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Chairman Welton Anderson called the meeting to order at 5: 01 PM
with Commissioners Roger Hunt, Mari Peyton, David White, Al
Blomquist, and Jim Colombo present.
COMIIISS-IORERS" COIUIEftS
White said Bill Little had contacted him because he wants to move
his bakery in to the nOn Office zone. white said he would like
to sponsor a code amendment, allowing a bakery as a condi tional
use in the 0 zone. Anderson asked if it was not already a
conditional use. white said the Planning Office was not recognizing
that. Hunt said he had also been contacted by Mr. Little and
that he had indicated the property he was interested in was
Claude Conors property at the intersection of Main and Aspen St.
Hunt said if the building had a historic designation it would
allow more latitude. Hunt said he felt there had been a precedent
set with the Mesa Store Bakery, in a historic building, in the 0
zone. Blomquist said a restaurant was already a conditional use
in the 0 zone, in a historic building. He felt the volume of
baking done is no more than the volume of cooking done for a
restaurant, thinking they would be the same.
"
Gideon Kaufm~n, applicant's attorney, said they had looked at 2
approaches. One would be to change the zoning code which would
be difficult for one piece of property. Mr. Kaufman said as they
examined the 0 district, clearly in an individually designated
building you have the ability for certain conditional uses, which
this Commission would review. Mr. Kaufman said he thought it
made more sense to have the building historically designated, then
apply for a conditional use. Mr. Kaufman commented that they
will have a timing problem because they will have to go through a
complicated process to achieve this. Mr. Kaufman said at this
time they would like to ask the Commission to sponsor this
proposal in order to expedite the process.
Anderson said in previous use determination situations the
Commission had looked at the similarity between the use proposed
and existing uses. Anderson asked the Commissioners', to give
the applicant a sense of their feelings, whether they thought
this should be pursued from a code amendment or a historic
designation for the building with a use determination as a
conditional use.
Blomquist said he thought the volume of this bakery and its use
was very similar to a restaurant. Alan Richman, Planning Director,
said the activity of the two was totally different with customers
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entering a restaurant and rema1n1ng for a period of time before
leaving, and a bakery being an in and out operation.
White commented that the In & Out House was within a block of the
proposed location and very similar to the small operation of a
bakery.
Hunt said he would be in favor of going ahead on the use determi-
nation with a back up, if necessary, to sponsor a zoning change
to include this as a conditional use.
Motion-:
white moved to sponsor the process of initiating a code amendment
to add this use to the conditional use tables, and that the
applicant be encouraged to proceed with the use determination
route and that the code change be back up to that route; Hunt
seconded. Peyton opposed, all others in favor; motion carried.
Steve Burstein, planner, said he had a request for a small trail
segment that Fritz Benedict has requested across his land.
Burstein said the proposed trail was a connection from Ute Ave.,
just past the tennis courts at the Gant, coming in to the Aspen
Mountain Railroad right-of-way where the existing Nordic trail
is. The development is subject to the 8040 review process.
Burstein showed photographs of the area, explaining the proposal
would be a 6 to 8 foot wide trail.
Colombo asked if the trail would become a use easement.
Mr. Benedict replied yes. Anderson said he did not see a reason
to go through the 8040 review process when there is no development
activity, thereby being exempt.
Motion:
Peyton moved to not consider the trail development and therefore
not subject to 8040 Greenline Review; Colombo seconded. All in
favor; motion carried.
MIau.LDS
Juiv--22-i-l-986-: Peyton moved to approve the minutes of July 22,
1986; Colombo seconded. All in favor; motion carried.
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llutiun:
Blomquist moved to amend the Commissions rules; adding a rule
saY1ng any ad hoc agenda items shall be proposed at the beginning
of the meeting and, if accepted by the Commission for inclusion,
shall be scheduled at the end of the meeting; Hunt seconded. All
in favor; motion carried.
lIEIf-BUs-lllESS
BOA<t-8tt4f)---GREElILllIE REVIEW
Burstein explained this was a proposal to enclose the decks of
the existing house at 1095 ute Ave. Photographs were shown to
the Commissioners of the existing structure. Burstein said there
would be an increase in square footage of less than 300 feet.
Burstein said the Planning Office felt it would have very minimal
impact on the perceived bulk of the structure, and they recommend
approval.
John Kelley, applicant's attorney, said the view from town was
blocked off by existing trees. Additionally, there would be no
effect on vegetation. Everything would be within the existing
building footprint which is under the allowed FAR.
Motion:
Blomqui st moved to approve the 8040 Greenline Review for the
requested enclosure of decks at 1095 Ute Avenue; Colombo seconded.
All in favor; motion carried.
SlEGEL/SMrm- 8040 mtEElIL-nm---REVIEW
Burstein explained this joint application for residences on lots
3 and 5 of the Sunny Park North Subdivision. The case was tabled
on June 3, 1986 based on concerns with access, site development
considerations, and visual impacts. The applicants are bringing
forth an amendment to that application tonight, in the form of a
proposed driveway. Burstein reviewed and explained the plans.
The driveway would come off of Park Circle and up to the Salvation
Ditch with 2 switchbacks, servicing both houses. Other aspects
of the proposal have not changed.
Burstein said the Planning Office and other referral agencies had
looked at the driveway proposal. The Engineering Dept. raised
significant concerns, feeling the retaining structures shown may
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not be adequate to maintain the driveway. They estimated that
perhaps 100 feet of the driveway would need to have more of a
retaining structure. However, they would need to look at more
studies to determine what kind of retaining structure is necessary.
Burstein said from the Planning Office's point of view they felt
the environmental impacts of digging in to the hillside, and the
visual impacts from the Smuggler neighborhood seem to be unaccep-
table. Therefore, this alternative is not favored. Burstein
said Peter Dobrovolny had submitted another alternative to access
off of the Salvation Ditch.
Burstein said the Salvation Ditch has a trail designation on the
Comprehensive plan which created concern at the first hearing.
This time that aspect is not a concern through the 8040 Greenline
Review process. The Planning Office was able to support the
Salvation Ditch alternative for access to the property and would
work out an arrangement with the County to have an access easement
through the Molly Gibson Park in exchange for a trail easement.
Anderson asked where the trail easement would be. Burstein
replied basically alongside the Salvation Ditch alignment.
Anderson then asked if the driveway and the trail would share the
same general location. Burstein replied yes.
Burstein said other concerns of the 8040 review were the siting of
the house, revegetation scheme, and architectural features. In
the first review the Planning Office raised the concern that what
might be considered more compatible mountain architecture would
be to step back the building along the hillside and to keep the
roofline so that they approximate the predominate slope of the
hillside. Burstein said they still feel that is a valid recomme-
ndation.
Burstein said the revegetation scheme for both lots includes
basically a native revegetation of the sites. The Planning
Office feels that is an important component of this proj ect and
is acceptable. Burstein said the Planning Office recommends
approval of the requested 8040 review subject to 6 conditions
(outlined in the Planing Office memorandum dated August 5,
1986) .
Gary Wright, applicant's attorney, asked if the Commission would
agree to change approval condition .2 from a revegetation deadline
of June 1987 to October 1987. Burstein said that was agreeable
to the Planning Office. The Commissioners agreed.
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Anderson said when the proposal originally came in it was with a
driveway alignment through Molly Gibson Park and on the Salvation
Ditch. The application was tabled pending a determination of
trail alignments as they relate to driveway alignments. Now the
appl icant has come back with a different alignment. Anderson
said, as he remembered, the main stumbling block at the time of
the first hearing was that the applicant was not prepared to
provide an accommodation for any trails through their property.
Burstein replied that according to the City Attorney's office
the 8040 review was not clear about review of trails and the
ability for this process to require that there be a trail or
easement. Burstein said they felt, rather than involve the
8040 review process and the trail issue, that it could be resolved
by an arrangement with the County easement and a trading of that
easement.
Mr. Wright said his clients just want a reasonable review and the
ability to start construction. At the last hearing the Commission
indicated they tabled the matter to find out more about the
Nordic Trail issue. There was a proposal made by the Planning
Office to the County Commissioners which was unacceptable. At
this point there are 2 lots that are along a public street and
are subject to 8040 review criteria because of their elevation.
The right to build a driveway to the houses is requested.
Mr. Wright said he thought it was appropriate, based on the
Engineering Dept. comments, that it be conditioned upon approval
by the Engineering Dept. that the retaining wall etc. would
be adequate. The County Commissioners had indicated they were not
willing to condemn the trail but maybe an easement exchange. The
Mayor of the City has also indicated that the City does not have
money in the budget to condemn the property at this time.
Mr. Wright said these applicants have the right to access their
property from the publ ic road. Mr. Wright also said he did not
think condition '6 of the approval was appropriate.
Hunt said he had not heard that the County had refused an easement
over the Salvation Ditch access. Mr. Wright said they had not
either refused or granted at this point. Glen Horn, planner,
said they went through a proposal with the County to reconfigure
Lots 3,5 and 7 by adding some county property and another portion
of county property to develop some employee lots that would pay
for the cost of upgrading the road and bringing utilities to the
site. The County Commissioners did not think the employee lots
could be brought on line at a price that would be saleable to the
employee market. Therefore, the Commissioners said they did not
want to do the complicated solution proposed, but that they would
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consider access easements in return for trail easements in order
to access this site. Hunt said that seemed the way to approach
this problem.
Anderson commented that the applicant has a right to access their
property, however, this Commission has an obligation, under the
Municipal Code, in the review to make sure those roads are done as
sensi tively as possible. Anderson said his impression from the
previous hear ing was the applicants steadfast refusal to even
talk about a trail easement. Now there is an alternative plan
with the entire driveway on the lots in a configuration that is
not as sensitive as keeping it on top of the Salvation Ditch.
Mr. Wright said at their last hearing the Commission said they
could not consider the Salvation Ditch because they did not own it.
Blomquist said he interpreted approval condition '6 as allowing,
or at least implying, that if the trail master plan proposes a
trail on the Salvation Ditch then it shall be designed and shown
on the development plan. Blomquist read that as meaning ~
trail, not only trails on this project. Blomquist said he was
disappointed to read the Planning Office's recommendations to go
back to putting the access on the Salvation Ditch because the
Salvation Ditch is the official alignment of the trail. The
applicants have now provided an access that is fully legal and
correct and does not preclude condemning the right-of-way for the
trail. Blomquist said he would vote against this on grounds of
the trail not being on the plan.
Peter Dobrovolny, applicants architect, said the three major
items that the design of the house evolved around were; '1 what
the clients wanted, '2 being a solar house it required a lot of
south facing glass, and '3 the building envelope available.
Every effort was made to reduce the visual bulk of the house.
FAR allows for a larger house, only 55% of the FAR available is
being used. The house is also within building height limitations.
Mr. Dobrovolny added that the driveway will work and is in
compliance with code. It will, however, need engineering before
approval.
Bob Smith, owner of Lot 5, said the driveway was not necessarily
their idea, but rather brought up by the Commission that they
should find an alternative. Mr. Smith said they looked over the
property again to find another access as was requested by the
Commission. That has been done as seen with this proposal tonight.
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Mr. Smith said the house being proposed is 2500 sq. ft. and they
are allowed 4136 sq.ft. Mr. Smith said he was told that the
house was not fit in to the hill nicely. The submitted floor
plan shows a split level house with 6 levels trying to step up
the side of the hill. The applicants and the architect worked
very hard to step the house up the hill without cutting a big
mass and having high walls.
Regarding the criteria on vegetation, Mr. Smith said when they
designed the plan they included trees etc., thinking it would
make the property look visually appealing. The Planning Office
did not like that so they agreed to plant indigenous grass seed
where the soil is disturbed. They agree to have the soil tests
done. Mr. Smith said they would like to have the driveway
approved so they can go ahead with construction.
Colombo asked why they were asked not to have trees in their
plan. Burstein said they felt it should be predominately a natural
vegetation but not that the applicant should not plant some
trees. Mr. Smith showed their original plan for trees on the
site. Burstein commented that their original plan seemed excessive.
Hunt said he did not know how this got to the point where the
applicant seemed to be forced to propose this poor driveway
alignment. It was his opinion that access to the property should
be by way of the Salvation Ditch. Hunt disagreed with the
comment that there had been a road there before. This driveway
proposal would be an obvious cut in the mountainside and, to
Hunt, unacceptable. Hunt felt there was already access to Lot 3
via the garage level. Hunt said he was sorry for all of the
confusion the applicants have had to go through, but he thought
the Salvation Ditch access was the most appropriate.
Anderson verbally reviewed the procedure, feelings and outcome of
the first meeting on this case for the Commission members who
were not present at that meeting. Anderson said the discussion
broke down when the applicant's attorney said that no easement
for a trail would be granted through these 2 lots. Mr. Wright
said his understanding was that the Commission could not require
the applicants to grant an access as a condition of 8040 Greenline
Review. Mr. Wright added that was no longer the applicants
position, if the County will give the applicants an easement then
the Salvation Ditch can be used for access. If the County will
not give an easement then they have no access.
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Blomquist said he had no objection to the driveway proposed
tonight. His concern was with the trail. If the applicant has no
problem dedicating that easement to the City, and it is kept as
narrow as possible then he had no problem with the plan as proposed.
Mr. Wright questioned if the appl icants were willing to grant a
trail easement then the Commission would approve the driveway but
not the Salvation Ditch access. Blomquist replied that was correct.
Burstein said he did not think the entire trail easement question
could be solved tonight. It can be done as part of the County
negotiation process with the applicants.
Anderson said he believed the cut across the hill was a legal
access but not as good as parallelling access on what is already
an existing cut. He was apologetic to the fact that the applicant
had to go through the exercise of coming up with a different
design but reiterated that the main problem was that the trail
master plan could not be barricaded. Anderson agreed with Hunt
that access along the Salvation Ditch, as long as the trail can
be accommodated as well, was the preferable alternative.
white said he had missed the first hearing but had talked to the
applicants and their attorney about it. He felt this was going
back and forth over an access thereby effecting the individual
rights of people who own the property to build their house.
Delaying the fact of whether they can get it in during the building
season. White questioned if where the driveway was placed had any
effect on where the house was built and being able to go in to the
ground with the house. Can the houses be approved and let
the applicant work out the Salvation Ditch or whatever other
alignment in a period of time so there is an opportunity for the
applicant to be able to go in to the ground in the summertime?
Colombo commented there would have to be access for materials to
be taken to the site. Mr. Wright said it had been indicated they
could have a temporary access along the Salvation Ditch on the
existing road.
Anderson said approval condition '6 was vague, leaving the
question up to alot of other governing bodies. Mr. Wright asked
if there was a procedure whereby the Commission could give the
applicant permission to begin construction, coming back for
approval of either a driveway or the Salvation Ditch route.
Anderson said that would be the fairest way to do it, giving the
applicant the opportunity to have discussions with the County on
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obtaining the right to use the Salvation Ditch and make different
negotiations on the easements.
Colombo said he would like to have a motion to approve that the
applicant go ahead with excavation, having them come back for the
driveway portion only after all of the facts are in place and a
decision can be made. Paul Taddune, City Attorney, said what
that would be saying is if the Salvation Ditch option is not
available to the applicant then this driveway proposal w ill be
approved.
Motion:
Blomquist moved to grant the 8040 Greenline Review subject to
conditions 1 through 4 as written in the Planning Office memorandum
dated August 5, 1986; striking the first sentence of condition
'5; striking condition .6 entirely and replacing it with a
sentence that in effect says the driveway solution is accepted;
and adding a condition '7 nthat the owner will dedicate a trail
easement along the Salvation Ditch acceptable to the Planning
Office and consistent with the official trail plann.
Colombo asked if this motion would require the applicant to come
back before the Commission. Blomquist replied no.
Motion died for lack of second.
Motion:
White moved to grant the 8040 Greenline Review of the Siegel/Smith
residences subject to conditions 1 through 4 as written in the
Planning Office memorandum dated August 5, 1986, striking the
first sentence of condition #5; changing condition #6 to read
nAlignment for access to the property shall be along the Salvation
Ditch, however, the Park Circle driveway is acceptable if the
Salvation Ditch can not be worked out with the County; and that
the applicant shall make every effort to negotiate with the
County as has been represented in these proceedings, all subj ect
to the recommendations of the Engineering departments memorandum
dated July 29, 1986n; adding condition #7 "that the owner dedicate
an easement along the Salvation Ditch acceptable to the Planning
Office and consistent with the Master plan"; Peyton seconded.
Anderson asked for a roll call vote:
White aye
Peyton aye
Hunt aye
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Colombo
Blomquist
Anderson
Blomquist opposed,
Motion-:
aye
no
aye
all others in favor; motion carried.
Hunt moved to reconsider the previous motion; White seconded.
All in favor; motion carried.
Anderson said there had been an oversight with regard to condition
#5 in the last sentence. Since the Commission had no problem
with the design a redesign would not be required.
IluLlun:
White moved to amend condition '5, as it was passed, deleting the
last sentence of the condition; Peyton seconded. All in favor;
motion carried.
Anderson adjourned the meeting at 6:43 PM.
-o(~-uJdkf
Kim Wilhoit, Deputy City Clerk
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