which can be accessed from an alley or
private road entering at the rear or side of the dwelling
unit, the garage shall onlv be excluded from floor area
calculations up to two hundred fifty (250) square feet
per dwelling unit if it is located on said alley or ro~d;
all garage, carport and storage areas between two hundred
fifty (250) and five hundred (500) square feet shall ~e
calculated as .5 FAR. For purposes of determining ~he
exclusion, if any, applicable to garages, carports, ~nd
storage areas, the area of all such structures on a
parcel shall be aggregated.
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1. In the R15-B zone district, garage, carport, and
storage areas shall be limited to a five hundred (500)
square foot exemption.
2. Other provisions applicable to all zoning districts:
No portion of a driveway to a garage shall be
below the natural grade wi thin the required
front setback.
All portions of a garage, carport or storage area
parallel to the street shall be recessed behind the front
facade a minimum of ten (10) feet.
Garages below natural grade, garages with a vehicular
entrance width greater than twenty four (24) feet, and
garages with a vehicular entrance width greater than 40%
of the front facade in total shall meet one of the
following conditions:
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a. All elements of the garage shall be
located within fifty feet of the rear lot line
or
b. All elements of the garage shall be
located farther than one hundred fifty feet
from the front lot line, or
c. the vehicular entrance to the garage shall
be perpendicular to the front lot line
An element linking a detached garage to the principal
structure shall not be included in the calculation bf
floor area provided that the linking structure is no
more than one (1) story tall, six (6) feet wide, and ten
(10) feet long. Areas of linking structures in excess
of ten feet in length shall be counted in floor area.
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(D) Subgrade areas. The area of any story whose top of
floor is a maximum of eighteen (18) inches above natural
or finished grade, whichever is lower, at any point
along the perimeter of the building shall be excluded
from floor area calculations. For any story which is
partly above and partly below natural or finished grape
whichever is lower, a calculation of the total volume pf
the story which is above and which is below grade shall
be made, for the purpose of establishing the percentage
of the area of the story which shall be included in
floor area calculations. This calculation shall be made
by determining the total percentage of the perimet'er
wall area of the story which is above natural or
finished grade, whichever is lower, which shall be
multiplied by the total floor area of the subject story,
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and the resulting total shall be that area which is
included in the floor area calculation.
All areaways, lightwells and/or stairwells on the
street facing side(s) of a building must be entirely
recessed behind the vertical plane established by the
portion of the building facade which is closest to the
street.
(E) Volume. For the purpose of calculating floor area ratio
and allowable floor area for a building or portion
thereof whose principal use is residential, a
determination shall be made as to its interior plate
heights. All areas with an exterior expression of, a
plate height greater than ten (10) feet, shall be
counted as two (2) square feet for each one (1) square
foot of floor area. Exterior expression shall be
def ined as facade penetrations between nine (9) and
twelve (12) feet above the level of the finished floor,
and circular, semi circular or non-orthogonal
fenestration between nine (9) and fifteen (15) feet
above the level of the finished floor.
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(F) Planned unit development. For planned unit development
(PUD) applications where land is held as common open
space, and more than one lot is proposed for
development, the total floor area for each lot shall be
determined in the following manner:
The total area
development (PUD)
to the total area
divided by the
development.
of each lot in the planned unit
shall be increased by an amount equal
of the land held as common open space
total number of 101:s proposed for
Notwithstanding the above methodology for determining
floor area ratio for each lot, applicants may suggest
different methods for allocating the total floor area
allowed for the PUD to individual lots; provided that
the total floor area allowed for the PUD does not exceed
the cumulative total of the floor areas for each lot as
calculated by the above referenced method.
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(G) Accessory dwelling unit or linked pavilion. For the
purposes of calculating floor area ratio and allowable
floor area for a lot whose principal use is residential,
the following shall apply: The allowable floor area of
an attached accessory dwelling unit shall be excluded UP
to a maximum of two hundred fifty (250) square feet of
allowable floor area or fifty percent of the size of the
accessory dwelling unit whichever is less. An accessorY
dwelling unit separated from a principal structure by a
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distance of no less than fifteen (15) feet, with a
maximum footprint of four hundred fifty (450) square
feet, shall be calculated at fifty percent of allowable
floor area up to seven hundred (700) square feet of
floor area. Any element linking the principal structure
to the accessory unit may be no more than one (1) story
tall, six (6) feet wide, and ten (10) feet long. This
floor area exclusion provision only applies to accessory
dwelling units which are subject to review and approval
by the planning and zoning commission pursuant to
conditional use review and approval, section 7-304 of
Chapter 24 of this Code.
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Height means the maximum possible distance from the natural or
finished grade, whichever is lower, at the exterior perimeter of
a building to the highest point of a structure within a single
vertical plane.
A. Methods of measurement for varying types of roofs.
1. Flat roofs or roofs with a slope of less than
3:12. The height of the building shall be the maximum
distance measured vertically from the natural or
finished grade, whichever is lower, to the top or
ridge of a flat, mansard, or other roof with a slope
of less than 3:12.
2. Roofs with a slope from 3:12 to 8:12. For roofs
with a slope from 3: 12 to 8: 12, height shall be
measured vertically from the natural or finished
grade, whichever is lower, to the mean height between
the eaves and ridge of a gable, hip, gambrel or other
similar pitched roof. The ridge of a gable, hip,
gambrel, or other pitched roof shall not extend over
five feet above the maximum height limit.
3. Roofs with a slope of 8:12 or qreater. For roofs
wi th a slope of 8: 12 or greater, height shall be
measured vertically from the natural or finished
grade, whichever is lower, to a point one-third (1/3)
of the distance up from the eaves to the ridge. There
shall be no limit on the height of the ridge.
Chimneys and other appurtenances may extend up to a
maximum of two (2) feet above the ridge.
4. Chimneys. antennas. and other appurtenances.
Antennas, chimneys, flues, vents or similar structures
shall not extend over ten (10) feet above the
specified maximum height limit, except for roofs with
a pitch of 8: 12 or greater, these elements may not
extend more than two (2) feet above the ridge. Water
towers and mechanical equipment shall not extend over
five (5) feet above the specified maximum height
limit. Church spires, bell t.owers and like
architectural projections, as well as flag poles, may
extend over the specified maximum height limit.
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B. Exceptions for buildings on slopes. The maximum
height of a building'S front (street facing) facade
may extend for the first thirty (30) feet of the
building's depth.
c. Exceptions for areaways, lightwells and basement
stairwells. An areaway, lightwell or basement
stairwell of less than one hundred (100) square feet,
entirely recessed behind the vertical plane
established by the portion of the building facade
which is closest to the street, and enclosed on all
four sides to within eighteen (18) inches of the first
floor level shall not be counted towards maximum
permissible height.
Loggias are defined as an unheated area under a roof, over a
living space, and at least 50% open to the outdoors on one
side with or without screens.
Lot area means the total horizontal area within the lot lines
of a lot. Except in the R15-B zone district, when calculating
floor area ratio, lot area shall include only areas with a
slope of less than 20%. In addition, half (.50) of lot areas
with a slope of 20-30% may be counted towards floor area
ratio; areas with slopes of greater than 30% shall be
excluded. The total reduction in FAR attributable to slope
reduction for a given site shall not exceed 25%.
Also excluded from total lot area for the purpose of floor
area calculations in all zone districts is that area beneath
the high water line of a body of water and that area within
an existing or proposed dedicated right-Of-way or surface
easements. Lot area shall include any lands dedicated to the
city of Aspen or Pitkin county for the public trail system,
any open irrigation ditch, or any lands subject to an above
ground or below ground surface easement such as utilities that
do not coincide with road easements. When calculating
density, lot area shall have the same exclusions and
inclusions as for calculating floor area ratio except for
exclusion of areas of greater than 20% slope.
Porches are defined as uninsulated, unheated areas under a
roof, bounded on at least one side by the exterior wall of a
living space and open on at least two sides to the outdoors
with or without screens.
site coverage means the percentage of a site covered by
buildings, measured at the exterior walls of a building at
ground level. Roof or balcony overhangs, cantilevered
building elements and similar features extending directly over
grade shall be excluded from maximum allowable site coverage
calculations.
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Subgrade areas. The area of any story, whose top of floor is
a maximum of eighteen (18) inches above natural or finished
grade, whichever is lower, at any point along the perimeter
of the building shall be excluded from floor area
calculations. For any story which is partly above and partly
below natural or finished grade whichever is lower, a
calculation of the total volume of the story which is above
and which is below grade shall be made, for the purpose of
establishing the percentage of the area of the story which
shall be included in floor area calculations. This
calculation shall be made by determining the total percentage
of the perimeter wall area of the story which is above natural
or finished grade, whichever is lower, which shall be
multiplied by the total floor area of the sUbject story, and
the resulting total shall be that area which is included in
the floor area calculation.
All areaways, lightwells and/ or stairwells on the street
facing side(s) of a building must be entirely recessed behind
the vertical plane established by the portion of the building
facade which is closest to the street.
Section 3 : Division 5 of Article 4 of Chap'ter 24 of the
Municipal Code of the City of Aspen, Colorado, which Division
relates to decision-making administrative bodies, is hereby
amended, to read as follows:
DIVISION 5. DESIGN REVIEW APPEAL BOARD
Sec. 4-501. Purpose. The Design Review Appeal Board shall
review, at a regular meeting, any appeal of the Residential
Design Standards. Any appeal for exemption from the
Residential Design Standards should simply and succinctly
identify why, if granted, the exception would (1) yield
greater compliance with the goals of the Aspen Area Community
Plan and (2) more effectively address the issue or problem
a given standard or provision responds to, or (3) be clearly
necessary for reasons of fairness related to unusual site
specific constraints.
Sec. 4-502. Powers and duties.
The Design Review Appeal Board shall have the following powers
and duties:
A.
To hear, review and approve variances to the
Residential Design Guidelines, under Article 7,
Division 3;
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B.
To hear and decide appeals from, and review any
order, requirement, decision, or determination
made by, any administrative official charged with
the enforcement of this Article 7, Division 3,
including appeals of interpretation of the text
of the Residential Design standards.
The Design Review Appeal Board may only grant relief from
the Residential Design Standards. A variance from the
Residential Design Standards does not grant an approval to
vary other standards of this Chapter that may be provided by
another decision making administrative body.
Sec. 4-503. Qualifications for membership.
Members of the Design Review Appeal Board shall be
qualified electors in the city of Aspen and residents of the
city for two (2) years prior to appointment. In the event
that any member is no longer a qualified elector, the city
council shall terminate the appointment of such person as a
member of the Design Review Board.
Sec. 4-504. Membership: appointment, removal, terms and
vacancies.
A. The Design Review Appeal Board shall be composed of
five (5) members and one (1) alternate member who shall hold
office for a term of two (2) years. Board members shall be
appointed by the city council and city council shall designate
the alternate member. Three members from the Historic
Preservation Committee and two members, plus the alternate
shall be selected from the Planning and Zoning commission.
There shall be no restraint on the number of terms any member
may serve. An alternate member shall attend all meetings and
shall be allowed to vote in the absence of regular members.
When a regular member resigns, the alternate shall
automatically be designated as a regular member in replacement
and another alternate, from the Board not represented by the
alternate, shall be appointed by city council.
B. Members shall serve in accordance with the laws of
Colorado and may be removed before the expiration of their
appointment by a majority vote of the city council.
C. At an annual organizational meeting, the members of
the board shall elect one of their members as chairperson and
one as vice-chairperson. In the absence of the chairperson,
the vice-chairperson shall act as chairperson and shall have
all powers of the chairperson. The chairperson shall be
elected for one year and shall be eligible for reelection.
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D. The chairperson of the Design Review Appeal Board
shall administer oaths, shall be in charge of all proceedings
before the board, shall decide all points of order on
procedure, and shall take such action as shall be necessary
to preserve the order and the integrity of all proceedings
before the board.
E. The secretary of the Design Review Appeal Board shall
be the city clerk or the city clerk's designee. The secretary
shall keep the minutes, and maintain the files of all reports
and actions of the board.
F. Any member who has four (4) or more unexcused absences
from regular meetings during the calendar year may be subject
to removal by the city council.
Sec. 4-505. Staff.
The Community Development Department shall be the
professional staff of the Design Review Appeal Board.
Sec. 4-506. Quorum and necessary vote.
No meeting of the Design Review Appeal Board shall be
called to order, without a quorum consisting of at least three
(3) members of the board being present. No meeting at which
less than a quorum shall be present shall conduct any business
other than to continue the agenda items to a date certain.
The concurring vote of three (3) members of the Design
Review Appeal Board then present and voting shall be required
to decide any appeal, reverse any order, requirement, decision
or determination made by an administrative official charged
with the enforcement of the Residential Design Standards or
to approve any variance to the Residential Design Standards.
All other actions shall require the concurring vote of a
simple majority of the members of the board then present and
voting.
Sec. 4-507. Meetings, hearings and procedure.
A. Meetings of the Design Review Appeal Board shall be
held on the second Tuesday of each month when necessary.
Special meetings may be called by the chairperson, the vice-
chairperson when the chairperson is absent, or in writing by
three (3) members of the board.
B. All meetings
be open to the public
hearings.
of the Design Review Appeal Board shall
although reviews are not required public
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section 4 : Division 5
Municipal Code of the
renumbered Division 6.
of Article 4 of
ci ty of Aspen,
24
is
of the
hereby
Chapter
Colorado,
section 5: Article 7 of Chapter 24 of the Municipal Code of
the City of Aspen, Colorado, which Article sets forth
Development Review Standards, is hereby amended to read as
follows:
ARTICLE 7. DEVELOPMENT REVIEW STANDARDS
DIVISION 1. GENERAL
The purpose of Article 7 is to establish the substantive
development review standards for development applications.
They include:
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*
*
*
Permitted Uses (ArtiCle 7, Division 2),
Residential Design Standards (Article 7, Division 3)
Conditional Uses (ArtiCle 7, Division 4),
Development Subject to Special Review (Article 7,
Division 5),
Development in
(ESA) (Article 7,
Development or
Districts or of
Division 7),
Designation of a (H) Historic Overlay District or a
Historic Landmark (Article 7, Division 8),
Specially Planned Areas (SPA) (Article 7, Division 9),
Planned Unit Developments (PUD) (Article 7, division 10) ,
Subdivision review (Article 7, division 11), and
Amendment to the text of this chapter or the Official
Zone District Map (Article 7, Division 12).
*
an Environmentally
Division 6),
Demolition
a Historic
Sensitive
Area
*
in H, Historic Overlay
Landmark (H) (Article 7,
*
*
*
*
*
DIVISION 3. RESIDENTIAL DESIGN STANDARDS
Section 7-301. General.
A. Purpose. The purpose of the following design standards are
to preserve established neighborhood scale and character, and
to ensure that Aspen's streets and neighborhoods are public
places conducive to walking.
Front facades and their relationship to the street establish
the character of a neighborhood. The area surrounding a
home's front door creates a transition between the private
life of a dwelling and the public realm. A one (1) story
architectural projection emphasizing the entry provides an
appropriate domestic scale for a private residence. Street
facing porches, loggias, and balconies provide outdoor living
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space, further animating the streetscape. Windows establish
a hierarchy of spaces within--larger, formal windows denoting
public areas, smaller ones suggesting private space.
Consistent front setbacks define the space of the street.
B. Applicabilitv. All residential development in the City of
Aspen requiring a building permit from the City of Aspen,
except for residential development within the R-15B zone
district, shall comply with the residential design standards
as specified in by the Administrative Checklist unless
otherwise granted a variance by the De~ign Review Appeal Board
as established in Article 4, Division 5 of this Chapter or
unless granted a variance through some other required review
process by the Historic Preservation commission, the Board of
Adjustment, or the Planning & Zoning Commission.
C. Application. A development application for residential
development shall consist of an application for a Development
Order pursuant to section 6-202 and section 7-302. The
Development Order application shall be submitted to the
Community Development Department.
D. Exemptions. No application for a residential development
order shall be exempt from the provisions of this section
unless the Planning Director determines that the proposed
development:
a. adds floor area but does not alter the exterior of
an existing structure; and
b. is any addition or remodel of an existing structure
that does not change the exterior of the building.
section 7-302. Procedure.
Pursuant to section 6-201. Pre application Conference. An
applicant shall conduct a pre-application conference with
staff of the planning division of the Community Development
Department. At that conference the planner shall provide an
application packet which shall include the Submission
Requirements of the Administrative Checkl ist and any other
pertinent land use review material.
Pursuant to sections 6-202. 6-203 and 6-204. An applicant
shall prepare an application for review and approval by staff.
In order to proceed with additional land use reviews or obtain
a Development Order, staff shall find the submitted
development application consistent the Residential Design
Guidelines.
If an application is found to be inconsistent with any item
of the Residential Design Guidelines the applicant may either
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amend the application or appeal staff's finding to the Design
Review Appeal Board pursuant to Article 4. Division 5. Design
Review Appeal Board.
If any other review is required by other provisions of the
code, and that review determines that certain items of the
Residential Design Guidelines should be waived, than the
applicant shall not be required to submit to further review
by the Design Review Board of Appeal.
section 7-303. Administrative Checklist
The Director of Community Deve.lopment shall promulgate a
checklist for use by applicants and community development
staff in identifying the approvals and reviews necessary for
issuance of a development order for an application that is
consistent with the Residential Design Guidelines.
section 7-304. Residential Design Standards
1. Building Orientation
a. The orientation of the principal mass of all
buildings must be parallel to the streets they face.
On corner lots, both street-facing facades of the
principal mass must be parallel to the road. On
curvilinear streets, the principal mass of all
buildings must be tangent to the midpoint of the
arc.
b. All single family homes, townhouses, and
duplexes must have a street-oriented entrance and
a. street facing principal window, except townhouses
and accessory units facing courtyards or gardens,
where entries and principal windows should face
those features. On corner lots, entries and
principal windows should face whichever street has
a greater block length.
1. A street oriented entrance requires that
at least one of the following two conditions
are met:
a. The front entry door is on the street
facade
b. A covered entry porch of fifty (50) or
more square feet is part of the street
facade.
2. A street facing principal window
requires that a significant window or group
of windows of a living room, dining room or
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family room face the street.
c. For single family homes and duplexes with
attached garages or carports, the wid'th of the house
must be at least five (5) feet greater than the
width of the garage along its street facing
frontage. The garage must be set back at least ten
(10) feet further from the street than the house.
d. Multiple unit residential buildings must have
at least one street-oriented entrance for every four
(4) units. Front units must have a street facing
principal window.
2. Building Elements
a. All residential buildings must have a one-story
street facing element the width of which comprises
at least 20% of the building's overall width.
3. Build-To Lines
a. If 75% or more of the residential buildings on
the face of a block where a proj ect is to be
located are within two (2) feet of a common front
setback line, a minimum of 60% of a proposed
project s front facade must also be within two (2)
feet of that front setback.
b. Corner sites are of particular importance in
the definition of street frontages. Therefore on
corner sites where fewer than 75% of the
residential buildings on the face of a block are
located within two (2) feet of a common setback
line, a minimum of 60% of at least one of the
street frontages of a proposed proj ect s front
facade must be located within two (2) feet of the
minimum setback.
4. Primary Mass
a. A primary mass is a building volume for which
two of the following three characteristics do not
vary: plate height, ridge height, wall plane. The
floor area of a primary mass in excess of 70% of
total allowable FAR shall be multiplied by 1.25.
5.
Inflection
a. If the street frontage of an adjacent structure
is one story in height for a distance more than
twelve feet on the side facing a proposed building,
then the adjacent portion of the proposed building
must also be one (1) story in height for a distance
of twelve (12) feet.
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1. If the adjacent structures on both sides
of a proposed building are one story in
height, the required one story volume of the
proposed building may be on one side only.
2. If a proposed building occupies a corner
lot, and faces an adj acent one story
structure, the required one story element may
be reversed to face the corner.
6. When calculating floor area ratio the following formulas
and definitions shall be used:
a. Accessory dwelling unit or linked pavilion. For the
purposes of calculating floor area ratio and allowable floor
area for a lot whose principal use is residential, the
following shall apply: The allowable floor area of an
attached accessory dwelling unit shall be excluded up to a
maximum of two hundred fifty (250) square feet of allowable
floor area or fifty percent of the size of the accessory
dwelling unit whichever is less. An accessory dwelling unit
separated from a principal structure by no less than fifteen
(15) feet with a maximum footprint of four hundred fifty (450)
square feet shall be calculated at fifty percent of allowable
floor area up to seven hundred (700) square feet. Any element
linking the principal structure to the accessory unit may be
no more than one story tall, six (6) feet wide, and ten (10)
feet long. Any element linking the principal structure to an
accessory structure in excess of ten feet shall have that
excess counted as floor area. This floor area exclusion
provision only applies to accessory dwelling units which are
subject to review and approval by the planning and zoning
commission pursuant to conditional use review and approval,
section 7-304 of Chapter 24 of this Code.
b. Character means the density, height, coverage, setback,
massing, fenestration, materials, and scale of materials. H,
Historic Overlay District, historic landmark development
guidelines, and Residential Design standards shall be
established to give further explanation of the qualities that
compose character.
c. Decks, balconies porches, loggias and stairways. The
calculation of the floor area of a building or a portion
thereof shall not include decks, balconies, stairways,
terraces and similar features; unless the area of these
features is greater than fifteen percent of the maximum
allowable floor area of the building. Porches shall not be
counted towards FAR. Loggias shall be calculated as .5 FAR
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d. Garages, carports and storage a~eas.
1. All districts except the R15-B zone district.
For the purpose of calculating floor area ratio and allowable
floor area for a lot whose principal use is residential,
garages, carports and storage areas shall be excluded up to
a maximum area of two hundred fifty (250) square feet per
dwelling unit; all garage, carport and storage areas between
two hundred fifty (250) and five hundred (500) square feet
shall be calculated as .5 FAR; all garage carport and storage
areas in excess of five hundred (500) square feet per dwelling
unit shall be included as part of the residential floor area
calculation. For any dwelling unit which can be accessed from
an alley or private road entering at the rear or side of the
dwelling unit, the garage shall onlv be excluded from floor
area calculations up to two hundred fifty (250) square feet
per dwelling unit if it is located on said alley or road; all
garage, carport and storage areas between two hundred fifty
(250) and five hundred (500) square feet shall be calculated
as .5 FAR. For the puroposes of determining the exclusion,
if any, applicable to garages, carports, and storage areas,
the area of all such structures on a parcel shall be
aggregated.
2. R-15B zone district.
Garages, carports, and storage areas shall be exempt from
floor area up to a maximum of five hundred (500) square feet.
3. Other provisions applicable to all zoning districts.
No portion of a driveway to a garage shall be below the
natural grade within the required front setback.
All portions of a garage, carport or storage area parallel to
the street shall be recessed behind the front facade a minimum
of ten (10) feet.
Garages below natural grade, garages with a vehicular entrance
width greater than twenty four (24) feet, and garages with a
vehicular entrance width greater than 40% of the front facade
in total shall meet one of the following conditions:
a. All elements of the garage shall be located within fifty
(50) feet of the rear lot line or
b. All elements of the garage shall be located farther than
one hundred fifty (150) feet from the front lot line, or
c. the vehicular entrance to the garage shall be
perpendicular to the front lot line
An element linking a detached garage to the principal
structure shall not be included in the calculation of floor
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area provided that the linking structure is no more than one
story tall, six (6) feet wide, and ten (10) feet long.
e. Height means the maximum possible distance from the natural
or finished grade, whichever is lower, at the exterior
perimeter of a building to the highest point of a structure
within a single vertical plane.
1. Methods of measurement for varying types of roofs.
a. Flat roofs or roofs with a slope of less than 3:12.
The height of the building shall be the maximum
distance measured vertically from the natural or
finished grade, whichever is lower, to the top or
ridge of a flat, mansard, or other roof with a slope
of less than 3:12.
b. Roofs with a slope from 3:12 to 8:12. For roofs with
a slope from 3:12 to 8:12, height shall be measured
vertically from the natural or finished grade,
whichever is lower, to the mean height between the
eaves and ridge of a gable, hip, gambrel or other
similar pitched roof. The ridge of a gable, hip,
gambrel, or other pitched roof shall not extend over
five (5) feet above the maximum height limit.
c. Roofs with a slope of 8:12 or qreater. For roofs
with a slope of 8: 12 or greater, height shall be
measured vertically from the natural or finished
grade, whichever is lower, to a point one-third (1/3)
of the distance up from the eaves to the ridge. There
shall be no limit on the height of the ridge.
Chimneys and other appurtenances may extend up to a
maximum of two (2) feet above the ridge.
d. Chimneys. antennas. and other appurtenances.
Antennas, chimneys, flues, vents or similar structures
shall not extend over ten (10) feet above the
specified maximum height limit, except for roofs with
a pitch of ~:12 or greater, these elements may not
extend more than two (2) feet above the ridge. Water
towers and mechanical equipment shall not extend over
five (5) feet above the specified maximum height
limit. Church spires, bell towers and like
architectural projections, as well as flag poles, may
extend over the specified maximum height limit.
2. Exceptions faT buildings on slopes. The maximum
height of a building's front (street facing) facade
may extend for the first thirty (30) feet of the
building's depth.
3. Exceptions for areaways, lightwells and basement
stairwells. An areaway, lightwell or basement
stairwell of less than one hundred (100) square feet,
entirely recessed behind the vertical plane
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established by the portion of the building facade
which is closest to the street, and enclosed on all
four sides to within eighteen (18) inches of the first
floor level shall not be counted towards maximum
permissible height.
f. Loggias are defined as an unheated area under a roof, over
a living space, and at least 50% open to the outdoors on one
side with or without screens.
g. Lot area means the total horizontal area within the lot
lines of a lot. Except in the R-15B zone district, when
calculating floor area ratio, lot area shall include only
areas with a slope of less than 20%. In addition, half (.50)
of lot areas with a slope of 20-30% may be counted towards
floor area ratio; areas with slopes of greater than 30% shall
be excluded. The total reduction in FAR for a given site
shall not exceed 25%. Also excluded for the purpose of floor
area calculations is that area beneath the high water line of
a body of water and that area within an existing or proposed
dedicated right-of-way or surface easements. Lot area shall
include any lands dedicated to the city of Aspen or Pitkin
county for the public trail system, any open irrigation ditch,
or any lands subject to an above ground or below ground
surface easement such as utilities that do not coincide with
road easements. When calculating density, lot area shall have
the same exclusions and inclusions as for calculating floor
area ratio, except for exclusion of areas of greater than 20%
slope.
h. Parking. The following off-street parking requirement shall
be provided for each use in all residential development.
1. For single family and duplex residential use: 2
spacesldwelling unit. Fewer spaces may be provided by special
review pursuant to Article 7, Division 5 for historic
landmarks only, and fewer spaces may be provided by
conditional use review pursuant to Article 7, Division 4, for
Accessory Dwelling units only. Only 1 space per dwelling unit
is required if the unit is either a studio or a 1 bedroom
dwelling unit.
i. Porches are defined as uninsulated, unheated areas under
a roof, bounded on at least one side by the exterior wall of
a living space and open on at least two sides to the outdoors
with or without screens.
j. site coverage means the percentage of a site covered by
buildings, measured at the exterior walls 'of a building at
ground level. Roof or balcony overhangs, cantilevered
building elements and similar features extending directly over
grade shall be excluded from maximum allowable site coverage
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calculations.
k. Subgrade areas. The area of any story, whose top of floor
is a maximum of eighteen (18) inches above natural or finished
grade, whichever is lower, at any point along the perimeter
of the building shall be excluded from floor area
calculations. For any story which is partly above and partly
below natural or finished grade whichever is lower, a
calculation of the total volume of the story which is above
and which is below grade shall be made, for the purpose of
establishing the percentage of the area of the story which
shall be included in floor area calculations. This
calculation shall be made by determining the total percentage
of the perimeter wall area of the story which is above natural
or finished grade, whichever is lower, which shall be
multiplied by the total floor area of the subject story, and
the resulting total shall be that area which is included in
the floor area calculation.
All areaways, lightwells and/or stairwells on the street
facing side(s) of a building must be entirely recessed behind
the vertical plane established by the portion of the building
facade which is closest to the street.
1. Volume. For the purpose of calculating floor area ratio
and allowable floor area for a building or portion thereof
whose principal use is residential, a determination shall be
made as to its interior plate heights. All areas with an
exterior expression of a plate height greater than ten (10)
feet, shall be counted as two (2) square feet for each one (1)
square foot of floor area. Exterior expression shall be
defined as facade penetrations between nine (9) and twelve
~ feet above the level of the finished floor, and circular,
semi circular or non-orthogonal fenestration between nine (9)
and fifteen (15) feet above the level of the finished floor.
Section 6: Nothing in this ordinance shall be construed to
affect any right, duty or liability under any ordinance in
effect prior to the effective date of this ordinance, and in
the same shall be continued and concluded under such prior
ordinances. Furthermore, the provisions of this ordinance
shall not apply in the following specific circumstances:
a. To the development of any property for which a vested
right, as defined by Colorado law, has been obtained prior to
the effective date hereof.
b. To the construction of any dwelling unit pursuant to
any building permit which was applied for prior to or on May
16, 1995
c.
If, however, subsequent to and in reI iance upon
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development reviews of a project by staff and/or other review
bodies, an applicant has so substantially changed his/her
position or incurred extensive obligations and expenses that
it would be highly inequitable and unjust to amend the plans,
then the Community Development Director may issue such permit.
section 7: This Ordinance shall not affect any existing
litigation and shall not operate as an abatement of any action
or proceeding now pending under or by virtue of the ordinances
repealed or amended as herein provided, and the same shall be
conducted and concluded under such prior ordinances.
section 8: 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 9: A public hearing on the Ordinance shall be held
on the 12 day of June, 1995 at 5:00 in the City Council
Chambers, Aspen City Hall, Aspen Colorado, fifteen (15) days
prior to which hearing a public notice of the same shall be
published in a newspaper of general circulation within the
city of Aspen.
INTRODUCED, READ AND ORDERED PUBLISHED as provided by
law, by the city Council of the City of Aspen on the ~::( day
~, 1995.
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John ennett, Mayor
FINALLY, adopted, passed and approved this /3
day of
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