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HomeMy WebLinkAboutresolution.apz.013-83RESOLUTION OF THE ASPEN PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION-STATING ITS INTENT TO ADOPT THE GOALS, OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES OF THE GROWTH MANAGEMENT POLICY PLAN UPDATE AS A GUIDE TO THE PREPARATION OF A NEW ASPEN AREA COMPREHENSIVE PLAN Resolution No. 83- l~ WHEREAS, during 1981 and 1982, the Aspen Planning and Zoning Commission and the Aspen City Council did perform a comprehensive review of the Growth Management Quota System and did implement major revisions to the City's growth management regulations; and WHEREAS, during the course of adopting the quota system re- visions, the Planning Commission and City Council did express a variety of new concepts concerning the management of the Community's growth which indicated that an evolution of the Community's growth policy was taking place; and WHEREAS, in May, 1983, the Aspen/Pitkin County Planning Office did produce a document known as the "Draft Growth Management Policy Plan Update" which placed the concepts expressed during the regula- tory amendment process into a broad framework for discussion purposes; and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission did meet with the Planning Office to review the "Draft Growth Management Policy Plan Update" on May 10, June 14, June 28, July 12, July 26 and August 9, 1983, so as to develop a consensus on its contents; and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission did meet with the Planning Office on September 13 and September 27, 1983, to prepare a briefing paper to explain to the public the reasons for and contents of the Growth Management Policy Plan Update; and WHEREAS, on October 25, 1983, the Planning Commission did hold a public forum on growth policy at which time public input was received regarding the proposed goals, objectives and policies of the "Growth Management Policy Plan Update," and WHEREAS, the update of the Community's growth policy represents the first step in a broad planning effort for Aspen and Pitkin County, which is being continued by the review of our adopted physical plans to determine the need for their revision; and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission does wish to receive input from the Aspen City Council on the goals, objectives and policies prior to its taking any final action on them. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Planning and Zoning Com- mission of the City of Aspen, Colorado, that it does hereby state its intent to adopt the following goals, objectives and policies of the "Growth Management Policy Plan Update" as a guide to the preparation of a new Aspen Area Comprehensive Plan (Note: The individual goals, objectives and policies are not necessarily listed in the order of their priority): GOALS (Note: goals are ends toward which the Community,s plan- ning is directed; they are usually general in form and express ideals.) It is the goal of the City of Aspen to: Maintain the small town, rural character and high quality residential environment that make Aspen and Pitkin County a special place for their permanent population. Enhance the quality of Aspen and Pitkin County as a multi- season resort community. Obtain a balance between the need for economic and social development (i.e., jobs and housing) and the quality of the environment for both tourists and residents. Preserve the existing development pattern within which Aspen and Snowmass are growth centers which are separated from and surrounded by rural and wilderness areas. Provide for the orderly improvement of the Community's public facilities within the fiscal constraints of local government. OBJECTIVES (Note: Objectives are intermediate milestones on the way towards a goal; they are expressed in a form that is measurable and achievable.) It is the objective of the City of Aspen to: Improve the quality and value of the Community's lodge accommodations and the effectiveness of its surface and air transportation systems. Maintain the high quality ski experience currently offered in Aspen and Pitkin County. Improve the degree of balance between winter and summer tourist visitation, provided that any increase in visita- tion is consistent with our ability to meet the demands upon our transportation and other community facilities, and with the other goals and objectives of the community. Stabilize, diversify and enhance business and employment opportunities which are consistent with the resort experi- ence and the other goals and objectives of the Community. - 2 - Hold the rate of growth to one which is consistent with available service capacities, fiscal resources, and the natural carrying capacity of the valley. Develop a capital investment priority system for choosing among the wide array of needed public facilities in the Community. Maintain an updated comprehensive plan for Aspen and Pitkin County. Provide incentives for the development of affordable housing in proximity to the Community's employment opportunities. Create additional mechanisms to preserve existing agricul- tural lands and open space and to divert urban growth into areas already providing urban levels of service. POLICIES (Note: Policies are guidelines for making decisions which are designed to achieve goals and objectives; they are typically implemented in the form of regula- tions, capital investments and land use plans.) It is the policy of the City of Aspen that: The growth management quota system should be: (a) compre- hensive in scope; (b) dynamic to address the Community's changing growth priorities and sectoral balance require- ments; (c) tied directly to the Community's ability to provide public services and the natural carrying capacity of the land so as to maintain the quality of life for its visitors and residents; and (d) designed to meet an annual Countywide simple residential, commercial and lodge growth rate which does not exceed 3.5 percent. The growth management quota system should be flexible to respond to the changing requirements of maintaining Aspen and Pitkin County as a quality resort, residential and business Community, by providing the ability to vary the adopted quotas and the ability to award bonus or multiple year allocations, provided that said responses are in keeping with the other goals and objectives of the Community. Aspen and Pitkin County should support the private develop- ment of a wider range of summer tourism opportunities to better balance with winter activities, including improved cultural, recreational and conference facilities; and should support the development of employment opportunities which complment or do not conflict with the resort industry and are consistent with the Community's other goals and objectives. Ski expansions are preferred which are found to have minimal impacts on land development, in the base area, environmental quality and service needs (i.e., expansions to existing areas) over ski expansions which are found to have substan- tial impacts on land development, in the base area, environ- mental quality and service needs (i.e., expansions involving new base village or major infrastructural extensions or upgrades or expansions into existing wilderness areas). Employee housing units should be: (a) deducted from the residential quota; (b) provided in small, dispersed housing opportunities rather than in large complexes; and (c) built to offset the demands created by growth. - 3 - Future urban development should be channeled into Aspen and Snowmass Village, where it can be served efficiently with public facilities, and should be diverted away from those locations where such services cannot be economically in- stalled, provided that the level of urban growth in these centers does not exceed the available recreational and cultural opportunities which are present therein, the ability to provide public services in these municipalities, and the natural carrying capacity of these areas. Intergovernmental agreements should be developed between the County and its incorporated areas based on the principles that annexation should only be considered for areas: (a) which are urban in character; (b) which are affected by decisions in an adjacent municipality; (c) where the primary purpose is not to increase the land's development potential; and (d) where municipal services can be economic- ally provided without burdening the other users of these services with new costs. The development of new community facilities and services should be in accord with, rather than as an incentive to new growth; growth should pay for itself in terms of public services and costs; and capital investment priorities should be chosen based on the degree to which a facility will further the achievement of the adopted growth goals, objectives and policies and the other adopted plans of the City of Aspen. BE IT ALSO RESOLVED by the Aspen Planning and Zoning Commission that it does hereby request that the Aspen City Council endorse the adoption of the goals, objectives and policies prior to any final action being taken by the Planning Commission. ADOPTED by the Aspen Planning and Zoning Commission at their regular meeting on December 6, 1983. ASPEN PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION Perry,/Harvey, Chai~an ATTEST: