HomeMy WebLinkAboutminutes.apz.20000627ASPEN PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION JUNE 27~ 2000
Jasmine Tygre opened the regular meeting at 4:35 p.m. held in the Sister Cities
Meeting Room with Roger Haneman, Ron Erickson, Roger Hunt and Steven
Buettow present. Tim Mooney arrived late. Bob Blaich was excused. City staff in
attendance: Chris Bendon, Amy Guthrie, Nick Lelack, Joyce Ohlson, Community
Development; Kathryn Koch, City Clerk.
COMMISSIONER~ STAFF & PUBLIC COMMENTS
Roger Haneman noted that the top 5 design teams were selected for Aspen Mass;
the next 3 were still being evaluated. He felt this was a good beginning.
Roger Hunt asked Kathryn Koch for the City Council Burlingame update. Koch
replied that the point was to keep the ballot question on the August
8th Election.
She said the pre-annexation agreement was scheduled for City Council on July
l0th'
Joyce Ohlson noted the calendar in the packet with no meeting scheduled for the
4th of July.
DECLARATION OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
None.
PUBLIC HEARING:
RED BRICK SCHOOL PUD AMENDMENT
Jasmine Tygre opened the Red Brick School PUD Amendment public hearing to be
continued.
Motion: Roger Hunt moved to continue and table action on the Red
Brick School PUD Amendment to August 1, 2000. Roger Haneman
second. APPROVED 5-0.
CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARING:
TECHNIQUES TO CONTROL HOUSE SIZE~ {Continued from 06/13/2000}
Jasmine Tygre opened the continued public hearing concerning technique to
control house size. Joyce Ohlson stated that public notice had been received at the
June 13th meeting. Alan Richman stated that they were into the hillside homes at
the last meeting. Roger Hunt asked for clarification on the copula heights.
Richman responded that the illustration was not a good resolution to the problem
but a much better example were the plans that Sarah Oates distributed with a
faCade that stepped back to speak as a perimeter of the building. Joyce Ohlson
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added that it was a definitely an inhabitable feature rather than impertinent part of
the structure.
Ohlson stated that lot size by zone district was requested at the last meeting; she
distributed the document "Number of Lots Per Zone District by Size" dated July
13, 2000 noting the sizes of the lots (an example of lot size determination was
Hunter Creek included in this data base).
Richman reiterated that they were on page 19 of the report, "Hillside Houses"
which needed to be brought forward because the language was not complete in this
section. He said that this was not the focus of the assignment but wanted to bring
this forward for the commission. Richman noted that the hillside house tried to fit
as far back on the lot as possible, for views, which become 5 feet to 15 feet above
the grade of the street. He noted the houses heights become very prominent going
up the lots as the as much as 40 feet or 50 feet above the street and yet stepping
back from the street but still come forward.
Richman stated that formal language would be drafted in the form of Residential
Design standards. He said that allowed the flexibility to control the solutions on a
particular lot either non-conforming or impossible to occur without a residential
design variance on a case by case basis.
Richman noted the porch was an important pedestrian relationship between the
house and the street and the porch of the house. He stated that an allowable height
maximum above the street could have a relationship in the reduction of the mass
and height based upon the site. He said the goal was to build at street level rather
than above it.
Richman noted another other way of reducing the limit, but not be successful, was
to place a limit on the number of stories visible from the street. He said that would
be difficult without some sort of height penalty for buildings on this type of lot.
Richman mentioned the classic approach for a hillside house was to step-back into
the hillside. He said that a standard could require a significant (6 feet or more)
step-back to follow the contours of the hillside. Richman said that every hillside
house may not fit because of a "cookie cutter" approach.
Richman stated that separating the garage from the main house, but with the
current standard of not allowing garage doors street-facing would present issues
with the current design standards.
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Roger Hunt stated if in the case of hillside, unless there was a benefit of placing a
one or two car garage at street level to service the house up on the hill or to break
up massing enough. Glenn Rappaport, architect, stated that the creation of a
pedestrian element at the street (a stairway or something to humanize the area)
would then apply to the residential design standards.
Jasmine Tygre noted that if an ADU were placed above this street-level garage, it
gave her the vision of a gatehouse look. Richman noted that one-bay of the garage
could face the front and the others face the back to accommodate the standards.
Rappaport said that a 3 car garage may not be desired on the street level; pulling
the mass away from the house may be more desirable.
Lorrie Winnerman, public, asked the number of actual hillside lots that were
available to be built on in the city, unless Red Mountain were annexed. Richman
responded that they may not be vacant lots but tear-downs applications that were
being submitted. Lorrie Winnerman stated that the garage being as close to the
kitchen was an important factor.
Roger Haneman asked how much excavation would have to be accomplished in
order to accommodate a 3-car detached garage at street level. Richman noted this
was an option depending upon the size of the lot and not a mandate. Richman
stated there would be much neighborhood planning over the next year to
accomplish the changes for the residential design standards.
Bill Lipsey, public, noted that flat roofs became a more obvious impact. He noted
that color helped to make the large houses disappear blending into the countryside.
He said there could be a requirement of flat roofs on houses on slopes over X%.
Lipsey stated that flat roofs worked quite well in this area because of the drainage
engineering on these roofs. Rappaport stated that the flexibility in looking at every
way possible to reduce the mass, a flat roof made the reduction by 15%; this was
something to review.
Steven Buettow stated that he wanted to encourage that the house be designed to fit
into the slope rather than bringing the houses out. Tygre noted that was something
the commission wanted to include in the 8040 Greeeline Review. Erickson asked
to keep the guidelines as simple as possible.
Richman stated the incentives (Table 1 & 2, page 4 & 5) illustrated the allowable
FAR on sliding scales. He said that the only change may be the in the setbacks
from one another to include more air between the units, with the side yard setback
still meeting the minimum requirements.
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Erickson noted that number of non-forming lots would be a good figure to have
available.
Richman said that the maximum lot size included the merger concept, if an owner
had 3 lots side-by-side, the 3 lots became one. Placing each lot in a separate
corporation became the loophole created to avoid the combining of lots.
MOTION: Roger Hunt moved to continue the public hearing on
techniques to control house size to July 25, 2000. Ron Erickson second.
APPROVED 5-0.
PUBLIC HEARING:
1006 EAST COOPER AVENUE - LANDMARK DESIGNATION
Jasmine Tygre opened the public hearing on 1006 East Cooper Avenue, Landmark
Designation. Proof of notice was provided. Amy Guthrie, stated the lot was
undersized with an historic house on the property. Stands "B", "C" and "D" have
been met.
Geraldine Heyman. Public, stated that as a neighbor from the Sunrise condos, this
shed encroached onto their property. She asked if City Council could grant an
improvement to the building that encroached with the granting of this landmark
designation. Heyman said this was not a duplex; the shed did not have a bathroom
or kitchen but there was someone living in the shed at this time. She said the
property was a mess and unclean. Heyman stated the shed extended 6 feet into the
alley; She said that parking was a difficult maneuver because of this place. She
inquired about the liability insurance and she said that she did not understand why
she had to pay for this property to be cleaned up.
Jasmine Tygre asked which items were under the P&Z purview. Guthrie responded
that the clear zoning issues were given to Sarah Oates.
Guthrie explained that the historic outbuilding that sat in the alley, was like many
historic buildings, which were placed in random spots a long time ago. She noted
that the City issued a revocable encroachment license, which could be taken away
if so chosen at some point. She stated that she did not know if anyone was living
in that building, but it can't be rented as a separate unit. She said that the owner of
the building could request landmark designation; the City offers a grant, which was
important that the building not be demolished but be restored. Tygre asked what
effect Landmark Designation had on the encroachment license; she asked if these
were two separate issues. Guthrie replied that there would be no effect on the
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license and that these were separate issues. Joyce Ohlson responded that
enforcement and clarification of the encroachment licenses could handle some of
the issues. She said that P&Z needed to look at the historical integrity of the
building. Ohlson stated P&Z needed to recommend on the HPC recommendation.
Steven Buettow asked what was the shed historically. Guthrie replied that it was a
19th Century building and part of the motivation for placing the property on the
inventory. She said that HPC felt that this building was important enough not to be
demolished. Guthrie said that more than likely the owners would move the
building onto their property; she said that she felt this would be resolved.
David Bluefield Pearlstein, owner, stated that he had not heard about the mess in
the 7 years that he has owned the property and would clean it up immediately.
Pearlstein explained that when he bought the property, he was told that the old the
building placement was done prior to the incorporation into the city of Aspen; an
old 1892 photograph depicted the placement prior to the house being built.
Heyman asked the original size of the shed. Pearlstein replied that he did not
know.
MOTION: Ron Erickson moved to recommend that City Council
approve landmark designation for 1006 East Cooper Avenue, Lots L and
the west end 10 feet of Lot M, Block 34, City and Townsite of Aspen
finding that standards B, D, and E have been met and according to the
criteria sheet provided by the legal department with P&Z Resolution #
Series 2000. Roger Haneman second. Roll call vote: Haneman, yes;
Buettow, yes; Erickson, yes; Hunt, yes; Tygre, Yes. APPROVED 5-0.
PUBLIC HEARING:
1250 RED BUTTE DRIVE - SECONDARY MASS VARIANCE
Jasmine Tygre opened the public hearing on 1250 Red Butte Drive and requested
proof of notice on the secondary mass variance. Joyce Ohlson stated the notice
was provided prior to the hearing. The commission served as DRAC for this
review.
Ohlson described the property as a total of 5 lots (one was an open space parcel).
The subject property was Lot 3 of the Gaylord Subdivision, located off of Red
Butte Drive. There was an aerial photograph included showing that the lot lines
overlay. Ohlson noted there were 3 standards from the Residential Design
Standards that the variance could be granted: a.) in greater compliance with the
goals of the AACP; or, b.) a more effective method of addressing the standard in
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ASPEN PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION JUNE 27~ 2000
question; or c.) clearly necessary for reasons of fairness related to unusual site
constraints.
Ohlson said that there were approved setback requirements when the Gaylord
Subdivision was approved that they were different from the R-30, which would
provide more flexibility in the side yard property setback line from 25 feet to the
10 feet in the R-30. She noted that the applicant wanted greater space between the
houses in that subdivision.
Ohlson stated the specific variance was for secondary mass, all new structures shall
be located at least 10% of the total square footage above grade and completely
detached from the principal building. She said staff did not see the 10%subject to
site constraints or unusual lot size or shape and felt that the secondary mass could
be attained on this site by re-design.
Mark Ward, architect, John Davis and Gary Nichols, owners were present. Ward
stated the house was further setback and all sides of the house contained a one-
story element. He said the intent of the 10% rule for detached mass was met.
Ward noted this was not in the main stream of Aspen. John Davis noted that
Ordinance 30 was designed for the West End with setbacks of 10 feet. He said the
lot was greater than the 20% and could not build on the back portion of the lot. He
noted it was a long way off the road. Tygre asked the size of the house. Davis
responded that it was 4,000 FAR with a loss for some slope reduction.
George Caldwell, architectural committee for Gaylord Subdivision, said he came
up with 6,200 square feet including the ADU (in the basement) and the garage. He
said that he 25-foot setbacks were very nice and even though the other adjacent
owners had not reviewed the plan, he felt this was a good plan for a spec house.
Davis said that he also owned Lot 2, so he would be encroaching on himself. Ron
Erickson stated that once the two lots were developed, there would be two different
owners.
Roger Hunt asked Steven Buettow as the DRAC Chair to comment. Buettow
replied that the overall secondary mass was to break down the mass, but this was
still one large mass in design. Buettow suggested bringing down the mass. Ward
noted that with the 25-foot setbacks on each side, 50 feet of the lot was lost.
Buettow explained that the one-story element was the intent of the inflection of
neighbors houses and that the one-story element was not the secondary mass.
Davis said that they were trying to use the lot to the best of their ability.
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COMMISSIONER, STAFF & PUBLIC COMMENTS ...................................................................................... 1
DECLARATION OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST .......................................................................................... 1
RED BRICK SCHOOL PUD AMENDMENT .................................................................................................... 1
TECHNIQUES TO CONTROL HOUSE SIZE, (CONTINUED FROM 06/13/2000) ........................................ 1
1006 EAST COOPER AVENUE - LANDMARK DESIGNATION ................................................................... 4
1250 RED BUTTE DRIVE - SECONDARY MASS VARIANCE ...................................................................... 5