HomeMy WebLinkAboutresolution.apz.005-85 RESOLUTXON OF THE ASPEN PL~t~INXI~ ~ ~X~ ~SSXON
~ X~P~TS ~ ~R STATE HXG~AY 82
~ A P~S~ BAnL~ QU~TXON ~X~ ~E ~ ~ ~P~
Resolution No. 85-5
W~EREA~, the Aspen Traffic Committee (hereinafter the "Committee")
and the Aspen Planning and Zoning Commission (hereinafter the "Commis-
sion), have been actively studying the Entrance to Aspen problem since
August of 1984 and January of 1985, respectively; and
WHEREAS, on November 6, 1984, Pitkin County voters voted 4,295
"yes" to 1095 "no" to improve State Highway 82 to a fourlane facility
between Aspen and the Brush Creek Road intersection and 4,373 "yes" to
910 "no" to /mprove State Highway 82 to a fourlane facility between
the Brush Creek Road intersection and Basalt; and
WSEREAS, the Colorado Department of Highways staff and the
Colorado Highway Commission recognize that State Highway 82 is one of
Colorado's most dangerous highways and is desperately in need of
immediate safety improvements; and
WHEREAS, the approved Aspen/Pitkin Planning Office 1985 Work
Program establishes the Entrance to Aspen as a top priority work
assignment; and
WNE~EAS, the Committee and Commission developed ten (10) planning
parameters (Exhibit A) to guide them in the evaluation of alternative
alignments for the Entrance to Aspen; and
WHEREAS, the Committee and Commission have reviewed all known
proposed alternatives (seventeen) to the Entrance to Aspen which have
been prepared in the last twelve years; and
Committee and Commission developed four (4) general
to help pare down the seventeen (17) alternatives;
WHEREAS, the
points (Exhibit B)
and
WHEREAS, based upon the four (4) general
and Commission eliminated seven (7) alternatives
the remaining ten (10) needed modification to
general points; and
WHEP~%S, the Committee and
alternatives were all derived
points the Committee
and determined that
comply with the four (4)
Commission agreed that the remaining
from three (3) generic alignments
Resolution I~o. 85-5
Page 2
(Exhibit C); and
WHEREAS, the Committee and Commission used what they considered
to be the best ideas from the ten (10) remaining alternatives and
applied them to the three generic alignments; and
WEHREAS, utilizing the above methodology, the Committee and
Commission developed six alternatives:
Plan A: Split Alignment - One Way Pair (Exhibit D);
Plan B: To upgrade the existing highway to four (4) lanes
divided (Exhibit E);
Plan B Overlay: To upgrade the existing highway to four (4)
lanes divided and to vacate the existing Castle Creek Road
ri.ght-of-way and realign Castle Creek Road on a north-south
axis connecting with Cemetary Lane, with this new intersection
being grade separated (Exhibit F);
Plan C: To connect directly to Main Street and consolidate
intersections (Exhibit G);
Plan D: To connect directly to Main Street and minimize the
curve to the south (Exhibit H);
Plan D Overlay: To connect directly to Main Street with a
southern curve (Exhibit I); and
WHEREAS, the Committee and Commission directed the staff to list
the properties impacted directly (within the 67 decibels (a) noise
contours) including publicly owned lands and to obtain from the Pitkin
County Assessor, the approximate land values of each plan to demonstrate
the relative impacts of the proposed alternatives (See Exhibit J):
; and
WHEREAS, the Committee, the Commission, the City Engineering
Department and the Planning Office recognize that there is not an easy
solution to the "Entrance to Aspen; and
WHEREAS, all the alternatives have substantial negative impacts
and it is easier for the community to avoid the difficult decision of
selecting a preferred alternative than to make a choice among the
alternatives; and
WHEREAS, given the results of the 1984 fall election, the Committee
and Commission have been charged with developing the least damaging
solution to this difficult and emotional problem.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Commission that it does
hereby recommend Plan D to the City Council of the City of Aspen,
Colorado, for their endorsement as a component of the Aspen Area
Resolution No. 85-5
Page 3
Comprehensive Plan for the following reasons:
o
o
o
Impacts the fewest number of existing residences;
Sensitive to the Community's open space needs;
Enhances the "Entrance" image because the
through publicly owned land, not intense
important to a resort community;
roadway travels
development --
Improves traffic flow and safety, but can control traffic
speed approaching town. Speed will be controlled by the curves
which are designed for 40 m.p.h, and a traffic signal at Main
Street and Seventh Street;
The traffic signal at Main Street and Seventh Street will
promote a gapping or staggering of traffic onto Main Street,
thus allowing for cross street traffic to enter Main Street
and allow pedestrians to cross more safely;
o Meadows property access from Seventh Street can be best
controlled with this alignment;
o Neighborhoods along the existing alignment will be improved
with the reduced traffic and the new neighborhood park;
o Does not preclude the use of the Marolt-Thomas property
for active and/or passive activities.
BE IT PURTBER RESOLVED by the Commission that it does hereby
recommend that a ballot question be
which gives the voters a choice for
them to select Plan B or Plan D.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED by the Commission
prepared for the May election
the Entrance to Aspen which asks
ATTEST~
that it does hereby
recommend that the Traffic Committee and/or the Commission hold
neighborhood meetings for the purpose of informing Aspen's citizens
about their choices for the Entrance to Aspen prior to the May election.
APPROVED by the Commission at its regular meeting on March 19, 1985.
ASPEN PLANNING AND ~ONING
COmmISSION
- Per~/Harvey, Cha~an
Barbara Norris, Deputy City Clerk
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
PLANNING PAP. A~H~ FOR T~E ENTRANCE TO ASPEN
To provide efficient traffic flow with minimum interruptions of
flow for turning movements or traffic signals (intersections at
Maroon/Castle Creek Roads and Cemetery Lane).
To provide the greatest degree of safety on State Highway 82.
To provide the most direct free-flowing and least cost transit to
activity centers.
To provide the most visually pleasing entrance to Aspen (consistent,
as much as possible, with Aspen's small town scale).
To preserve land and have the least net amount paved (the "Entrance"
plan should be compatible with the site plan for Marolt-Thomas). If
appropriate, to reclaim portions of the existing alignment as open
Space.
To develop alternatives that
alternate travel modes, e.g.,
light rail.
are flexible enough to incorporate
pedestrian/bicycle/skiing, bus and
To develop alternatives which extend from Maroon Creek to Main
Street.
To develop alternatives that minimize the cost of acquiring right-
of-way.
To develop alternatives that minimize visual and noise pollution,
in the impacted neighborhoods.
To develop alternatives that promote efficient traffic flow on
State Highway 82 rather than alternatives that transfer congestion
from one location to another.
Resolution No.
Page 5
85-
EXH [BI'T nB(*
FOUR GI~ERAL POINTS
o
o
The new road must be four (4) lanes;
Although grade separation is not ruled out, it use should be
limited to special situations.
Any alignment connecting directly with Main Street, either as
part of a split alignment or as a four (4) lane road, should
be curved to avoid a straight-in approach.
Any alignment using the existing right-of-way, either as part
of a split alignment or as a four (4) lane road, must soften
the curves so that buses and trucks can negotiate the turns
without using two (2) lanes of traffic.
G~IF~,/C M, ZG~NTS
EXHIBIT C
Split ~liq~ent - A four (4)
inbound and outbound traffic.
ninety degree (90o) turns
curve the inbound roadway
(see Exhibit below).
lane, divided highway that splits
This alignment would soften the
for the outbound traffic movement and
to eliminate the "straight shot" effect
?£
Existing Alignment - A four (4) lane, divided highway that
follows the existing highway alignment and softens the two ninety
degree (90o) turns to allow large vehicles to negotiate these
turns and remain in their own land (see Exhibit below).
Direct Connection - A four (4) lane, divided highway that follows
the existing alignment to some point east of Maroon Creek Road,
then curves to the south and then curves back to the north before
connecting with Main Street (see Exhibit below).
EXHIBIT J
Listing of Properties Directly Impacted by the Six Alternatives
Properties impacted directly:
o
o
o
o
o
Berger House
Hauser House
Bealmer House
Long House
Marolt-Thomas
Approximate Land Values: $1,600,0001
Pla~ B~ Properties impacted directly:
o Metcalf House
o Skiff House
o Sagewood Condominiums:
Carroll
Bedall
Hall
Behrendt
Shaw
Brucato
o Poppies Restaurant
o U.S. Forest Service
o Agate Lodge Complex
o Dogan House
o Danish Antiks
o Long House
o Bavarian Inn
Nelson
Hefner
Rivers
Pisano
Toth
Approximate Land Cost: $4,300,0001
B Overlay~
Properties impacted directly:
o Metcalf House
o Skiff House
o Sagewood Condominiums:
Carroll
Bedall
Hall
Behrendt
Shaw
Brucato
o Poppies Restaurant
o U.S. Forest Service
o Agate Lodge Complex
o Dogan House
o Danish Antiks
o Long House
o Bavarian Inn
o Mosle
o Ritchie
Nelson
Hefner
Rivers
Pisano
Toth
Approximate Land Cost: $5,400,0001
Properties impacted directly:
o Berger House
o Hauser House
o Bealmer House
o Long House
o Marolt-Thomas
Approximate Land Value: $1,600,0001
Properties impacted directly:
o Berger House
o Hauser House
o Bealmer House
o Long House
o Marolt-Thomas
Approximate Land Value: $1,600,0001
D Overlays
Properties impacted directly:
o Berger House
o Hauser House
o Bealmer House
o Long House
o Marolt-Thomas
Approximate Land Value: $1 600,0001
1 All land values are approximately based upon Pitkin County Assessors
1976 estimates of fair market value adjusted for appreciation from
1976 to 1985,
Source: Aspen/Pitkin Planning Office, March 1985
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