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RESOLUTION NO. /02.-
(Series of 1996)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OFASPEN, COLORADO, REQUIRING THAT
GUARDRAILS TO BE INSTALLED ON INDEPENDENCE PASS BE
TEMPORARY
WHEREAS, the Colorado Department of Transportation (COOT) submitted a
report, "Independence Pass Safety Improvements Design Report," detailing their
proposed alternatives for safety barriers on Independence Pass for review and
comment by the City of Aspen and Pitkin County; and
WHEREAS, the City and County are in agreement that none of the alternatives
proposed in said report are acceptable as a long term solution due to their
detrimental impact on the historic and scenic qualities of Independence Pass;
and
WHEREAS, the City is in support of the attached letter, "Exhibit 1 ," which
requests that a "Type 3" guardrail in corten steel be installed for the summer of
1996 only and that COOT continue to work with the City of Aspen and Pitkin
County to determine a more compatible barrier; and
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WHEREAS, the City of Aspen's support is conditioned upon receipt of written
assurance from COOT that the guardrail will be removed and replaced by the
barrier which is ultimately found to be more compatible with Independence Pass.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ASPEN,
COLORADO RESOLVES:
The City of Aspen is in support of the attached letter and requires that the
Colorado Department of Transportation install a corten guardrail as a temporary
measure, to be replaced with a barrier which is determined to be more
compatible with the historic and scenic qualities of Independence Pass, and
furthermore requires from COOT written assurance of this agreement.
Dated: '1Jz~ /~ , 1996.
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John . Bennett, Mayor
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I, Kathryn S. Koch, duly appointed and acting City Clerk do certify that the
foregoing is a true and accurate copy of that resolution adepted by the City
Council of the City of Aspen, Colorado, at a meeting helcVMth-C'.A..J ,7/
1996.
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February 28, 1996
Mr, Kenneth M. Gambrill
State of Colorado
Department of Transportation
4201 E. Arkansas Avenue., Rm. 284
Denver, CO 80222
ASPEN. PITKIN
PLANNING & ZONI!'lG DEPARTMENT
COMMUNITY DEVELOP:v!ENT DEPARTME'\T
. Re: COOT Project C 0821-030, Indep~ndence Pass
Dear Mr. Gambrill;
Pitkin County and the City of Aspen have received, and reviewed the'
"Independence Pass Safety Improvements Design Report." We offer the
following comments on the suggested alternatives.
We find that a "Type 4", as well as a "Type 8-modified" concrete barrier are not
acceptable in any form as they will completely obscure view of the historic rock
wallsfrom the highway, and significantly impact the scenic quality of
Independence Pass. '
We find that a "Type 3" guardrail in corten steel may prese'rve some view of the
walls, however Pitkin County and the City of Aspen wish to continue to explore .
other options which meet safety requirements but which areas transparent and
compatible in character with the walls as possible. We feel certain that there are
many possible variants from the "standard" barricade options which are more
appropriate to this National Register eligible resource. We would specifically
direct COOT to examples of these alternatives used within the National Park
system.
Given the unfortunate destruction of portions of the existing rock walls this past
. summer, it was the local governments' expressed desire to participate in the
design of improvements to Independence Pass, which is not easily allowed by .
the time constraint placed on the project. In order to allow the Pass to open on
schedule this summer, and to allow further exploration of a more appropriate
barrier system, we request that the "Type 3" guardrail be installed as a temporary
measure, for th,e summer of 1996 only. In the meantime, COOT and the County
should continue to pursue alternative designs. After the identification and
installation of a permanent alternative, the temporary guardrail will be removed
and reused elsewhere.
130 SOUTH GALENA STREET -. ASPEN, COLORADO 81611 . PHONE 303.920.5090 . FAX 303.920.5197
I'rinlc'llonreqd.odp'p.r DIRECT FAX Lr:-w 303.920.5439
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Sin~ere1y, ,"/L~,
don 'i
itkin Historic Preservation Officer
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Aspen/
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ames R. True, Chair
Pitkin County Board of County Commissioners
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cc: James Hartmann, SHPO