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HomeMy WebLinkAboutagenda.apz.19880308 / AGENDA ASPEN PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION ...... March 8 , 1988 - Tuesday 4:30 P.M. City Council Chambers 1st Floor City Hall REGULAR MEETING I. COMMENTS Commissioners Planning Staff II. MINUTES December 1, 1987 December 8, 1987 Fet>f'lV>,rjJ 2, 198 III. PUBLIC HEARING A. Ritz-Carlton Aspen Hotel GMP Amendment (Table to March 22) IV. NEW BUSINESS V. ADJOURN MEETING A. Ritz-Carlton Aspen Hotel PUD Amendment , SNOWMASS CORPORATION March 8, 1988 Mr. William Sterling Mayor City of Aspen 130 South Galena Aspen, CO 81611 Re: Hadid/Ritz-Carlton Hotel Dear Bill: Since I am not a voter in Aspen and since the proposed Hadid/Ritz-Carlton hotel will compete with our Snowmass Club, I hope you will view my comments supporting the proposed hotel as objective. f1VFPVTFW 1. Aspen - Snowmass Position Market In broad view, Jim Chaffin and I believe that Aspen and Snowmass should collectively postion themselves in the national market as one area offering four mountains. We firmly believe that facilities and programs which benefit Aspen will indirectly benefit Snowmass and vice versa. The Music Festival and Andersen Ranch are two such examples. We see ourselves as citizens of the area - not just Snowmass. 2. Short -Term Competition vs Long -Term Benefits We, of course, know Aspen and Snowmass are competitive in the short-term or for a customer deciding where to stay, dine, shop, or ski in this area. For example, the Aspen gondola has drawn skiers away from Snowmass mountain for the past two seasons. Longer -term, the gondola will benefit us all since skiers first attracted to Aspen by the gondola will soon find Snowmass. Snowmass and Aspen will each get its share of an increased market. BENEFIT TO ASPEN OF THE HADID/RITZ-CARLTON HOTEL We believe the proposed Hadid/Ritz-Carlton Hotel will have these benefits to Aspen. 1. Market A larger, high -quality, well run hotel will attract a broader market to Aspen. Including corporate officers who might not come here on their own but will come back. Post Office Box 5000 * Snowmass Village, Colorado 81615 • Phone (303) 923-4500 Mr. William Sterling March 8, 1988 Page Two 2. Marketing The Ritz -Carlton organization has national marketing skills and money - beyond the reach of other local volunteer organizations and small lodges or property companies. 3. Spill -over Benefits The spill -over benefits will include substantial benefits to retail and restaurant business and "off-season" business as well. 4. Sales Tax Revenues Your staff can compute these obvious benefits. 5. Competitive Pressure If the Snowmass Club is an example, this hotel will continue pressure (started by the Jerome and other lodges) to upgrade facilities. While the proposed Hadid/Ritz-Carlton Hotel may compete initially with existing lodging facilities - including those at Snowm ass - I believe the benefits will far outweigh those short-term negative impacts. Sincerely, Jame W. Light JWL/212/dcb CITY OF ASPEN 130 south galena street aspen, colorado 81611 303-925 -2020 23 March 8, 1988 Condominium Rental Management, Inc. 747 South Galena Street Aspen, Colorado 81611 (303) 925-2260 Telex No 5106000914 Aspen City Council Planning & Zoning Commission Managing Agent for • Fasching Haus Fifth Avenue • Alpenblick Tipple Inn • Durant Tipple Lodge • Aspen Mtn. I would like to express my strong support of the proposed Ritz Carlton hotel. We manage seven condominium hotel properties on Galena and Mill Streets, directly across the street from the site of the proposed hotel. That site has been an eyesore and a blight on the entire community for years as it has passed from Cantrup to Roberts to Trump and finally to Hadid. We now have a developer who is ready to break ground and has a design within the height limits of what City Council has already approved. Let's not hold this project up any longer. Some people have argued that Aspen doesn't need any more hotel space. I believe that Aspen does have a need for more first- class hotel rooms and conference facilities. Bringing in. more conference business during the shoulder seasons can only benefit Aspen as a whole, especially the restaurants and shops. As for existing property managers and hotel owners, a little competition is good for us. It can only stimulate us to raise our standards of quality in our own properties. And it would certainly be a major improvement over the gaping hole and muddy parking lots currently on that site, which is one of the most visible locations in town. I urge your support of this well -located, first class hotel that Aspen's guests need and deserve. Sincerely, Lee L. Miller President & General Manager LLM:cmr