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HomeMy WebLinkAboutresolution.apz.010-86RESOLUTION OF THE ASPEN PLANNING AND ZC~ING CON~IISSION BECON~NDING CONC~PTUAL APPROVAL OF THE ROARING FORK PROPOSAL SPA Resolution No. 86-10 WHEREAS, pursuant to Ordinance 20, Series of 1985, the Roaring Fork Railroad (hereinafter "Applicant") did submit a proposal for the Development of a portion of the Rio Grande property and Rio Grande right-of-way; and WHEREAS, aspects of the development proposal include re- establishment of rail on the Rio Grande right-of-way from Woody Creek to Aspen (Rio Grande site); terminal building, platform, baggage handling, parking and trackage on the Rio Grande site; and WHEREAS, the Aspen Planning and Zoning Commission (herein- after "Commission") did hold public meetings on September 2 and 9, 1986, to consider the applicant's proposal to develop on the City-owned Rio Grande site and utilize the City-owned Shapery property, each of which have SPA Overlays, as well as the City- owned Creektree open space; and WHEPd~AS, the Commission is aware of this proposal's poten- tial impact on Pitkin County and has expressed concern about the proposal's impact outside the Commission's jurisdiction; and WHEREAS, the Commission has stated that final approval of this proposal by this Commission will be contingent upon the applicant's ability to successfully mitigate impacts to the satisfaction of Pitkin County (i.e., wildlife, neighborhood impacts, Hall~n Lake); and WHEREAS, at the conclusion of its deliberations, the Resolution No. 86-10 Page 2 Commission made the following conceptual findings: The Roaring Fork Railroad is a compatible and appropri- ate transportation use on the Rio Grande site and may provide the community not only with a desireable travel mode between Aspen and Denver, but also may provide an alternative transportation corridor to State Highway 82 in the Valley. The Rio Grande site was purchased with transportation funds and planned to be used for transportation purposes. The Commission realizes that the Roaring Fork Railroad concept is inconsistent with the 1973 Lan(] Use Plan; however, the Commission is in the process of updating the Aspen Area General Plan, 1966 and will resolve inconsistencies with past plans and reports (transportation, land use, etc.). The Commission is therefore prepared to authorize further study of the issues identified below· The Commission recognizes however, that precise plan approval can only be granted if the ~mpacts of the project are mitigated and the concerns of the community can be addressed· The Commission feels that the Commercial Growth Management Quota System is not an appropriate tool for evaluating the impacts of the Roaring Fork Railroad proposal and has directed staff to investigate amend- ments to the Code which would permit this application to be reviewed pursuant to a Growth Management Exemp- tion for an Essential Public Facility. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLYED by the Commission that it does hereby recommend that the City Council of Aspen, Colorado, grant conceptual SPA approval to the Roaring Fork Railroad proposal, subject to the following conditions: A study shall be submitted analyzing the RFR proposal's potential for reducing vehicular traffic on State Highway 82 including Main Street if train service terminates at the Rio Grande. The applicant shall submit as part of the Precise SPA plan a minimum-maximum commuter rail service operating plan including capital and operating costs, sta- tion/park and ride locations, time schedules, fare schedule, projected ridership, proposed operating entity and other pertinent information which will assist the City, County and RFTA in determining the value of commuter rail service. Resolution No. 86-10 Page 3 The applicant shall submit as part of the Precise SPA plan a transportation study of the combined impacts of the RFR proposal and proposed City uses for the Rio Grande Site. This study shall in.clude impacts on streets and intersections surrounding the site and traffic impacts on Cemetery Lane. Impacts on the Trueman property parking lot andPuppy Smith. .. Street shall be specifically addressed. How clrc~atlon and baggage will be handled on the Rio Grande site shall also be detailed. The Precise SPA plan shall include an economic feasibi- lity study including disclosure of the current and proposed RFR capital, operating costs and other pertinent information for the purpose of evaluating the applicant's ability to construct and operate this proposal. Included in this study will be an economic analysis justifying the need for an 18 car train· The applicant shall work with the City and Co~nty staff regarding the function and location for the Rio Grande Trail, Snowdump and Rio Grande Playing Field and shall submit the relocation plans as part of the Precise SPA P1 an. The applicant shall, with the assistance of cognizant public entities, estimate costs and propose pri- vate/public cost sharing for all of the public improve- ments, relocations and alternations associated with the proposal including, but not limited to the sewer trunk line, Rio Grande Trail, Snowdump, Impound Lot, Rio Grande Playing Field and all other impacted utilities to assist the City, County, RFTA and appropriate special districts in evaluating public expenses of the project. The applicant shall prepare an engineering study as part of the Precise SPA plan of the effects of the rail system on the sewer trunk line and methods of mitigat- ing problems, if any, as acceptable to the Aspen Consolidated Sanitation District. The applicant shall work with all public and private utility companies to develop an acceptable utilities pl an. A drainage plan acceptable to the City Engineer shall be submitted as part of the Precise SPA Plan. 10. The following environmental studies and mitigation plans shall be prepared to the satisfaction of the Resolution No. 86-10 Page 4 Environmental Health Department as part of the Precise SPA Plan: ae Noise (including a noise contour map of the right- of-way) to show effects on land uses throughout the surrounding area and on other areas in the comm unity. Air pollution resulting from locomotive operation and idling in the Roaring Fork Valley as per operation plan. Water pollution hazards as discussed in Tom Dunlop's August 18, 1986 memorandum. d. Disruption of mine tailings and dumps. e. Solid waste generation and management. f. Impacts of vibrating (detailed information needs to be determined by Tom Dunlop). 11. The applicant shall submit, as part of the Precise SPA Plan, a site plan, landscaping plan and building design techniques to mitigate visual impacts of the develop- ment. 12. The applicant shall submit a Stream Margin Review application as part of the Precise SPA Plan for the construction of roadbed, rails, trails and any other improvements within 100 feet from the high water line or within a flood hazard area in the City of Aspen. 13. The applicant shall investigate reducing the number and length of tracks on the Rio Grande site. 14. The Applicant shall be generated by this requirements will be indicate how many employees shall proposal and how employee housing addressed. 15. The applicant shall explore the potential for shared use of the terminal structure facility, especially uses which are part of the Rio Grande Plan. 16. The applicant shall submit an Emergency Response Plan to the satisfaction of the Public Safety Board. 17. The applicant shall estimate what portion of the train's passengers will stay in Snowmass and determine how the Snowmass passengers will be brought to Snowmass -- will they travel to the Rio Grande and then utilize Resolution No. 86-10 Page 5 State Highway 82 through town to their destination or will Snowmass passengers de-train at Woody Creek and avoid travel through Aspen. 18. The applicant shall identify how the Roaring Fork Railroad would deal with an airport shut-down due to snow, showing ways to alleviate the problems caused by temporary loss of airplane service to and from Aspen. 19. The applicant shall identify construction impacts and develop a construction impacts mitigation plan which shows timing/phasing of construction. 20. The applicant shall not represent the City of Aspen as a partner in the RFR proposal. 21. The applicant shall suk~it to the satisfaction of the P&Z, a detailed plan which addresses safety of pedes- trians, cyclists and vehicles along the railroad right- of-way. The applicant shall identify federal and state safety requirements with which they are required to comply. 22. The applicant shall detail the fire hazard potential to the landscape along the right-of-way and measures to mitigate it. The applicant shall identify federal and state requirements related to fire safety along the rail road right-of-way. APPNOVED by the Commission at their Special Meeting on Tuesday, September 23, 1986. ASPEN PLANNING AND ZONING (I)I~ISS ION By Jasmine Tygre Vice-Chai rperson ATTEST: Deputy ~ty Clerk -- TB.111