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HomeMy WebLinkAboutminutes.apz.20000201ASPEN PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION February 1, 2000 Bob Blaich opened the special meeting at 4:05 p.m. held with City Council Members: Tony Hershey, Tom McCabe, Jim Markalunas and Terry Paulson. Planning & Zoning Members Roger Hunt, Roger Haneman, Steven Buettow, Tim Mooney, Ron Erickson Jasmine Tygre and Bob Blaich were present. City staff in attendance: Claude Morelli, Transportation; Chris Bendon, Julie Ann Woods, Community Development; Jackie Lothian, Deputy City Clerk. DECLARATION OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST None were disclosed. MINUTES MOTION: Roger Hunt moved to adopt the minutes of 11 January 2000. Ron Erickson second. APPROVED 7-0. PUBLIC HEARING: WEST END TRAFFIC AND TRANSIT STUDY Bob Blaich opened the public hearing for the West End Traffic and Transit Study. Julie Ann Woods stated that P&Z would not take action until February 15th because this meeting was not noticed properly for tonight. Claude Morelli, Transportation Planner, stated that he was also the manager of this project and introduced Jim Charlier, Transportation Consultant. Charlier stated that he had been working on this for about a year and he said that he would be talking about the studies and what decisions would come before the city. He said there were meetings with the Music Associates and the neighborhood; in the summer of 1999, they did some monitoring and fieldwork. Morelli explained the 4 decisions from page 2 of the memo dated February 1, 2000 and the slide presentation, which were the concepts of a multi-year MAA Transportation Plan, the direction to staff, funding for summer 2000 transit services and the marketing program. He said there was an overview of the study with Volume 1 - General framework for traffic; Volume 2 - Traffic mitigation in the West End and Volume 3 - Small-scale transit vehicle options. Morelli stated that the cut-through traffic in the West End were serious and would be more serious in the future. He said the focus was on the MAA tonight. Morelli summarized the 1999 summer field survey, which included a two-week traffic count and a 4-day count of vehicle occupancies, pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders, and parked cars before and during concerts. ASPEN PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION February 1, 2000 Morelli stated that the MAA provided a summer attendance information. Average attendance was 600 not counting the lawn seating. Charlier noted that on low attendance days, the MAA still showed patrons parking in the neighborhood. Morelli stated that 3rd and 5th Streets were the heaviest travel routes. There were maps, tables, graphs and charts illustrating the data. The bus problems were noise and emissions and the carbon fiber buses were quieter and cleaner. Morelli said there were many concert goers using alternative modes of transportation already but 72% of the people were driving, including carpools. Charlier said that meeting that last minute arrivals would be the challenge. Ron Erickson stated that days were critical rather than just dates, for instance Sundays. Charlier stated that rain days also made a difference with concert attendees. Morelli stated that there were representatives from the MAA, RFTA, Charlier and staff at the neighborhood meetings with the West End neighbors. Charlier stated that the Entrance to Aspen will change the west end traffic. Morelli stated that everybody agreed that RFTA and the city should pursue quieter vehicles and encourage bicycle and foot traffic. He said that running more busses at concert time would be acceptable if the busses were reasonably well patronized. Morelli stated the purpose of the plan was to create a comprehensive and achievable traffic-mitigation program that responded to the needs and concerns of the West End neighbors, the MAA and the City. Morelli said the objectives of the plan were to substantially reduce the volume of automobile traffic on West End streets before and after MAA events. Reduce the share of trips made by automobile to MAA events by 50%. Charlier stated that the objectives were not to be overly aggressive, so that they could work. Morelli said the plan phasing was spring/summer 2000 and summer 2002+. The bus stop could be relocated in the MAA parking lot plus improvements to the lots. Charlier stated that moving the bus stop closer to the tent would encourage use of the busses. He said that the handicap parking would be moved closer also. Morelli said that there would be a bicycle corral added for about 50 bikes. Charlier said the transit service would be increased and eventually with smaller quieter busses running like the skier shuttles. Roger Hunt asked if the skier shuttle was the same as the cross- town shuttle. Morelli responded that it would be like the cross-town shuttle but with more frequency at concert times plus supplementing with the larger busses. Morelli said they wanted to aggressively market alternative modes, the city had experience with T.O.P. (Transportation Options Program). He said that there would be 2 brochures, newspaper and radio ads and assistance from the hotels. 2 ASPEN PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION February 1, 2000 Charlier said the parking lots were not efficiently working and the proposal was to go to a "ski base" style of parking where the cars were directed into the spaces, which should reduce the milling around. He said that signage could be added to alert the patrons that the lots were full. He said that the proposal also included paid parking in the MAA lots and resident-only on-street parking in the West End. Morelli said that parking would be eliminated at Gillespie and 3rd which would also help the busses to get through quicker and more quietly. Jim Markalunas noted the residential streets were virtually empty when it rained and suggested shelters be placed along the designated walking areas. He said that most people will take an umbrella but maybe there could be a concession. Charlier said that with any travel plan weather had to be a concern and working with the hotels and lodges would benefit the MAA transit options as well as carrying an umbrella. Charlier stated that providing a good walking environment was critical but not necessarily sidewalks. Hunt said that the transit stop closer to the entrance would make more sense. Charlier stated that the proposal was for the RFTA busses and also a clearly defined hotel shuttle drop-off point. Tim Mooney said that the capital improvements to the parking lots would be a land use issue but the responsibility of the MAA. Morelli asked the council members and commissioners if the outlined plan was acceptable. Roger Haneman asked where the people came from to get to the MAA; he said that unless it was known where they came from, how would the people get to the bus and where would they catch the bus from. Morelli responded that the survey next summer would tell where the people came from; the survey would collect that data. Tony Hershey stated that the guests at the Little Nell pay for the service and would not want to stop along the way to pick up guests from other hotels. Charlier noted that the sense of the hotel shuttles being shared by guests of other hotels was probably not an option. Jasmine Tygre commented that the age of a person may affect accessibility of certain vehicle choices as the mode of transit and should be taken into account for vehicle selection. Markalunas requested clarification of the lawn patrons being included in the attendance figures. Charlier replied the table of arrivals included all patrons, but the MAA attendance figures did not include the lawn seating. Markalunas noted concern for the paid parking and asked how this was envisioned by not encouraging more parking on the streets. Charlier answered that the MAA might take the lead on changing the dynamics of the parking issues and arrival times with some reserved seating. He said there might be a reserved seating packaged with parking passes. Blaich noted that the street parking and pedestrian safety was a problem; there was visual pollution with signage already, which needed to be studied prior to the addition of 3 ASPEN PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION February 1, 2000 any more signs. Blaich said the pedestrian shelters would be difficult for placement until after the surveys were done because there was no way of knowing where the people came from. Charlier stated that the survey coordination would be done with RFTA also. Hershey stated that if the busses were at capacity the number one solution would be to add more busses. Jake Vickery, public, inquired about the management for load leveling. Morelli responded there was some load leveling with the Harris Hall concerts. Werner Keuner, public, said that if there was a charge for parking in the lots then wouldn't the cars be forced out of the lots and onto the streets, becoming more of an enforcement problem. Charlier replied that the proposal implemented paid parking and residential parking enforcement at the same times. Robert Zupancis, public, stated that he owned a shoe store in town for 20 some years and when it rained at the wine festival the need for umbrellas was great. He suggested the MAA use their logo to create a tasteful umbrella to be sold at the concerts and ticket booths. He said the ticket sales persons needed to be educated and posed questions for the ticket purchaser to be asked and the answers recorded. He noted that there could be incentive rewards for the ticket sellers. Zupancis stated one part of the education process would be to inform the purchaser of the transit alternatives and weather conditions. He said the hotel employees would also need education. Zupancis said it would be better to have too many busses than too few, so that there would not be bad experiences for those people riding the busses. Charlier responded that the point of sale was useful information and there was additional information with the customers. Bill Stirling, public, stated that walking from the tent was treacherous at night on 4th, 5th or 6th Streets. He noted that lighting in the West End was important and the light available in the West End was house lighting for walking. He noted there was there was only one light stanchion at each intersection in the West End and more lighting was needed maybe in the middle of each block for people to feel safe while walking. He agreed with Bob on the existing sign pollution in the West End. Stirling noted that it was romantic walking in Aspen and said that sidewalks would not be welcomed. He said that pinpointing busses would make them frequent and consistent around the beginning and end of each concert. Stirling stated that it was a privilege to live in the West End; one of his favorite neighbors was the Music Associates of Aspen. He said that the MAA along with the Institute and Physics provide 52 weeks of a backyard that was unparalleled and for 41 weeks the West End was virtually traffic free. Stirling stated that as a West End resident he loved, as many of his neighbors also loved, the MAA. 4 ASPEN PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION February 1, 2000 The City Planning & Zoning Commission began the regular meeting after the West End Traffic Study presentation at 5:55 p.m. PUBLIC HEARING: 330 LAKE AVENUE - HISTORIC LANDMARK DESIGNATION Bob Blaich stated that there was no notice provided. Julie Ann Woods stated that the application was withdrawn. MOTION: Roger Hunt moved to withdraw the public hearing at the request of staff for the landmark designation on 330 Lake Avenue. Roger Haneman second. APPROVED 7-0. NEW BUSINES S: HOAG SUBDIVISION LOT/43 - 8040 GREENLINE Bob Blaich opened the 8040 Greenline Review. Chris Bendon explained that this was for the Hoag Subdivision, Lot #3 fire access turn-around in response to the approved condition #1 from P&Z Resolution #96-28. Bendon illustrated the site on a blue line with the notation that the Newfoundland Lode was the adjacent parcel in the county but shared the fire access turn-around. At the time of the 1996 approval, there was concern for the safe turn-around of a fire truck. Bendon noted that the property had recently changed owners, which was good, since there were problems with the former owners of Hoag #3 and Newfoundland Lode reaching an agreement on the access turn-around. He said the Newfoundland Lode parcel (in the county) had just been approved for a residence; it went through a takings proceeding with Pitkin County which included the portion of the turn- around that lies in Pitkin County. He said the remaining portion of the turn-around was in the city, which was the last portion of the approval process to be reviewed. Bendon said there was some concern for the aesthetics from Ute Avenue, looking up at the wall and trail easement. He said the applicant proposed to face the wall with rock and provide a landscape plan for the area in front of the wall. Bendon said the major concern was for the ability of a fire truck to be able to safely turn-around in a 50-foot radius. He said the fire department reduced the radius to 40-foot with the addition of a fire hydrant. This reduced the cut and fill considerably and the residence must be sprinkled. Pitkin County required an access and earthmoving permits. Bendon said that he had suggested that it was reviewed as one development with the city and county. ASPEN PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION February 1, 2000 Bendon said the fire department preferred that the water main for the fire hydrant be placed in the road, which was preferable because of the steepness of the easements between Lots 2 and 4. Bendon said the forest service easement required prior approval from the other review processes before granting or platting a forest service easement of the access road. He said that Phil Overyender summarized this in the memo (exhibit 4); the water and sewer utilities required separation in those lines (with the water in the road and the sewer in the current utility easements). He said that there were requirements of the distance that the utilities needed to be apart from one another. The water service, which required a private service in-line pump system, also required a private water system. Roger Hunt commented that a cross-section and elevation of the wall for height and the relationship to the trail would have been helpful. He said that just because the wall was in the county, didn't mean that the city couldn't see the wall and trail easement. The City would be impacted by it visually. Augie Reno, Architect, stated that he has been involved with this property since 1990 with disagreement between the two property owners, now with one property owner there would be the ability to move forward with an agreement on the access. He said there were some wrongs done prior to 1990 that were being corrected now which included some road cuts and an existing retaining wall. Reno provided photos of the cut on the Newfoundland Lode and the retaining wall, which was pre-cast concrete with ties back into it. He proposed to take out that existing wall and put up a new masonry unit wall with geo-tech style tent-style members going back into the earth in lifts piled up. Reno stated that the height of the wall will not be increased, but there will be a curvilinear point for strength and face the wall with a similar stone treatment like the one on the south side walls of the existing driveway. Blaich asked if it was a native stone. Reno replied that it was a native stone. Hunt asked the distance from the trail to the wall. Reno responded that it averaged 12' to 17' (15' average). He said the landscape plan included protecting some large evergreen trees, adding new trees and adding some stacked boulders about 2-2½ feet high. These boulders won't be on the trail but within the distance where the granular material was towards the wall; he said they would not touch the trail as it exists today. Julie Ann Woods asked if the construction would be accessed from the cul-de-sac above. Reno answered that it would be done above because the tiebacks would be done in layers. Reno said the turn-around itself had a 40-foot radius because the drive continued on to the Lot #3 proposed house that would be sprinkled and a fire hydrant was placed in the driveway. Blaich asked if the road would be maintained. Reno stated that it would be maintained. He said the road that was cut past and up high above 6 ASPEN PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION February 1, 2000 that would be re-graded and re-vegetated to return it to the natural condition of the terrain and keep the house down as low as possible. Reno said the cul-de-sac would have an asphalt surface with a grass-creep center and landscaping. Steven Buettow asked if the trees in the center would impede the fire truck turn-around. Reno answered that he spoke to Ed Van Walraven from the fire department and the fire department said the smaller vehicles could make the diameter turn with the fire hydrant. He said there was enough room for a larger fire truck to pull in the driveway, back-up and go around the tree. Ron Erickson voiced concern for the size of the trees in the future with growth causing turn-around problems. Reno replied the trees could be trimmed up to the height of the vehicles at that time. Reno said the developer was placing another house on the uphill side of the cul-de- sac with the building envelope coming within 15 feet of the cul-de-sac, which required an easement. Reno said instead of a retaining wall required for the cut, there would be a building that will act as the retaining wall itself. Hunt reiterated that the building was then built into the hill at that level. Reno said the county had approved that building with the garage at the lower level. Reno said there was an in-line pump and explained as Bendon had previously described the utilities. The commissioners noted that they have reviewed this property many times over the years. Erickson was not sure that criteria 1,2,4,5 or 6 (exhibit 3) were met, but did not know what else could be done since the house was already approved. Reno said the house on Hoag 3 was 5,000 some square feet. Herb Klein, Attorney, stated that the Newfoundland Lode house was limited to 5930 square feet with a 750 square foot garage; he said that the county review was rigorous. Blaich stated this was an example of the city/county requiring a joint review. Bendon responded that he had delayed any city review scheduling for Hoag 3 until after the county reviewed the Newfoundland Lode building site and turn-around. Erickson stated minutes from that county meeting would have been helpful and appropriate for city review. Klein said that they had a copy of BOCC Resolution #99-186. He said that he did the original 1990-91 review and the issues were based upon that review because the conditions had not changed; it was a vested rights issue. He said that it was a general review of the old approvals from 1990- 91 because of the takings hearing. Erickson stated that 1991 approval did not include a cul-de-sac. Klein replied that it was required from the fire marshal that there be adequate fire access; the previous owner disturbed the area with a huge excavation which required remediation or a house to stabilize the slope. Klein said that the unified building application would be a good approach. 7 ASPEN PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION February 1, 2000 Roger Hunt moved to adopt P&Z Resolution #2000-06 approving the 8040 Greenline Review for Hoag Lot #3 with all the conditions and finding that it met the criteria on the sheet provided by the Attorney's Office. Steven Buettow second. Roll call vote: Mooney, yes; Tygre, no; Erickson, yes; Hunt, yes; Haneman, yes; Buettow, yes; Blaich, yes. APPROVED 6-1. Tygre stated that she did not feel that criteria 4 and 5 were met. Hunt agreed. NEW BUS1NES S: 7TM & MAIN STREET ADVISORY RESOLUTION Bob Blaich stated that comments from the commission would clarify the resolution to go forward. Chris Bendon said that the commissioner statements were listed and the purpose of the meeting was clarification to move the resolution onto city council. Blaich commented that GQMS denied the project 7-0 because of the corner store. He said that city council could over rule the P&Z vote as well as the GMQS denial. The commission discussed the resolution amendment considering the location or a need for the store at this location. Was there a need for a train or bus stop on this site and what were the transportation issues. There were questions of the livability of the commercial unit as a residential unit and how the design should be re-done. The employee mitigation for a commercial unit resulted in the loss of 2 affordable units. The parking must be on-site for each unit and the neighborhood concerns for the parking problems were recognized. MOTION: Ron Erickson moved to extend the meeting until 7:15 p.m. Jasmine Tygre second. APPROVED 7-0. Location. ~) The 7th and Main Street parcel is a good location for an affordable housing project. Corner Store. ~) The Comer Store concept is one that should not be pursued by City Council because it is the wrong location for such a use. © People will be forced to live above a commercial space rather than another residence. ® "Giving-up" a residential unit for the corner store is not a worthwhile trade-off. The community can't afford one fewer unit. There should be a twelfth unit. The demand for affordable housing is too great for this unit not to be used as affordable housing. ® A failed commercial unit would be too problematic to convert to a residence and represent an additional cost to the taxpayers. ® The Commission questions the City being in the business of subsidizing commercial rent. A question of legality was raised. Service. ~) Accommodating delivery 8 ASPEN PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION February 1, 2000 DECLARATION OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST .......................................................................................... 1 MINUTES ............................................................................................................................................................. 1 WEST END TRAFFIC AND TRANSIT STUDY ................................................................................................ 1 330 LAKE AVENUE - HISTORIC LANDMARK DESIGNATION .................................................................. 5 HOAG SUBDIVISION LOT #3 - 8040 GREENLINE ........................................................................................ 5 7TM & MAIN STREET ADVISORY RESOLUTION .......................................................................................... 8 TRUSCOTT CONCEPTUAL PUD SCHEDULE & APPLICATION ................................................................ 9 10