Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutminutes.council.19750331 Study Session Aspen City Council March 31, 1975 City Manager Mahoney told Council that this study session was to look into the 620 Hyman Building, a parking policy, the Aspen Villas, and a closed session...~ 620 HYMAN, Bp~DING Don Fleisher requested from Council final approval of his model for the 620 Hyman~B~ilding, and also requested a sixty day extension from Ordinance ~50, Series of 1974, in order to complete the working drawings. Councilman Walls reminded Fleisher that the Council can not make a final decision in a work session. Councilman Walls asked Fleisher was the floor area ration (f.a.r.) difference was between the structure approved under Ordinance #50, Series of 1974, and the model they were presenting. Fleisher told Council there was no difference in the f.a.r.; that the square footage was in the basement. Councilwoman Ma~kalunas told Fleisher that the model met with her approval. Councilwoman Pedersen asked what the difference of the f.a.r, in the model presented and the new zoning code was. Fleisher said this model had a 2:1 f.a.r, and the new zoning code indicated a 1.5:1 f~a;r, in the C-1 zone. Councilwoman Pedersen said that the 620 Hyman Building had had legislative relief once which put them on a par with everyone else who came under Ordinance 950, Series of 1975. Councilwoman Pedersen stated she did not feel it was fair to the other people in the City to make once exception for a 2:1 f.a.r. Councilman Walls indicated he felt that Fteisher had improved his building design, but another exemption was unfair to everyone else in the same situation. Councilwoman Markalunas asked Fleisher if he had been to P & Z with the changes in the building. City Attorney Stuller told Council that in order to get an exemption from the density recommendations in the code, an ordinance would have to be passed. Councilman Walls suggested before Fleisher went any further, he should go to P & Z and get their approval. Fleisher reminded Council he could start work on the original building as approved under Ordinance 950, Series of 1974. Fleisher agreed to go to P & Z April 1, 1975. Councilwoman Markalunas asked to have the 620 Hyman Building put on the agenda April 14, 1975, for final approval. VILLAS OF ~PEN - Low..Incom~ ~p~ing City Manager Mahoney told Council he had had Brian Goodheim, Housing Director, look into this proposal and give the Council his recommendations on using the Villas of Aspen as employee housing units. Goodheim presented a memorandum to Council. Councilman Behrendt questioned to condition of the Villas; he stated he understood they needed new roofs and new plumbing and mechanical systems. Brian Goodheim explained to Council he felt the only way the City and County could implement low income housing was to react to those investment opportunities involved in the development process that would allow the City and County to get involved at decreased building costs. Goodheim suggested that one of the buildings could be used as low income housing, and the other as a public facility. The important factor now is the time limit on moving the structures. Councilman Breasted said he was in favor of re-use of these buildings but he did not believe that R/MF zoning was appropriate for the forest service land. In order to apply for re-zoning in that area, the City or County should go through all the hearings and commissions that the public is expected to. Councilman Breasted further stated he felt the City should uphold the zoning code. Pete Van Domelin, attorney for the Villas, told Council that a governmental unit could take the buildings and do what they wanted with them or the Villas could move them at their own cost, renovate them 'at their cost, and provide a lease package to the City or County to run as they chose. Councilmembers Walls and Markalunas stated they had received letters in opposition to placing the Villas on the forest service property, mainly because this area has always been a single family neighborhood. The question was also raised who would pay for the moving and the upkeep. Hans Gramiger approached Council with two alternatives for placing these structures to be used as low income housing; (1) Sunny Park North subdivision, of which some lots are zoned R-6 but this area is almost all apartment houses or (2) Gramiger's property below Shadow Mountain to be used until two years after he wins his law suit with the County. At that time, the buildings would revert to Gramiger to be used as his employee housing. Councilman Walls suggested that Gramiger make a proposal in w~iting to the City. He also stated he felt strongly opposed to locating these buildings on land that is zoned R-6. Councilman Behrendt stated he did not want to do anything that would commit the City to spending $60,000 or $100,000 to move and set up these structures. City Manager Mahoney presented to Council an agreement outlining a program to be presented to Council for acquiring underground parking done by Pizzagalli. Mahoney told Council Study Session Aspen City Council March 31, 1975 he felt there was a desire on the part of the public to inquire into underground parkingi The agreement from Pizzagalli is designed to study underground parking in five stages. The first stage is that Pizzagalli would come into Aspen and help in the selection of a site, probably either Rubey or Wagner parks. The second stage is schematic design; third is design development; fourth is engineering phase; fifth is final proposal and building stage. Mahoney told Council that the City could get into stage one for between $1,500'and $2,000. After stage one, the City would know where to place the underground facility and have a pretty good idea of the cost of this facility. Mahoney said he was not suggesting that the City follow the agreement, but said he did like the idea of the staging and the feasibility study. Councilman Breasted said he felt Council should finally commit itself to some action dealing with a parking solution. There should be comments from Planner John Stanford, the staff or committees before the City accepts this proposal. John Stanford told Council that underground parking had a high priority in the Voorheis plan. Councilman Behrendt stated that a major structure like this would have to be underw~tte by the City; that pay-parking lots do not support themselves. Councilwoman Pedersen said people get a secure feeling parking underground, and she felt that they would take advantage of a structure like this. Councilman Walls stated the elimination of the off-street parking in the C-C zone would create a crisis in regard to parking and this would force Council to make a decision one way or other. If the City wants to solve the problem, they have to create the problem, then end up making sure that the parking facility is being used. Councilman Behrendt reiterated that people would not pay $5 or $3 a day to park their car. There are underground parking lots presently in the City not being used. Councilwoman Pedersen stated she felt it was worth $2,000, if the money is in the sevent penny, to have this first stage done as it will lay a lot of doubts at rest. Councilman Behrendt stated he was for the study but not by Pizzagalli who would also get the contract to build the structure. Councilman Breasted agreed, stating he would rather hire independent engineers and architects to make a feasibility study. Councilman Walls told Council that proposals had already been made in regard to parking under Wagner Park, Rubey Park and even under the streets. What this boils down to is where the City itself wants to put the underground parking. ~Ouncilman Breasted said it was his personal feeling that what would work best is what is closest to the downtown area. Councilman Breasted also said that the underground parking should not conflict with the transit system but should be integrated. The railroad or bus could be brought in one level down. All these planning considerations have not been made. The City should be concentrating on the Rio Grande parking lot right now by gravelling, cleaning it up, improving the circulation, putting signs down there, until the City gets the transit question resolved and planning consideration worked out. Councilwoman Markalunas asked if engineering tests of the soil had been done on Wagner Park. Counci~an Behrendt said a study should be directed to the questions of what is in fact the parking situation, who would be using a parking facility, how much to charge what is the cost to the taxpayers. Councilman Walls agreed that the parking situation and transit question should be pulled together. Therplanning department should have the best location, most convenient to the core area, a tie in with the transit, and also tied ~n with the mall all together in a package rather than having the Council toss all the separate items around. Councilman Breasted pointed out that the planning office said the Rio Grande property is where the parking belongs, but the Council disagrees with this as do the commercial people. John Stanford told Council if the transit system were good enough, the City will not need to build a garage and the demand for the automobile will not be as great. Councilman Behrendt asked City Manager Mahoney to get an alternate to the Pizzagalli agreement. Councilman Behrendt said he was interested in a feasibility study but not done by someone who had an interest in building the parking lot. Council went into an executive session at 9:00 p.m.