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HomeMy WebLinkAboutminutes.apz.19850702 REGULAR MEETING RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS PLANlUNG AND ZONING COMllISSION JULY 2. 1985 Vice Chairman Jasmine Tygre called the meeting to order at 5: 07 p.m. with Commissioners Mari Peyton, Roger Hunt, David White, and Ramona Markalunas present. COMMISSIONERS I COMMENTS Hunt asked if there was going to be parking by Bill Bullock's now that the police department has moved from City Hall to the County Court House. He was concerned about the police moving to the Court House because there used to be incidental use of Galena Street by the County and when they moved the greenway out in to the street they lost effective parking which is going to cause a mess if they continue to park police cars there. Hunt asked what could be done about the situation. Alan Richman, planning director, suggested contacting Rich Rianoshek or Jay Hammond. Markalunas mentioned the cottonwood trees around town, stating most of them are about 90 years old and in the last few wind storms they have lost many branches and some were lost totally. She suggested a revision of the master plan, with a replanting program for the entire town, in order to maintain decent trees. Tygre commented that previously trees have not been a part of Planning and Zoning's purview, but we always felt they should be. She as unsure if trees were something the Commission could interfere with. Richman said trees in a public right-of-way were within the Commission's purview and could be incorporated in land use. Land use will be addressed in the Aspen Area Comprehensive Plan after the section on Open Space, etc. is completed and the Commission could address this issue at that time. MINUTES June 6. 1985: Hunt moved to approve the minutes of June 6, 1985; Markalunas seconded. All in favor, with White abstaining; motion carried. RESOLUTIONS 185-12 PERRY HARVEY COMMENDATION Tygre asked if there were any changes or comments regarding the resolution. There were none. 1 REGULAR MEETING RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS PLANNING lII.lIJIl ZONING COMMISSION JULY 2. 1985 Motion: Hunt moved to adopt Resolution lI85-l2; white seconded. All in favor; motion carried. Motion: seconded. 185-13 PAT FllT.T.IN COMMENDATION Markalunas moved to adopt Resolution lI85-l3; Hunt All in favor; motion carried. 185-14 CURTON DUPLEX ROOF Steve Burstein. planner, said he had drafted this resolution in response to a request by this commission and asked if there were any changes or comments. There were none. Markalunas disqualified herself for a conflict of interest. Doug Allen, representing Ms. Curton, gave a brief background on the project. Because of conditions set on the property the applicant was forced to spend more money on the house than was anticipated. Corners had to be cut somewhere, one of the places being the roof and exterior materials. The roof is in compliance with city code and, in fact, of the same material as that used on City Hall's roof. The material is brand new and more shinny than it will be in six months. The roof was done legally and we would not like to be put to the expense of trying to change it at this point when it was very much an economic consideration when built. Hunt said he was against the project when it came before the Commission because he could foresee this kind of thing happening. An economic consideration is not valid. If someone was holding a spotlight on a highway it could be stopped as a public nuisance which is exactly what this roof is. At certain hours this roof reflects the sunlight right in to the eyes of oncoming traffic. On that basis something has to be done about the roof. All members of the Commission agreed with Hunt. Tygre said this was a matter of safety concern and we would hope that the applicant can find a relatively inexpensive way of rectifying the situation. Motion: Hunt moved to adopt Resolution lI85-l4; White seconded. All in 2 REGULAR MEETING RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION JULY 2. 1985 favor, with Markalunas abstaining; motion carried. Alan Richman suggested that a member of the Commission go to the Council meeting and present this Resolution as it is not on their agenda. White agreed to take the Resolution to the July 22, 1985 Council meeting. PLANNING ITEM ASPEN AREA COMPREHENSIVE PLAN: OPEN SPACEITRAILS/RECREATION ELEMENT Tom Baker, planner, told the Commission that the Goals and Objectives are a reworking of the initial material brought to the Commission when looking at the Needs and Analysis section of the plan. They have been restructured, based on comments from the members, and broken into functional categories that should be easier to deal with in terms of implementation. The categories are: Parks, Recreation, Trails, Open Space, and Funding. PARKS Baker outlined the Parks section of the plan stating they focused on the short fall, parks acreage, the consolidation in terms of the active recreation, the development of priority lists both long and short term, and a capital improvements program as a financial planning vehicle for the short term priorities. Baker said, when possible, we should try to acquire the open space parks that are required to continue to develop sports facilities that are multi-use in nature. That flexability has allowed us to maintain a quality system. Baker said the Commission had requested that parking be minimized in the trail head areas which has been added as a new objective. The Marol t parcel has been focused on as the City's premier park. Peyton commented she thought Rio Grande was the number 1 priority. Hunt responded that was more transportation related, Markalunas added, so was the Marolt Thomas property. White commented that both parks are large, very visable, and of equal significance. Peyton said in the citizens task force they concentrate on the "ugliest" first, the others would not be as high a priority as the ones that need the most work. Baker said he understood, but a concept plan has not been developed for the Rio Grande area because it envolves transportation and land use as well which will all have to be tied together. Tygre suggested that Rio Grande be mentioned in the plan. It is going to be part 3 RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS REGULAR MEETING PLANNING AND ZONING COMllISSION. JULY 2. 1985 of the overall parks element and it should be noted that it is not being forgotten. White said because of the snow dump situation, the impound lot, and the pressure we have put on those 2 pieces of property for the county to do something that should be our prime piece and Marolt/Thomas should be secondary. Markalunas said she had a problem declaring Marolt/Thomas and Rio Grande parks because then they ceases to be multi-use. The Rio Grande parcel was bought with Seventh penny money which makes it for transportation. A few years later Council saw fit to change the area and put in a soccer field. The space was never intended to be a sports park, but a multi-use piece of property to accomm- odate transportation needs, and to accommodate a Roaring Fork greenway which was never implemented but the bike path was put in. Tygre said very often historical information is very important, and should be included in these plans, to give additional backgr- ound. Somewhere it has to be made clear what the original acquisition of these properties was about which will help give perspective as we continue in the planning process. I would have less objection to the designation of park if it was also made clear what happened before that. Baker suggested taking objective U2 out of the planning office Goals and Objectives and in the implementation section it can be stated the roll of each of the concept plans, and how they fit in to the overall scheme. All of the intense active, organized, scheduled recreational activities we can focus at Iselin leaving Marolt and Thomas as passive space that is fl exabl e and not to be used for intense recreation. Tygre said Marolt and Thomas are important enough that some mention has to be made up front, perhaps Objective lI12 could be reworked to recognize the fact that these are unusual parcels of open space. White said the element reads: Parks, Recreation, Open Space, and Trails and trails are a trasportation item. I think Transportation could be added as a category. If in the planning of parks we don't include the planning of transportation then we are planning our parks wrong. We have also said we want the Roaring Fork Transit Authority to service these areas. There is a transportation element that is the key to all of these parks. I think Transpor- tation should be added as a primary objective. Tygre commented with Transportation as a primary objective the Parks Objective lI12 would fit as a way of tying those together, and take in to account the various features of those particular blocks of property. White added the transportation planning ties in all of 4 REGULAR MEETING RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS PLANNING AND ZONING COMllISSION JULY 2. 1985 these things. Any long term planning is really geared around transportation planning. We need to make transportation a more integral part. Tygre suggested reworking the Parks objective lI12;" to improving Marolt/Thomas and Rio Grande parcels as the city's premier large open space areas, currently available, taking in to account the need for parks and transportation". Markalunas said, in reference to Parks objective 113, rather than ask for the right of first refusal we should have the Parks Association contact Harry Bass and have the park given to the city. Baker said he would pursue acquisition of the parcel. RECREATION Baker said, they plan to continue the colaborative nature of the relationship with the school district. OPEN SPACE The Open Space aspect of the plan was discussed. Baker said 1 of the issues that will be resolved in the Land Use section of the plan is where the buffer between Aspen and Snowmass will be located. Hunt asked how Snowmass could be stopped from growing out in to the Roaring Fork Valley, does the City annex out towards Snowmass when we have resolved to keep it open space? Baker said the City could colaborate with the county to convert areas in to open space and then tie in to that network and have a buffer. White said the county is looking at the feasibility of adding a penny tax for acquiring open space, he thought to address this subject. This is a very definate concern with the County Commissioners. Tygre thought it would be appropriate for the City's concern to be relayed to County Planning and Zoning. Baker suggested this could be better focused on when the Land Use issue comes in, there will be more information to deal with. The County Planning and Zoning has expressed hopes that the City would cooperate with the planning that they are doing, the Highway Corridor master plan is one example. Tygre said the Commiss- ioners would be glad to meet with County Planning and Zoning on the matter. Peyton asked what the status of the Koch Lumber parcel was. Baker replied the City now owns that parcel. It was discussed as a possible location for the Ski Club at a recent City Council meeting. Baker added that Willoughby Park had also been discussed. 5 REGULAR MEETING RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION JULY 2. 1985 It was decided that Koch was inappropriate and Willoughby Park would be used. Hunt asked if the City had addressed any planning for music student housing or low rental seasonal employee housing either at Koch or the Aspen Ice Garden. Baker said he was unaware of decisions being made but there has been discussion about relocating the MAA. Hal Clark and Fritz Benedict are pushing for the new site to be on the Marolt parcel. If the Commissioners are concerned they should contact the PCPA. Hunt said, in regard to Open Space Objective 17, he was concerned about Rio Grande being referred to as open space. Baker said the wording could be changed. He was referring to the fact that the parcel is inappropriatly used in terms of the snow dump and impound lot. Tygre said Objective 17 should be reworded in accordance with the Commissioners concerns. White said he thought the Open Space objective enough. For years there has been tal k of a greenway along the river and it has never been think more emphasis needs to be put on this. and thought the greenway should be expanded to Maroon Creeks. Baker said he would refer to Greenway as an example to be followed on Castle TRA'rLS lI6 was not strong special specific pushed enough. I Markalunas agreed include Castle and the Roaring Fork and Maroon Creeks. Tygre said she thought White's point about transportation could be added here, in Goals, that although the trails are a nice amenity, trails are also an important part of the transportation link for pedestrians. Peyton asked about sidewalks in town. Baker repl ied that the pedestrian corridor concept is what has been focused on as addressing sidewalks. Baker outlined the pedestrian corridor trails on the map. Peyton said she felt one of the problems with the trails was that people have to drive to them. Baker said this plan is hopefully going to resolve that problem. White suggested that Objective 112 be expanded even more to define this. Peyton suggested using the word sidewalk. Baker said he would add to lI12 the form that the pedestrian corridor takes, i.e. sidewalks, bike lanes, etc. The Commissioners agreed. Hunt said, in reference to Objective Ill, he had problems with putting bike lanes on Main St.. It seems logical to get the bike 6 RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS REGm.AR MEETING PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION JULY 2. 1985 lanes on the side streets paralleling Main St., keeping Main St. bike free. White suggested changing III to read: "develop bike lane streets off of major roads in the Aspen area", pushing to put them on Hopkins. Markalunas said, east of Aspen, we should do something about pressing, or cooperating with, the Highway Department in budgeting some money to get a bike lane and a jogging lane on either side of the 2 lane highway. Hunt said if the bike trail going to the Airport Business Center is not sui tabl e for bikes then why couldn't it be improved so that it is suitable, and possibly also include mopeds as their speeds are similar. Tygre said, as the trail exists now, it is capable of being ridden by unprofessional bicyclists but the real danger is going over the bridge. Baker said his question would be that the ABC trail also has pedestrian use and maybe it would be better to have the 35 m.p.h. bicycle traffic on the highway than have it mingle with pedestrian traffic. Baker said he would make revisions to III to address the bike lane streets, the bridge concern, and the concern in general about bicycle traffic on Main St. Hunt said he would 1 ike to see added when the design of the new highway is considered that the high speed bicyclist and low speed moped being given a lane be considered. White suggested making that a separate Objective, that major highways have 6 foot bike and moped lanes outside of the central core. Baker said, in reference to Objective 16, the Nordic Council is developing a service plan, that will be brought to the BOCC, where they are proposing a service district that would coincide with the School District boundries. They are asking for a .8 mill levy initially. This could evolve into a trail management group, summer and winter, which would relieve a lot of the burden on the Sixth Penny and also relieve the City of the responsibility. White asked that Objective 15 be expanded to cover problems discussed earlier. The major piece of Open Space, the Rio Grande, is sitting right in the center of the City and you can't get to the river from there. Could liS be worded to say specially Rio Grande. Markalunas suggested also leaving out "when possible". Markalunas asked why Objective 17 was limited to only the Aspen Nordic Council. Baker responded that his intention was not to 1 imit it to them but to give them special attention and bring them out specifically. Tygre suggested adding the wording "and other groups". 7 REGULAR MEETING RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION JULY 2. 1985 FUNDING Baker said he wanted to address the capital improvements program as the vehicle in the short term, the short term priorities list, and developing priori ties wi thin each category that would be of equal importance. When it comes time to develop another short term list for the capital budget process we will have the structure in place, insuring an appropriate maintenace budget, and analyzing new acquisitions and how they impact the operation budget. Baker said there was a final Objective he wanted to include in the plan: "To utilize innovative financing techniques in order to supplement the land fund. These techniques include: the trading of currently owned open space holdings, either City of County, that aren't integral to the plan that has been developed. Trading those for significant parcels, trail easements, or corridors that would be necessary to implement the plan. Perhaps the selling of some parcels that we feel are not critical to the plan and using that money to develop Iselin, Rio Grande, etc., or to develop the base of the mountain trail. Also to have the land fund money be allowed to spent on problem easements." White liked the idea of trading non-priority pieces for priority pieces but was concerned that if a piece was S2.l.J;l and the money used elsewhere it will be hard to convince the public. Tygre said she thought there would be little objection to the idea of using innovative techniques to impl ement our land use plan. She suggested leaving that as an objective rather than getting into specifics at this time. Tygre asked if anyone had any items they would 1 ike to see incl uded that were not covered in the memorandum. Whi te wanted to have transportation added to the Goals and Objectives for Parks/Recreation/Open Space/Trails. The connection of transport- ation to parks, recreation, etc. is very important and he felt it was not getting enough emphasis. Tygre said that could make this too complicated to deal with. Baker said there would be a public hearing on this element on July 16, 1985 and that he would be put ting toge ther a pI an element document, tying all of this together, for that meeting. If this plan meets approval, at that time, we will ask for a Resolution to refer the matter to City Council for their endorse- ment. Markalunas said the Aspen Nordic Council should be asked to attend that public hearing to let us know what their plans are, 8 RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS REGULAR MEETING PLANNING AND ZONING COMllISSION JULY 2. 1985 Whi te agreed. Baker said he would invite Craig Ward to attend and give a presentation at the public hearing. Tygre adjourned the meeting at 6:35 p.m. c;(~ LJ~d: Kim Wilhoit, Deputy City Clerk 9