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RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
REGULAR MEETING PLANlHNG AND ZONING COMMISSION NOVEMBER 19. 1985
Chairman Welton Anderson called the meeting to order at 5:05 pm
with Commissioners' Jasmine Tygre, Mari Peyton, Roger Hunt, Jim
Colombo, Al Blomquist, David White and Ramona Markalunas present.
COMMISSIONERS · COMIIBR'J.'S
Peyton said she had recently attended a City Council meeting
regarding the Little Nell proj ect and had been told by the City
Attorney to be careful about the comments she made so as not to
jeopardize her vote on the SUbject when the review came back
before this Commission. Ms. Peyton asked for clarification.
Motion:
Blomquist moved to request a full legal oplnlon and description
of a Bill of Rights and the responsibilities of the Planning
Commission members~ Peyton seconded.
Discussion:
White said the Attorney had told him if there was something
that came to City Council before it came before this Commission
then the Commissioners had to be careful not to state their
opinion publicly as it could reflect to the applicant that
the Commissioner was prejudice before it came before the Commiss-
ion. Tygre said she would rather start with a more narrow base,
1 ike guidel ines on bias rather than conflict of interest.
Anderson asked that the City Attorney be present at the next
meeting for clarification of these matters. Blomquist said he
would rather have the clarification in writing.
Hunt said he would like to amend Blomquist's motion to include
that the City Attorney would present what he had written himself,
as an agenda item, so the issue could be discussed. Blomquist
agreed to amend his motion ~ Peyton agreed to amend her second.
All in favor~ motion carried.
MIND'l'ES
October 8. 1985:
Hunt moved to approve the minutes of October 8, 1985~ Tygre
seconded. All in favor~ motion carried.
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RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
REGULAR MEETING PLARNING AND Z ORING COMMISSION NOVEMBER 19. 1985
INFORMATIONAL UPDATE
Alan Richman, Planning Director, gave the Commissioners' a
memorandum updating City Council's actions with respect to the
Little Nell Conceptual SPA. Richman said he had talked with the
Mayor who commented that it was important for Council to get
opinions of this Commission, including any minority opinions.
Written comments by the individual members was suggested or a
Council agenda item under "Advisory Committee votes", allowing key
points to be carried forward by the planners.
Motion:
Blomquist moved to accept Richman's suggestion to carry forward
the Planning Commissions concerns and key points as a City
Council agenda item under "Advisory Committee votes"~ White
seconded. All in favor~ motion carried.
PUBLIC BEARINGS
S'1'REAII MARGIN CODE AMENDMENTS
Anderson opened the public hearing.
Steve Burstein, planner, explained this was a request to make
various revisions to the Stream Margin Review section of the code.
Chuck Roth, Engineer, said the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) was not satisfied with the current ordinance,
therefore, changes had been made. Mr. Roth said an amendment was
also being made to Chapter 20-17 of the Municipal Code, adding an
8th section titled "Flood Hazard Areas", so that any subdivision
proposed within flood hazard areas would have to address criteria
not addressed before. The Stream Margin Review usually addresses
a building and this will address the subdivision of land without
a building on it. Mr. Roth said the wording would read: "all
subdivision proposals shall be consistent with the need to
minimize flood damage, public utilities and facilities located in
construction to minimize flood damage, etc." Anderson said if
the code was going to be amended then the language should be
included in memorandum form for the Commissions' review.
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RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
REGULAR MEETING PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION NOVEMBER 19. 1985
Motion:
Hunt moved to continue the public hearing until
meeting on December 3, 1985~ Tygre seconded.
motion carried.
the next regular
All in favor~
TIMESHARE CODE AMENDMENTS
Steve Burstein, planner, explained that city Council had reviewed
this in November and initiated code amendments. Essentially the
amendments are to keep the limitation of $100 on gifts other than
travel and to not limit the inspection trips, although the
planning office is recommending some limitation. In addition, the
licensing fee is to be set up on a graduated basis (outlined in
planning office memorandum dated November 13, 1985) based on the
number of units.
Hunt said he agreed with keeping the limitation on gifts, and
agreed with the Planning Office that there should be some control
of the travel. Hunt suggested setting up some specified limit
and that the perspective buyer should contribute to the travel in
some way. If that is abused there should be teeth in the ordinance
that in effect the timeshare administrator should be subject to
travel damages of first class equivalent air fare. White agreed
that part of the fee should be reimbursed by the realtor and the
prospect should have to pay something.
White commented that he thought the recommended licensing fee was
cutting the City too short. Blomquist said he would go along
with licensing at $3,000 for the project plus $100 per unit.
Hunt said he would agree with that.
Blomquist said he would not change the transportation and free
lodging issue. He questioned if that type of tactic was what the
City wants real estate business in Aspen to be. When timeshare
was originally considered it was determined it should be a normal
part of normal real estate business as opposed to a high pressure
system. It was also designed that the timeshare sold in Aspen
would be sold as normal real estate, by normal Aspen real estate
salesman, responding to voluntary inquiry by people already in
Aspen on vacation. Blomquist said this restriction was the only
method that stopped the drawing in of people solely for the purpose
of the timeshare sales pitch.
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RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
REGULAR MEETING PLARNING AND ZONING COMMISSION NOVEMBER 19. 1985
Hunt agreed with Blomquist but felt City Council was requesting
this as it is currently proposed. Hunt thought Blomquist's position
should be forwarded to Council, expressing that the Commission
prefers travel not be included but if included that it be required
that the prospect participate in at least 50% of the travel
costs. Tygre agreed but thought Blomquist's points were too
important not to be reiterated and stated emphatically. If
another recommendation is included it should be simply a fall
back position.
Motion :
Blomquist moved to recommend to City Council that Section 20-24
(E) (3) (c) and Section 20-24 (0) (2) remain as is without change
and that Section 20-24 (S) (s) should be amended to read:
"for each license issued under the provisions of this
paragraph an annual fee shall be paid according to the
following schedule:
a. $2,000 for the project
b. $100. per unit "~
Tygre seconded.
Anderson opened the public hearing. There were no comments,
therefore, the public hearing was closed.
Discussion:
Hunt asked if there could be a Resolution sent to Council with
the rationale expressed by Blomquist, to be signed by the Chairman
of this Commission, adding that a reducing sliding scale fee
was placing the wrong incentive in to the system. Blomquist
agreed to amend his motion to reflect this change, Tygre agreed
to amend her second.
White opposed, all others in favor~ motion carried.
NEW BUSINESS
BAAR LOT SPLIT
Steve Burstein, planner, explained the request. Currently Lot 1
appears to go 4 feet in to the pavement of the road, therefore,
the applicant is requesting a vacation of 12 feet, leaving 18
feet of right-of-way.
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RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
REG~ MEETING PLARNING AND ZONING COMMISSION NOVEMBBR 19. 1985
Hunt asked what the right-of-way on the adjoining property was.
Elyse Elliott, Engineer, replied there was a 30 foot dedication
to the south and no dedication to the north. In essence, the
right-of-way necks down 30 feet right after leaving the Baar
Subdivision. Next to Meadows Rd. is the Aspen Institute who has
dedicated at least 30 feet of right-of-way and Meadows Rd. has
about 40 feet of right-Of-way. Ms. Elliott said they feel there
is a lot of right-of-way. Vacating the 12 feet would leave
at least 60 feet of right-of-way which is all that is required
f or a road.
Burstein said there was a line of Cottonwood trees on the parcel
which the Planning Office feels are very important but thought it
possible to design a building, within the set backs, that would
not effect those trees. In addition, Burstein said they thought
the request was in keeping with the neighborhood, but thought it
would be appropriate to restrict that only a single family
residence be buil t on the parcel and the approval should be
conditioned as such.
Hal Clark, representing applicant, gave a brief history of their
request. Mr. Clark said they thought the right-of-way vacation
was a fair request and that the current right-of-way was not needed.
Motion:
White moved to recommend approval of the Baar Subdivision Exception
for the purpose of a lot split, subject to conditions 1 through 5
outlined in the Planing Office Memorandum dated November 12, 1985
and an additional condition #6 that development only be of a single
family dwelling~ Blomquist seconded. All in favor~ motion carried.
Motion:
Bl omq ui st moved to recommend approval
right-of-way vaca tion ~ Whi te seconded.
carried.
of the requested public
All in favor~ motion
CORTINA LODGB CHARGB IN USB/CONDOMINIUMIZATION
Jim Colombo stepped down for conflict of interest.
Steve Burstein, planner, explained that the application was to
utilize some of the units in the Cortina Lodge to satisfy the
employee housing obligations of the Hotel Jerome and the Aspen
Club Lodge (formerly the Woodstone Inn). Burstein briefly
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RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
REGULAR MEBTING PLARNING AND ZONING COMMISSION NOVEMBER 19. 1985
described the project and unit count. This would be a dormitory
concept with a number of bathrooms and kitchens shared. Burstein
said there were 3 steps before the Commission: a GMP exemption
for the change in use, condominiumization, and a special review
to establish the residential parking requirement.
Burstein explained the employee housing proposal (outlined in the
planning office memorandum dated November 14, 1985), noting
several changes from the original agreement. Burstein said the
applicant would be making some changes to the square footage so
there would not be as big a discrepancy as represented in the
memorandum. The Housing Authority studied the proposal thoroughly
and recommended that it was an acceptable project with a good
design. However, in looking at the Hotel Jerome PUD agreement it
was realized that the requirement was for 15 bedrooms rather than
15 employees, therefore, the Planning Office feels in that respect
the project is deficient. Furthermore, the Woodstone requirement
was for 3 off si te and 1 on si te uni ts, for a total of 1692
sq.ft., and the Planning Office feels that is also deficient.
The Planning Office recommends, in terms of employee housing,
that the 6 remaining free market units be deed restricted in
association with the Hotel Jerome and that there be 1 additional
unit at the Woodstone deed restricted.
Burstein said, in relation to the parking issue, that the Cortina
has 8 parking spaces. The Planning Office feels it would be
reasonable to ask for 1 space per 2 employees. The occupancy of
the Cortina would be approximately 30 employees, therefore, there
should be a minimum of 15 parking spaces provided. The Planning
Office recommends, with regard to parking, that 7 spaces be added
to the 60 spaces the Hotel Jerome is required to provide.
Peyton asked if the employee housing units would be housing only
Hotel Jerome and Woodstone employees or open for any employees.
Burstein said he would assume they would be managed to house their
employees first and if they were unable to fill the units then
they have the option to make the units avail abl e to other city
employees.
Dick Butera, applicant, gave a history of the project and why
they were making the requests before the Commission. Mr. Butera
said they inher i ted a PUD agreement on the Hotel Jerome which
called for 15 off site employee housing units and 4 on site
units. Additionally, when they purchased the Woodstone in order
to condominiumize they inherited an agreement for 1 off site
employee unit and 3 on site. In order to solve the problem and
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RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
REGULAR MEBTING PLANNING AND IONING COMMISSIORNOVEMBER 19. 1985
go on with the projects they asked the Housing Authority what
they wanted. In September they were given an informal approval
which enabled them to enter in to a contract with the owners of the
Cortina. By adapting the 150 sq.ft. per person requirement to a
dormitory style employee hous"ng unit they had enough housing for
all of the Hotel Jerome un"ts and the 3 off site Woodstone
units at the Cortina. The C rtina presently has 16 free market
units with 2 people in eac one totaling 32 people and the
parking is what exists. They are not increasing the intensity of
the use and are unable to cha ge the parking. Additionally, they
are prov iding 35 em pI oyee rking spaces on site at the Hotel
Jerome.
Mr. Butera said it had beco e frustrating to go through all of
this work with the Housing Au hority, to satisfy their needs, then
get a call from the Planni g Office asking that we agree to
restrict the 6 units that wo ld not be used for employee housing
because they did not want a m"xed use on the property. We agreed
to restrict the entire Cort na. The next day the memorandum
referred to in this meetin was issued saying that we did not
agree with what the Housing Authority agreed to and that the
Cortina will only satisfy th housing requirements of the Hotel
Jerome and not those of the Woodstone, let alone the 6 extra
units we had the day before, greeing to deed restrict.
Doug Carlson, representing a plicant, explained the process they
had gone through with the Ho sing Authority to come up with the
proposal before the Commissi n. Mr. Carlson said this proposal
allows 155.2 sq.ft. per emplo ee at the Cortina where the requir-
ement is only 150 sq. ft. A the Hotel Jerome the on site unit
requirement is a minimum of 180 sq.ft. per unit and this proposal
provides an average of 229 . ft. per unit along wi th kitchens,
staying at a 2 to 1 relati nship of employees to kitchens and
bathrooms. !
,
,
Blomquist asked the applic nt to go through each requirement
listed in the Planning Offic recommendation memorandum dated
November 14, 1985 and state whether they agree or disagree with
the condition. Regarding Se tion A "Change in Use" Mr. Carlson
disagreed with condition #1 and agreed with #2 through i5.
Regarding Section B "Condomi iumization" Mr. Carlson disagreed
with Condition #1, agreed w th condition #2 if cleaned up, and
agreed with conditions .3 through #6. Regarding Section C
"Parking Plan" Mr. Carlson agreed with condition #1 and disagreed
wi th #2.
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RECORD OF PROCEBDINGS
REGULAR MEBTING PLANNING ANDZ ONING COMMISSION NOVEMBBR 19. 1985
Mr. Carlson said, regarding recommendation A-I, they had no
problem with the last sentence that units 1,9,10, and 17 shall be
associated with the Woodstone Inn's employee housing but had a
problem with the first sentence which talks about all units being
deed restricted associated with the Hotel Jerome. The proposal
as it stands is to leave units i2,3,4,5, 6 and 7 out of the
Jerome's needs at this point. Anderson asked if the applicants
were willing to restrict those units. Mr. Carlson said as long
as there was language sufficient to cover them later that they
could be used as credit for future projects. Jim Curtis, Housing
Authority, said that would be acceptable to them.
Hunt said what needed to be determine was if the original agreement
was for 15 units at 1.25 per person or for 15 employees. Anderson
said it was for 15 employees. Tygre asked why the PUD agreement
stated 15 bedrooms. Mr. Carlson said the agreement was very
clear that it was 15 employees of the hotel, location acceptable
to the City, to include a minimum of 15 bedrooms. When they were
talking about bedrooms that was all they had available to talk
about because the dormitory concept was not available. Tygre
said she was unclear about the original intent. Mr. Carlson
asked if this issue could be determined by a review of minutes of
the original agreement. Anderson said he thought the issue could
be resolved at this meeting as long as all units at the Cortina
were staying employee housing.
Motion:
Blomquist moved to approve the requested change in use subject to
conditions '2 through .5 (as outlined in the Planning Office
memorandum dated November 14, 1985) and amending condition #1 to
read "all units shall be deed restricted to low income employee
housing guidelines, units 2,3,4,5,6, and & 7 shall be reserved for
a future employee housing allocation for a future project as yet
undetermined, Units 8,11,12,13,14,15 and 16 shall be associated
with the Hotel Jerome's employee housing obligations, and units
1,9,10, and 17 shall be associated with the Woods tone Inn employee
housing obligations"~ White seconded.
Discussion: Hunt said he was going to vote against this motion
because of the concern expressed by Tygre but agreed with it
conceptually.
Hunt and Tygre opposed, all others in favor~ motion carried.
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REeoRD OFPROCEBDI~S
REGULAR MEETINGPLANNIRG AND ZONING COMMISSION NOVEMBER 19. 1985
Anderson clarified the applicants objections to the Condominiumi-
zation approval conditions.
Motion:
Hun t moved to recommend Condominiumization approval subj ect to
conditions .2 through .6 (outlined in the Planning Office memorandum
dated November 14, 1985), renumbering the conditions to read .1
through '5~ White seconded.
Discussion:
Tygre suggested condition
restricted for employee use.
this change.
.2 should say the units are deed
Hunt amended his motion to reflect
All in favor~ motion carried.
Mr. Hecht questioned if under the exemption procedure for condom-
iniumization if this should be specifically exempted from the 6
month minimum lease restriction.
Motion:
Hunt moved to amend condition #1 of the previous motion to
indicate that all Cortina units shall be deed restricted for
rental use of employees and that the 6 month minimum lease
requirements be waived~ White seconded. All in favor ~ motion
carried.
Anderson explained the applicants objection to condition #2 of
Section C "Parking". Anderson agreed with the applicants logic
that spaces are being duplicated that have already been promised
from previous approvals. Burstein did not agree that this was a
duplication because off-site employee housing had not been taken
into account in the original formula.
White suggested changing condition #2 to read: "Off street
parking spaces shall be provided in the present 60 parking space
commitment for the Hotel Jerome for the use of Hotel Jerome
employees living at the Cortina". That wording was acceptable to
the applicants and Commissioners' with the exception of Blomquist.
Blomquist's objection was that usable parking was not being
provided at the hotel if the employee was in another location.
Blomquist suggested saying this was non-conforming as to parking.
Peyton said she thought when a parking space was waived for a
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RECi>RD-OF PROCEBDINGS
REGm.AR MEETING PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION NOVEMBER 19. 1985
local there would be another car parked on the street. Hunt
agreed with White's amendment to condition #2.
Motion:
Whi te moved to recommend special rev iew approval of the Cortina
parking plan for 8 spaces subject to condition .1 as written in
the Planning Office memorandum dated November 14, 1985, and
condi tion #2 amended to read: "that available back-up off-street
parking spaces "7" shall be provided in the present 60 parking
space commitment for the Hotel Jerome, for use of the Hotel
Jerome employees living at the Cortina~ Peyton seconded. Blomquist
opposed, all others in favor~ motion carried.
Anderson adjourned the meeting at 7:30 pm.
cK~/L UMjf-
Kim Wilhoit, Deputy City Clerk
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