HomeMy WebLinkAboutminutes.apz.19900417
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RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION
APRIL 17. 1990
Chairman Welton Anderson called meeting to order at 4:30pm.
Answering roll call were Richard Compton, Bruce Kerr,
Herron, Mari Peyton, Roger Hunt, Jasmine Tygre and
Anderson.
Michael
Welton
COMMISSIONER'S COMMENTS
Michael announced that as of June 1st, 1990 he would no longer be
a member of this Board as he is moving into the County.
Roger: Regarding project management committee for the down
valley rails. Tomorrow we are having another meeting at 1: 30.
Anyone would be invited and welcome at the conference room at
RFTA. At the last meeting we ranked all the different options
including Main street. The Rio Grande ROW came on top. Some
thought the Midland was better. So that is where we are at this
point.
Jasmine: Last week Michael brought up the problem that we are
having with the Truscott Place because there is no safe break for
the residents to cross the highway to take the bus and they will
wind up taking their cars because they don't want to get killed
getting across Hwy 82 to get the bus.
There isn't anything officially that P&Z can do because a lot of
it has to do with either getting RFTA to pull the buses in both
ways or getting the Highway Dept to put up a light. Neither of
which we have any control over but I would really like to see
this thing pursued before somebody gets killed out there.
Michael: I think we could at least adopt a resolution
recommending City Council get the Highway Dept to put a light
there which was the original discussion we were all in favor of
at the time but the applicant said that they thought they would
have to pay for it and they didn't have the money for it.
Welton asked for a motion.
There was none.
STAFF COMMENT
Leslie: It was decided to meet at 3:30pm on April 24, 1990 for
the joint work session with County P&Z on transportation.
PUBLIC COMMENT
There was none.
PZM4.17.90
MINUTES
APRIL 3. 1990
Mari made a motion to approve these minutes.
Jasmine seconded the motion with all in favor.
VOLK STREAM MARGIN AND VESTED RIGHTS RESOLUTION
PUBLIC HEARING
Welton opened the public hearing.
Kim Johnson, Planning Dept. made presentation.
record)
(attached in
Welton asked for public comments. There were none and he closed
the public hearing.
MOTION
Welton: I would entertain a motion
concerning the Volk Stream Margin
Development Rights.
to adopt Resolution
Review and Vesting
#5
of
Roger: I so move.
Mari seconded the motion with all in favor.
FRYWALD CONDITIONAL USE FOR ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT
PUBLIC HEARING
Welton opened the public hearing.
Michael excused himself from this hearing because of possible
conflict of interest.
Kim Johnson made presentation as attached in record.
Welton asked for public comment.
the public hearing.
There was none and he closed
MOTION
Roger: I move to recommend approval of the conditional use of an
affordable housing unit on the Frywald property with the
modification of condition #1 to indicate that prior to issuance
of CO the accessory dwelling unit must be deed restricted with
the Housing Authority as a resident occupied unit with a 6 month
minimum lease.
Jasmine seconded the motion with all in favor.
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AMBRIDGE STUDIO PUD AMENDMENT
PUBLIC HEARING
Welton opened the public hearing.
Kim Johnson made presentation as attached in record and
recommended tabling of the application.
Welton asked the applicant for comments.
Shirley Ambridge: I own the house. I live on the 2nd floor
which is built on a hill. It is even with the road. Downstairs
is an employee unit. So I do not want to take out the employee
unit to put in an office. The reason I wanted to have an office
at my house is that my rent got raised and I cannot afford that.
If I don't have an office--what I use an office for--I am a
designer and a sales rep. So most of my work is done either on
the road or on the telephone. I need the space to hang samples.
I need the space to occasionally show people. Maybe I have 10
sales meetings a year in my office.
'.
If I don't have it there, I can't afford to have it downtown.
That would put me on the highway going to Basalt or someplace
else. It is not at all in any way, shape or form a retail and/or
even a hotel operation. I have clothes in there for me to look
at, for me to take on the road when I go selling and also for me
to do the design work on them.
Welton: The major concerns that the Planning Office seemed to
have were that it comply with the code requirement that the
square footage not exceed a certain percentage of main floor
living area. Can you comply with that?
Bill Campbell, architect: The calculations that staff came up
with are not quite correct. The main floor area of the upper
level is 1, 022sqft half of which would be the office and the
other half for home occupation of 511sqft. What we are proposing
is a structure of 504sqft which includes both. So I feel we are
in compliance with the regulations.
Welton: What was the other main problem you had.
fact that it was detached.
It was the
Kim: Right. It is visible in such a prominent fashion. The
fact that it is constructed entirely as a commercial use. We
talked at length in the department about this and the intent of
the home occupation definition. The one that stuck out in our
minds the most is the 50% clause. We feel that the intent of the
code is not only keep people from fixing other people's cars in
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driveways but also just to present to the neighbors that which is
considered residential uses and residential character and to
build a separate structure simply to provide office space on its
own without any other accessory uses typically found in
residential area such as a garage or a storage shed for their
lawn mower is out of the character of the home occupation's
definition.
We propose that the applicant--one thing Planning suggested that
the applicant consider adding onto the main structure itself in
harmony with the structure so as to not--the same square footage
could serve the same purpose without appearing as to be a
separate building just for that one use.
Shirley: If I need to put a garage up, I will put a garage up.
Welton: That is not what she said.
Shirley: But I mean there is nothing--I do not repair cars. If
I build down below and add it onto where my other unit is it
would take my yard out and leave a parking lot in. I can't
imagine taking a yard out and leaving a parking lot in.
'"
Bill: In regard to the code I can't agree that the intent of the
specific item was to do anything else than prevent occupations in
the yard. The home occupation is going to be visible whether it
is a detached building or part of the main structure. You are
still going to see it. If you look in the code it specifically
says it may be located in an accessory building.
Kim: Again we felt the intent was to allow some money making
activities to be generated from a structure that may already be
on the lot such as an existing garage or carriage house type of
situation. But going back to the expectation of a residential
neighborhood that being you see garages or you see a storage shed
or carriage house to change the use is a whole lot different than
actually constructing a building just for the use.
-
Michael: I guess I understand your point. But in reading the
regulation it does say accessory dwelling unit. If they built a
garage and came in to apply to put it in the garage, would the
Planning Office have problem with it? And then if they came back
in later and said they wanted to change the garage to accessory
use, would that be a problem. Would it be objectional if they
wanted to put in a garage on the same site?
Kim: No. It would also come before PUD review and we would make
proposals as to the location. Changing the use I don't know if
that would be a separate third process or not.
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Leslie: If you had a garage and wanted to change the whole
garage into a home occupation I think that we would have a
problem that that building was not serving as a __mumble__
secondary to the resident use. If you add a 2-car garage and you
wanted to turn a portion of that garage into a studio that would
be a different story. But to build a garage and turn the whole
entire garage into home occupation--that is a problem with the
code. The code lays out all of these criteria and some are
pretty clear cut. Some are not.
Bill: Now I think you are confusing the permitted use for home
occupation with the incidental nature of the accessory building.
To my way of thinking this building is truly an accessory
building. The use or home occupation is clearly permitted by the
code.
Roger: If you converted the existing dwelling unit on the lower
floor to your home occupancy and then built this as a residential
unit I can see where there would be no problem.
Roger: with the addition of the kitchen and bathroom facilities
in this unit it could be the accessory dwelling unit and they
could convert what is now the accessory dwelling unit to their
home occupancy office area.
"
Shirley:
dwelling
detached.
Currently that couldn't be done because our accessory
unit definition specifically references attached or
There is a proposal to allow detached accessory units.
Richard: My concerns were with the apparent prominence of this
new structure. It is 20 plus feet above the lower level of the
existing building and up closer to the street. And for an
accessory use that seems to me to be giving a lot more prominence
than necessary. If it could be brought down and built into the
hillside more or attached to the existing building seems to me
would be much less obtrusive and more fitting with the intention
of the code.
Welton: What is the
between the main floor
level floor?
relative difference in floor elevation
of this accessory building and the upper
Bill: 6 feet.
Welton: And the roof ridge?
Bill: About 5 to 6 feet.
Welton: This is an unusual application in that all of the
graphic presentations in it I have no idea where this house was
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because there is no street name or identification on any of the
maps. I am familiar with this house and given the topography of
the property, I think it is probably a pretty good solution. It
is a steep bank up from the road and it would present itself as a
very small scale elevation on that street.
Kim: It is 17 feet above the elevation of the street to the top
of the roof.
Welton:
itself as
structure.
That is about a story and a half. It would present
a rather small scale domestic type of cottage-looking
I don't share the concerns of the Planning Office with the
detached character of this nor with the square footage as long as
that complies. That is a code situation as opposed to something
that normally we would have a lot of concern with.
Mari: If you do have a deed restricted unit is it possible to
convert it to home occupation? I didn't think you could do that.
Kim: I would have to look to the Housing Authority on the
conditions of that deed restriction.
Leslie: I think it would depend upon why the deed restriction
was there. Were they scored based upon that.
Welton: My feeling knowing which house this is is that the
separate structure that is sort of artificially tied to the
existing structure is probably a pretty good solution to keep the
structures on the property from getting to be too huge.
Roger: My only comment is that had you looked at dropping that
house down a partial level?
Bill: We looked at that.
floor close to grade.
The best solution is to keep that
Welton asked the applicant if they had any problems with the
conditions if we deleted condition #2.
Bruce: Did the applicant say there would be sales meetings?
Shirley: About 10 a year.
Bruce: How many people would it involve?
Shirley: 4.
Welton asked for public comment.
There was none.
Kim: The height of the structure perhaps could be amended and
have it be more square footage on the ground.
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Welton: They are well within and considerably lower than the
allowable height limits for this zone district. And I don't
think in this kind of situation that we need to be arbitrary in
designing their structure for them if they comply with the
underlying zone district requirements.
Michael: I am not quite sure I understand the Planning Office's
concerns. I think this is an appropriate use of this site. I
think it is a way to keep somebody who is local staying here.
MOTION
Michael: I make a motion to recommend approval making condition
#5 to be #1. #6 to be #2. #7 to be #3 and #8 to be #4.
Welton: I am still in favor of keeping #1, #3 and #4.
Do you have any problems with #1, #3 and #4?
Bill: No. Only as long as they are talking about the code and
not the--
Michael: #3--If you take a look at what they are talking about.
Sub section H say "not visible from any other structure". If
they are going to get a permit and go ahead and build it I don't
want somebody to come along and say tear it down because somebody
else can see it. That is what concerns me about that one.
Welton: How about amend #3 that adheres to Item H the home
occupation--that the activity not take place outdoors in yards
where it is visible to neighbors.
Michael:
Jasmine:
Yes. I amend my motion.
I am not sure what the motion is.
Welton: The motion is to approve condition #2 is out. #3 is
amended to clarify that it means no outdoor retail activity. And
the rest of the conditions as----
Michael:
Kim: #4
Michael:
Why all of a sudden are we keeping #4?
is more of a building permit issue where--
Let the Building Dept worry about it.
Welton: That is just protection that is redundancy from the
Department of Redundancy.
Michael: OK. I will leave it in.
Mari seconded the motion.
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Bruce: I am going to vote no. I agree that we ought to keep cars
off the Hwy 82 and we ought to keep our local businesses here in
town. But I must agree somewhat with the Planning Dept. I think
my understanding of the home occupation seems to say to me that
if somebody who has a home and they are going to do their
business out of their home and I know we have talked about yes
you can flipflop things around build the space somewhere else and
all of that. But that is my understanding of what the home
occupation is. If I have my home or am renting a home and I am
going to do my business out of that existing home that is what
the home occupation definition I think implies to me and I really
have problem with building a whole new structure to accommodate a
business.
In effect we are saying that this is no longer a residential
zone, it is a business zone. If that is the way we are going to
do it to me it is sort of like the accessory dwelling unit. If
we have decided that there is an overriding need in Aspen to
build accessory dwelling units whether they be attached or
detached then we have taken into consideration all of the
neighborhood concerns and make that decision, that is fine. But
I see us heading in a direction here with the creation of
business uses in a residential zone that I am not ready to buy
into. And for those reasons I am going to vote against this
application.
Jasmine: I share some of Bruce's concerns. I would like to see
us keep this as a discussion item. However in addition to the
fact that this business is not going to be obnoxious, it does
actually fulfill the requirements of the code as the code is
written now. And therefore I have to vote in favor of the
application. We do have to be concerned because in addition to
the points that Bruce made, gradually you start seeing an erosion
of what is really a home occupation just as we have the locally
oriented businesses. And then trying to define what those are.
I feel comfortable about this particular application. But I
really think that we have to start worrying about this as the
pressure increases which I am sure Bruce is right about.
Everyone voted in favor of the application except Bruce Kerr.
Welton closed the public hearing.
CLARENDON SUBDIVISION PUD AMENDMENT
PUBLIC HEARING
Welton opened the public hearing.
Leslie made presentation as attached in record.
Michael had to excuse himself from this hearing.
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Roger: I recall a previous approval that the parking was not
expanded on. And part of our discussion is how many piecemeal
addi tions do we add to this thing over and above the original
approval. And here we go again. It is something I am very
concerned about. The size of this whole development was once
originally negotiated. And that was with fur and feathers flying
at the time. And now here we go by onezees and twozees and the
intent of that negotiation is being thrown out. Where are we on
that? What is this in relationship to the total?
Leslie: I did do a memo to you on that. Bill Drueding and I
looked at what lot area was allowed for a duplex. On this parcel
it was approximately 17,000sqft and so 7 and 1/2 duplexes or 15
units would be allowed on the site if you go with duplexes.
If every single one of the units in Clarendon now go up to 3
bedrooms approximately 245sqft each, they are looking at 99% of
what is allowed in the R-6 Zone given they were approved in 1975.
Jasmine: Was this a GMP project initially?
Welton: It was before GMP.
Jody Edwards, representative for applicant: The neighborhood has
changed a whole lot since 1975. Across the street you have Black
Swan Hall which is .44 to 1 in FAR. The Clarendon is .32 and if
you expand all of them to 3 bedrooms it goes up to .34 to 1. The
proposed Billings project which is now up for 2nd hearings for
vested rights to City Council is .97 to 1. The 777 ute also
across the street is .93 to 1. To the north and west is all RMF
which is 1 to 1. So this as far as floor area to land mass is
really the least dense project in the area. We have got 53% open
space. We are not going to increase the footprint. We are not
going to increase the number of units. We are not going to
increase the height.
What you have got here is a couple of families whose families
have gotten a little bigger. What they would like to do is kick
in an extra bedroom so it is a little more comfortable.
Larry Yaw, architect for applicant: We would add a bedroom on
the 2nd level directly above the existing bedroom there with no
change in the lower level or increase to the footprint.
As to the request by the Condominium Assoc. to put a false front
between the--which really puts the roof of the proposed addition
together with 2 other false roofs and a false front. It is a bit
of a difficult situation. I do not agree with it. I don't think
it makes sense but it did come from the Condominium Assoc.
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I would like to ask P&Z to put a strong recommendation that it
not expand the false fronts but leave the area open to the
condominium Association. I would go back and talk to them
because I don't agree with it.
Jody: This is a copy of the second amended condominium map.
Along with the east side it has got marked 11 spaces. Leslie and
I both counted them and they have painted 10. So we can increase
that by simply going in and re-painting it. There is enough room
for 11 spaces.
There is also across the top there are 7 spaces over there. That
was done in response to a prior request. So if you re-paint and
you count that extra space up there we are up to 28 not 29 which
is what it is supposed to be based on the prior approvals. There
are some large pine trees right there by the entrance so it
really wouldn't make any sense to use that entrance-way for the
additional parking spaces and I can't find anywhere to add
parking without adding asphalt unless you stack them at the end.
If you look at Chuck's letter who has been managing the project
for 12 years they tell me that rarely are more than 10 to 12
parking spaces ever used.
Jasmine: We have an applicant who has not been in compliance
with the previous set of conditions. Why are they allowed to
come forward with new applications when they haven't even
complied with the conditions of the prior application?
Leslie: I do very little leg work before I do an application.
Jasmine: What I am saying is that we have situations where we
spend a lot of time and effort. We have a PUD. We have a PUD
approval. We have parking spaces based on number of bedrooms,
based on a certain density, based on a certain footprint. Then
things do change. People come in to request a PUD amendment.
This is a very long involved negotiated thing in which members of
the commission and members of the Planning Office go in and do
all of this work to come up with an amended PUD. Then it is
approved with conditions that everybody has agreed are reasonable
conditions. Those conditions are not met and then the applicant
comes in again. To me this is really outrageous. I can't tell
you how perturbed I am about this.
Jody:
1 and
before
Frankly I agree with
11 who agreed to do
you right now.
you. It was not the owners of units
that and they are the ones who are
Jasmine: But you see we have a PUD amendment. It is supposed to
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be for the project as a whole and here we have all these people
coming in separately and independently and trying to change the
entity. And then with something that is not quite right as in
this situation where conditions were not met. I don't like this
kind of approach and I don't think that we should ignore it.
Larry: It really wasn't met. I don't know how strong you can
make a condition but I certainly would encourage such conditions
be very strong terms and enforcible terms with this because it
needs to be done.
Leslie: This is a 2 step process. Before an application goes
forward to Council the current conditions should be met.
Larry: Could you request that the Building Dept withhold CO or
withhold a building permit until compliance with that specific
request has been accomplished?
Welton asked for public comments.
There was none and he closed the public hearing.
I would entertain a motion to approve the PUD amendment to the
Clarendon Condominiums with condition #1 being the same as in the
Planning Office memo of April 17, 1990. Condition #2 being that
the parking spaces be increased to meet prior and current
commitments for parking requirements, agreements and parking
spaces for the additional bedrooms that are being applied for and
approved.
Condition #3 be re-worded to read that the false fronts and false
roofs on units 2 and 3 are an unnecessary addition to the bulk
without any meaning or purpose and they are not approved and not
to be a part of this application.
Mari: My understanding was that they could only come up with a
total of 29 parking spaces.
Welton: They had 51% open space. And they are saying they could
only come up with 29 parking spaces by not increasing any paved
area. They can redesign, reconfigure--
Mari: But what you are saying is there should be 31.
Welton: I am saying that whatever they previously agreed to plus
the 2 spaces that are required by the additional bedrooms.
Whatever that number is is what will eventually be the condition
of this approval.
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Jody: I suspect that is going to require new pavement.
Welton: Well, that is fine.
Richard: I so move.
Motion died for a lack of a second.
MOTION
Mari: I move to just change the number from 31 to 29 for parking
spaces that have to be in place before a building permit is
issued. And everything else the same as in Planning Office memo
of April 17, 1990.
This motion also died for lack of a second.
MOTION
Mari: OK. Let's try the first motion again. I will second it.
Welton: The first motion was for 31 parking spaces.
Mari: I second that.
Jody: Would you entertain stacked parking as I drew on--
Mari: I don't think the code allows that.
Welton: The code doesn't allow that for mUlti-family and we
cannot make that judgement. I think that with the minimal amount
of additional paving I think they can probably accommodate on
site what they have promised in previous approvals and committed
to tonight.
Roll call vote: Richard, yes, Bruce, no, Mari, yes, Roger, no,
Jasmine, no, Welton, yes.
Motion failed because of tie vote.
Bruce: Whereas I am sympathetic with these families who need
more room at Christmas time or whenever this project was approved
as a certain kind of project--certain size units. And it seems
to me that the way for that person to deal with their problem is
to sell or rent or whatever their 2 bedroom units and buy or rent
a 3 or 4 or 5 bedroom unit if they need that. The answer is not
necessarily to add on. So that is where I am coming from.
Roger: I am basically in concurrence with Bruce along that line.
And I am being consistent with my previous vote on the 2 units
that have been expanded so far. I felt that this one
particularly was negotiated development with it's fur and
feathers flying. I can remember it. And I have real problems
with this piecemeal approach to filling in a project. So that is
where I am coming from as well as being a little irked about not
having these parking spaces that were supposed to be there on the
previous approval of the expansion of the 2 units.
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Jasmine: I agree. And in addition to my irritation about the
lack of previous approval I think that increasing the density
which is in fact happening because these units-half of them are
short termed. And so regardless of whether it is Joe's unit or
Johnnie's unit that is being added onto you have the possibility
for increased density in this particular proj ect and I don't
think it is in conformance of the original approval.
Larry: So because of the building having been built when it was,
it now must suffer the consequences of a low density privilege
continually afforded other buildings. So in our catching up with
these needs we are hammered. Am I seeing it right?
Jasmine: I don't understand what you are saying.
Larry: If we build out everyone of the remaining 3 bedroom
units, we would only be--we would be under the density currently
allowed everywhere else around us.
Jasmine: But this is what was agreed to in the PUD.
Larry: I understand that clearly. And that was the hat that was
on at that time. Obviously that has changed because other
prerogatives are readily granted to other buildings around it.
So we--the ownership of this building--has been positioned with
less than they have the right to have.
Jasmine: This is what they bought. This is what they have.
Nobody is taking away anything from that. And I really object to
the kind of planning that says "Somebody else got this density
and so therefore everybody else in the neighborhood also has to
go to maximum density or they are being unfairly treated". That
is part of the reason I am really opposed to this kind of stuff.
Roger: And in this case the piecemeal approach to the ultimate
expansion of this property. I would suggest if it is going to be
done that you come with a proposal. I want to know the ultimate
build-out of that building before I start approving more.
Larry: That is a good request.
Welton: This issue has come up with--piece by piece--to the
Aspen Club Condominiums. When I was involved as representative
for the Villa of Aspen townhouses we came in with the ultimate
build-out, the final, this is it, it can never be any more than
this. So all the impacts, all the parking, all the open space
questions, all the height, bulk, massing decks and everything was
looked at and addressed on an ultimate basis even though that
would be a few years down the road before that ever happened.
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I am sensing from the Planning Office and from the Commissioners
they would rather look at it based on that.
Larry: I think that is a reasonable request. We will try to get
the ownership to make that decision and bring it back.
MOTION
Roger: I move for the Planning Office to draft resolution
recommending denial of this application and basically for the
reason that this piecemeal approach shall not be continued
because we don't know what is ultimately going to happen on this
piece of property on this basis. And we cannot address the
problems on a piecemeal basis.
Leslie: When your motions go to council now it is in the form of
an ordinance. And it is within the body of the ordinance that I
layout what happened at the P&Z meeting and what the P&Z
ultimately recommended.
Welton: We do not send an ordinance to Council. It turns into
an ordinance when Council enacts it as law.
Leslie: No.
Roger: I want a resolution to city Council because that is the
only way it is going to adequately present the P&Z's position in
this case.
Jasmine: I will second the motion if you will add as part of the
motion that the applicant has requested denial so that they could
talk to Council because the applicant has specifically requested
denial.
Roger: I add that to the motion. And I think also that it
should be added to the motion that the previous approval has not
been complied with as far as the parking is concerned.
Everyone voted in favor of this motion.
Motion to deny carried unanimously.
PARKS/GOLF COURSE MAINTENANCE FACILITY
PUD AMENDMENT AND CONDITIONAL USE
Welton opened the public hearing.
Leslie made presentation as attached in record.
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I really don't have any changes to the memo. However I would
like to point out 5 issues that revolve around neighborhood
concerns that I have heard. There has been a complaint that this
maintenance facility is serving as the focus point for too many
other activities. There is scattered golf course equipment all
over the site and not contained in the maintenance yard which
they intend to expand.
There are private vehicles parked where City vehicles could be
parked. And there is not really a strong programmatic element
with this application to physically identify what will be removed
from the yard and be stored in the garage itself.
Glenn Horn: In 1986 the City proposed a much larger facility on
this site. That facility was approximately 9, OOOsqft in size.
There was a lot of objection to that. A lot of concerns raised
as to what should take place on the site and how the City should
maintain their equipment and where that maintenance should occur.
The 1986 application was ultimately withdrawn without any action
on the part of the Planning commission or the City Council. A
study was initiated by the Planning Office in order to figure out
just how Parks and Golf Department equipment should be
maintained. The recommendation was that there should be a
limited facility located at the current site.
The proposed expansion will be 12ft high. It will be a very
simple building. It is the most minimal improvement that can
take place there and still take care of the various functions
that operate out of there.
One problem that we are running into is the storage of equipment
outside and the deterioration of the equipment. with this new
building that problem would be resolved. Another problem is the
storage of dangerous chemicals and fertilizers that are getting
damp because they are not properly stored. with this new
facility those substances would be secured in a safe manner.
This building will take care of the functions of the golf course
primarily. There will be functions of the Parks Dept that aren't
met by this building. This isn't the ultimate solution but it
will take care of the major needs of the golf course.
We are concerned about the material that is stored outside this
area that is isolated that is screened by the land form and for
people who live on the golf course-particularly Bill and Pat
Sharp who live next door who are concerned about what they see
from their house when they are looking out towards the Golf
Course.
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The Parks Dept has committed that there will be nothing stored
here that is not essential to the operation. They are willing to
commit in conditions of approval that those sorts of things will
not be stored on the site.
Everything is going to be contained within the height of this
landform. The visibility from Cemetery Lane will be not greater
than it is right now. The only disturbance from Cemetery Lane
will be this new gas line which has to be put in which will be
re-vegetated. Existing trees from here will be replanted and new
trees will be added on the landform to further reduce visibility.
Roger: Are you going to internalize all of the parking?
Rich: There is existing parking to service the office building
for business. Basically we tried to stay within the confines of
existing ____. The only change will be this wall being moved out
to give us the room we are going to lose for the yard storage
with the building being in place.
Roger: Assuming the highway coming in on the Main street
alignment will change the alignment of Cemetery Lane to its
original alignment--what does that do to your site plan?
Glenn: It shouldn't affect the site plan. The existing Cemetery
Lane will be vacated and will become a park. The existing
highway 82 will be vacated and become park. And there will
simply be an access road from the old/new Cemetery Lane alignment
that will go into the--
Roger: What is now sort of a trail turns into Cemetery Lane.
Glenn: Right. It will go into the Parks facility.
Welton opened the public portion of the hearing for comment.
Bill Sharp: I went through this 4 years ago. A lot has changed.
Although this afternoon I have to admit this dilapidated trailer
was moved and what an improvement it makes. The amount of junk
and amount of equipment is not appropriate for golf maintenance.
And the point that I have is it is pretty much the same as your
P&Z Dept brought is the fact that it is not just golf maintenance
but becoming more and more things all the time.
What I am talking about now is the Parks Dept. It certainly is
obvious that the Parks Dept belongs down here where the parks are
and the malls are that have to be maintained. It just so
happened when I went home this afternoon there was 2 of those
power brushes going across the entrance to Aspen across the
Castle Creek Bridge which creates a bottleneck of traffic. It
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was pointed out to me by the Engineering Dept that there--in this
new garage there is a very large storage area in the lower level
which will be ideal for Parks equipment and they wouldn't have to
make this trip.
They point out to me that the maintenance for this building here
the wood working shop is necessary out there for that. Well I
don't know what good it is doing. If you just take a look at the
ceiling it certainly could use some maintenance.
Another example of things that are happening there is from 1986.
In 1986 we had one dump truck. That year we bought another one
which was to replace the old one which we still have. And here
within the last few weeks we have a 3rd dump truck. Now to me
they are not used that much and it is not appropriate just for
golf maintenance.
The other thing that happens with those vehicles, there is no
designated place for that to be parked. So consequently the most
convenient place is by the 15th tee box which is where everything
is just dropped. You have a parking area in this area along the
right hand side which would be out of my view and the golfers
view. That would be a definite place to have that large
equipment which is not meant to be put into this new facility.
There are at least 6 pickup trucks that I know of and I question
the number of those. This is a much more appropriate area and
out of the view of the golfers. It is a matter of organization.
I have asked for more detail about how this is going to be used
and why and what is going on and the method of how this is
supposed to operate once you get it but to no avail.
One other thing that has just been adopted by this area is a
nordic track setter. My discussion with the nordic people that
it would be better located in the high school area because the
high school gets its snow first and keeps it longer and they
wouldn't have to cross 82 and go through the mud to get to the
high school track to set those. And they have an area there
where the buses are kept.
Don Kopf, representing the Castle Creek Homeowner's Association:
I am the President. I am passing out a format so everyone knows
what I am talking about. In 1976 the city granted themselves a
variance for a temporary maintenance structure on the present
location. At that point the residents were asked what they
thought about it. They said "Well, let's look at it". So the
plans were submitted. It was bermed. It was a very low
facility. Everybody said "Fine, stick it in there. You have got
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to have some place to take care of the golf course maintenance
equipment".
That was in 1976. The City gave themselves a variance for one
building. There are approximately 5 buildings there now. Those
buildings have been moved in without permits or anything else.
Everyone recognizes the need for adequate and secure facilities
for the golf and parks maintenance. The residents of the
surrounding area object strongly to the continual overloading of
what was considered a temporary facility in 1976. And the fact
that the powers that be go forward, spend money, time and effort
without any consideration for the people in that area.
The first thing of importance in the area is to have the Parks
and Golf Dept clean up their act. We realize that they have no
place to put their equipment at the present. But it doesn't
excuse the fact that there are vehicles and debris occupying
space without necessity.
He then passed pictures around.
There are a number of cars parked in the parking facility that
are accorded for the Golf Course maintenance. One vehicle has a
1988 license plate on it.
The applicant is asking for an addition of 2,100sqft. That won't
contain the amount of material that is scattered around in its
present form. You couldn't even get it in there and service it.
In 1986 there was an attempt to add 9,000sqft. It was turned
down. Help and assistance was offered by the residents free to
work out a solution. No one was contacted. The current
application for another addition will not solve the problem. The
residents in the area are not against a maintenance facility for
Golf and Parks. They are against a maintenance facility in that
location.
There is an existing shed adjacent to the city shop. It is an
open shed. It is steel and corrugated iron. That could be
replaced in this configuration. That could be replaced with a
40X140 maintenance building which would grant them 5,600sqft. It
would certainly eliminate the need for an existing eyesore. It
would not affect the turn-around area in the yard and would be
within the existing fence which would secure space. The
difference between this location and the golf maintenance area is
3/10s of a mile.
(Showing pictures of the current County facility out by the bus
barn) You will see one structure that is quite low with nothing
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but garage doors. The facility is 40X140 with nothing but nice
clean garage doors in front of it. It certainly wouldn't be
objectionable to the people who live down there. It would be an
improvement over what they have now.
Then there is an area to the east of the current affordable
housing. There is an area out there on the flat itself a space
of 300X180. The maintenance facility could be built on this
space accessible by the road through the golf course which is
presently what they are using. The golf course maintenance
people and the Parks people are currently using this road so they
don't have to come back through the housing to get to this area.
still allowing adequate space for storage of dirt and not to be
visible from the highway. When you are looking back from the
highway to that same area you can't even see that open space from
the highway and it could easily support 6,900sqft or more of
maintenance facility. There are berms all the way around this.
Perhaps even a 16ft high building couldn't be seen.
Everyone is so outspoken regarding the visual effects on the
entrance to Aspen, let's plan a decent size facility, eliminate
all the shacks scattered about and do the job right. The
2,100sqft that is proposed isn't going to solve a thing. The
2,100sqft isn't even going to take care of the equipment that you
see scattered about now.
The contention of the homeowners is stop going out and
money trying to jam something down the homeowner's
without having any input from the residents. Do
planning. pick out a site which was suggested in 1986.
At this time it isn't necessary to discuss the Marolt possibility
or the land to the north and east of a 7 million dollar vacant
garage. If you look at our new garage, look to the north and the
east. There is also another area out there that could be
utilized for a maintenance facility.
spending
throats
a little
The homeowners that I am representing are against a slipshod
method. Another 2,100sqft is not going to clean up the area and
the area is an eyesore.
Pat Sharp: I am the closest neighbor to this operation. I also
am a golfer and I think that the golf course should have a very
nice maintenance deal but the operation that exists at this
particular location is much too large for a residential area.
They are stuffing this little project in here that they have no
masterplan for a future storage of all of the equipment that lies
everywhere.
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PZM4.17.90
Hal Clark: I am here representing the Parks Association. My
observation is that it may be 10 years before you get another
parks building built in this community. I think we have a rather
strong deficit in service related capabilities in this community
and this is a good example why tonight.
I think that this is a very small building I think it will
improve the situation in the neighborhood by covering most of the
stuff that is now stored outside. We have looked at reports on
the other site locations. All of them have problems with them.
I think a small expansion of the facility at this location is an
appropriate thing to do and will help with he maintenance of the
golf course.
Henry Goldsmith: I am a property owner adjacent to the golf
course. Anything that can improve the maintenance and appearance
of the golf course I am in favor of.
Dick Meeker: I am President of the Aspen Golf Association which
represents about 170 members. In 1986 we entered into an
agreement with the city of Aspen to bring the USGA which is
really recognized as the governing body and part of their
expertise is in course management and maintenance.
The comment that was made on the visit this year by the __?__
that he had never seen a facility as dilapidated and as
deplorable and as embarrassing as the facility that we have out
there now as well as the way things are as far as equipment. So
I am in support of anything that can be done and this is being
done by the golfers by the way. You who play golf are paying for
this facility. $50, $60 or $70 thousand dollars is coming out of
the golf fund. It is not coming out of the general fund. It is
not the ultimate solution. But I think it is needed and the
golfers would appreciate your support of it.
Nelson Little: I want to support everything that Dick said. I
think it would help to clean it all up.
Ellen Goldsmith: I agree with the last gentleman here.
Welton then read into the record letters from Spencer Schiffer in
support of this project, Hal Clark of the Parks Association in
support, Ruth Don Horton in support, Pat Sharp against, Mr. and
Mrs. Houghton Trott, objecting, Leslie and Carl Schiller,
objecting, John Keleher in support, Frank J. Woods, III 1n
support, Mary Jo Fenton in favor, Boyd L. Jefferies, in support,
Rich Walbert in support, Barbara & Kevin Owen in support and a
petition from the neighbors of the golf course objecting to the
expansion. (All attached in record)
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Glenn: This facility admittedly is not going to solve all of the
problems of the Parks, Golf, Nordic council, Mall maintenance.
It is intended primarily to take care of golf functions. It will
also assist in taking care of some of the Parks equipment that is
needed to maintain other parks in the community. It has been
designed in response to the study that was done in 1986 after the
last application was withdrawn.
As far as the equipment that is stored out on the site the
applicant will be glad to inventory every piece of equipment that
is out there and discuss what can be relocated and we can do that
before this application goes on to City Council.
There was no further public comment and Welton closed the public
portion of the meeting.
Michael: When you take a look at the pictures of the site, and I
play golf and cross country ski over there, this is a site that
has been abused by the City insofar as a lot of the equipment
that is sitting there. I am sympathetic to the needs of the golf
course and I guess I can be somewhat sympathetic to the Nordic
Council insofar as having equipment that sets the track on the
golf course. But it looks to me from looking at these pictures
that what we are being asked to do is to correct the situation
that whoever the powers that be are insofar as maintaining this
facility whether it is the city or the golf course or whatever
have really abused by virtue of their prior approval.
This is really a junk yard and it is offensive to a neighborhood.
I am inclined to support the application tonight because I think
that allowing them to build some kind of a building is probably
going to correct the situation insofar as the Sharps and many
other people are concerned. But I find it offensive that we are
being asked to approve something that is basically a remedial
process to a previous abuse by the Parks Association. That is
boats being parked there, cars, bleachers and things like that
clearly don't belong there.
One question I have is how much of this total 4,100sqft facility
is used for the golf course and how much of it includes other
City equipment? I think Bill Sharp's suggestion that the brushes
that clean off the Mall would probably be much better and the
City would be much better served with them being in the parking
garage or in the basement of the parking garage.
Coulombe: The intended square footage will be used by the golf
course and the other departments. We would use 100% of the area
for different functions of the golf course if it is constructed.
We currently use 100% of what is there.
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Michael: The brushes aren't used on the golf course.
Coulombe: No but the site is used 100%.
Michael: If we approve a 4,100sqft facility and you clean up all
the equipment that is on the site, how much of that 4,100sqft is
going to be used for golf course maintenance, storage,
fertilizers and whatever and how much of it is going to be used
by the Parks Association for Mall brushes and things like that?
Coulombe: I would say it is 50-50.
Roger: Of the heavier equipment is that proposed to be housed in
this facility as well?
Coulombe: No. Currently in fact if you look at the site right
now, today we made a large effort on moving anything large size
wise over to the ? area that Don Kopf mentioned which would
be an alternativelLocation in his mind for this construction. We
have moved it all and we are going to continue to keep it over by
the Red Roof. It is not going to be in front of the view of 15
tee or the Sharps any more. We will do everything in our efforts
to clean the area. This is the one thing that is going to spark
a move on our part. Till now we have had no place to put
anything and we will try everything in our power to mitigate the
mess that is over there. There are 3 pieces of equipment over
there. And we are currently auctioning it off. The old green
dump truck and 2 graders and everything else we utilize
continually. So it is not a junk yard. All of this stuff is
being used throughout the year.
Welton: Do you have any strong concerns about the conditions for
approval that were listed in the memo?
Glenn: We have reviewed all the conditions and there is no
problem with any conditions with the exception of paving. Rich
and the Parks Dept would like to pave the area. But they don't
have the budget to do it. They would agree to this condition
with some time frame on it when they can get budget to do it.
Roger: I think because it is the golf course that is making this
application for a golf facility, we are not seeing a solution to
the rest of the problem which is not necessarily their problem.
Where is the trailer going to be parked? Where is their pickups
going to be parked and things like that? I am not seeing it in
this proposal. Where are the brushes for the Parks Dept going to
be parked? Where is the Nordic Council going to park their snow
cats, etc. I am not seeing a whole picture here.
Jasmine:
I agree with Roger.
What you kind of want to see is
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some kind of management approach to these various things. How do
you co-ordinate all of these activities to create minimum fuss
and to make sure that somebody is in charge? You need to have
some kind of overall entity as regards responsibility for
maintaining this whole area.
Obviously having additional storage is going to only be an
improvement and therefore I think this is the correct way to go.
But I would also like to see as part of this application some
kind of attempt to co-ordinate efforts to decide what goes where
and who is going to take care of it and who is going to be in
charge. The public needs to know who is the guy you call when
there is garbage allover the place and who is the guy you are
going to call when there is a truck left there for 2 weeks.
Somebody has got to be in charge.
Coulombe: That is currently set up as Leisure Services Dept.
The director of Leisure Services is in charge of all of our
departments that are on that site.
Jasmine: Then maybe we should have some kind of document that
says that we need to have some kind of management plan that is
approved by the head of Leisure Services and who is going to be
the executive of it.
Glenn: We will be happy to inventory everything that is on that
site and develop a proposal for where it will be and what has to
be there and what doesn't have to be there and present that to
the Planning Office for their review before it goes to Council.
Jasmine: I really would like to see that. I think it would be
tremendously helpful. I think it would make your application
that much more acceptable.
Glenn: We can have the Leisure Services Director review that
plan and sign it and say that he will agree to that plan for
storing equipment.
Roger: Can we get a schematic of the entire area as to the areas
we would expect the different types of equipment to be stored.
Glenn: We can do a complete site plan for the missing portion of
the site.
Welton: This is a conditional use hearing which is the one step
before P&Z plus is the PUD amendment which goes to City Council.
Are you saying that this application should come back to us
before it goes to City Council?
Roger: I would really like to see it.
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PZM4.17.90
Michael: I think Roger's idea is a good idea. But I would like
to put a condition in here that one year after the building is
built, they come back so we can see whether they have complied
with the conditions.
Welton: I don't feel strongly that this public hearing needs to
be continued so that we can look at a masterplan for the whole
area and where this truck goes and where that grader goes.
MOTION
Welton: This would be a conditional use approval with the
conditions as listed in the Planning Office memo with #4 being
changed to read that the pavement should happen within a specific
time--a year or when funding from the city can be approved. And
a lOth condition that the approval for the conditional use is
dependent on subsequent approval of a more comprehensive review
and approval of the SPA PUD amendment that incorporates a more
specific plan as to location of equipment on this site and other
sites in the golf course and City environment--where this
equipment that is currently there gets disbursed to.
Roger: I will so move.
Welton: Condition #11 would be that after a full year of
operation the conditional use will come up for review to see if
the conditions for approval have been met, the representations
have been lived up to.
Roger amended his motion.
Michael seconded the motion will all in favor.
RESTUDY OF YOUTH CENTER BUILDING EAST FACADE
WHEELER SOUARE GMOS EXEMPTION
The tape was turned to side #2 here and this whole side of the
tape is totally inaudible.
Any recollection you have of this and want in the minutes I will
be glad for your input. I was not at this particular meeting.
Thank you for your support.
Meeting was adjourned. Time was 7:15pm.
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