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HomeMy WebLinkAboutagenda.apz.19930608A G E N D A -------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------- ASPEN PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING June 8, 1993, Tuesday 4:30 P.M. 2nd Floor Meeting Room City Hall ------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------ COMMENTS Commissioners Planning Staff Public II. MINUTES III. PUBLIC HEARING A. Maroon Creek Ranch Golf Course Water Policy, Cindy Houben B. Rio Grande Master Plan Adoption, Leslie Lamont C. Early.Learning Center Conditional Use Review, Leslie Lamont IV. N5N--BUSINESS A. Text Amendment for Multi-Fdmily Parking Requirements, Leslie Lamont (Tabled on June 1, 1993) IV. -ADJOURN IIT, *:4Mto) ;AA N111 Vy TO: Aspen Planning and Zoning Commission FROM: Suzanne Wolff, Administrative Assistant RE: Upcoming Agendas DATE: June 8, 1993 Regular Meeting - June 22 Pioneer Park Historic Designation (AA) Alciatore Conditional Use Review for ADU (KJ/LL) Election of Chairman and Vice Chair Regular Meeting - July 6 No items yet a.nex E-VT i:4TV to) ;iij-i610yi TO: Aspen Planning and Zoning Commission l THRU: Diane Moore, City Planning Director',., FROM: Cindy Houben, Director of Long Range Planning Larry Ballenger, Aspen Water Department Director DATE: June 8, 1993 RE: Maroon Creek Ranch (Pfister Golf) City Water Extension ISSUE: This year the Aspen City Council adopted Resolution No. 5, Series of 1993, endorsing and adopting policies to guide the municipal water system's development and services (see attached Resolution No. 5). In July of 1990 the City entered into a water service agreement with the then owners of the Maroon Creek Ranch. Since that time the water agreement has lapsed. The final approval of a water extension agreement by the City rests with the City Council. The City Council has asked that the Planning and Zoning Commission review the request for an extension of City water to the project in light of the policies adopted in Resolution No. 5. BACKGROUND: The Maroon Creek Ranch PUD is located in the metro area of Aspen within Pitkin County. The Maroon Creek Ranch proposal has been reviewed pursuant to the County Land Use Code since 1986. The following is a summary of the proposal. Currently the County is reviewing the final plat for the development. The BOCC will hold a hearing on the final plat on June 15, 1993. A summary of the proposed project is attached as Exhibit "A". ANALYSIS: The two primary statements of policy that the City Council is asking the Planning Commission to review are discussed by the staff below: CRITERIA 1: The extension will be consistent with and further the goals of the Aspen Area Community Plan and those growth management regulations adopted pursuant thereto. STAFF DISCUSSION: The units approved by the County in the Maroon Creek Ranch project were accounted for and included in the development and analysis of the AACP. Thus, the Maroon Creek Ranch project is consistent with the number of units and the population projections anticipated in the AACP. Specifically, buildout of the Maroon Creek Ranch PUD was forecasted when developing the following AACP goals: * Future 2% growth rate for new development; * 60% of the workforce living in the metro area. "Character" issues surrounding the development proposal were not taken into consideration at the time the AACP was created since it was assumed that the County had already "vested" the rights of the developer at detailed submission. Today, any new development proposals requiring the use of City water will be brought into the review process at a much earlier stage given the new City Water Policies. New Growth Management regulations are in the process of being developed and are anticipated to be reviewed by the Planning Commission this fall. The AACP discusses "coordinating the use of utility extensions to reinforce the Community plan and Growth Management policy plan." The new policy requires that extensions of the City water system follow the language from Resolution NO.5, series of 1993: "No extension of service shall be approved without the prior execution of a written water service agreement incorporating a contractual obligation on the part of. the user to annex the property benefitted by the water service to the City of Aspen if such property is contiguous or becomes contiguous to the City and the City determines such annexation is desirable." The City has the capacity to serve water to the targeted 30,000 metro area peak (residents and visitors) population as planned by the AACP at buildout. The two City water plants have the capacity to serve 20 million gallons per day. Currently, at PEAK demand, the City supplies 9.7 millon Gallons of water per day (M/G/D). The Maroon Creek Ranch project is estimated to require 140,800 gallons per day, based on occupancy figures used in the AACP (not including the irrigation of the golf course) . The figures used by the water department are much higher based on the applicants bedroom count and additional uses. The planning office does not agree with their figures based on the detailed submission approvals, however, we felt it was wise to analyze a worst case scenario for future planning purposes. Therefore, the water department figures indicate that the total water usage per day for the development could be as high as 300,000 gallons per day. Thus, there is a potential range of use between 140,800 - 300,000 gallons used per day. The AACP anticipates an estimated additional 7,500 persons at buildout (we are currently at 23,000 and are planning for 30,000). Approximately 500 - 1,500 (worst case using the applicant's bedroom count) of these people will be associated with the Maroon Creek Ranch project. Thus, an additional 51500 - 7,000. persons (including the Maroon Creek Ranch project) will require approximately 1,100,000 - 11400,000 gallons per day of water. 2 * The estimated total water usage of the metro area at buildout (inclusive of the Maroon Creek Ranch Development) equals approximately 11,240,800 - 11,400,000 gallons per day (this does not include irrigation of the golf course on the Maroon Creek Ranch). Therefore, the approval of the extension of water to the Maroon Creek Ranch proposal will not deplete the city water resource for anticipated growth projected in the AACP (see memorandum from Larry Ballenger, attached). CRITERIA 2: The extension will serve only such growth as has been endorsed by the City Council. STAFF DISCUSSION: This development proposal has been subject to numerous land use reviews by the County since 1986. During this process the City Council and the Planning and Zoning Commission have been given the opportunity to comment on this proposal. RECOMMENDATION: The proposed extension of municipal water to the Maroon Creek Ranch is consistent with the goals of the AACP relative to population and unit count. The character of the proposal was not discussed given the "vested" interest of the developer with the County. The staff recommends that the Planning and Zoning Commission recommends approval of the water extension agreement with the Maroon Creek Ranch PUD. ch.v✓aterpandz 3 EXHIBIT "A" SUMMARY OF THE MAROON CREEK RANCH APPROVALS: • 369 acres (on both the North and South sides of Highway 82) • 43 free market single family homes; • 37 free market multi family townhomes; • 30,100 commercial square feet to be added to the Grand Champions Club; • 40 affordable housing units (39 multi family units and 1 single family unit); and • 12 lodge rooms to be added to the Grand Champions Club MEMORANDUM TO: Aspen Planning and Zoning Commission FROM: Leslie Lamont, Senior Planner DATE: June 8, 1993 RE: Rio Grande Master Plan - Adoption SUMMARY: Attached for you review is the Rio Grande Master Plan. This plan has been amended to reflect Commissioner comments relayed to staff at the March, April and May meetings. Specifically, a new land use map has been developed which identifies, in general terms, categories of land uses that the Rio Grande Group finds appropriate for the Rio Grande parcel, such as: Recreation/Transportation, Passive Park with Art Theme etc. Also, the "Youth Recreation" area has been retitled to "Transportation/Youth Recreation". Although the Commission approved and recommended to Council adoption of the Rio Grande conceptual SPA plan at the April 20, 1993 meeting, it is necessary for the Commission to adopt the plan as a Master Plan for endorsement by City Council. Staff was under the impression that a conceptual SPA master plan had been created for adoption. The City Attorney has determined that the document and related maps are in fact a Master Plan because the plan does not address development issues for site specific proposals. A plan that establishes general guidelines and goals should be used as a Master Plan to guide future development. When site specific development is proposed the full SPA review process will then be used for development review. Fortunately, a master plan does not expire after two years like a conceptual SPA. The Master Plan remains in effect until it is either amended or superseded by another plan. Unfortunately, the various organizations that participated in the Master Planning process thought that conceptual SPA review was being accomplished and only final SPA review (a 2 step vs. 4 step review process) would be necessary before their particular development. However, staff recently amended the Land Use Code to enable an applicant to consolidate the four step SPA review process into a two step review process, similar to PUD review. Therefore if an applicant submits an application for development soon after the Master Plan is adopted and the proposal is consistent with the Plan, a consolidated SPA review may be appropriate. The Commission shall adopt a Master Plan by Resolution and Council shall endorse the Commission's adopted plan. Please see the attached Resolution adopting the Master Plan. Staff recommends adoption of the Rio Grande Master Plan. LOCATION: Rio Grande property located between Rio Grande Drive and the Roaring Fork River, Aspen, Colorado. ZONING: Public with Specially Planned Area overlay. STAFF COMMENTS: Staff has been working with a citizen committee, the Rio Grande Group, to formulate the Rio Grande Master Plan. The Group has recommended several land use actions and developed three land use development scenarios. Those three scenarios are represented by the land use maps provided in Appendix A of the plan. The maps are intended to serve as guides for site specific development. Based upon the Planning and Zoning Commissioner comments at the last meeting, the three "Potential Development Scenario" maps are provided only as guides for future development. The land use map that will be adopted with the plan is part of the text and found on page 20. Once the Master Plan is adopted, site specific development proposals will be reviewed based upon the full SPA review criteria. An application for SPA review should be created for specific development proposals for the property and should be consistent with the Master Plan unless that plan has been amended by the Commission and Council. Aspen's Land Use Code does not provide standards for the adoption of a Master Plan. However, State legislation does require adoption of Master Plans, at a public hearing, by the Planning and Zoning Commission with an endorsement by City Council. Absent review criteria for adoption, staff has conducted numerous work sessions with the Commission to develop the guidelines for future development on the Rio Grande. Staff is confident that the Master Plan reflects the Rio Grande Group's concerns and recommendations and the essential goals of the Commission. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends, adoption of the Rio Grande Master Plan. RECOMMENDED MOTION: "I move to adopt the Rio Grande Master Plan." 2 RESOLUTION OF THE ASPEN PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION ADOPTING THE RIO GRANDE MASTER PLAN Resolution No. 92- WHEREAS, the Aspen Planning and Zoning Commission (hereinafter "Commission") have the responsibility and the authority to adopt comprehensive plans for Aspen; and WHEREAS, the Commission and City Council directed staff to prepare a Master Plan for the publically owned Rio Grande property, with attention focused primarily on the area between Rio Grande Drive and the Roaring Fork River; and WHEREAS, staff, together with community members and representatives of community organizations forming the Rio Grande Group, identified general land use goals and recommendations for future development of the property; and WHEREAS, a land use map has been created that identifies specific areas of the Rio Grande property with general land use themes, which map shall be adopted with the Master Plan and incorporated therein; and WHEREAS, three other land use maps have been prepared and included in Appendix A of the Master Plan to ensure that development of specific uses can be accommodated on the property, however, these maps are intended to be used only as guides; and WHEREAS, the Commission has formally reviewed the Master Plan at regularly scheduled meeting April 20, 1993; and WHEREAS, a duly noticed Public Hearing was held by the Commission on June 8, 1993 to consider the Master Plan for the Rio Grande property. NOW, THEREFORE BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED by the Commission that it does hereby adopt the Rio Grande Master Plan. APPROVED by the Commission at their regular meeting on June 8, 1993. ATTEST: ASPEN PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION Jan Carney, Deputy City Clerk Jasmine Tygre, Chairperson MEMORANDUM TO: Aspen Planning and Zoning Commission FROM: Leslie Lamont, Planning RE: Early Learning Center - Conditional Use Review DATE: May 18, 1993 SUMMARY: The applicant, Early Learning Center (ELC), has requested to amend their 1991 conditional use approval for a day care center in the old Yellow Brick School. The amendment to the conditional use is an expansion of uses to include a public and private academic school use. Staff recommends approval of conditional use with conditions. Review of this application was tabled to June 8, 1993 because of improper notice of this public hearing. Please find the submitted application attached for your review. APPLICANT: Early Learning Center as represented by Alice Davis LOCATION: 215 North Garmisch Street, Aspen ZONING: R-6 APPLICANT'S REQUEST: To amend the 1991 conditional use approval for a day care center to include public and private academic school uses. STAFF COMMENTS: Proposal - The Early Learning Center received a conditional use approval from the Commission in April, 1991 for a day care center. The approval limited hours of operation to 7 am to 6 pm seven days a week in high season and five days a week in the off season. The Early Learning Center does not use the entire building and would like to lease space to other organizations. The ELC proposes to utilize the remainder of the building for educational related uses. Although all potential uses are not known *at this time, Aspen Ballet dance classes, Yoga center classes for adults and children and the Waldorf School have expressed an interest in the building. However, the ELC is not interested in compromising their program and in the event the ELC program grew, educational uses would be reduced to support ELC space needs. The ELC has also requested to increase the approved hours of operation (7 an - 6 pm) to 7 am - 10 pm. Although the building was used as a public elementary, school for the past forty years, and the ELC is proposing to reintroduce educational related uses to the building, it is staff's interpretation that this is a substantial amendment to the conditional use approval for a day care center. A substantial amendment to a conditional use approval requires a full review by the Commission. Conditional Use Review - Pursuant to Section 7-304 the criteria for a conditional use review are as follows: A. The conditional use is consistent with the purposes, goals, objectives and standards of the Aspen Area Comprehensive Plan, and with the intent of the Zone District in which it is proposed to be located; and RESPONSE: In the Design Quality and Historic Preservation section of the recently adopted Aspen Area Community Plan, a short term recommendation is to "support and enhance the continued educational use of the yellow brick school..." The In -town School Site Committee recommended that the yellow brick site be used for day care purposes. This application supports the continued use of the building for day care uses. However the ELC believes that the ability to lease unused space for educational related uses will provide needed financial support for the ELC program. There is a warranted concern of adjacent neighbors that the ability to utilize the building for general educational related uses will tempt more extensive adult educational programs. In addition, those entities that do not get into the red brick school might be enticed to pursue space in the yellow brick school. The primary use of the building and the focus of the programs will continue to be day care operations and related programs for children. It is not physically possible to convert the classrooms used by the ELC during the day to adult educational use by night. In addition, approval of educational related uses shall be narrowly interpreted to mean classroom education only and shall not be construed to mean office space for educators or creative space for artists who occasionally conduct a seminar or two. If the ELC or alternative day care or child related programs cease to use the building as the primary use, any proposed use of the building or expansion of educational related uses shall be reviewed pursuant to Section 24-7-304 of the Municipal Code. The underlying zoning of the ELC is R-6 - Medium -Density Residential. The purpose of the zone district is to: provide areas for residential purposes with customary accessory uses. Recreational and institutional uses 2 W customarily found in proximity to residential uses are included as conditional uses. Lands in the Medium - Density Residential (R-6) Zone District are generally limited to the original Aspen Townsite, contain relatively dense settlements of predominantly detached and duplex residences, and are within walking distance of the center of the City. The day care center was found to be an appropriate accessory use in the R-6 zone district. Expansion of the conditional use to include educational related uses is still consistent with the recreational and institutional uses contemplated in the R-6 zone district. B. The conditional use is consistent and compatible with the character of the immediate vicinity of the parcel proposed for development and surrounding land uses, or enhances the mixture of complimentary uses and activities in the immediate vicinity of the parcel proposed for development; and RESPONSE: According to the application, several improvements to the yard were to be made. Those improvements have been accomplished by the ELC and surrounding neighbors, most notably removal of the chain link fence which was replaced with a wood fence. The proposed reuse of the building does not require further structural changes to the building. Although the elimination of the elementary school has reduced daytime impacts to surrounding neighbors, expansion of allowable uses in the building may generate impacts that are not compatible within the residential neighborhood. For example, extending the hours of operation to 10 pm does not compliment the quiet nature of the neighborhood after dark and is not consistent with the historical use of the building when it was a school. Adjacent residents have complained that current night use of the building has "an adverse effect, including visual impacts" on neighbors. Lights are often left on late at night by janitors and without shades, the building becomes a bank of light. In addition, cars leaving the site late at night could become disruptive. Staff recommends that the use of the building not be extended to 10 pm. In order to accommodate classes or meetings geared for "after work" patrons, staff believes that a cessation of operations by 8 or 8:30 is more reasonable. In addition, for ELC shall install block out shades to reduce visual impacts on the neighborhood. The applicant did not identify the number of days that the building will be used. The Waldorf School is only in session from September to June and ELC's enrollment drops during the summer. However, the applicant shall be prepared for the Commission public hearing to 3 J address how many days a week the building will be used. Again, the applicants do not propose to substantially alter the current use of the building which is a day care facility. Expansion of the conditional use will enable the ELC the flexibility to fill extra space to help support the ELC program and take advantage of the structure to for what is was built for, public and private academic school. C. The location, size, design and operating characteristics of the proposed conditional use minimizes adverse effects, including visual impacts, impacts on pedestrian and vehicular circulation, parking, trash, service delivery, noise, vibrations and odor on surrounding properties; and RESPONSE: Closure of the elementary school and reuse of the building by the ELC reduced the impacts to the surrounding neighborhood. According to school district personnel, 220 children attended the elementary school and between 17 and 23 full time employees worked in the yellow brick school. The schools were in session from 8:30 am to 3:15 pm. Approximately 12 buses dropped off and picked up children at both schools. With trash and delivery service, and field trips, it is estimated that the total number of vehicular round trips were 160 vehicles per day at both schools. Other than the above mentioned extension of the hours of operation, the applicant contends that the use of the building for education related purposes will not have negative impacts on surrounding properties. The child care operation is smaller than anticipated. There are 10-12 ELC employees. The Waldorf School uses two classrooms with two teachers September through June. Although most of the anticipated educational uses are programs for children (i.e. - gymnastics, ballet) increased traffic should not reach the levels experienced when the building was an elementary school. There are approximately 32 off-street parking spaces available on Bleeker Street. There are 2 loading spaces zoned at either end of the school. Currently these spaces to accommodate the existing uses. However, resident complaints have been lodged to the Planning office about the congestion when parents drop off and pick up for the ELC and when the Wildwood bus drops off children in the afternoon. The Wildwood school uses this site only as a drop-off location. The Waldorf School does not exit the building at either end where the loading and unloading zones are. The children exit through a side door onto West Hallam where they are picked up by parents. Note: there are no sidewalks on the perimeter of the block. The various loading and unloading scenarios have, from the neighbors perception, created a certain level of chaos,. Staff is concerned that additional traffic and parking related needs will compound the problem. Proposed plans for the resident parking sticker program in the West End will further reduce available on - street parking. Staff suggests that the ELC develop a loading/unloading parking plan. The plan should include: * Bleeker Street parking signed for patron use of the building only; * enlarge the loading zones at either end of the building; * relocate Wildwood drop-off elsewhere in town; and * exit Waldorf School onto either Garmisch or First Street. Because use of the building is reduced during the summer the ELC may have until August 1, 1993 to review a parking plan with the, Parking Director, and Engineering and Planning Departments. D. There are adequate public facilities and services to serve the conditional use including but not limited to roads, potable water, sewer, solid waste, parks, police, fire protection, emergency medical services, hospital and medical services, drainage systems, and schools; and RESPONSE: The public facilities are adequate to serve this expanded conditional use. However, the Environmental Health Department commented during the 1991 conditional review that radon levels were very high. One method of mitigation suggested by the department was not to use the rooms with the highest radon counts. The applicant shall confirm with the Environmental Health Department that space proposed for the new educational related uses has been mitigated of radon hazard. E. The applicant commits to supply affordable housing to meet the incremental need for increased employees generated by the conditional use; and RESPONSE: The yellow brick school employed between 17 and 23 full time employees. The ELC expected to employee 19 full time employees. However, the adjusted program employees between 10 and 12 employees. Waldorf School has two teachers but expects to increase to four teachers next year. The ELC commits that there will be no more full-time equivalent (FTE) employees on site than the original 23. Therefore there is no affordable employee housing requirement. F. The proposed conditional use complies with all additional standards imposed on it by the Aspen Area Comprehensive Plan and by all other applicable requirements of this chapter. RESPONSE: The proposed conditional use will with the other 5 M regulations of this chapter. The partial reuse of the building for education purposes complies with the short-term goal of the Aspen Area Community Plan to "support and enhance the continued educational use for the yellow brick school." RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of the conditional use for educational related uses in the Early Learning Center with the following conditions: 1. The primary use of the building and the focus of the programs shall continue to be day care operations and related programs for children. If the primary use of the building becomes non -Early Learning Center or an alternative day care and child related program, any proposed use shall be reviewed pursuant to Section 24- 7-304 of the Municipal Code. 2. Educational related uses shall only mean classroom or instructor oriented such as gymnastic education and shall not be construed to mean office space for educators or creative space for artists who occasionally conduct a workshop or seminar. 3. The building shall not be used beyond 8:30 pm. 4. The ELC shall install block out shades to reduce visual impacts in the neighborhood. 5. The applicant shall be prepared to discuss the number of days in a week that the building will be used at the Commission public hearing. 6. The ELC shall develop a loading/unloading and parking plan. The plan should include: signing of Bleeker street parking for patron use of the building only, enlarging the loading zones at either end of the building, relocation off the site of Wildwood drop-off, and alternative exiting location for Waldorf School preferable onto either Garmisch or First street. Said plan shall be reviewed and approved by the Parking Director, and Planning and Engineering Departments on or before August 2, 1993. 7. The applicant shall confirm with the Environmental Health Department that space proposed for the new educational related uses has been mitigated of radon hazard. 8. The ELC commits that there will be no more than 23 FTE on site. 9. All representations made in the application and at the public hearing shall be adhered to by the applicant during the operation of this conditional use. 10. The applicant shall make a presentation to the Planning and Zoning Commission at their regularly scheduled meeting August 17, 1993 to verify that all the conditions of approval have been met 21 and there are no violations of this conditional use approval. RECOMMENDED MOTION: "I move to approve the conditional use for the expanded educational uses at the Early Learning Center, 215 North Garmisch Street with the conditions recommended in the Planning Office memo dated 5/18/93 finding that the conditional use complies with the Aspen Area Community Plan." EXHIBITS: A. Plan of building B. Citizen Letters C. Affidavit of Public Notice D. AACP Design Quality and Historic Preservation pg. 55 E. Submitted Application 7 0 'v V 0 Jw v O Zc L 0 Z >- Z W m WJm1— 30C MM<Z v °m a �QWW opow QW_It,� PLANNING & MONING COMMISSION EXHIBIT A , APPROVED ► 9 BY RESOTT"'T^N _ • .1.3a� i-4'wz*5, r------t---I------- N co U E O E I , •� •r-I •� I 1 N La I m w U >H I U I a � --- -74 -d > O w o 'd co >, J. 1 H W co m a CO > U 3 3 �4 �4 r-- ( I W H N 3 � W •ri � r--I Ul �- -- - - ---� , Ur .� •�1 a.) H o U U) I I 1 I I 3 ( I T1 � - - -I I U ► cry W I � I ca 4-4 �4 "C O •rl r—i U I t-1 H U 3 Q I L� � v it--- -- - - -I I I o I U j L1 � I C7 I I U I I U j O I I I I MAY-11-04 TUE 21:25 JOHN KATHERINE LEE FAX NO. 3039201890 P.01 ,� PLANNING ZONING COMMISSION 444. LCE EXHIBIT , APPROVED , r o v, $" 3121 j #o-, l0�� 9 r� Y RESOLUTION �OI V1_ _� ✓V� J Ire) 5/� f am e--'Oc�9 MAY-11-04 TUE 21:26 JOHN KATHERINE LEE FAX NO. 3039201890 P,02 1100 r� IC oa6l &--ot O� i�lrlti/n�� �G"°t�u a14 tZ7 1,0waz,-foL .00 1-00, yL�� �1[TAel. /h2-cg/�.�t�is�rat�`rCeo /��..��.. ��� GGa/ 1� ��fic2,m-ate C! ��rr OP ���� Q-f' .,�.tirc✓ni - � J 0, 7Aa ea/ue,���ap l� /o MAY-11-04 TUE 21:27 JOHN KATHERINE LEE FAX NO. 3039201890 P,03 MAY-11-04 TUE 21;27 JOHN KATHERINE LEE FAX N0. 3039201890 P.04 Ao "Lo ;4d I've eo -7- /.,& [if// MAY-11-04 TUE 21:28 JOHN KATHERINE LEE FAX NO. 3039201890 P,05 r MAY-11-04 TUE 21:29 JOHN KATHERINE LEE FAX NO. 3039201890 P.06 MAY-11-04 TUE 21:29 JOHN KATHERINE LEE FAX N0, 3039201890 P,0�1/ 7, tj a, f ' ►���-��.o fir+ �5 MAY-11-04 TUE 21:30 JOHN KATHERINE LEE FAX NO. 3039201890 P.08 }ter �� n �, �At✓,�� .� ?oaf lS -Ott/ �-� �oea �xo-�"��r ��,,. JOHN KATHERINE LEE FAX NO. 3039201890 P.01 UV41 to P.0, too 3121, Ate, Cow 91612 r 1-7 06/03/93 11:32 'M 715 835 5013 WISSOTA S&G CO [1 02 June 3, 1993 Aspen/Pitkin Planning Office 130 S. Galena St. Aspen, CO 81611 ATTENTION: Leslie Lamont Dear. Leslie: Confirming our telephone conversation of this morning and the amendment to the Early Learning Center at 215 N. Garmisch (Yellow School) . My main concern with the expansion is the activity and parking can W. Bleeker. Bleeker Street has become a second main street, and we have the automobiles, buses, trucks and especially the muffler -free motoreylecs running up and down our street .from early morning until the bars close downtown. With the proposed additional use at the Learning Center this will create more activity, and this is our concern. T am sure: our neighbors on Hallam and First Streets have this same concern. Please take this into consideration when ,you set the hours of activity at the Yellow Schoolhouse. You s truly, Ray A. Larson, Jr. 222 W. Bleeker St. Aspen, CO 81611 State of C City of As follows: PLANNING ZONING COMMI-XAMENT EXHIBIT (.... , APPROVED , 19 BY RESOLUTION AFFIDAVIT OF PUBLIC NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR DEVELOPMENT APPROVAL (Pursuant to Section 6-205 E. of the Aspen Land Use Regulations) olorado) SS. pen ) The undersigned, being duly sworn, deposes and says as I, Alice Davis being or representing an applicant before City of Aspen, personally, certify that Public Notice of the application for the Early Learning Center at the Yellow Brick School site was given by mailing notice of the public hearing before the Aspen Planning and Zoning Commission to all property owners within 300 feet of the subject property. Also, notice was posted via a sign containing the information required in Section 6-205 E with such posting in a conspicuous place (as it could be seen from the nearest public way). Posting occurred on May 3, 1993 and mailing occurred on April 30, 1993. Applicant: Early Learning Center Board By Alice Davis The foregoing Affidavit of Public Notice was acknowledged and signed before me this 3rd day of May 1993, by Alice Davis on behalf of the Early Learning Center Board. WITNESS my hand and official seal. My commission expires: 31�/9'? NOTARY PUBLIC czo G to La �,q t awl o v(o 4 l 1� RACZAK ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES CERTIFICATE OF MAILING Janet L. Raczak, of Raczak Administrative Services,, Inc., does hereby certify that on May 28, 1993, a true and correct copy of the attached Public Notice re: Early Learning Center Conditions Use Review was placed in the United States Mail, first-class postage prepaid to the owners of property within 300 feet of the subject property. A copy of the list property owners, notified is attached hereto. J#het L. Raczak�� 0234 Light Hill Road o Snowmass, Colorado 81654 • 303-927-4800 AO �F Design Quality ahWJ71M79=� 9 — BY MSOLUTION �n4Cl67ENT reservation � ❑ 1. Develop a historic preservation program in the County. Begin by developing standards, expanded guidelines and incentives. ❑ 2. Provide planning staff assistance to and encourage neighborhoods not located within historic districts to develop their own set of Character Guidelines to assist new development fit within the context of that neighborhood's character. ❑ 3. Continue review of public projects through the Public Projects Review Group (PPRG); expand the PPRG to include a wider discipline of design professionals. ❑ 4. Encourage front porches by amending the Aspen Land Use Regulations to exempt front porches from FAR and site coverage calculations, and reduce total allowable FAR's accordingly. ❑ 5. Retain the red brick school building for public use and preserve its open space; a. Purchase for public use; b. Rezone to public. center: ❑ a. Do a comprehensive study for the yellow brick school to determine its ultimate appropriate function, use and character contributions to the community. ❑ 7. Study which areas in the downtown core could be developed in order to attract social activity in specific places (i.e. people magnets at intersections or ends of corridors and comers). ❑ S. Investigate programs for enhancement of alleyscapes, both commercial and residential. ❑ 9. Amend Historic Preservation Guidelines to encourage compatible roof -top activities in the commercial districts. ❑ 10. Amend the City Code to require review of alterations and additions to all historic resources identified on the Aspen Inventory of Historic Sites and Structures. ❑ 11. Develop a Neighborhood Office zone district for portions of the Main Street Historic District, to encourage locally owned businesses to locate here and provide year-round vitality to this area. ❑ 12. Review the appropriateness of current floor area ratio allowances in the Residential-6 (R-6) zone district. ❑ 13. Study the Hunter Street corridor for increased buildout with aesthetic quality as it relates to the historic district and the gondola. 0 Davits tlorn��c- PLANNING • APPRAISING • REAL ESTATE CONSULTING PLANNING�t!# NG COMMISSION EXHIBIT APPROVED 19 BY RESOLUTION -01 April 30, 1993 Ms. Leslie Lamont Aspen-Pitkin Planning Office 130 S. Galena Street Aspen, Colorado 81611 Re: The Early Learning Center Amended Conditional Use Review Dear Leslie: Davis Horn Incorporated represents The Early Learning Center Board (hereinafter "applicant", refer to attachment 1) which is seeking to amend the Conditional Use approval granted by the Aspen Planning and Zoning Commission in April, 1991 for the yellow brick school site. At that time the school was converted from an elementary school use into the existing child care use, The Early Learning Center. As The Early Learning Center does not need or use the entire building, this application is to request approval to return to educational uses for the remainder of the building which is not being used by child care and child care related uses. As depicted by the Vicinity Map, attachment 2, the subject site is located on Block 57, Aspen Townsite. The majority of the property is owned by the Aspen School District which has consented to the application. A portion of the site is owned by Pitkin County so we are also submitting a letter from the County consenting to the land use application. (Refer to attachment 3.) Thank you for meeting with me in a pre -application conference to review the issues associated with the amended conditional use review. This letter describes the requested proposal and demonstrates compliance with the Conditional Use criteria of the Aspen Land Use Regulations (Section 7-3). REQUESTED CONDITIONAL USE APPROVAL The Yellow Brick School was an elementary school since the 19401s. It is currently approved and used as a day care center, The Early Learning Center. Since The Early Learning Center does not need the entire building, they would like to have other educational uses occupy the remaining unused space. A school and a day care center use are both conditional uses which have been approved for the site in the past. This request is to return to more educational, academic school related uses in the space not needed at this time for day care activities. The already approved day care use will still be able to expand at some point in the future if necessary. ALICE DAMS, SRA J GLENN HORN, AICP 215 SOUTH MONARCH • SUITE 104 • ASPEN, COLORADO 816t1. 303/925-6587 • FAX 303/'925a180 7_ Leslie Lamont April 30, 1993 Page 2 The building's impacts should not be any different if it is occupied by the day care use or the educational uses; the new uses will have similar or lesser impacts. The entire building will have less impacts than when the elementary school was operational. This request is to allow excess space in The Early Learning Center to be used for "academic/educational" uses. Such uses would include, but not be limited to Aspen Ballet dance classes, Yoga center classes for adults and children, the Waldorf School, and other similar academic/arts/cultural related educational uses. (See attachment 5, floor plan of proposed use of the building.) Any tenant or use will be tied to education. The hours of operation requested as part of this application are from 7:00 A.M. to 10:00 P.M. The day care use is approved from 7:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. The expanded hours will allow the traffic and parking impacts to be spread out over a longer time period and not concentrated at peak hours. This should be safer for the drop off and pick up of day care children and allow a more efficient use of the building. The educational uses which may locate here are not all specified (or known) at this time, but the Yoga Center and Aspen Ballet are two uses which would continue past the 6:00 P.M. time frame approved at this time. Also, The Early Learning Center Board will meet in the evening once a month. The night time use will be minimal and impacts should be minimal as well. The newly adopted Aspen Area Community Plan (AACP) which involved over a year of community research and input, specifically states that the Yellow Brick School be retained as an educational center for the City of Aspen. This conditional use application therefore is consistent with and helps to accomplish the goals of the AACP. The City of Aspen's Child Care Advisory Committee recommended to City Council that The Early Learning Center occupy space and manage the yellow brick building in the most efficient way possible. In that regard the Committee recommended that The Early Learning Center lease out the space not needed by the day care use to help cover the costs of the building. The review and recommendations of the advisory committee were made at the request of the City Council which was concerned about the amount of subsidy which was necessary to operate the building. The Council agreed with the findings of the Committee. Therefore, one of the purposes of this application is to adhere to the Committee and Council's recommendation. 23 Leslie Lamont April 30, 1993 Page 3 LAND USE STANDARDS This section of the application addresses the standards in the Aspen Land Use Regulations which are pertinent to this request. Section 7-3 of the Regulations, Standards applicable to all conditional uses are addressed below. Section 7-304 A. The conditional use is consistent with the purposes, goals, objectives and standards of the Aspen Area Comprehensive Plan, and with the intent of the Zone District in which it is proposed to be located. The recently adopted Aspen Area Community Plan (AACP) specifically addresses the yellow brick school building. The Plan calls for the "continued educational use of the yellow brick school". The community plan envisions the building as a educational center for the City of Aspen. The proposed use is completely within the intent of the purposes, goals, objectives and standards of the plan. In fact, expanding the conditional use to again include educational and academic related uses is a specified short term action in the Design Quality and Historic Preservation element of the AACP. (see excerpt in attachment 4.) In summary, the proposed change in use is consistent with the Aspen Area Community Plan. As you know, the In -town School Sites Committee studied the re -use of the in -town schools for approximately one year in 1990. The Committee recommended that the yellow brick school site be used for child care related uses. The concept for this application is based upon the primary use of the building as child care with the remaining area rented to child care and educational related uses. The related educational uses will also help to financially support the child care operation as the ELC cannot afford and does not need the use of the entire building. We feel this application is in line with the recommendations of the former In -town School Sites Committee and the expansion of the child care use to include educational uses. The primary focus of the building and its uses will continue to be the education of children. The subject site is zoned R-6. According to Section 5-201 A. the purpose of the zone district is as quoted below: "The purpose of the Medium -Density Residential (R-6) Zone District is to provide areas for residential purposes with customary accessory uses. Recreational and institu- tional uses customarily found in proximity to residential uses are included as conditional uses. Lands ,in the Leslie Lamont April 30, 1993 Page 4 Medium -Density Residential (R-6) Zone District are generally limited to the original Aspen Townsite, contain relatively dense settlements of predominantly detached and duplex residences, and are within walking distance of the center of the City." The proposed use falls within the intent of R-6 zone district where it is located. The Early Learning Center and the previous school use are both appropriate, customary accessory uses in the R-6 district. This application is to amend the 1991 conditional use approval to allow educational/academic uses in the remainder of the building not used by the child care center. As the previous elementary school was an appropriate, customary use in the zone district, the return to educational related uses falls within the intent of the zone district as well. The existing child care use and the proposed educational related uses are institutional accessory uses to the surrounding residential neighborhood and fall within the intent of the zone district as well. Off-street parking is provided for all employees and a loading/unloading area is provided on Garmisch and Hallam Streets. The use of the building for educational purposes should not generate further impacts beyond what use of the entire building by The Early Learning Center would generate. Section 7-304 B. The conditional use is consistent and gompatible with the character of the immediate vicinity of the parcel proposed for development and surrounding land uses, or enhances the mixture of complimentary uses and activities in the immediate vicinity of the parcel proposed for development. The academic/educational uses are consistent and compatible with the surrounding residential area. The building has been used as an elementary school for many years and the proposed use will have less adverse impacts on the surrounding neighborhood than the previous school use and will in the worse case, be impact neutral when compared to 100% occupancy by the existing, approved day care use. As part of the 1991 conditional use review, the applicant committed to making improvements to the yard. All of the site planning improvements have been made and a chain link fence was removed, an aesthetic improvement to the neighborhood. The AACP process considered numerous reuse options for the site. As part of its considerations, it evaluated the character of the surrounding area and comments from neighbors. Based upon the extensive public process, the plan recommended that the yellow brick school building be used as an educational center for the City of Aspen. Leslie Lamont April 30, 1993 Page 5 Section 7-304 C. The location, size, design and operating characteristics of the proposed conditional use minimizes adverse effects, including visual impacts, impacts on pedestrian and vehicular circulation, parking, trash, service delivery, noise, vibrations and odor on surrounding properties. The proposed use will be "impact neutral" on the surrounding neighborhood when compared to the existing use and will have less impacts than the former school use. The interior and exterior of the building will remain the same. The adverse impacts on the neighborhood resulting from vehicular traffic will not increase with the proposed academic/educational uses. The child care operation is smaller than predicted and is generating less impacts. The new uses will essentially be generating the traffic that the child care use has not due to the smaller operation. The proposed educational uses which may include the Aspen Ballet children's dance classes, the. Aspen Yoga Center and Aspen Interactive, are expected to generate less traffic and to be in operation less hours in the day than the child care use. The most intensive of the educational uses will involve dance, gymnastics and yoga classes while the others will be much less intensive such as one on one computer education. Many of the persons arriving will come and go as opposed to being dropped off and picked up. Many children are dropped off and picked up, generating two additional trips beyond what a person arriving and leaving on his on would generate. Most of the activities will still be for the education of children. Traffic will be much less when compared to the impact of the 240 children who attended the elementary school. Also, the elementary school children arrived at and left school within two short peak traffic periods. The Early Learning Center and the educational uses proposed have varying dropped off and pick up times. This will spread the traffic over a longer period of time, reducing peak traffic impacts. There are approximately _12 off-street parking spaces located on Bleeker Street which will not be affected by the change in use. Service delivery and trash pick-up will be the same. There will be less noise and odors than if The Early Learning Center occupied .100% of the building and less noise than the former school use as there will be fewer children and fewer persons occupying the building than the 240 children who occupied the elementary school. 26 Leslie Lamont April 30, 1993 Page 6 Section 704 D. There are adequate public facilities and services to serve the conditional use including but not limited to roads, potable water, sewer, solid waste, parks, police, fire protection, emergency medical services, hospital and medical services, drainage systems, and schools. There will be no increase in impacts on public facilities resulting from the proposed academic/educational use. Section 704 E. The applicant commits to supply affordable housing to meet the incremental need for increased employees generated by the conditional use. Prior to the day care center approval in 1991, there were 23 full- time employees working in the yellow brick school building. In their conditional use review in 1991, The Early Learning Center expected to have 19 full time employees. The Early Learning Center actually has only ten to twelve employees at this time. The ELC and the proposed educational uses will not generate more than the total 23 employees previously on site. If the ELC use begins to utilize more of the building in the future and the number of employees increases, the educational uses will take up less space and generate less employees. The applicant agrees that there will be no further employees beyond the23 originally on site. L� Therefore, there is no affordable housing requirement. Section 704 F. The proposed conditional use complies with all additional standards imposed on it by the Aspen Area Comprehensive Plan and by all other applicable requirements of this chapter. The proposed conditional use will accomplish one of the short term goals of the adopted Aspen Area Community Plan: "Support and enhance the continued educational use of the yellow brick school" The proposed use will comply with the other regulations of this chapter of the Aspen Land Use Regulations. Z7 Leslie Lamont April 30, 1993 Page 7 1K1Y _. _.1 7 The request for conditional use approval for academic/educational uses at the yellow brick school site is being made by The Early Learning Center Board. As The Early Learning Center does not need the entire yellow brick building, the Board is looking to lease the unused space to education related tenants. The Early Learning Center leases the building from the School District for the cost of maintenance. As The Early Learning Center does not need the entire building, it is very difficult to financially cover the cost of running and maintaining the entire building. Therefore, adding educational uses in the unused rooms allows these tenants to pay their pro-rata share of the maintenance costs so the ELC does not have the undue burden of maintaining the entire building. As the AACP has designated the building appropriate for educational uses, this will allow such essential community uses to be located here, while also allowing the continued operation of The Early Learning Center. The Early Learning Center may not be able to continue operation without the income from these tenants. This letter has demonstrated that the proposed academic/educational use will have no more impacts on the surrounding residential neighborhood than the existing day care use, should the day care use fill the entire building as previously approved. The proposed use will have substantially less impacts than the former elementary school. The Early Learning Center Board therefore requests that the Planning and Zoning Commission consider the Conditional Use approval of academic/educational uses along with the already approved day care and day care related use at the yellow brick school as soon as possible to enable the ELC to begin leasing the unoccupied space this summer, 1993. It will be helpful for you to refer to the following attachments. Attachment 1 - Letter from Elise Dreher, Director of The Early Learning Center authorizing Davis Horn Inc. to represent The Early Learning Center in the land use review process; Attachment 2 - Vicinity Map; Attachment 3 - Letters from Tom Farrell, Superintendent of Schools, Aspen School District and Reid Haughey, County Manager for Pitkin County, owners of the subject property, consenting to the submission of a land use application for the yellow brick school site; 21 Le.- -- — • 00/ ox�� --7-iO4 -ten. f22z� 0 .r :14 I r 'ter �t �� -�•! �, M � J 06/08/93 14:50 0395 5985 DAVIS GROUP 1@ OO2 Juice 83 1993 WILLIA.M LLcyYID DAVIS 721% AH17-0W , AVEiNUIs . f umc •tou SA.NTA 3+'IONLCA. (_;A,T YFORNIA S3d4.[Si Ms. Leslie Lainont Aspen/Pit]6-, Plaiming Office 130 South Galena. Street Aspen, CO 81611 .Lear Ms. Lamont: Please regard this lofter as an adainalit protest against the expatision- of. the hours and usage of the raarly Learning Conter, My wife and I are residents of acid vutvis in the City of Aspen. Our concerns are twofold: 1 Two children aged 7 years and 16,montlxs Our mucern for our children is increased traffic and parking which we feel is a. significant safety hazard. 2) Noise As we are M. a residential iaci.ghhorhood, we are most ceneemed about any noise over and above the existing level. It would be our suggestion that any of the usages of this facility be held elsewhere, such as at the Aspen School. Please regard this letter as a protest: in the strongest possible terms. Sincerely, Mr. & Mrs. William. L. Davis 200 W. Bleeker Avenue' Aspen, CO 8161 i. TELrPwc:3MC FACs1M14¢ 310 & $05-50aS ly IM. Wildwood School I'M Attention City Planners, It has come to our attention that the city is considering relocation of the Wildwood School Bus Stop. We_would like to provide the city with information about the School's busiring so that the city can make an educated decision. During the 1992/93 school year the Wildwood School Bus Gtop has been located on the corner of Garmish and Bleeker, the south side of the E.L.C. building. This particular location was chosen because of low traffic, ample parking, and Educational Setting. Drop-off and Pick-up times occur between 8:30 and 9:00 a.m., and 3:30 and 4:00 in Monday through Friday. Parents are able to have at safe, well maintained, and appropriately marked area for ` their children to board a school bus. Because of the short time the bus is at this location there is very low impact on the / surrounding environment, neighbors etc. The Wildwood School Bus takes approximately 40 children to school each day, by having a down town centrally located bus stop we are able to cut down on # of motorists on our roads, aiding our environment. We believe this is a safe and logical place for the Wildwood School Bus Stop and hope that you will continue to consider this location as a viable option. Robin Van Domelen Administrative Director 100 2.B[EkE,. c4i. zn, LOCO 816n 303-9�?5-16$9 Ed!97,011E 20349'3aa.min ton cRc�. 13avnin9Eon, x4S336 313-477-5573 II 1 JUN ,' , 06/08/93 15:30 V216 831 2915 MORELAND MGMT. 0 002/003 Richard A. HurlVz June 3, 1993 Ms. Leslie Lamont Aspen/Pitkin planning office 130 South Galena Street . Aspen, CO 81611 Dear Ms, Lamont: This letter is in reference to the Early Learning Center Conditional TJse Review scheduled for Tuesday► June S. 1993• I an the property owner who resides at 201 West Henda of which the is the cedar -sided house directlynext to the west rly Learning center. I am very concerned bout the proposed expansion hat the use of use of the facility particularly to the u extent w the west and extends to the evening ba right hours. 'neighborhood" in the city of Aspen is the last proper. This is what attracted us to it when we purchased our hone in the fall of 1991. It is a place to take walk ► for to ride bikes, and generally to get away from the hustle and bustle of the central business district of the town. Parking is already a significant problem in the area. Nos otno ytis the proliferation of cars unsightly, but It contribute pollution and to some extent creates a hazard to the children, not only because of the additional cars which are attrac Alai but because of the reduction in visibility which they cause ing such an expanded use will augment this parking problem. I'm also concerned about the additional noise level created by this facility, particularly by night use. Generally, when a meeting is concluded, the participants continue talking as they proceed outside. Depending on the type of crowd whichtheeeeor nan attract, this can create either a modest level of i excessive level of noise. The point is, the encouragementarg gatherings of people in the evening will undermineheresidential character of the neighborhood. Much effort has been expended by the planning and zoning personnel in town to preserve the aesthetic nature of the west end. It would be a real shame if by permitting what amounts to residnial ts uses the essential. character and ambience of the neighborhood adversely affected. 28601 Chagrin 13uulevjrd / Suilr a5C) at calnl,ritigi• Court / C wt-lxnd. Ohio 44)2?-4c5:i] Phoni:::?J6 / �15]•t�?� Fux; ?lei / ail-2915 06/08/93 15:31 '0216 831 2915 MORELAND MGMT. IMO03/003 Ms. Leslie Lamont June 3, 1993 Page TWO I would have been happy to testify at this meeting, but unfortunately I will not be returning to Aspen for the summerike until June 1.0. Please feel free to call me if you would any additional information. Very truly yours, Richard A. Horvitz --1 Com bec: Mr. George Vicenzi k:ASPIT.RAH