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HomeMy WebLinkAboutagenda.apz.joint.19990727 AGENDA ASPEN PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION AND PITKIN COUNTY PLANNING ZONING COMMISSION SPECIAL JOINT MEETING TUESDAY, JULY 27, 1999, 5:00 PM SISTER CITIES ROOM, CITY HALL I. DISCUSSION A. BUTTERMILK MASTER PLAN II. ADJOURN AGENDA PITKIN COUNTY PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION TUESDAY, JULY 27, 1999 SPECIAL JOINT MEETING WITH ASPEN PLANNING & ZONING 5:00 P.M. SISTER CITIES ROOM, CITY HALL BUTTERMILK MASTER PLAN SPECIAL MEETiNG 7:00 P.M. PLAZA ONE MEETING ROOM, COURTHOUSE ANNEX ASPEN AREA COMMUNITY PLAN 5:00 P.M. I. COMMENTS Commissioners B.Planning Staff C,Public II. MINUTES A. June 22, 1999 III. DISCUSSION A. Buttermilk Master Plan -Lance Clarke B. Aspen Highlands Village PUD Amendment for Highlands/Buttermilk Gondola - Lance Clarke IV. ADJOURN 7:00 P.M. - Plaza One Meeting Room I. COMMENTS A. Commissioners B. Planrdng Staff C. Public II. MINUTES A. June 15, 1999 B. July 13, 1999 III. DISCUSSION A. AACP - Review of Individual Action Items i MEMORANDUM TO: Planning and Zoning Commissions-Pitkin County and Aspen FROM: Lance ClarAeputyDirector Pitkin Count Communi y Community Development RE: Buttermilk Ski Area Master Plan Aspen Highlands Village PUD Amendment DATE: July 27, 1999 REQUEST: The applicant is requesting approval of an amended master plan for the Buttermilk Ski Area and an amendment to the Aspen Highlands Village PUD. This request includes Land Use Code amendments, rezonings, scenic review, 1041 hazard review, special review uses, conceptual subdivision review, growth management quota system competition for commercial expansion and growth management unit allocations for affordable housing. PROCESS: This is a three -step review (plus growth management scoring and allocation procedures) requiring conceptual review before the Pitkin Planning and Zoning .Commission, conceptual review before the Pitkin County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), and detailed/final plat review before the BOCC. The City Council and BOCC have recommended that the Buttermilk application be "jointly reviewed" due to its locational and functional importance to the City. There is no formal agreement as to how this "joint review" is to be undertaken. It is staffs intention to invite the City P&Z to fully participate in the County P&Z's review process. The ultimate voting will involve only the County P&Z. It is anticipated that several P&Z meetings will be required before all the issues and items of concern have been adequately considered and a recommendation can be forwarded to the BOCC. This second meeting will have three topic areas: 1) The Buttermilk base area and its transportation and parking elements relative to the Entrance to Aspen and broader transportation initiatives, 2) Summer use proposals, 3) On -mountain improvements; including the proposed lift changes, ski run changes, Cliffhouse reconstruction, summit regrading, but not including a discussion of the proposed gondola to Highlands. The purpose of this meeting is to allow the Applicant to present his proposals for these three topic areas, and to take public comment. A third meeting has been tentatively set for August 31, 1999. This meeting is tentative, pending progress on gondola related information which is being prepared by Skico and the Forest Service. BACKGROUND: You have been previously forwarded the Applicant's proposed master plan and updates thereto as well as all the written comments and referrals received by the Community Development Department to date. For this meeting you may wish to review the following portions of the materials: • Summer Use —pages 10, 36, 65-67, Figure 9, and Appendix 20 of the Master Plan document, and the County Wildlife Biologist comments (#7) in the Attachments package. • On -Mountain Improvements — pages 9, 24, 25, 31-33, 45-48, 56-63, and Figure 5 and Figure 8 of the Master Plan document. • Base Area Context — Figure 27 of the Master Plan document. ATTACHMENTS: 1. Skico Summer Use Memo 1ancec\btrpz727.doc 9J 7-1 J U L J 19Q9 Y To: Lance Clarke - Pitkin County Pitkin County and City of Aspen Planning and Zoning Commissions Rob Iwamoto, Jim Stark, Art Bauer - US Forest Service ]From: Lisa McManigal, Aspen Skiing Company Date: 07/15/99 Cc: Jonathan Lowsky, Pitkin County; Sloan Shoemaker, Aspen Wilderness Workshop; Dawn Keating, Town of Snowmass Village; Rick and Landon Deane, T-Lazy-7; Ron Chauner, Bill Kane, Victor Gerdin, John Sale, Chris Lane, Chris Kiley — Aspen Skiing Company Re: Management Plan for Buttermilk Ski Area Summer Operations Overview/Purpose: On April 19, 1999, Aspen Skiing Company's Planning department convened a meeting among stakeholders to discuss proposed summer operations on Buttermilk. The intent was to identify ecological issues of concern to various stakeholders, to gain an understanding of the Forest Service's priorities and concerns, as well as what proposals they have already approved under what conditions; and to further develop management and operations policies for summer uses in a way that minimizes adverse ecological impacts from summer recreational uses. Background. - In 1994, the USFS issued a Decision Notice and Finding of No Significant Impact ("FONSI") for the Tiehack Ski Area (aka Buttermilk). This ROD included approvals and conditions for summer operations. Details are listed below. Prior to the issuance of this FONSI, a Tiehack Joint Design Team was formed, comprised of assorted public and private stakeholders in the Buttermilk Ski Area, to identify proposed improvements, to define the associated impacts and issues, and to arrive at agreement on which proposed improvements could be supported by a wide range of stakeholders. The agreements developed among this group were included in Aspen Skiing Company's formal submittal Page 1 to the Forest Service for amendments tothe Tiehack Ski Area I "ter, Development Plan. Five years later, when we convened our, April 1999 meeting. we decided to use the Joint Design Team's recommendations as our starting point, rather than seek to substantially change our 1994 proposal for summer uses. t Improvements Approved by the TIS 1-Forest Service: Improvements permitted under the USFS 1994 Decision Notice, and; FONSI included the following conditions for summer operations. A map of Bu ttermilk, included in the 1994 document, has been included for your reference. This map pinpoints areas that were identified as needing signs, fences,; or other means of reducing hum n impacts. • An organized, lift -accessed summer use program is authorized to take place within the existing bolmdary of the Tiehack Ski Area as proposed, using the "Summit Express" quad chair for transportation. of people and bicycles. Operation of the lift will be allowed only during daylight hours, and between the dates of on or about June 201h through September 301h. • Biking and hiking trails will be authorized to be developed in two phases. Phase 'l of bfail development. will be limited to the existing road system and some minor tread work on the seldom -used old two -track roads and trails. ® Phase II of trail development may be implemented only after close monitoring of the use of Phase I trail results in a justifiable need for such trails. A justifiable need will be one in which the Phase I trails are used to the extent that a larger trails network is • Hiking_ and biking routes should be segregated whenever feasible to provide for better user separation, especially when a trail is predominantly used as a downhill bicycle r trail. • No, s1.ummer program will be allowed to take place in the West Buttermilk portion of the Ski Area as stated and displayed in the text of the EA. . < ,Dining atea the Cliff house restaurant will be allowed during the operation hours of the "Summit Express". An "environmental awareness exhibit will be required to be displayed at the restaurant to explain the management decisions relating to the operations of the summer program, as well as any interpretive information that might be appropriate for the setting. _ E • AS funding of a seasonal Forest Service person with Level II law enforcement authority will be a required measure on an annual basis every year a summer program is in operation. The exact dollar amount will be negotiated annually prior to May 1 to reflect changes in salaries and/or other dyharnic factors. PCge- 2 1 & have - A ;- ' - `&6s-haVe- already been ftili�de;,6ur 's discussion focused Given that the above aeci group on how to further min environmental impacts of ''summer operations. Issues: The discussion included the following points and agreements: Government Trail & e,,.,F, ed oad.-- "*summer",- t permitted to use Patrons of Buttermilk's lift -accessed program -are no -permitt bikers will notibe allowed tot q­ ]�A.,Aasohiker'�-;-Ahdbik Government Trail under the "1 94 ection li d Homestead venture further than thei-ifiters'i"Ir; 6f-the' West 8�h6iinilk chair ftah Road. The group discussed how to make sure this condition is adhered to. • The boundary will be dehiie"dwith closure rope, are appropriate for keeping,.-.-. people out of ecologically sensitive, areas, y6t alf6w- -wildlife and cattle to -:move fre-ely. Ongoing monitoring by FS I and- ASC emplo, y"ed's`4ffl ie"rify that these gohls'afe b-ofiig IF met. • Signs will be.posted along boundary describing the closure- (e.g.-,, "S, erU,,s Boundary. Sensitive Wildlife Area Beyond This Sip., Violators will be fined and have their pass or access revoked.") The boundary will be approved by ASC, USFS, A WW; and"Pitkin C-4 �S,Vildnife Biologist. • The boundary will be shown on a map given to 411 trail users when they purchase their lift tickets. This map will also have a brief �xp4' &ibn� as to�,�irh�' these -`ddas *-are , an off limits. • The presence of a ranger who has the ability to issue Tickets may be ii"e'6d!*0,d.'-- Th6=-" ranger would be supplied by the WRNF and would be funded by ASC. This, C'ofidition was included in the 1994 Decision Notice by Rob ,Iwamoto regarding summer use at Buttermilk. Buttermilk personnel will most likely also patrol the ski,'a-rea in the summer. • Flat -trails should be flagged to clearly identify where the trail is and avoid widespi6ad trampling.• r , - - 'emerit9'� _i�hereby ASC, in collaboration with the USFS, will practice a( aptive manag ongoing monitoring and evaluation will determine if existing management practices are effective in meeting goals. Management activities are then modified to adapt to emerging information. Such practices will adj-dstthe summer use -prograT over , -; e, to respond to use patterns and identify how to b6st communicate clearly with'us%;.L.eft0. West Buttermilk.- • No summer use of lower West Buttermilk will be permitted by the'A�Fg. Stakeholders also expressed concern about ecological impacts to upper West., Buttermilk, if users travel along the ridab and leave the Sld,'Are'aespecially Oil 0 bicycles. Jonathan Lowsky expressed 0ondern'Abdut people bikini ;thr ugh Ah ic Buttermilk Bowls during bird -nesting tii-Ad (Junle-liu, y) and elk calving season (June ist- July 15t). '3 Page 3 • It was recommended that the USFS should place an elk migration and calving closure at the access to the' bandit (or social) trail at the top of West Buttermilk that heads into the Sugar Bowe mid Maroon- Bells®Snowmass WiMerness Area, until June 20. The Forest Service is also pl _ _ • g to close the trail above the West uttermilk lilt's top terminal to mountai .bikers.Hik : s will still be able to access the ridge and the Sugar Bowls. However, access o tl ; a cannot be closed all the t' e, per USFS policy, simply for clo ma's safe. Signs and a rope should be "posted on the route from the. t6p of Buttermilk to the top of West Buttermilk delineatig the -seasonal closure 6, ASC can close the area above W, $t'Buttermilk to bicycles and allow foot traffic only. We can also create an "' val" _spot on West Buttermilk,- within the Ski Area .pe -nitboundary, via picnic tablet or other means that siaal to people that they've � Y g- arrived at the end of the. tra �.1. This Ana dlseoura most users from leaving the Ski Area. - a Are interpretive sign should be potted at West Buttermilk's top lift terminal to let users'%know then _e vex�gxte an ecologically sensitive area. This can be done in collaboration between ASC and the`USFS. We ;reed, to'communicate with, the'local cycling club once this program is in place; to educate users that they should not be biking on West Buttermilk. This could possibly a done ffirough an insert in the cycling club's regular newsletter. • ASC will withhold from maintenance activities on West Buttermilk from May 15th until June 20. gum 4 .��.�. .�+�. �'�!`,`' ik? r f `i:_ -ice. a��.'t�.' � �rf��C •f �;.. 1� r"r. ♦ Ar ..-r .- rr r.�` •' r.. �'� •'"i FG: i•. - ' Fx ��` }/. • DayamEOpua a.s wlP vironmeet taterptRtivE { o.}SOE � Is to be placed adjace•Mo outwm "tional Sign I T4 be plated In a prerninent, central location 1Rska_ gulations Summer Trails and Facilities Map •� •\ �/0° to yS�unmagltide drspenser Vifittrr's Responsibility Code Ski Atri Permit Boundary ✓ \ ``^ 4 •e �� �J It i• �t ` 4 - 6 � •eeJD'•ra �\� ~��C `� 1 r `� t { � if r I/ Intersection of Ski Area Contrdted trail and Government trail • 1 i 1\ t 1• .� xl �/' i Iy�� ''[`' —t Y! a� Control roiled • Warning to riders and hikers that�' tldd `� • r c r.• c ,• �,• Aiuto bL bytemporary Government trail leaves Ski Area Permit%/, r `t Ida �rtd/or ndtiftand signs placed Area and does not return. , / . / J�ii \ (r m viAy M..dtaent positions indicating . 1 l /'r ?j7i} \ \ ` v _ t • tsoedd Area-. _ �•I0 3 .� I j 1\ ♦ -,\ _ r �...� USFS Bound �• ••I'1E11lEY� 1 "I :-c ,J • %/ir 60 �t, ��.,g `,1 � f r. ` ..,� r i�'y - �'� _ _ _ lA'Htt 2 Parking Tieback Base Area �•'• •� / 'a / ( Q. , • �.� ems. _ +ix ; ��• G_ Informational Sign a ��. \\� ' `✓ — _ • ~ `,� •',� aan9Amd Gove ki a nett tn8 To be placed In a prominent, central location b \ s Warning to ridtxs and hikers That • wiles and Re ulations \� �� e t 7 i g � , a rani .� . a �, '` � _ Goveriurzertt trail leave Ski Area Permit •Summer Trails and Facilities Map ( a. ` eso I Area and does not return. aide dispenser a r Visitor's Responsibility Code`.•-- �: � • d f. 1 - - -t r� I\., _- - .�� ?j44rnjj03w Atea .01 j �.• ".eiS.a 1 :•1 T rl �•�'� • �' l. _ _ -,�, r v*ee�' ��1`• Rt� }� t • - .,i ` +.✓/,i: I(: cy. Wit., \ (' . 1 fill r V. .ill 1 . �. "= �� � ; q: -,1}/1 ,..,- _ - .- ,;',. - �,� • -1 • ,- \ �� 5`irmrnerTraib pond FMap ` Main Buttermilk Base Area Parking (eta"�; SITMMFR HIKING AND BIKING TRAIL LMPROYEMENTS 0r Trail Dimcully PhW � �• � ` '\ 9263 -- 1 Homestead Road easiest 2 Oregon Trail Loop intermediate 3 Tieback Trail intermediate I \ \ •`'��\`' . 4 Timber Doodle Downhill expert 1 0 \\ tl ,\e-'\"' `• 5 Summit Loop Hiking Trail intermediate I \� r '�� �`��a\, a e• 6 Summit Loop Single track expert Il i\\\� 7 West Single track expert R, g East Single track expert II Enos 9 Hiking Trail intermediate It 10 Terrain Park all It 11 Viewing Platform LEGEND `' x— . � � of �\•' , �•' � , Hiking Trail it Single Track Biking Trail \• .\ �` \ .advanced Biking Trail Vtspma Intermediate Biking —trail Easiest Biking Trail Restrict.-d Acctis Boundary Line' r� V h� Govemmcn[ Trait ! i \ �'