HomeMy WebLinkAboutagenda.council.worksession.20161010
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
October 10, 2016
2:00 PM, City Council Chambers
MEETING AGENDA
I. Land Use Code Revisions
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10.10.16 Council Work Session
AACP-LUC Coordination Process Update
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Memorandum
To: Mayor Skadron and City Council
From: Jessica Garrow, Community Development Director
Phillip Supino, Principal Long-Range Planner
Meeting Date: October 10, 2016, 2:00 PM
RE: AACP Land Use Code Revisions Update
REQUEST OF COUNCIL: Staff seeks direction and preliminary policy support for potential changes
to the Land Use Code effecting dimensional standards, use mix, and View Plane regulations.
BACKGROUND: As Council and staff continue the work of coordinating the AACP (Aspen Area
Community Plan) and Land Use Code (LUC), analysis of the linkages between elements becomes more
fined grained, and the strategies and tactics required to achieve Council’s goals for the moratorium are
coming into view. Having received final policy direction on use mix and off-street parking at the
September 27th work session, the remaining elements of the coordination process, View Planes and
zoning code dimensional standards, require additional discussion. Through these discussions, staff
hopes to ensure that the policy proposals brought before Council on October 24th reflect Council’s vision
and direction to date.
On September 27th, Council was presented with background information about View Plane regulations
in Aspen and communities around the Country. Staff illustrated the regulatory and design-based
approaches to view plane preservation taken by example communities and was provided with initial
suggestions for appropriate revisions to Aspen’s View Plane regulations. At that meeting, Council
directed staff to return with additional visual and regulatory information for further consideration.
Council suggested that based on the information presented, they would direct staff to clarify the LUC
language in the View Planes section, add helpful visual depictions of the planes and compliance
techniques and assess whether any of the View Planes required modification to reflect current condition.
Additional information and questions for Council are provided in this memo.
Also at the September 27th work session, Council directed staff to develop revised building height and
floor area ratio (FAR) maximums for commercial zones to reflect existing regulations and Council
direction for code amendments under the moratorium. Council directed staff to eliminate the height
ranges allowed under certain scenarios in the LUC, reduce maximum building height to 28 feet in all
zones except SCI, which would remain at 35 feet. Staff has developed alternative FAR maximums to
reflect the revised building heights, and they are proposed in this memo for consideration.
As has been stressed throughout the process, the Commercial Design Guidelines are an essential tool for
achieving a number of Council’s goals for use mix through the creation of second tier spaces, the
development of meaningful and accessible public amenity spaces and guiding commercial development
that reflects the character and economic needs of the City. The draft Commercial Design Guidelines are
working their way through staff review before being presented to the Planning and Zoning Commission
and Historic Preservation Commission at two meetings in mid-October and mid-November. Following
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AACP-LUC Coordination Process Update
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their review, the final draft will be polished and presented to Council at the December 5th Council
meeting. November 2nd is the final work session prior to first and second readings of and could be used
to review the draft Guidelines if Council desires.
DIMENSIONAL STANDARDS: Attached as Exhibit A is a list of dimensions in the commercial zones
since 2000, including draft proposed dimensions. These dimensions include reduced floor are ratios,
reductions in allowed heights, maintenance of parking and public amenity requirements, and limits on
various uses. This is intended as an initial draft of all dimensions, and will be refined as staff and the
consultants move toward final code language for use mix and commercial design standards. Table A,
below, outlines the draft proposed heights and floor areas for each commercial zone district. It should
be noted that all properties are governed by the Maximum Total FAR, with individual use types falling
underneath that ultimate cap. Additionally, maximum residential unit sizes are reduced in the MU and
SCI zones to align with that allowed in the NC, but CC and C1 have been left as is.
Table A: Draft Proposed Dimensions
CC C-1 MU NC SCI
Height (Feet) 28 28 28 28 35
Maximum Total
FAR 2:1 1.75:1
Historic Dist.: 1:1, may
be increased to 1.25:1 by
Special Review
Non-Historic: 1.5:1
1.5:1 2.25:1
Commercial FAR 2:1 1.75:1
Hist. District: 1:1, may
be increased to 1.25:1 by
Special Review
Non-Hist. District: 1:1,
may be increased to
1:1.5 by Special Review
1:1
1.5:1; 0.25:1 for
primary care offices
if 0.75:1 of other
commercial uses on
same parcel
Arts/Civic FAR 2:1 1.75:1 1:1 -
Lodging FAR
0.5:1;
1.5:1
w/ sm.
units
0.5:1;
1.5:1
w/ sm.
units
0.75:1, may be increased
to 1:1 by Special Review - -
AH Res. FAR
0.25:1;
cannot
create
housing
credits
0.25:1;
cannot
create
housing
credits
No limitation
0.5:1;
cannot
create
housing
credits
0.5:1; cannot create
housing credits
FM Res. FAR
Limited
to
existing
FAR
Limited
to
existing
FAR
Mixed Use Building:
Limited to existing FAR;
For stand-alone building:
0.5:1; 0.75:1 w/ equal
amounts FM & AH
Limited
to
existing
FAR
Limited to existing
FAR
Single Family FAR - - 100% - 80% of R-6 - -
Duplex FAR - - 100% - 80% of R-6 - -
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LINKAGES: Dimensional standards are directly related to all the other policy areas being discussed as
part of the moratorium. Dimensional standards are used in concert with use mix regulations to ensure
use types are encouraged or discouraged related to overall community goals. For instance, the allowed
floor area for free-market residential uses is proposed to be limited to existing floor area in all
commercial zone districts. This is done to encourage commercial uses in these zones. Similarly,
lodging is proposed to be removed as an allowed use in the NC and SCI zone districts, requiring
elimination of allowed floor area for the use.
QUESTIONS FOR COUNCIL:
1. Does Council have any feedback on the draft proposed dimensional standards?
VIEW PLANES: Along with the project consultants, staff has gathered additional visual information
about the location, extent and effect of View Planes in downtown Aspen. Panoramic photos (included
as Exhibit B) taken from the surveyed location and base elevation show the current condition of each
View Plane. With the exception of the Glory Hole Park View Plane, they show well preserved
mountain views framed by contextually appropriate development. The Glory Hole View Plane is
obstructed by a two story building and mature trees. The panoramic photographs, along with the maps
showing surveyed locations of each View Plane and the overlay of all planes combines, paints a clear
portrait of the extent of the View Planes and the effect the regulations have on the built environment
relative to the downtown viewshed.
At the September 27th Council work session, Council directed staff to commence with the visual
analysis portion of the project and return with those depictions. Council also directed staff to limit the
View Planes project to assessing the effectiveness of each plane, defining “minimal impact,” revising
the code language to enable ease of interpretation and administration, and developing useful diagrams to
aid in the use and application of the regulations. With the mapping and panoramic photographs
provided, staff seeks additional Council direction on the scope and intent of the View Planes project.
LINKAGES: The relationship between View Planes and the CDS have a direct relationship to
commercial use mix and parking. The presence of a View Plane over a commercial property may
significantly reduce the development potential of that property, limiting the availability of commercial
spaces while preserving character-defining views from downtown Aspen to the surrounding landscape.
QUESTIONS FOR COUNCIL:
2. Does Council have any questions about the current locations and extent of the View
Planes?
3. Does Council support leaving the regulations intact while rewriting and clarifying the
specific code language.
4. Is the Glory Hole Park View Plane serving its intended purpose? Does Council wish to
retain it in its current description or alter the description to better reflect existing
condition?
USE MIX: During the public outreach process conducted as part of the AACP-LUC coordination
process, staff received comments from the public about the importance of fostering a healthy
commercial use mix in downtown. In many instances, the comments have supported the idea of defining
and restricting chain stores from commercial areas. At the August 29th work session, staff presented to
Council conceptual policies designed to do just that, and staff described some of the legal complications
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associated with developing and adopting such regulations. Council direction at that time was to focus
attention in the Commercial Use Mix process on other options.
Since that discussion, staff has continued to receive comments in support of regulations to restrict chain
stores. Given the ongoing interest in doing so and the opportunity presented by the AACP-LUC
coordination process to undertake such work, staff is following up with Council to ask whether the
current policy direction remains unchanged. If Council is interested in pursuing chain regulations, one
option is to add a definition of chain (or formula) businesses and require a conditional use review,
dimensional restrictions or design standards for any chain store meeting the definition.
LINKAGES: Chain stores are perceived by many to have a negative impact on the health and vitality of
the commercial use mix in downtown. Others have commented that chain stores have a place in the
commercial mix. While some chain stores may drive up rents or fail to create vibrant commercial
opportunities, other chains are vital or locally grown businesses. Regulating chain stores may provide
benefits in terms of offering commercial opportunities to other businesses while limiting the opportunity for
other desired chain stores from locating downtown.
QUESTIONS FOR COUNCIL:
5. Does Council wish to explore the possibility of regulating chain stores?
DRAFT POLICY LANGUAGE: Staff has begun to assemble the documentation to support the Policy
Resolution hearing scheduled for October 24th. Staff is also developing public outreach materials to
encourage participation in the policy and code amendment process, which will be published in the local
papers and included in the City of Aspen November utility billing cycle. Staff has included in the
memorandum as Exhibit C a copy of the distilled policy language to be used in those materials. The
intent of the text is to provide a snapshot of the definition of the issue, the majority public comments
received for each topic, and proposed policies associated with each code change. The list is not
comprehensive of all of the policies up for consideration on the 24th or code amendments being drafted
for consideration in November, but is intended to reflect primary policy direction in the areas under
discussion. Staff seeks to ensure that each item reflects Council’s direction to this point so that the
Policy Resolution is accurate and the outreach materials are engaging.
QUESTIONS FOR COUNCIL:
6. Does Council have any questions about the draft policy language?
7. Are there any policy items which Council feels should be added or removed from the list?
NEXT STEPS: Barring any additional feedback or Council direction, the proposed amendments to the
dimensional standards in the zoning code will be included in the Policy Resolution on October 24th and
ordinances scheduled for first reading on November 14th. There are public outreach events scheduled
for October 31st at the Fire Station Boo-Bash and November 9th at the Limelight Hotel. Following
additional Council direction, staff will continue with the View Planes project and expects to return with
code proposals at the November 29th work session.
ATTACHMENTS:
Exhibit A: Dimensions – 2000 to today, including draft proposed dimensional standards
Exhibit B: View Plane Survey Maps
Exhibit C: View Plane Survey Panoramic Photographs
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Exhibit D: Draft Policy Language
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Infill Code 06-07 Moratorium Changes Current Code Proposed Dimensions
42, 46 for areas setback
15 feet
28 for 2-story buildings; 3
stories 38, which may be
increased to 42 by
Commercial Design Review
28 for 2-story buildings; 3
stories up to 40 allowed on n
side of street if for
lodging
28 for 2-story buildings
25%25%25%25%
0, 0, 0 0, 0, 0 0, 0, 0 0, 0, 0
1/1,000. 0 for res.1/1,000. 0 for res.1/1,000. 0 for res.1/1,000. 0 for res.
3:1 2.75:1 2.75:1 2:1
1.5:1, may be increased to 2:1
if 60% additional FAR is AH
2:1 2:1 2:1
3:1 2.75:1 2.75:1 2:1
3:1 0.5:1; 1.5:1 w/ sm. units 0.5:1; 2.5:1 w/ sm. units 0.5:1; 1.5:1 w/ sm. units
No limitation No limitation No limitation 0.25:1; cannot create housing
credits
1:1 0.5:1; 0.75:1 w/ equal amounts
FM & AH
Limited to existing FAR Limited to existing FAR
1:1 1:1 1:1 1.5:1
Use removed ---
Use removed ---
2,000 2,000, 2,500 w/ TDR 2,000, 2,500 w/ TDR 2,000, 2,500 w/ TDR
Infill Code 06-07 Moratorium Changes Current Code Proposed Dimensions
38 - pitched, 42 - flat 28 for 2-story buildings; 3
stories 36, which may be
increased to 40 by
Commercial Design Review
28 for 2-story buildings; 3
stories up to 38 allowed on n
side of street if for
lodging
28 for 2-story buildings
25%25%25%25%
0 0 0 0, 0, 0
1/1000, 0 for res.1/1000, 0 for res.1/1000, 0 for res.1/1,000. 0 for res.
3:1 2.5:1 2.5:1 1.75:1
1.5:1, may be increased to 2:1
if 60% additional FAR is AH
1.5:1 1.5:1 1.75:1
3:1 2.5:1 2.5:1 1.75:1
3:1 0.5:1; 1.5:1 w/ sm. units 0.5:1; 2:1 w/ sm. units 0.5:1; 1.5:1 w/ sm. units
Where
pre-infill code
Height (Feet)40, not to exceed 4 stories
Public Amenity 25%
Setbacks: Front, Rear, Sides
(Feet)
0, 0, 0
Commercial Parking 2/1000
Maximum Total FAR 1.5, may be increased to 2:1 by
S.R. & 60% AH
Commercial FAR
Governed by Maximum
Total FAR
Arts/Civic FAR
Lodging FAR
AH Res. FAR
FM Res. FAR
Commercial to Residential
ratio
-
Single Family FAR Same as R-6
Duplex FAR Same as R-6
Max. Residential unit size
(Sq Ft)
No limitation
Where
pre-infill code
Height (Feet)40, not to exceed 4 stories
Public Amenity 25%
Setbacks: Front, Rear, Sides
(Feet)
0
Commercial Parking 1.5/1000
Maximum Total FAR 1.1, may be increased to 1.5:1
by S.R. & 60% AH
Commercial FAR
Governed by Maximum
Total FAR
Arts/Civic FAR
Lodging FAR
Commercial Core (CC) Zone District
The immediate downtown. Main to Durant, from Monarch to Hunter Streets.
Commercial (C-1) Zone District
A one-block strip east of the Commercial Core. Main to Cooper, from Hunter to Spring streets.
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No limitation No limitation No limitation 0.25:1; cannot create housing
credits
1:1 0.5:1; 0.75:1 w/ equal amounts
FM & AH
Limited to existing FAR Limited to existing FAR
1:1 1:1 1:1 1.5:1
80% of R-6 80% of R-6 Use removed -
80% of R-6 80% of R-6 Use removed -
No limitation 2,000, 2,500 w/ TDR 2,000, 2,500 w/ TDR 2,000, 2,500 w/ TDR
Where
06-07 Moratorium Changes Current Code Proposed Dimensions
Height (Feet)35 35 35
Public Amenity 25%25%25%
Setbacks: Front, Rear, Sides
(Feet)
0, 0, 0 0, 0, 0 0, 0, 0
Commercial Parking 1/1000 1/1000 1/1000
Maximum Total FAR 2.25:1 2.25:1 2.25:1
Commercial FAR 1.5:1; 0.25:1 for primary care
offices if 0.75:1 of other
commercial uses on same parcel
1.5:1; 0.25:1 for primary care
offices if 0.75:1 of other
commercial uses on same parcel
1.5:1; 0.25:1 for primary care
offices if 0.75:1 of other
commercial uses on same parcel
Arts/Civic FAR ---
Lodging FAR ---
AH Res. FAR 0.5:1 0.5:1 0.5:1; cannot create housing
credits
FM Res. FAR 0.25:1 - 0.5:1 if 0.75:1 -
1:1 of other commercial uses on
same parcel
0.25:1 - 0.5:1 if 0.75:1 -
1:1 of other commercial uses on
same parcel
Limited to existing FAR
Commercial to Residential
ratio
---
Single Family FAR ---
Duplex FAR ---
Max. Residential unit size
(Sq Ft)
2,000, 2,500 w/ TDR 2,000, 2,500 w/ TDR 1,500, 2,000 w/ TDR
Infill Code 06-07 Moratorium Changes Current Code Proposed Dimensions
25 to 32 28, may be increased to 32 by
Commercial Design Review
28, may be increased to 32 by
Commercial Design Review
28
Commercial to Residential
ratio
-
Single Family FAR Same as R-6
Duplex FAR Same as R-6
Max. Residential unit size
(Sq Ft)
No limitation
Governed by Maximum
Total FARAH Res. FAR
FM Res. FAR
pre-infill code Infill Code
35 35, may be increased to 40
through S.R.
No requirement No requirement
0, 0, 0 0, 0, 0
1.5/1000 1/1000
1:1, may be increased to 2:1 if
minimum of 1:1 is AH
2:1
Governed by Maximum
Total FAR
1.5:1
--
--
-0.5:1
-0.5:1 only if a min. of 0.75:1
commercial uses on parcel
--
--
--
-No limitation
Where
pre-infill code
Height (Feet)25
Service, Commercial, Industrial (S/C/I)
Obermeyer Place, North Mill and Puppy Smith area, and the US Post Office.
Mixed-Use (MU)
Main Street, a one-block strip west of the CC between Main and Hyman, and one-block strip east of the C1 between Main and Cooper.
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25%25%25%25%
10 (5 w/ S.R.), 5, 5 10 (5 w/ S.R.), 5, 5 10 (5 w/ S.R.), 5, 5 10 (5 w/ S.R.), 5, 5
1.5/1000 1.5/1000 1.5/1000 1.5/1000
Historic Dist.: 1:1
Non-Historic: 2:1
Historic Dist.: 1:1, may be
increased to 1.25:1 by S.R.
Non-Historic: 2:1
Historic Dist.: 1:1, may be
increased to 1.25:1 by S.R.
Non-Historic: 2:1
Historic Dist.: 1:1, may be
increased to 1.25:1 by S.R.
Non-Historic: 1.5:1
0.75:1, may be increased to
1:1 by S.R.
0.75:1, may be increased to 1:1
by S.R.
0.75:1, may be increased to 1:1
by S.R.
1:1, may be increased to 1:1.25
in Hist Dist or 1:1.5 in Non-Hist
District by S.R.
0.75:1, may be increased to
1:1 by S.R.
0.75:1, may be increased to 1:1
by S.R.
0.75:1, may be increased to 1:1
by S.R.
1:1, may be increased to 1:1.25
in Hist Dist or 1:1.5 in Non-Hist
District by S.R.
0.75:1, may be increased to
1:1 by S.R.
0.75:1, may be increased to 1:1
by S.R.
0.75:1, may be increased to 1:1
by S.R.
0.75:1, may be increased to 1:1
by S.R.
No limitation No limitation No limitation No limitation
0.75:1; 1:1 w/ S.R.0.5:1; 0.75:1 w/ equal amounts
FM & AH
0.5:1; 0.75:1 w/ equal amounts
FM & AH
Mixed Use Building: Limited to
existing FAR; For stand-alone
building: 0.5:1; 0.75:1 w/ equal
amounts FM & AH
1:1 1.5:1 1.5:1 Mixed Use Building: 1.5:1
80%of R-6 100% - 80% of R-6 100% - 80% of R-6 100% - 80% of R-6
80% of R-6 100% - 80% of R-6 100% - 80% of R-6 100% - 80% of R-6
2,000 2,000, 2,500 w/ TDR 2,000, 2,500 w/ TDR 1,500, 2,000 w/ TDR
Infill Code 06-07 Moratorium Changes Current Code Proposed Dimensions
32 28, may be increased to 32 by
Commercial Design Review
28, may be increased to 32 by
Commercial Design Review
28
25%25%25%25%
5, 5, 5 5, 5, 5 5, 5, 5 5, 5, 5
1/1000 1/1000 1/1000 1/1000
1.5:1 1.5:1 1.5:1 1.5:1
1:1 1:1 1:1 1:1
1:1 1:1 1:1 1:1
1:1 1:1 1:1 -
0.5:1 0.5:1 0.5:1 0.5:1; cannot create housing
credits0.5:1 0.25:1; 0.5:1 w/ equal amounts
FM & AH
0.25:1; 0.5:1 w/ equal amounts
FM & AH
Limited to existing FAR
1:1 1:1 1:1 1:1
----
----
2,000 1,500, 2,000 w/ TDR 1,500, 2,000 w/ TDR 1,500, 2,000 w/ TDR
Public Amenity No requirement
Setbacks: Front, Rear, Sides
(Feet)
10, 15, 5
Commercial Parking 3/1000
Maximum Total FAR 0.75:1, may be increased to 1:1
by S.R. & 60% AH
Commercial FAR
Governed by Maximum
Total FAR
Arts/Civic FAR
Lodging FAR
AH Res. FAR
FM Res. FAR
Commercial to Residential
ratio
N/A
Single Family FAR Same as R-6
Duplex FAR Same as R-6
Max. Residential unit size
(Sq Ft)
No limitation
Where
Arts/Civic FAR
Lodging FAR
AH Res. FAR
FM Res. FAR
pre-infill code
Height (Feet)28, may be increased to 32 by
S.R.
Public Amenity 25%
Setbacks: Front, Rear, Sides
(Feet)
10, 5, 5
Commercial to Residential
ratio
N/A
Single Family FAR -
Duplex FAR -
Max. Residential unit size
(Sq Ft)
No limitation
Neighborhood Commercial (NC)
The City Market block and the Clark's Market area.
Commercial Parking 4/1000
Maximum Total FAR 1:1
Commercial FAR
Governed by Maximum
Total FAR
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Exhibit C: DRAFT POLICY OUTREACH LANGUAGE
One of Council’s Top Ten Goals is to “Reconcile the Land Use Code to the Aspen Area
Community Plan so the Land Use Code delivers what the AACP promises.” Council has focused
on seven policy areas, including:
• Commercial Use Mix (what type of businesses should be encouraged or discouraged in
Aspen)
• Commercial Design Standards (what buildings look like)
• Dimensional Standards (how big buildings are)
• Off-Street Parking and Mobility (how people get where they’re going)
• Residential Use Mix (should residential units be allowed in commercial zones)
• View Planes (views of the mountains from downtown)
• Affordable Housing Mitigation (how much affordable housing is required of
development)
Commercial Use Mix
Definition: Provide a mix of uses in the City’s commercial districts that supports locally serving
and unique businesses.
Public Feedback: Participants felt that the most important function of Aspen’s commercial
areas was to provide goods and services to residents, while also recognizing the importance of
Aspen’s tourist economy. The following were identified in order of importance: restaurants,
public and open spaces, retail, community services, arts and cultural facilities, and offices.
Current Policy Direction: Consider a new zoning overlay to encourage businesses that
accommodate the basic consumer needs of Aspen residents and visitors.
Support the provision of “second tier” commercial spaces, such as along an alley, in a basement,
on a second floor, or on a mid-block walkway, to allow for spaces that cater to a greater
diversity of businesses.
Add a “commercial replacement” requirement that any redevelopment preserve its existing ratio
of second tier commercial spaces, and that all new development or redevelopment devote a
given proportion of its commercial space toward second tier spaces.
Establish unit size limitations for commercial spaces accessed from an arcade or mid-block
walkway.
Revise the allowed uses in commercial zones to limit unwanted uses, such as high end
commercial businesses, and encourage desired uses, such as restaurants and businesses
providing basic consumer needs.
Commercial Design Standards
Definition: Update requirements to reflect development that enhances, supports and is
compatible with Aspen’s historic development pattern.
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Public Feedback: Participants supported design that respects historic character and responds to
neighborhood context and supported public amenity spaces that are accessible, useable, and
meaningful.
Current Policy Direction: Provide guidelines that ensure public amenity spaces are
accessible, useable, and meaningful. Reinforce the pedestrian experience on the Pedestrian
Malls by allowing alternative public amenity spaces such as second level, off-site, or cash-in-
lieu.
Allow second tier commercial spaces through public amenity space requirements that support
the use mix policies.
Provide guidelines that reinforce the historic character of the downtown and Main Street, and
allow additional flexibility for properties outside of downtown.
Dimensional Standards
Definition: Ensure the zoning code results in mass and scale that reflect Aspen’s small town
character.
Public Feedback: Participants preferred two story buildings with an option for a third floor
primarily containing commercial space on the ground floor, residential and office spaces on
upper floors.
Current Policy Direction: Limit commercial and mixed-use development to two stories
throughout Aspen. Update dimensional standards to match lower building heights.
Off-Street Parking and Mobility
Definition: Revise the off-street parking regulations to coordinate with the City’s sustainability
and mobility priorities.
Public Feedback: Many participants employ a mix of parking on-street, off-street, and taking
public or alternative transit.
Current Policy Direction: Increase the availability of off-street parking while encouraging
development of facilities that promote alternative transportation modes, such as walking,
biking, and transit.
Mandate cash-in-lieu for mobility enhancements for properties on pedestrian malls, and retain
it as option in other commercial zones.
Maintain existing parking requirements, while adding a “soft” maximum ratio to the required
number of parking spaces, where a given number of parking spaces provided on a site triggers
alternative transportation and mobility mitigation requirements.
Provide for and encourage shared parking as an option for commercial development, and
coordinate shared spaces with the management of on-street parking spaces.
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Residential Use Mix
Definition: Prioritize commercial uses in Aspen’s commercial zone districts by limiting
residential uses.
Public Feedback: A majority of participants supported affordable housing over free-market in
mixed use buildings and felt that residential uses should not alter the character of buildings and
should be a subordinate use
Current Policy Direction: Eliminate new free-market residential uses in the CC, C1, MU,
SCI and NC zones while allowing existing free market residential uses to continue.
Allow free market residential uses as an ancillary use in mixed-use buildings in the MU zone
with a requirement they house a local resident.
Continue to allow single-family, duplex and multi-family housing as a single use in the Mixed
Use zone district.
View Planes
Definition: Reinforce the importance of Mountain View Planes by simplifying and clarifying
the regulations.
Public Feedback: Participants supported preserving views from downtown Aspen.
Current Policy Direction: Provide a clearer process when development is located in a
protected view plane. Include additional visual information on protected view planes.
Affordable Housing Mitigation
Definition: Ensure development mitigates its impacts.
Public Feedback: Most participants supported affordable housing requirements.
Current Policy Direction: Require affordable housing mitigation for existing spaces that have
not previously mitigated when the building is redeveloped.
Explore an increase in current commercial and lodging mitigation requirements that can be
reduced to today’s mitigation rate of 60% in exchange for valued public goods such as public
amenity space, second-tier commercial space and similar assets.
P26
I.