HomeMy WebLinkAboutminutes.apz.19890110
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RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
PLANNING (, ZONING COMMISSION
JANUARY 10. 1989
Chairman Welton Anderson called meeting to order at 4:30 pm.
Answering roll call were Graeme Means, Bruce Kerr, Michael
Herron, Mari peyton, Roger Hunt, Jasmine Tygre and welton
Anderson. Jim Colombo was absent.
COMMISSIONER'S COMMENTS
Michael: Last night I was at City Council meeting and all of a
sudden City Council now has got themselves involved in the
library design and possibly into the parking structure insofar as
whether to put employee housing on top of the parking structure.
They are having a special meeting on Wednesday the 18th to which
we are invited.
The point is I just wonder where they
whole process that we have been through.
like they never knew there was going to
parking structure.
Roger: I received a flyer in the ARA newsletter today concerning
a RFTA airport shuttle service. I know it is free in town up to
Cemetery Lane. However they start charging west of the Cemetery
Lane. In their little map it is Aspen Cross Country Center Golf
Course and, of course, neglecting the fact that that is an
employee housing complex right now. I am really most upset that
the employee housing complex is not being serviced by free
shuttle service.
have been through this
Last night they acted
be a library or even a
Maybe they can't do it for free. I think we should try to get
RFTA to come up with some method of giving those people an
identification card for $5.00 a year which would give them free
service both on that airport route and the down valley route.
The down valley routes are the only other supporting
transportation service to that facility. That is not riding the
whole route free but basically from the employee housing complex
to the downtown area.
Jasmine: I think it would be essential to get P&Z to work on
this. Obviously, nobody is ever going to let us build employee
housing anywhere where people don't have to take buses. The
least we can do is make sure that there is bus service for them.
Bruce: The bus runs clear out to Highlands and the hospital. It
is no further to go to the airport so I don't see their
justification in charging for it.
Roger: I think for employee housing type thing, airport service
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should be given that type of idea as well to use the down valley
service.
Michael: I think we should expand it to include the Airport
Business Center. Why should people there be encouraged to take
their cars? Let's encourage them to leave their cars and take
the bus.
Mari: I was aware that there was an airport shuttle but I had no
idea that it stopped along the way. And I think that we should
let them know that their ridership would probably go up a lot if
people knew. If I had known that I would have used it myself.
They should publicize the fact that you can get off in between.
MOTION
Roger: I move that Tom Baker pass on the RFTA that we would like
to see basically a pass type service servicing the employee
housing complex at the Golf Course and the Airport Business
Center for employees using a pass they could buy for $5.00 a
year as an example that allows them to ride the busses "for
free" as well as advertise the fact that it is a shuttle route
and not just a destination/airport, Rubey Park service.
Bruce seconded the motion with all in favor.
STAFF COMMENTS
WESSON BUILDING
Alan: You scored the Wesson Building back in 1986 for GMQS. You
granted 2,500sqft at that point in time. The property is
basically under contract to Mack Cunningham. He has been working
with our staff for about 2 months going through the HPC process
to finalize the design which came to you as the conceptual design
which you approved under Growth Management Process.
Mack has just received final approval from HPC for this design.
There was some language in the P&Z approval where you talked
about giving the HPC final authority on the design approval. The
applicant was under the impression that the language in that
condition meant that the P&Z signed off on all design changes to
the building. Normally that would be the case.
The obvious case here is that we have a building which has
totally changed. The HPC is very satisfied with the new design
and staff is quite satisfied with the new design. The question
is whether a re-scoring through the Growth Management Quota
System Amendment Process is or is not appropriate at this point
in time.
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staff feels it would do well in the re-scoring process. You
should also know that Mack is proposing to change the housing
formula which was previously cash-in-lieu and on-site to totally
on-site. This is another improvement--a good idea.
There is no GMQS amendment application in our office at this
point in time. Mack is under a contract deadline--a very serious
contract deadline with a lot of money at stake--has gotten full
HPC approval and thinks that he has received all of the approvals
that he needs to on this new design and is asking the P&Z to
direct me as the Planning Director to determine that this is what
we would call minor amendment to a prior approval which the
staff can sign off on.
After discussion on this matter:
MOTION
Roger: I make a motion to instruct the Planning Office to sign
off on these architectural changes to the Wesson Building with
the following conditions:
1. They must submit an landscaping\site plan.
2. All other commitments beyond the changes to architecture
and housing remain the same.
Bruce seconded the motion with all in favor.
This is a unique circumstance and members of the P&Z want it
noted in the record that this is a one-time happening.
MOUNTAIN BOUSE LODGE GMOS
PUBLIC BEARING
welton stepped down from this hearing because of a possible
conflict of interest.
Jasmine opened the public hearing.
Alan made presentation. (attached in record)
Alan: A month ago you tabled the application for a chance for
the applicant to go back and come in with a reduced version of
the proposal. Specifically you wanted a reduction in the number
of rooms.
You also wanted Engineering to look at a number of features in
terms of parking spaces, turning radius and drainage.
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The applicant has submitted a new site plan. The guest room
count has been reduced from 18 to 12. Since there are 11 guest
roms now on the property the proposal is now for a total lodge of
23 rooms. There has been 280sqft increase on the on-site open
space. The FAR has been reduced by 750sqft. The total FAR
proposal is now 11,250 on the 12,000sqft site which is within the
1 to 1 allowed in the LP zone district.
We have been most interested in seeing the restaurant be deleted
from the project. We really felt that that was the most
incompatible portion of this development and it has been deleted.
The room count reduction is also important because they have not
reduced the parking along with it so whereas before we had 18
rooms plus 4 employee rooms and only 14 spaces--now we have got
12 rooms and 4 employee rooms and 14 parking spaces. So now we
have got adequate parking spaces for the free market development
and there is a provision in the code that allows you to reduce
the parking requirement for employee housing.
As before we are recommending approval. We feel that the City
made a strong commitment to the LP lodges 5 years ago when we
got into the rezoning program and zoned these lodges to use. We
recognized that zoning to allow small additions might be
necessary. To us now this 12 unit expansion is really in the
right scale to be reasonable for the neighborhood.
We recognize that as an RMF property. Someone could come in and,
through Growth Management, build 1 to 1 on the adjacent site and
build mUlti-family units. We think it is of more benefit to the
community to have small lodge in that neighborhood than it is to
have yet another mUlti-family type of a use or a large duplex.
So we certainly support the rezoning.
Roger: I notice that now the dumpsters are now out in the alley
right-of-way and as you drive down the alley they are out on the
driving side of the telephone poles. So that is something that
we should try and minimize and I do notice that they have a trash
area.
Is this going to be a paved parking area that a wheeled dumpster
will be able to be trundled out on? It will have to be an area
that will have to be cleared for the trash to be wheeled.
Certainly the trash access to the alley should be paved. As far
as the rest of the parking area, it would be better to be paved
but I don't know that it should be a requirement.
Alan: In condition 3 we are requiring that the trash needs to be
accommodated on-site. That is getting it out of the alley right-
of-way. We need to ver ify that the proper amount of trash
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storage is being provided by contacting BFI and that would be a
requirement before City Council reviews it for rezoning.
Michael: I am concerned about the fact that the rezoning
application in effect puts a non-conforming use into a
residential neighborhood. The residents of this neighborhood
don't seem particularly thrilled by this and we are now rezoning
to expand that. what use could the property be made under the
RMF? When you say multi-family, how many multi-family units
would go there where now we are putting 12 lodge units on that
site?
Alan: You could do 7 studios. You could do 2 3-bedrooms and a 1
bedroom. Those requirements if the project is 50% multi-family
essentially double and if the project is 100% affordable housing
it goes up even further.
Depending on whether it were totally free market or actually
affordable housing project you could approach the 12 units
certainly.
John Wening, applicant: After the last meeting it became pretty
obvious that we had not taken into account opinions and concerns
of our neighbors. So what we have done is having talked to our
neighbors and try to come up with something that would be the
best for everybody. We eliminated once and for all and forever
the idea of having a restaurant on this property. We reduced the
square footage by 10%. We reduced the height of the building 2
to 3 feet. We doubled the setback on the west side of the
building and we increased our open space from 35 to nearly 40%.
We now have parking space for each new room plus 2 more for
employee housing. We have also changed the overall feeling of it
to a more residential and more victorian by adding nice siding
and trim.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Alan: Presented message regarding phone call from Dwight Lieb
stating that he is strongly, vehemently protesting this project.
(attached in record)
Lieb's concerns were that it would result in a change of
character in the neighborhood, and that there is a lack of
adequate parking and that the parking allotments are inaccurate.
Tom Iacona, East Hopkins: I went over and looked at the project
the other day. I do appreciate what they have done as far as
reducing the size of it. They have taken the restaurant out of
it. Everything is a lot more acceptable to me now. I have one
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problem.
is angle
there is
sidewalk
put in a
That is the parking on Hopkins street. Right now there
parking in the I-block section of parallel parking and
no sidewalk there. The cars are parked across where a
should be. Are you going to require that the property
sidewalk and maintain it?
Alan: Yes, we are--on Hopkins.
Tom: Then you aren't going to have anywhere near as many parking
spaces as they are saying.
John: That would be up to the Engineering Dept. and we will work
with them.
Tom: There is a lot less parking there than is being
represented. When it goes back to putting a sidewalk in and that
parking becomes parallel which is what everything else in that
whole neighborhood is, you are not going to have as many parking
spaces as is being represented. Other than that I like what they
have done with scaling it down and I think it would be OK for the
neighborhood.
Alan: I would be happy to check with the Engineering Dept to see
if that angle parking could be maintained with the sidewalk going
in.
We have always felt that while the 1 to 1 requirement is
important particularly for lodges that don't have existing
parking. It is hard to imagine that it is going to be 100% of
the units who will have cars. So it may balance off the losing
some of the parking along Hopkins but providing 1 to 1 on the
alley.
Mari: Especially when our official ratio is now .7.
Marcus Morton, owner of unit in the pioneer Building right next
door to Mountain House: My main concern is the parking in the
alleyway. All it takes is one car and you can't get through
there especially in the winter time. Somebody else will get
stuck in a rut. Then there is no way to get in or out. This has
become an increasing problem since they have remodeled. That did
bring in more people and it has been a problem with people
parking here overnight.
Trash has also been a problem with dogs that run loose and
getting in. Sometimes the whole alleyway is just nothing but
trash.
I can't see how you are going to put in anywhere near the parking
to accommodate the additional people without putting real stress
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on the other folks who live in that neighborhood and who use that
alleyway.
Wayne Harris: I live across the street. We have seen the
proposed changes. John runs a nice operation there. I am very
much in favor of small lodges. There are a couple of points
here. This is basically a residential neighborhood. I am not
sure we want to increase the number of non-residents in that
area. I don't think the parking problem is going to be solved by
adding 12 spaces back there. That is more than just a normal
alleyway. There is a lot of foot traffic with people walking
back and forth to their jobs and people coming home at night.
I am also concerned about the general impact on the neighborhood
of twice the size of the lodge. We just don't want to live
across the street from a bigger hotel. This is a neighborhood
and we would like to keep it that way. I think this would have
an adverse impact on the neighborhood.
Marty Broden, representing Centennial Park: John has done a
really nice job going around to the people of the neighborhood.
I polled most of the people who live in Centennial and they are
basically against the idea of a hotel in the neighborhood. My
only objection is that I have a hard time believing that this is
going to benefit the neighborhood at all. A neighborhood is what
we are really talking about here. My final opinion is that I
really don't feel comfortable with doubling the size of the lodge
that is there. That is the opinion of the other 9 folks who live
in my building.
There was no further public comment.
Graeme: what is the City's obligation in terms of plowing the
alleys? If there is going to be a trend towards putting a lot
more parking in the alleys then they are going to need to be
taken care of better so that it works.
There is a proposed 14 spaces in that alley but if the alley is
not plowed then there are no spaces there.
Jasmine: This would be a worthwhile comment to make to the City
Council. It is a point well taken.
I share Mickey's concerns which I think really have to do more
with the rezoning than the GMP application itself. I think what
the question really comes down to is not necessarily how this
project scores in growth management but whether it is a good idea
to allow the rezoning to have an expanded lodge use there which
is perceived as being a community benefit but which according to
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the neighbors is obviously not that much of a benefit as far as
the neighborhood is concerned.
We have two worthwhile causes that are in conflict with each
other. It seems to me though that that is more of the rezoning
part of the hearing and perhaps we should go through the GMP
scoring anyway.
Alan: You are right. In this case you have 2 very independent
very key decisions to make. They ought to stand separate in your
mind. The score from our recommendation--the rezoning you have
got to make the decision based on the neighborhood issues vs.
the City-wide short-term inventory issues that staff has come out
on the side of expanding the hotel. The neighborhood is coming
out very clearly saying it is inappropriate.
MOTION
Michael: I make a motion that we accept the Planning Office
scoring. I am not in favor of the rezoning but the scoring is
fine and the project is fine and the applicants have certainly
made a major effort to make the neighborhood happy. This is one
of the hard decisions you have to make sometime but I think we've
got the 2 lofty goals of the neighborhood and I think the
neighborhood should take precedence and I think the people who
live there should be given favorable decision over the needs of
the community for more lodge housing. I think there are other
places we can put lodges.
Mari seconded the motion with all in favor.
REZONING RBOUEST
Alan: Comments start on page 8 of the memorandum.
record)
(attached in
You have heard from the neighborhood. All were very well spoken.
John: When we talk of a limited expansion, we are only talking
12 rooms here. 12 rooms on 7,500sqft as opposed to lIon
4,500sqft. I think that does meet the appropriateness of the
intent of our lodge preservation attempts in this town.
When we are talking about the neighborhood being opposed it is a
mix of 50-50. Everyone is having a hard decision. It is not the
neighbors against this. It is some very well spoken concerns.
We have tried to mitigate all the negative impacts. Across the
street from us each floor of the Queen victoria has more bedrooms
than ours.
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Mari: When I was Ii stening to the neighborhood comments I had
the feeling that they were comparing the lodge to leaving things
as they are as opposed to having an expanded small lodge compared
to what might be there otherwise.
I wonder if the neighbors would be
go there if thi s lodge does not.
stay just the way it is.
Alan: Clearly the trend in the area has been to do single family
or duplex type of development. The FAR is 4,000sqft that is
allowed in a single family or duplex. If somebody wanted to go
through the Growth Management and compete you could certainly
come in with a mUlti-family project. with a 50-50 employee
housing free market project, you could easily get 10 to 12 rooms
on that site.
just as happy with what might
I don't think it is going to
Mari: My decision is going to be based on the fact that you can
say it is a 100% expansion but 100% of 11 rooms is not nearly as
much as 100% of 70 rooms.
I am in the tourist business and I am very concerned about the
disappearance from Aspen of small affordable lodges. I
under stand the neighborhood concerns. But I feel that those
concerns would be almost the same no matter what happens to that
property given the market forces. So I am leaning toward
preserving the small lodge.
Roger: I agree with MarL A 20 room lodge is not a big lodge.
I do understand the neighborhood's concerns but what would their
concerns be if a mUlti-family project there. If you think you
have a parking problem now think what that would be if a 2
million dollar duplex were there and that is certainly not what I
would consider an asset to the neighborhood.
Basically my goal is mitigating the neighborhood's concerns as
much as possible because the alternatives would be as bad if not
worse.
Graeme: I am tending in the same direction. We have heard a lot
less neighborly criticism of the project than we did the last
time. Looking at the neighborhood, there are some multi-type
units that don't, to me, make this feel too out of scale.
But if there is any way to make sure these parking spaces work
in the winter, that should be done. If it is the City's decision
to eliminate the diagonal parking out front, that is not the
applicant's fault. So I don't hold that against them.
Bruce: One of the neighbors had raised the point that doubling
the size even though it is on to 7,500sqft seems more than a
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limited expansion under the definitions given in the LP zone.
My concern is whether we are somehow subverting what the code was
intended to do with the LP zone. I am in favor of the lodge
being able to expand. It may mean the difference in survival.
John: We used to have 36 single beds plus 3 apartments for
employees on that site. So what we are doing now in total will
have less impact than what we used to have there when it was a
dormitory lodge.
Alan: One of the things that we definitely anticipated when we
created the LP zone was that some of the lodges might have the
opportunity to buy land next door. I agree with the other
Commission members who correctly characterized that there is no
community benefit whatsoever in building another duplex in that
neighborhood. So, for me, on balance another 11 or 12 rooms is
reasonable.
I think that given the development patterns in this community we
have to take a little bit further act that we might normally to
insure that these kinds of facilities stay in the community. I
would hate for Aspen to be known for only Little Nell's and Aspen
Squares. I don't think that is in the community's best interest.
Michael: I think it is wrong that we would sit here and decide
what is best for that neighborhood. I think the neighborhood
people who live there are certainly capable of making a decision.
My vote tonight has got to be based upon what I am hearing from
the people who are here. It is their neighborhood and if they
are not in favor of a lodge then I don't think we should be
sticking lofty community goals in their neighborhood. If we want
to do that some place, there are lodge districts in town.
Some of the computations that I have heard tonight are just that.
That is all they are--just mathematical computations. If you
expand a lodge by more than 100% I don't see that as a limited
addition. Under any legal definition or any rational definition
over 100% can't be limited.
Bill Dunaway: As an owner of one of the Gavilon units I would
like to point out that when the Gavilon was built and other
apartment houses in the area, they effectively destroyed the
single family neighborhood so the change on the neighborhood of
this revised application isn't that owner's.
Jasmine: I was very concerned with the previous proposal. I had
a lot of discomfort with, and still do, the limited expansion. I
agree that the number of rooms itself is very small but doubling
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the size is not as bad as the original request which seemed to me
to be totally out of scale with the neighborhood.
I know the parking problem is really horrendous. That is the
worst area in the City as far as parking is concerned.
But the kind of buildings that were put up that you were able to
buy into and that you, as locals, could afford to live in are not
going to be built anymore ever again. You do have to consider
what your alternatives are. Mari pointed out, and I agree,
staying the way it is is not an option. And we do have a
responsibility to try to think of what we think is the best
redevelopment proposal.
I have to say though that unless they do something about the
parking, I cannot approve this. I really do not think the
parking has been adequately addressed. To me, that would make
the difference between my agreeing to approving the rezoning or
not approving.
Bruce: This time of year less than 25% of the guests have a car.
?: We have that same thing at the Mountain Challet. We have put
in some parking down in the carriage house just below Bruce. We
have got room for 12 cars down there and it is rare to have it
full and we have got 48 rooms at our place. So I think what has
been provided there is going to more than take care of the needs
of this lodge plus more.
I don't see how you can say this project is the one that is
causing the parking problem and should have to provide for all
the problem.
Jasmine: But when you have applied for rezoning and you are
trying to take into account what is going on in the neighborhood
and neighborhood compatibility, it seems obvious that a lodge use
when you are adding 11 or 12 rooms, there are additional impacts
on the neighborhood. And I don't think it is necessarily out of
line to ask that as part of your obligation in order to get this
rezoning that you go beyond mere mitigation of your own impact in
a situation like that.
John:
needs
visit
I can assure that we will take care of all our parking
on site because we don't have that many people come and
who have their cars with them.
Gary Moore: I just put a duplex in there last winter and I had
to provide parking spaces for every bedroom. I would like to
know why they would be an exception to that rule. All of our
parking is off the street.
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I also don't see how anyone can say that a duplex or a single
family home on that corner would be more impact than what is
being proposed.
Bruce: The first thing we have to remember is that we have a
lodge there now. So that neighborhood includes a lodge use and
when we make a decision about whether to expand it or not we have
to determine whether they have done all that they can do to
mitigate the impact of that expansion. If the expansion fits
within the LP definition of "limited" and I am satisfied by Alan
that perhaps it does. I also am satisfied that they have done
whatever they can do to mitigate the impacts. They have no
assigned parking to the Mountain House now. It is street parking
even though they pull in at an angle. They are adding 14
assigned places.
MOTION
Bruce: I would like to make a motion that we approve the zoning
change to LP with the condition that we advise Engineering and
City Council that we would like the area along Hopkins to be
angle parking and the sidewalk moved back to accommodate more
parking.
Roger seconded the motion with a request to include that it is
Block 32, Lots A, B and half of C for a legal description.
Roll call vote: Graeme, yes, Bruce, yes, Michael, no, Mari, yes,
Roger, yes, Jasmine, yes.
Motion carried.
GMQS ALLOTMENT
Alan: You need to act on the increase in the FAR, recommending to
the Council the exemption of the employee units and the request
of reduction of parking.
The FAR special review request involves the same basic issue as
the rezoning. It is a comparability question which you have been
discussing. It is the opportunity that you have to attach
conditions to your approval beyond the one the applicant
voluntarily agreed to on the parking.
Staff has suggested 6 conditions. (attached in record)
To begin the discussion I have heard several more mentioned
tonight.
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1. The dining area. The applicant has already agreed to
stipulate that this is for breakfast only rather than full
breakfast, lunch and dinner.
2. We need language suggesting that the appl icant provide
sidewalk on Hopkins Street designed to the satisfaction of the
City Engineering Dept. in order to accommodate parking. A point
was made here from someone in the audience regarding the
requirement of curbs. If that was not a representation we will
make sure it becomes a requirement.
John: The City suggested that in 1990 they are going to be re-
grading of West End Street. Can we work with them and maybe do
that when we build?
Jasmine: It would seem appropriate to have the applicant work in
conjunction with the City's work on the street.
3. Trash and utility. We got a letter from BPI.
Roger: In that we should include that the area between the trash
area and the alley should be paved in order to roll the trash
dumpster out to the alley.
The rest of the Commissioners were in agreement that paving only
the trash area was sufficient.
4. Requirement by the applicant based on a growth management
commitment that they make cash contribution to the Sanitation
District which they receive points for.
5. Regarding relocation of the log house: The applicant has a
concern about this one. We would like to see this house not be
demolished but be relocated. We don't expect the applicant to go
out and buy a piece of property and make the relocation happen.
what we want is that they advertise the house being available.
We just don't want to see this lost and if the applicant is not
able to do that this project just doesn't go forward.
John: As far as putting an add in the paper--if the City knows
of anyone who would like it we would even go as far as what it
would cost us to tear it down. We will donate to help move it.
But I am older than that building. You can't call it historic.
Michael: Alan are you saying that if they can't find somebody to
take it, they can't build the project?
Alan: Until they can find someplace to move it, that is correct.
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Michael: I am not in favor of the project but I certainly am not
in favor of that kind of restriction. Can we just provide that
they move it to the Marolt site or some other site? I think it
is unreasonable for a building of this vintage and value to stop
a project.
Alan: The point is we are trying to maintain not only the 100
year old houses in this community but houses from a variety of
historic eras. We would like to see it preserved.
Graeme: As far as the log cabin is concerned I drove by there
just to look at it and I certainly wouldn't want to take on the
job of building a house to accommodate it. I think it is just a
facade and some old logs and I would be in favor of not requiring
them to move it.
Mari: I think that too onerous a restriction. I could go for
requiring them to make an effort but I don't think that requiring
that someone move it is reasonable.
Roger: I agree with that. The wording should be "The applicant
shall make every effort to relocate the log house in town and
report back to staff on the status 45 days prior to demolishing".
Alan: Aces was very interested in the Berko house. Maybe they
would be interested in this house.
6. Service delivery vehicles: we really have not come to any
conclusion on whether the service delivery area is adequate. I
would note that there is no specific requirement in the code.
John: We have our own in-house linen cleaning. So the only
service vehicles would be if we had food deliver. On occasion we
use one truck that comes in every other week. Por the most part
it is more economical just to get it ourselves.
John ?:
us. And
problem.
The service vehicles there have not been a problem for
we live closer to it than anybody. Their trash is not
Roger: I would recommend no requirement here for service area
given the nature of this operation. I really don't see a need
for a service area.
Alan: I just caught the fact that the Hous ing Author i ty' s
recommendations for deed restriction of the employee units are
not listed as conditions. They should be included. That is on
page 5 and 6 of the old memo in your packet. (attached in
records) You will see 6 conditions regarding the deed
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restrictions on the employee housing units. You can add these 6
conditions as conditions #6 to 10 of this motion.
MOTION
Roger: I move to approve the special PAR review request of the
Mountain House Project and the GMQS exemption request and the
employee parking reduction request with the following conditions.
The first 5 conditions are the same as we have amended here that
are listed on Planning Office memo dated January 10, 1989.
(attached in record)
Condition 6 through 11 will be identical to conditions 1 through
6 starting on page 5 of Planning Office memo dated December 6,
1988.
Graeme seconded the motion with all in favor.
Alan: As suggested by Graeme and discussed by you, that you
recommended to City Council that you would like to see the City
do a better job of plowing that alley to improve the parking
situation.
MOTION
Graeme: I move to recommend to City Council that the City do a
better job of plowing that alley in order to improve the parking
situation.
Mari seconded the motion with all in favor.
RIO GRANDE PARKING FACILITY (, FINAL SPA
GMOS EXEMPTION
Tom: Last night the Mayor and Michael Gassman brought up some
concerns about 2 aspects of the Rio Grande as to final SPA. One
was the design of the Library and the other was the potential use
that could be expected on the Plaza. The Council, because of
those concerns, set a work session date for Wednesday the 18th.
to discuss those other issues on the Rio Grande before they start
into the final SPA process. They have invited the P&Z to attend
that meeting.
Jasmine: I want to go on record as saying this whole review
thing has gotten completely out of hand. I was very distressed
with this memo about HPC's criticisms.
Michael and Bruce both agreed with Jasmine.
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PZMl.10.89
Tom: I think the major unresolved issue at this point that the
resolution doesn't speak to is the design issue. In reading the
memo from HPC they have some problems with the horizontal aspects
of the library design and the fact that perhaps it wasn't
creating as much interest on Mill street as it could.
Graeme: Here is an alley which by use is becoming a street. Is
it wide enough and is it detailed in such a way to work as a
street?
Tom: It is certainly becoming a shuttle corridor.
Graeme: There is traffic in there all the time. It is used as a
thoroughfare rather than a service entrance and I think it is
going to become moreso.
steve?: RFTA has indicated that they need about 22 feet there
to accomodate the shuttle so we take out that extra 2 feet we are
assuming on our side of the alley and there is enought room there
to do that and to get that row of street trees planted on the
sidewalk. We can't do anything about Central Bank's side of it
but the overall feeling is going to be much less of a back alley.
Graeme: I would think the bank--it might be in their interest to
do something with their side of the alley whi ch would make it
become more of a street and pleasant pedestrian corridor. Maybe
they could be approached and see if they would do something over
there.
Michael: Concerning snowmelt: I see no condition for the
parking facility to require snowmelt.
Library architect: We have 4 steps. We are going to investigate
it.
Michael: I would like to see language stronger than investigate
the possibilities. I would like to see it in there both for the
library and the garage.
Architect: We have no prOblem with that.
Welton: We investigated it last meeting and thought it was a
good idea.
Roger: We should identify areas for snowmelt as the pedestrian
thoroughfares. We don't want to snowmelt the entire plaza.
In the 3rd Whereas--have it in there somewhere to change the name
of spring street Extension.
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PZMl.IO.89
Under Cap's I think we should include in this section that any
necessary right-of-way or easement agreements necessary for the
access to Cap's. They will require easements for their truck
access.
Under Library design: Yes, the majority of the Commission was
satisfied with the design.
In the 4th 0 paragraph: I felt that we should indicate that it
was necessary to integrate the Library elevator with the parking
facility.
Conditions for the Library: In #7 instead of the work "can" use
the work "will" function with the parking structure.
#11 for the parking Facility: Include any necessary right-of-way
or easement agreements.
#5. That the Council rename "Spring Street Extension". If no
other name is preferred by Council the street most nearly in
alignment with Hallam on the City grid.
Tom: The only change to the resolution that I would make is
that the Condition #4--the parking facility calls for the alley
between the Rio Grande side of Main Street shall be resurfaced
and improved for pedestr ian purposes as the concept plan
illustrated. Both the Library and the City shall share the cost
based upon where each entity borders the alley.
MOTION
Bruce: I move to approve resolution 89-2 as amended in Roger's
comments specifically adding a condition under the library about
the alley that was over under the parking garage.
Roger seconded the motion with all in favor.
Meeting was adjourned. Time was 7:00pm.
J~ca"We~~iitY-CIerk
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