HomeMy WebLinkAboutresolution.apz.006-88RESOLUTION OF THE ASPEN PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVE THE
CONCEPTUAL SPA PLAN FOR THE RIO GRANDE PARCEL
Resolution No. 88- 6
WHEREAS, the Aspen Planning and
(hereinafter "Commission") has reviewed the
for the Rio Grande (hereinafter "Plan") at
on April 26, June 14, June 28 and July 12;
Zoning Commission
Conceptual SPA Plan
public meetings held
WHEREAS,
spent eighteen
problems; and
WHEREAS,
(hereinafter
Aspen Area
( hereinafter
prior to the development of the Plan the Commission
(18) months analyzing Aspen's transportation
in September of 1987, the Aspen City Council
"Council" endorsed and the Commission adopted the
Comprehensive Plan: Transportation Element
"Transportation Plan") which identified appropriate
concepts for the Rio Grande property; and
WHEREAS, in the Spring of 1988, RFTA and
retained the services of a consulting team headed
of Denver to develop appropriate physical and
alternatives for a parking facility on the Rio Grande
and
WHEREAS,
the Council
by RNL Design
financial
property;
based on this process the P&Z makes the
following
findings for the Conceptual SPA Plan for the Rio Grande:
Parking - Parking is an important aspect of the Rio Grande
site and the current design accomplishes the P&Z's desires
to have a facility which is close to Main Street, hidden
from view and has the potential to allow other
transportation related activities.
Circulation - The proposed circulation system allows for
Resolution No. 88-__
Page 2
adequate ingress and egress to the parking facility, as well
as to the entire Rio Grande site. The specific location of
Spring Street should allow for the possibility of expanding
Cap's into a gas/service station in the future.
Cap's - The concept plan allows for the Cap's commercial
operation to continue without significant change and with
the opportunity of future expansion to a gas/service
station. It is the P&Z's opinion that gas/service stations
are necessary uses in Aspen and the option of having this
type of use on the Rio Grande site shall be preserved,
without making any commitments during this planning process.
Library - It is the P&Z's opinion that the Library is an
appropriate use on the Rio Grande site if it does not
compromise the proposed transportation uses. It is the
P&Z's opinion that the location of the proposed library is
an asset to the Plan because it helps to mask the west
facade of the parking facility. It is the P&Z's opinion
that the Library facade along Mill Street should be of
pedestrian character/human scale, should be set back from
Mill Street to avoid any canyon effect in combination with
the Jerome, should be only one story above the plaza level
of the parking facility, and should be given consideration
for expanding on top of the parking facility in the long-
term future.
Teen Center - Skip Berhorst requested that the P&Z consider
a teen center in the parking facility. It was the P&Z's
opinion that a teen center was an important use for Aspen
and asked the Library to consider the possibility of
incorporating this use into their construction plans.
Performing Arts Center - Richie Cohen indicated that his
group would be willing to relinquish all claims to the
property known as the Oden parcel if they could get some
assurances that the Performing Arts Center could have
another portion of the Rio Grande site. Mr. Cohen proposed
a seasonal (tent) facility on the snowdump portion of the
Rio Grande and it was the P&Z's opinion that an
appropriately scaled tentlike structures near the river and
Art Museum could be very exciting for the community.
Snowdump - The P&Z has said many times that the location for
the snowdump is at the old Sanitation Plant site and that
the employee housing on this site should be moved. It is
the P&Z's opinion, however, that if the City pursues the
snowmelting concept that the Rio Grande site may be the
appropriate location.
· Playing Field - It is the P&Z's opinion that the playing
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Page 3
field is an important recreation use in the center of the
city. The P&Z also feels that it is very important not to
program the middle of the Rio Grande site at this point
because of the potential of rail service in the future. It
is the P&Z's opinion that the playing field is an important
caretaker use which preserves future rail transportation
options.
Roaring Fork Greenway - It is the P&Z's opinion that the
greenway concept should be extended through the entire Rio
Grande parcel.
Trails - It is the P&Z's opinion that the existing trail
system should be expanded throughout the site as new uses
come on line.
Transit Shuttle - It is the P&Z's opinion that a north-
south, downtown shuttle is vital to the community and that
options for either steel wheel or rubber tire vehicles
should be part of the plan. It is the P&Z's opinion that
this north-south shuttle corridor should service the
downtown, Rio Grande and the post office areas.
Future Community Facilities - It is the P&Z's opinion that
the parking facility should be constructed so that office
type buildings can be constructed on its roof. This gives
the community flexibility for locating future community uses
at the Rio Grande site.
NOW, TREREFORE, BE tT RESOLVED that the Commission does
hereby recommend approval of the Conceptual SPA Plan for the Rio
Grande with the following conditions
Conditions to be addressed during conceptual plan stage include:
The applicant shall demonstrate through traffic flow
analysis that the proposed development does not create an
over capacity situation on any of the streets or
intersections (Mill, Spring, Main and Bleeker) which
surround the Rio Grande site. This analysis should be
extended to determine when trip generation from the Rio
Grande site starts to cause a break down in traffic and
circulation on streets and intersections around the site.
This information can then be used to understand the buildout
potential of this site.
The applicant shall demonstrate through traffic analysis
that the ingress/egress points for the parking facility do
not significantly adversely effect traffic flow on Mill
Resolution No. 88-
Page 4
Street.
The applicant shall determine the effect
pedestrian movement of using the roof
facility for surface parking.
on traffic and
of the parking
The applicant shall demonstrate the
the proposed parking facility, Caps,
renderings and/or massing models.
general appearance of
Library area through
The applicant shall demonstrate that an adequate circulation
plan exists for the parking facility and the transportation
center.
The City and the Library should agree on who is responsible
for what percent of general site improvements, ie., utility
improvements plan.
The city and County should agree to amend the 1982 Land
Exchange Agreement in order to avoid future confusion
regarding uses on the Rio Grande site.
The applicants shall provide to the satisfaction of the
Engineering Department the following:
a. A drainage plan.
b. A full survey with title blocks, a list of easements
and encumbrances.
An overlay of the survey showing utilities (this should
be signed by each utility).
Conditions to be addressed at precise plan stage include:
The applicant(s) shall submit a site plan, landscaping plan,
building design plan and building design techniques to
mitigate visual impact of the developments. Plans for
mitigation of impacts caused by the Spring Street extension
on the surrounding neighborhood (ie.,Oklahoma Flats) should
also be presented.
The following environmental studies and
shall be prepared to the satisfaction of
Health Department:
mitigation plans
the Environmental
Air pollution resulting from the starting of
automobiles in and mechanical ventilation of the
parking facility.
b. Water pollution hazards as a result of runoff from
Resolution No. 88-__
Page 5
impervious surfaces
melting substances.
and the use of chemical snow
c. The loss of any storm water detention areas.
The City shall maintain the alley for fire protection
purposes.
The parking structure shall be sprinklered.
Any downtown shuttle should service the Rio Grande site,
Post office, pedestrian access points to the parking
facility and Rio Grande recreational areas, as well as
important activity centers in the downtown.
If possible, provide for mid-day RFTA bus storage (6 buses)
on the Rio Grande site.
The applicants shall work with the City and private
utilities to develop an acceptable utilities plan.
8e
The following actions are encouraged as part of the
development of the Rio Grande site:
Increased enforcement of on-street parking requirements
in the downtown.
b. Review the existing time zone requirements for parking
in the downtown.
Improve pedestrian access between the downtown and the
Rio Grande by developing Galena Street as a pedestrian
corridor, as identified in the Transportation Element.
d. Implement the Roaring Fork Greenway Plan and the
Parks/Recreation/Open Space/Trails Plan.
e. Relocate the snowdump to the Sanitation District site.
The City Should develop a fee structure for the Rio Grande
parking facility which is inexpensive for the user and also
discourages use of the automobile.
10.
The applicants shall indicate how many employees will be
generated by the proposal and how employee housing
requirements will be addressed.
11. Each applicant shall submit information for the Growth
Management Quota Exemption for essential public facilities.
12. The Library shall be designed so that the Mill Street facade
Resolution No. 88-
Page 6
has a pedestrian character and is set back from Mill Street
to avoid combining with the Jerome to produce a canyon
effect.
13. The Library shall be limited to a height of one story above
the roof of the parking structure.
14.
The Library shall have the ability to expand to the east 44
feet on top of the parking facility, if their program needs
in the long-term future justify this expansion.
15.
The Library and Teen Center groups will discuss the
possibility of a teen center facility in conjunction with
the Library.
APPROVED by the Commission at a special meeting on July 12,
1988.
ASPEN PLANNING AND ZONING
COMMISSION
C. We~ton ~%n~er~O~n,
Chairman
ATTEST:
RGR