Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutminutes.council.19960226Aspen City Council Regular Meeting February 26, 1996 Mayor Bennett called the meeting to order at 5:05 p.m. with Councilmembers Paulson, Richards, Waggaman and Marolt present. CITIZEN COMMENTS 1. Lance Luckett said he is sorry people are disappointed over the Maroon Creek pedestrian bridge, a bridge that will help save lives. Luckett pointed out the Council, HPC, P & Z, town of Snowmass Village, CDOT, HPC, the state historic preservation commission, and the County Open Space Board all reviewed the bridge. Luckett said the governments should be pleased to see how many people use the bridge in the summer. Councilwoman Richards pointed out in order for the bridge to comply with ADA standards, it had to be built even with the vehicle bridge rather than low and out of sight. This is a movable structure and can be used somewhere else. COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS 1. Councilwoman Richards thanked the street department for the job they did during the last several snow storms. 2. Councilman Richards said the Sister Cities room has be en nicely decorated by the Sister City committee. 3. Councilman Paulson brought up t he appointments to the Ski Company Advisory Committee. Councilman Paulson said he would like the city to make sure the Nordic interests are represented. Councilman Paulson moved to appoint Mayor Bennett to the Advisory Committee with Councilman Marolt as alternate; seconded by Councilwoman Waggaman. Councilwoman Richards said Councilman Marolt should be the primary appointment as he has spent a lot of years in the ski business. Councilman Paulson amended his motion to make Councilman Marolt the appointment and Mayor Bennett the alternate; seconded by Councilwoman Waggaman. All in favor, motion carried. 1 Aspen City Council Regular Meeting February 26, 1996 4. City Manager Margerum announced the cit y received a $57,000 grant from Great Outdoors Colorado for planting, irrigation and development for the Moore property. Thanks to the parks department staff for this award. 5. City Manager Margerum said Gordon Shaw, who is working on the transportation development plan, will be in town and would like a breakfast meeting with Council on Wednesday, February 28 at 8 a.m. in the Council room. On February 29th the TDP meeting will be the full group of elected officials from Aspen, Snowmass, Pitkin County. There is also a meeting of the Roaring Fork Forum in Carbondale. At least one Council representative should attend that meeting. Councilwoman Waggaman said she would attend the Forum meeting as the topic is the Rio Grande right-of-way. 6. City Manager Margerum said the noon retreat March 7th will be with CCLC. The retreat with HPC will be March 21 at 4:30 p.m. The meeting with the Fire Department will be April 11 at noon. CONSENT CALENDAR Councilwoman Richards moved to read Ordinance #7, Series of 1996; seconded by Councilman Marolt. All in favor, motion carried. ORDINANCE #7 (Series of 1996) AN ORDINANCE OF THE ASPEN CITY COUNCIL DESIGNATING 918 E. COOPER AVENUE, LOTS AND P, BLOCK 35, CITY AND TOWNSITE OF ASPEN, AS “H” HISTORIC LANDMARK PURSUANT TO SECTION 24-7-703 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE was read by the city clerk. Councilman Marolt moved to adopt the consent calendar; seconded by Councilwoman Richards. The consent calendar is: · Minutes February 12, 1996 · Ordinance #7, 1996 - 918 E. Cooper Historic Designation · Resolution #8, 1996 - City/County Snow Removal Agreement Roll call vote; Councilmembers Paulson, yes; Waggaman, yes; Marolt, yes; Richards, yes; Mayor Bennett, yes. Motion carried. 2 Aspen City Council Regular Meeting February 26, 1996 ORDINANCE #5, SERIES OF 1996 - Inventory of Historic Sites and Structures, Round III Amy Amidon, community development department, told Council this Ordinance designates as historic a portion of the Aspen Meadows property and the Red Butte Cemetery. It also deletes two structures, 437 W. Smuggler and 325 N. Third due to their demolition, and also removes 925 King street, which clarifies that 935 King Street stays on the inventory. Mayor Bennett opened the public hearing. Hal Disher, representing the Aspen Institute, told Council their understanding is that Anderson Park and 50 feet around the park are designated historic. The areas outside that will not be historic. Disher said the map is difficult to determine what is being designated. Ms. Amidon said the HPC resolution specifically lists what is being designated. John Worcester, city attorney, suggested continuing this so the Institute and staff can make sure they are in agreement. Councilwoman Richards moved to continue Ordinance #5, Series of 1996, to March 11; seconded by Councilwoman Waggaman. All in favor, motion carried. ORDINANCE #8, SERIES OF 1996 - Trueman Lot 1 SPA Amendment Councilwoman Waggaman moved to read Ordinance #8, Series of 1996; seconded by Councilman Paulson. All in favor, motion carried. ORDINANCE #8 (Series of 1996) AN ORDINANCE OF THE ASPEN CITY COUNCIL GRANTING A SPECIALLY PLANNED AREA AMENDMENT FOR THE TRUEMAN/ASPEN COMPANY TO ADD SEVERAL NEW USES TO THE APPROVED SPA PLAN was read by the city clerk Mary Lackner, community development department, told Council the Trueman center is zoned N/C (neighborhood/commercial) with an SPA overlay. The applicant is requesting 23 new uses be added as permitted uses. This went to P & Z and during that review it was discovered that SCI zoning was also placed on this 3 Aspen City Council Regular Meeting February 26, 1996 property. This only shows up in the recorded documents. Ms. Lackner said out of the 23, only 17 are requested to be added. Ms. Lackner told Council staff identified several uses that would be appropriate to be added to the list; 4 use permitted by right; 6 conditional uses; 4 present conditional uses to be upgraded to use by right. Ms. Lackner told Council P & Z reviews conditional uses for consistency with underlying zone district. This area has been traditionally service/commercial/industrial and neighborhood/commercial type of uses. Staff feels the expansions of commercial core uses may be questionable. Ms. Lackner said another issue at P & Z was SCI uses added to the subdivision. In the original approvals there was discussion at Council that this shopping center may pull businesses out of the commercial core. This area traditionally had SCI and NC uses. P & Z recommended that as many square feet of SCI space that was currently being used be reserved for SCI uses so that the do not change into more retail use. This is about 1500 square feet out of 35,000 square feet, or 3 percent of the existing building. Staff agrees with this recommendation. Another issue is the sidewalk. In the original approval the owner agreed that anytime the city asked in writing to have the sidewalk put in on Puppy Smith street, the applicant would do that. The city asked in writing in July 1995; the sidewalk has not been installed. Philip Bloemsma, property manager of the North Mill Station, said the applicant feels the permitted uses of the NC zone district are antiquated. They should be updated, the redundant ones should be eliminated. Bloemsma said they do not agree with the recommendations of P & Z. Councilwoman Richards asked how using the outdoors as a garden supply area complies with the original open space requirements for the SPA. Ms. Lackner said the use of this area for garden sales was denied by P & Z as it did not meet requirements. P & Z did allow display of hanging baskets, which are actually sold in one of the stores. The use of the courtyard is not part of this application. Bloemsma said they plan to put the sidewalk in this summer. Councilwoman Waggaman said she would not be opposed to a garden center in the open space; it would make it much more attractive. It should be an area accessible to the public. Councilwoman Richards said the Council cannot exempt open space 4 Aspen City Council Regular Meeting February 26, 1996 from a development and allow one person to use their open space. Councilwoman Richards agreed the existing open space could be improved. Stan Clauson, community development director, said one issue is whether shops may spill their merchandise onto the streets and sidewalk. The present city codes do not permit this and P & Z has been strict in their interpretation of the restrictions. Clauson suggested the downtown enhancement review may visit this to see if there is a way to allow more flexibility. Clauson said in dedicated open space, the staff has taken the position that if items are displayed outside without sale information, no price tag but perhaps where they can be purchased, this is all right. Councilman Paulson asked if there were discussions at P & Z about conflicts of requested permitted uses and some of the existing items for sale in Clark’s Market. Councilman Marolt said an issue for him is the ratio of SCI to NC uses. The SCI uses may be obsolete. Mayor Bennett said the use of open space for plants or benches should be addressed by the downtown enhancement group Councilman Marolt said he does not feel the 1500 square foot ratio of SCI to NC is not adequate. Clauson said one purpose of the SCI and NC zone was to limit the range of uses so that the ground rents would be limited and shops that serve local customers will be emphasized. That purpose is still in effect. The SCI zone also looks at light industrial with the same principle. Clauson told Council the SCI uses are under the greatest pressure of being pushed out of town because of escalating rents and the impact of these uses. P & Z made the recommendation to preserve the ratio of SCI at the North Mill Station in order to protect these uses, and to provide for a mix of SCI uses. Councilwoman Richards said the P & Z recommendation to keep the current ratio is a fair one. Councilman Marolt said the city needs more SCI uses within the city limits; these have been eliminated at a rapid rate. Councilwoman Waggaman said each of area of town being gentrified and she is in favor of maintaining a certain ratio of this building as SCI. Councilwoman Richards said if the plat references both NC and SCI, she cannot see letting it become all NC. Councilman Marolt said there are some light industries that would be appropriately located in the Trueman property. Councilman Marolt said he would not like to eliminate the SCI portion of the Trueman Center. Councilwoman Waggaman said she cannot envision a bookstore that would be only “locally serving” and would fit in the Trueman Center. There are plenty of places that sell books in the commercial core. Mayor Bennett asked how much control the 5 Aspen City Council Regular Meeting February 26, 1996 city has over “conditional uses”. Ms. Lackner said conditional use is a public hearing at P & Z. The first standard an applicant has to meet is whether the use is consistent with the purposes, goals, objectives and standards of the AACP and the intent of the zone district. Ms. Lackner said the difficult thing is when a store comes in under certain representations and gradually changes into a higher scale use. The conditions of the conditional use will have to be adequately written to prevent this. Mayor Bennett said he feels there may be a lack of control when businesses turn over again and again and staff does not remember the original conditions. Councilwoman Richards suggested reviewing the P & Z minutes about this and what they were thinking when they recommended only one use be added. Mayor Bennett said he can accept staff’s recommendation with the concern of what control the city has over the conditional uses. Clauson pointed out there are some limitations caused by the site which will likely keep out certain high end uses. Generally people who go to the Trueman Center go with a purpose, not just shopping. Councilwoman Richards requested for second reading an overview of how many spaces in town are NC and SCI. Councilman Marolt reiterated SCI space is lacking in the community. There should be more than 1500 square feet in this subdivision. Mayor Bennett said the specific problem here is that the number comes from an old agreement. Councilwoman Waggaman moved to adopt Ordinance #8, Series of 1996, on first reading; seconded by Councilman Marolt. Roll call vote; Councilmembers Richards, yes; Marolt, yes; Paulson, no; Waggaman, yes; Mayor Bennett, yes. Motion carried. Councilwoman Waggaman moved to go into executive session at 6:30 p.m. for the purpose of discussing negotiations and possible real property acquisition; seconded by Councilwoman Richards. All in favor, motion carried. Councilman Marolt moved to come out of executive session at 7:55 p.m.; seconded by Councilman Paulson. All in favor, motion carried. Councilwoman Waggaman moved to adjourn at 7:55 p.m.; seconded by Councilman Marolt. All in favor, motion carried. 6 Aspen City Council Regular Meeting February 26, 1996 Kathryn S. Koch, City Clerk 7