HomeMy WebLinkAboutminutes.council.20070312
Ree:ular Meetine:
Aspen City Council
March 12. 2007
OUTSTANDING EMPLOYEE BONUS AWARD ........................................................... 2
PROCLAMATION - Shining Stars ................................................................................... 2
CITIZEN COMMENTS ..................................................................................................... 2
COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS .................................................................................. 2
CONSENT CALENDAR ................................................................................................... 3
. Resolution #16,2007 - Fee for Services Agreement with Lockton, Health Care
Services........................................................................................................................... 3
. Resolution #17,2007 - Smuggler Park Water System Acquisition and Acceptance
3
. Minutes - February 26, 27, 28, 2007...................................................................... 3
All in favor, motion carried. ........................................................................................... 3
RESOLUTION #15,2007 - Yz Cent Transit Sales and Use Tax Budget ........................... 3
RESOLUTION #19,2007 - Joint Planning Agreement - Zupancis Property................... 3
FIRST READING OF ORDINANCES.............................................................................. 3
. Ordinance #6,2007 - Change in Use - Isis GMQS ............................................... 3
. Ordinance #7,2007 - Urban Wildfire Code Amendment ...................................... 3
ORDINANCE #45, SERIES OF 2007 - Historic Designation 312 West Hyman ............. 4
ORDINANCE #5, SERIES OF 2007 - Lodge at Aspen Mountain Final PUD/
Subdivision......................................................................................................................... 5
RESOLUTION #18, SERIES OF 2007 - Ballot Language ............................................. 15
RIO GRANDE MEETING ROOM .................................................................................. 16
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March 12. 2007
Mayor K1anderud called the meeting to order at 5:05 p.m. with Counci1members Torre,
Johnson, Tygre and DeVilbiss present.
OUTSTANDING EMPLOYEE BONUS AWARD
Mayor and Council presented Paul Menter, finance department, with and outstanding
employee bonus award for his work on the Isis purchase.
PROCLAMATION - Shining Stars
Mayor Klanderud and Council proclaimed March 16 to 23 as Shining Stars Winter
Games Week and expressed appreciation for the contribution and volunteer efforts to
make this a successful event for seriously ill children.
CITIZEN COMMENTS
1. Toni Kronberg requested Resolutions #15, Yz Cent Transit Tax Budget, and #19,
Joint Planning Agreement for Zupancis Property be pulled from the consent calendar.
Ms. Kronberg noted there was a meeting at the ARC last week about the pool design.
This meeting was fairly well attended. The dilemma is that all uses desired will not fit.
Ms. Kronberg said staff is going to make the final decision on the complements of the
pool. Ms. Kronberg said she would like the public to have another chance to look at the
final components.
2. Vince Galuccio brought up the affordable housing proposal for the Smuggler
Racquet Club. Mayor K1anderud said this is a separate land use proposal from the Lodge
at Aspen Mountain and it is more appropriate to comment when the Smuggler Racquet
Club is in front of Council.
COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS
1. Mayor Klanderud welcomed the J-3 Junior Olympics to town; there are 41 teams
from the Rocky Mountain Central region in Aspen to compete. The opening ceremonies
are this evening at 6: 15 following by fireworks.
2. Councilman Torre said it is election season and absentee voting is available April
23rd in the City Clerk's office.
3. Councilman Torre said he went to the production of "Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me"
and the Wheeler and it was an amazing event. Councilman Torre congratulated Aspen
Public radio and the Wheeler staff on this event.
4. Councilwoman Tygre noted the Aspen Meadows is closing the use oftheir health
club to the general public. Councilwoman Tygre said Council needs to factor that in
when considering other venues for classes and events. This should be considered in the
Civic Master Plan.
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March 12, 2007
5. Mayor Klanderud requested Council add to the end of the agenda a formal
decision regarding the Rio Grande meeting room so staff has direction on the remodeling
of the room.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Councilman Johnson moved to approve the consent calendar as amended; seconded by
Councilman Torre. The consent calendar is:
. Resolution #16,2007 - Fee for Services Agreement with Lockton, Health Care
Services
. Resolution #17, 2007 - Smuggler Park Water System Acquisition and Acceptance
. Minutes - February 26,27,28,2007
All in favor, motion carried.
RESOLUTION #15, 2007 -_Yz Cent Transit Sales and Use Tax Budget
Toni Kronberg said when the Maroon Creek bridge was approved; there was a public
hearing on the expenditure of funds for that portion. Ms. Kronberg asked if there will be
public comment taken for the use of these funds for the preferred alternative Buttermilk
to the roundabout. Ms. Kronberg said people feel the light at Truscott during the peak
hours is causing traffic backups. Mayor Klanderud said this resolution is approval of the
city the action of the EOTC.
RESOLUTION #19, 2007 - Joint Planning Agreement - Zupancis Property
Toni Kronberg said it seems as if the planning process is going to start for everything
from the Zupancis to the Parking Garage and not everything in the regulatory document
can be built there unless it conforms to the 8 guiding principles. Mayor Klanderud said
this planning effort is for the Zupancis property to Mill street, not the Rio Grande park.
Councilman DeVilbiss moved to approved Resolutions #15 and 19, Series of2007;
seconded by Councilman Torre. All in favor, with the exception of Councilwoman Tygre
who opposed Resolution #19, Series of2007. Motion carried.
FIRST READING OF ORDINANCES
. Ordinance #6, 2007 - Change in Use - Isis GMQS
. Ordinance #7,2007 - Urban Wildfire Code Amendment
Councilman DeVilbiss moved to read Ordinances #6 and 7, Series of2007; seconded by
Councilman Torre. All in favor, motion carried.
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ORDINANCE NO.6
SERIES OF 2007
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL GRANTING GROWTH
MANAGEMENT APPROVAL PURSUANT TO SECTION 26.470.040 (C)(l) & (D)(3),
ENLARGEMENT OF A HISTORIC LANDMARK AND ESSENTIAL PUBLIC
FACILITY AND FOR AN EXPANSION AND CHANGE IN USE, ALLOWING
RETAIL, FOR A PORTION OF THE ISIS THEATER, 406 E. HOPKINS AVENUE,
LOTS L, M, AND N, BLOCK 87, CITY AND TOWNSITE OF ASPEN, PITKIN
COUNTY, COLORADO
ORDINANCE NO.7
(SERIES OF 2007)
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ASPEN, COLORADO
TO AMEND THE 2003 INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE AND THE 2003
INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL CODE ESTABLISHED BY ORDINANCE NO.
59, SERIES OF 2003
Councilman DeVilbiss moved to adopt Ordinances #6 and 7, Series of2007, on first
reading; seconded by Councilman Torre. Roll call vote; Councilmembers Johnson, yes;
DeVilbiss, yes; Tygre, yes; Torre, yes; Mayor Klanderud, yes. Motion carried.
ORDINANCE #45, SERIES OF 2007 - Historic Designation 312 West Hyman
Amy Guthrie, community development department, reminded Council this historic
designation was initiated by the HPC without owner consent. HPC held a public hearing
to discuss the merits of the designation. Ms. Guthrie said 5 of the 6 HPC members felt
there was historic significance; however, several members wanted more information
about the integrity issue and wanted a site visit. HPC recommended against designation
by a 3 to 2 vote. After that discussion, the city purchased the property for potential
affordable housing.
Ms. Guthrie noted the first set of criteria for historic designation is historic and cultural
association. Ms. Guthrie said only one of the criteria have to be met and staff feels 2 are
met. The first is a pattern or trend that has made a significant contribution to Aspen's
history. Ms. Guthrie told Council the people who built this house have shared their
memories and these people witnessed the beginning of the ski industry. This house was
built by a father and daughter, who provided the oral history." Ms. Guthrie presented a
slide show of pictures provided by the daughter, Genevieve Leininger, ofthe house under
construction in 1954 and the completion. The house was set on an angle to take
advantage of the view and is typical of chalet-type structures. Ms. Guthrie pointed out
the decoration of the eaves, the wood upper floor, the baluster railings, motifs that were
typical of chalet -style houses in the United States. This house was hand built without
plans, built from a common vision, without power tools. These slides illustrate this
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structure meets a particular building style, which is criteria ( c). Ms. Guthrie said the
chalet-style was important to Aspen's character at the time this house was built. Ms.
Guthrie said staff feels this property is significant and there are only 12 chalet-style
buildings left and only 2 are designated historic.
Ms. Guthrie reminded Council there is a scoring form used to evaluate how intact a
building is architecturally. A building needs to score at least 75 points; this building has
scored 89 points. Ms. Guthrie told Council the previous owner has some of the artifacts
that can be restored, which would increase the integrity score. Staff recommends
designation of this property and if the ordinance is adopted, it should be amended to
indicate the city is the owner,
Mayor Klanderud opened the public hearing.
Michael Behrendt, property owner to the west, said he knew the family that built this
structure; they were not involved in the early ski history of Aspen and the structure is
nothing special.
Mayor Klanderud closed the public hearing.
Councilman DeVilbiss said he is persuaded by the presentation that this is a structure
worth historic designation. Councilman Johnson asked if an assessment of the interior
will be done. Ms. Guthrie said that could be done as part of the rehabilitation for
affordable housing. Councilman Johnson agreed this meets criteria a and c, especially
age, integrity, setting and association. Councilwoman Tygre agreed.
Mayor Klanderud questioned where designating properties might stop. Mayor Klanderud
said notices were to go out to owners of potential properties for designation two years
before they become 50 years old. Mayor Klanderud said there are buildings that
definitely should be designated; however, the net seems to be getting bigger. Mayor
Klanderud noted the city now owns this property. Councilwoman Tygre agreed with the
Mayor's concerns as a policy decision. Mayor Klanderud said the city needs to be
cautious about involuntary designations and then the city purchases the property.
Councilman Torre stated he cannot support historic designation; the city owns the house
and the historic designation could be remanded to P&Z.
Councilman DeVilbiss moved to adopt Ordinance #45, Series of2006, amending it to
show ownership by the city; seconded by Councilman Torre. Roll call vote;
Councilmembers Johnson, yes; DeVilbiss, yes; Torre, no; Tygre, yes; Mayor Klanderud,
no. Motion carried.
ORDINANCE #5, SERIES OF 2007 - Lodge at Aspen Mountain Final PUD/
Subdivision
Councilwoman Tygre recused herself as she voted on this at P&Z and Councilman
Johnson recused himself at he lives within 300 feet of the property.
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Joyce Allgaier, community development department, said the applicant will review how
this proposal has changed between conceptual approval and the final presentation. Ms.
Allgaier noted the P&Z meetings were very well attended; P&Z conducted 3 public
hearings. Every property that touches this project participated in and had discussions
with the applicants. Ms. Allgaier went over the site plan, where the building is located,
the surrounding properties, and pointed out the project facing South Aspen street. Ms.
Allgaier said currently on this parcel is a parking lot and the Mine Dumps apartments,
which will be razed.
Ms. Allgaier said this is the final PUD, timeshare has to be reviewed as part of a PUD,
subdivision of the property including fractional ownership, and growth management
review. The applicants are seeking a multi-year allotment for additional commercial
square footage and approval for affordable housing outside the city limits. This is a 118
unit project; 80 hotel rooms, 21 fractional units divided into 1/8 interests, 4 free market
condominiums, and 13 affordable housing units on site and 257 sub grade parking spaces.
The project is 175,000 square feet. In order to meet the housing mitigation, there are two
other sites to accommodate housing off site; one is a 32 unit project, Smuggler Mountain
which is in the planning process at P&Z, and a 8 unit project at the Airport Business
Center, which has received approvals from the County.
The maximum ridge line is 55', which is a reduction from 60' as presented at conceptual
review. Ms. Allgaier said 42' is allowed for lodges in the lodge zone district. Parking is
an important part of this project and meets various needs for various uses. One is the
replacement of the parking area leased by the Aspen Ski Company, replacing parking
spaces on South Aspen street, and parking required for this project. The applicant also
proposes to widen Juan street, dedicating additional right-of-way and to improve the curb
and gutter and street tree plantings. Another infrastructure improvement is proposed
rebuilding of South Aspen street to include a cul-de-sac turn around, sidewalks, curb and
gutter and making the street function better. The applicant has proposed to participate
financially in a new lift lA and has entered into an agreement with the Ski Company,
who has agreed ifthis project moves forward, the lift will be operational when the project
opens.
Ms. Allgaier noted this property has an approval and vested rights for 14 free market
residential townhouses and 17 affordable housing units. Conceptual approval was given
for this lodge project in November 2005 for 80 hotel units, 21 fractional lodge units and 4
free market units and 16 affordable housing units on site. The applicants have removed 3
of those affordable housing units and now propose 13 on site and the 3 will be relocated
off site. Ms. Allgaier reminded Council at conceptual the directions to the applicants
were to scale the project back to be more in keeping with the neighborhood, the site and
the streetscape. The applicants have stepped the building back, especially near Lift One
and moved away from the residences on Juan street, changing some roof heights and
orientation so the massing was not as blocky. Another direction to the applicant was to
enhance and improve the setting of the structure relating to South Aspen street for a
better pedestrian connection. Council objected to so much structure so close to the street.
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The third direction was to strive to frame the view better and set off the views of Shadow
Mountain along South Aspen street.
Ms. Allgaier said the building has been narrowed in some places, the roof orientation has
been changed to have more undulation, a different courtyard look. Ms. Allgaier pointed
out the restaurant has direct access from South Aspen street rather than at the top of the
project. This restaurant location provides a greater openness to the restaurant, is closer to
town and not so far up the hill. Ms. Allgaier said changes were made to chinmeys and
roofprojections that lower the look of the structure. These buildings are better setback
away from Aspen street and other property lines, giving a better relationship to the
neighborhood.
Ms. Allgaier told Council P&Z voted unanimously after 3 public hearings. Their
concerns were similar to that of Council like structural massing, height and scale
changes, site plan changes including setback changes along Aspen street, making the
development exceptionally energy efficient, construction management plan which is
important to the community in general and in this location to minimize the impacts on the
neighbors. Ms. Allgaier told Council the city engineer has reviewed the proposed
construction management plan and states it exceeds any plan seen to date. The public
infrastructure and landscaping was important to P&Z. The neighbors were clear about
making this a "place" and landscaping and street scaping need to be of high quality and
help create vitality.
P&Z felt the evolution of the project has yielded an excellent project. P&Z members felt
this development takes advantage of a key site in Aspen, a site that is appropriate for
lodging, tourists and ski area activities. The residential reconstruction credits to tourist
accommodations use the credits on that property to be converted into lodge rooms; there
is expansion and new commercial square footage and affordable housing on site. P&Z
granted a conditional use approval and an 8040 greenline review. P&Z recommends the
multi-year allotment for an exceptional project. Councilman DeVilbiss asked what
allotment is available and what is being requested by the applicant. Ms. Allgaier said
there is a deficit of 11,000 square feet in the commercial quota for 2006, which was when
this application was submitted. Councilman DeVilbiss asked what has been allocated for
2007. Ms. Allgaier said no square footage has been allocated. Councilman DeVilbiss
said he would like specific amounts of allotment available in each type of development.
Ms. Allgaier said P&Z felt this project was exceptional because of additional affordable
housing units provided above what is required for mitigation, the construction
management plan including shuttling of employees, and the proposal to exceed the
energy conservation code and LEED scoring. Ms. Allgaier pointed out a condition in the
ordinance on how the energy use will be audited on this project.
Ms. Allgaier said this project provides additional lodging rooms, which is a stated goal of
the AACP. This is a hotel and the fractional ownership units will be available to the
public when not used by their owners. Ms. Allgaier said this site is well suited for a
lodge use rather than townhouses. This is at the base of Aspen mountain and the historic
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corridor to skiing. This site lines up with other lodges in the city; it is close to the
commercial core. Ms. Allgaier said the project has presented an exceptional energy
efficiency plan and proposes to manage the environment impacts, like water runoff.
There are numerous public infrastructure improvements. Ms. Allgaier said the height and
massing changes make the project more sensitive to the general vicinity as well and this
site, including stepping the building back away from the edges. The height is
consolidated toward the center of the project, and lowered at the Shadow mountain side.
Ms. Allgaier noted staff finds the height and massing more acceptable than the plan
approved under conceptual. Ms. Allgaier said the ordinance contains conditions
addressing neighborhood concerns regarding parking, slope stability, coordinating the
project with construction of other projects in the neighborhood. Another condition links
this project to its two affordable housing projects off-site.
Councilman Torre said he dimension chart in the memorandum indicates the height is 47'
and 55'. Ms. Allgaier said 55' is at the ridge, which is the maximum height but is not
how the height is measured according to the code. The maximum height is 55' and at
conceptual it was 60' at the ridge and 47' as measured by the code. In this iteration about
35% of the roofis above 42'.
John Sarpa, representing the applicant, introduced his team. Sarpa noted it has been 16
months since conceptual approval. Sarpa reminded Council during conceptual approval,
Council granted conceptual but said not to bring the exact building back. Sarpa said the
applicants have been working on the height ofthe building, how it appears from the
street, how pedestrians would experience the building. The applicants also looked at
trying to exceed any construction management plan presented to the city, and the energy
conservation techniques. Sarpa stated it has been 3-1/2 years since the proj ect first
started.
Sarpa told Council they are proud of the extent to which they interacted with all the
neighbors. Sarpa said not 100% of the individual neighbors support the project; however,
all the homeowners associations support the project. Sarpa said the neighbors have been
part of the process since the beginning and especially the last l-1/2years. Sarpa said
many parts of the proj ect have changed as a result of neighborhood interaction. Sarpa
noted parking from the streets has been removed because of new street widths and the
applicants are attempting to find areas for parking spaces. It was important to
Timberridge that the eastern most portion of their building does not overlap with the
western most portion of the hotel. Sarpa pointed out on the aerial how this happens.
Sarpa said setbacks have increased to give relief to the neighbors. The building has been
stepped down. Sarpa said it was important to the Shadow Mountain owners that the
southeast corner stays open to preserve their sightlines.
Sarpa showed where the porte cochere was removed, which reduced lights and traffic and
there is only one car entrance to the entire project. Sarpa told Council they worked out an
agreement with the Juan Street homeowners to lease land owned by the hotel and being
used by the homeowners back to the homeowners. Sarpa said traffic is a concern to the
neighborhood and there is an agreement that there is a requirement to no trucks come
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"this way". Sarpa said the commitment is that all deliveries come up South Aspen to the
hotel. The landscaping plan is on-going and the applicants are working with the
neighbors. Sarpa pointed out Dean street. Council recently approved a vacation of a
portion of Dean street and the applicants are requesting a vacation of another portion of
Dean street.
Sarpa reminded Council they were concerned about the original location of the affordable
housing and it has been moved to the east side of the building. There are 13 affordable
housing units on site; the code requires 8 units. Sarpa said there are more affordable
housing units located in the city than the 60/40 split approved by Council. There is 77%
of housing located in the city. Sarpa said the affordable housing has been applied for; it
has been reviewed by HPC; it is currently in front ofP&Z. Sarpa told Council under the
code calculations, this project would be required to house 94.5 employees and they
anticipate housing between 10 and 20% more than the required figure.
Sunny Vann, representing the applicants, said the conceptual approval required 60% of
the affordable housing mitigation to be located within the city limits and 40% within the
urban growth boundary. The Smuggler Mountain project will hold 77% of the total
employees for which they must mitigation. There are 8 units at the Airport Business
Center, family-sized three-bedroom sale units. The 13 on-site units are required to
mitigate the demolition of the Mine Dump apartments. These units are subject to the
residential multi-family program, requiring 8 units on site. Both the number of bedrooms
and the square footage required will be exceeded. These are anticipated to be rental units
of the hotel. This proposal has been reviewed by the housing board. There have been
some revisions required by P&Z. Vann said this project mitigates its affordable housing
requirements in all categories, there is no double dipping. It mitigates the hotel units at
60%; it mitigates the free market residential at 60%; it mitigates the commercial at 60%.
The mitigation is the aggregate of the code requirement for all categories in addition to
the replacement housing required for the Mine Dumps.
Vann stated this applicant has prior approval with full vested rights good until July 2007.
The applicants have a pending application requesting extension of those vested rights. If
that application is not approved, they are prepared to go to building permit. This
approval is for 14 free market townhouses and 17 affordable housing units. Vann
reminded Council this applicant purchased the property from Savanah with the residential
approval in place. The city indicated they did not want to see residential on this site and
the applicants agreed to put that on hold while pursuing a hotel project. Council has
approved an extension of the vested rights for the residential project while the hotel
proj ect is going through the process.
Sarpa told Council the applicants have spent a lot of time and thought on a construction
management plan which goes beyond that currently being done in this community. Sarpa
said one important issue with construction sites is that they put more people and trucks on
the road. Sarpa said their plan requires the majority of their labor would be required to
park at a remote area and take mass transit into the city. This will cut down on a lot of
traffic. Another element ofthe construction management plan is interaction with the
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neighbors. There will be regular meetings with the neighbors so they are aware of the
impacts and what is to be expected. Councilman DeVilbiss asked the amount of cubic
yards of soil to be excavated. Someone said approximately 100,000 which would be
1,000 truck loads. Someone told Council they do not have a location for the dirt yet.
Sarpa told Council there is a project, called Lift One A, proposed for the east side of
South Aspen street. Sarpa told Council the owners of Lift One A and Rocky Mountain
Institute and this applicant had a charette to work on the environmental challenges. Sarpa
said one big challenge was how to make South Aspen street safe while taking into
consideration energy conservation. Sarpa said the applicants have worked with the city
building department, and the canary initiative to come back with a hybrid system using
ground source heat, combine it with a more traditional snow melt boiler system, looking
at all the energy to be consumed. Sarpa said the engineers suggested looking at the
building in combination with the street, taking the energy consumption required to keep
the street snowmelted and the energy consumption required by the building and look at
reducing them together.
Sarpa said the definition of "energy efficient" is difficult to determine. This project states
there should be a verifiable base against which this project should be built. Sarpa said
they propose to use the hotel base with the lodge building base as currently exists in
Aspen. The applicants have been gathering verifiable information about what other
hotels are doing at an energy level. Sarpa said if that is the base, the applicants have
obligated to 30% better than other facilities in town and if they are short, the have
outlined how will this be offset. Sarpa said this work was done in concert with the city's
canary representative.
Dave Haughton, Resource Engineering Group, said they do energy modeling and make it
their business to make buildings more efficient. Haughton said the ideas from this
project are the heat pump system, truing up against measured data for other hotels, and
post occupancy evaluation measurement. Haughton said it is important to define a
baseline against which to measure. Haughton said they plan to use the ground as a heat
exchanger, which is a high efficiency way to use electrical energy to heat a building. One
great thing about a heat pump system is that heating and cooling are required in different
parts at the same time, all the systems can work together and use the earth underneath the
site as a heat sink and a heat source. Haughton said there will be 200 bore holes, pushing
heat into the ground in the summer and pulling it out in the winter. This is a hybrid
system; it has been sized to handle 100% ofthe cooling load for the building so there will
be no cooling towers or noise making equipment. The heat pumps, deep in the
mechanical room, will be ejecting heat into the ground. Haughton said the building will
use every energy saving trick that is known. The melting of South Aspen street will be
separately metered and whatever fossil fuel impact that has will be offset through another
project. The snowmelt is being included in the 30% comparison.
Sarpa said the rendering shows the building with a black line representing the original
project, the red line represents conceptual approval. Sarpa told Council in the last 16
months, the applicants have worked on lowering the building, making it less impactful on
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the pedestrians and the neighbors. Bill Poss, architect, noted the general layout is much
the same as what was seen at conceptual. There is a residential building between Juan
street and Lift One condominiums; fractionals and an 80 room hotel centered on a
courtyard. There is a low porte cochere setback from the street; the entry is setback 120'
from the street. The restaurant has been brought to the lower portion of the site giving
better sun exposure and views of the mountain. This also locates the restaurant closer to
town; it is wrapped around the building to give the hotel more activity. The banquet and
meeting rooms have been moved to the street. When there are public functions, attendees
will not have to wind through the entire hotel.
Poss pointed out where the building has been pulled back 5' from Shadow Mountain and
moved back 12' from the lower side. The biggest increase is that it has been pulled from
a 21' setback building to building with Juan street to a 36' setback to give Juan street
more sun exposure. Poss noted the employee housing has been relocated from below the
pool to an upper level, 3 on Juan street and 10 studios a level up at grade on Aspen street.
Poss said there will be no cooling towers and the buildings will be built within roof
shapes, the upper levels are designed into the roofs of the building. The chimneys have
been pulled off. Poss said the center portion from the entry courtyard to the ridge is 55'
as measured in the code it is 47' to the middle. Poss said a good portion of the building is
below 42'. The center section has been raised to give it prominence and then the roofs
cascade down. The ends are 32' as are most ends at the streets. Poss said there will be a
detailed height plan presented to staff. There are many variations to the roof.
Poss pointed out there are 4 sections of the building, 3 on the street, and various styles of
architecture will be applied to the different portions of the hotel. The center portion
inside the courtyard will be a rustic Colorado mountain lodge style with a stone base and
timbers in the roof. Another portion of the hotel will be more residential, Craftsman
style. These variations will be to break the building up. Another style is Victorian
shingle style, which has steeper roof pitches. The building is designed to be mostly 3
stories in height, the site increases SO feet from the bottom of the site to the top.
Sarpa said the building has gone from 204,000 square feet of FAR to 175,000 square feet
of FAR. The tallest portion of the building was 72' and is now 47' by the code
measurements. The building is lower at the edges. Fractional units have decreased from
29 units to 21 units. The number of hotel units has increased from 76 to SO units. Sarpa
said there has been a tremendous amount of neighborhood input. The applicants believe
because of input and the energy plan, the construction management plan and the
affordable housing that this is an exceptional project.
Councilman DeVilbiss said he would like the information on the number of allotments
available. Vann said the project has 15 residential credits they propose to convert into
lodge units and by the formula in the code it equals 45 lodge units. The 21 fractional
units have 21 keys and are considered lodge units for growth management purposes.
Mayor Klanderud opened the public hearing.
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Denis Murray, Trainor's Landing, said the homeowners are concerned about safety with
the increase of traffic in this area. Parking on Juan Garmisch and Dean will be displaced
by this development and the parking in this area is already difficult. Murray requested
Council not vacate Dean street and make the parking area even smaller. Murray told
Council at P&Z the developers did try and increase the on-site parking 5 spaces.
Tami Solonz, Timberridge, pointed out at Trainor's Landing each unit has 2 parking
spaces. The owners of Timberridge have been maintaining Dean street for 40 years. Ms.
Solonz said it would be beneficial for the neighborhood if Dean street were vacated.
Mack Bolens, Lift One Condominium, told Council they feel the lodge applicants have
worked hard with Life One addressing their concerns. Bolens said they would like to
voice approval of this project. Bolens said they would love to see the construction
management plan that the workers use mass transit and if not, there should be penalties
imposed.
Daniel Sullivan, representing Shadow Mountain, agreed there has been a lot of
communication between the applicants and the adjoining property owners. Sullivan
noted Shadow Mountain is located above this proposed project and the slope and soil
stability present a unique challenge, and the applicants need to take this into
consideration. Sullivan said the plan provides for monitoring and stability control.
Sullivan said the discussions have been productive but there is not a final resolution about
how the stabilization will occur, what kind of impact there will be to Shadow Mountain,
and what kind of protection can be put in place. Sullivan said the Shadow Mountain
homeowners support this project and are continuing to work on issues like parking and
the one listed above.
Doug Allen, representing Lift One, said he has been working on this for 3 years. This
project has been moved away from Lift One. The project is providing more than the
required public amenities like a new lift and snow melted street. Allen said South Aspen
has been a safety issues for years. Changing the stop sign at the intersection where lift
One sits has created chaos every season. Derrick Johnson, Juan street homeowners, told
Council they have been working very closely with the applicants on this project. Johnson
said they would rather see this proposed project built over the approved townhouses.
This project is a better sense of community. Johnson said there are concerns over parking
and there are creative ways to get more on-street parking. Johnson said the homeowners
are happy the project has decreased in size and they support this application. Johnson
agreed Aspen street is a disaster and changing the stop signs is dangerous.
David Ellis, Timberridge Condominiums, congratulated the applicants on the work they
have done with Timberridge over the last several years on architecture and setbacks and
other items. Timberridge Condominiums supports this modified application. The
conditions from Timberridge related to massing, height, ridgelines to preserve views
from Timberridge, a site plan that provides for no overlap with Timberridge and the
vacation of Dean street between the lodge, Life One and Timberridge. Ellis noted Dean
street has never been a used street and has been quiet titled at the east end of the block.
Ellis told Council the people parking on this Dean street are condominium owners. Ellis
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Aspen City Council
March 12, 2007
stated Timberridge does not contest this is a public right-of-way; however, they have
maintained it. There is no turnaround. The Timberridge owners have done the
maintenance on the piece of Dean street. Dean street has been vacated in front of the St.
Regis and the Hyatt and is in control of private parties. Ellis said he does not feel the
vacation of Dean street will remove parking from the general pool as almost all the cars
there are residents. Ellis urged Council to support this proposal as presented including
approval ofthe vacation of Dean street.
Steve, Juan street, agreed with the statement of Derrick Johnson. Steve said the
construction management plan not to allow trucking on Juan and Garmisch streets is
important. Steve stated he supports the hotel as presented. Steve said it is important to
maintain the Willoughby parking lot for staging for special events, food and wine and
World Cup events. Toni Kronberg said she supports this project as one cannot see the
project from town. This will revitalize the base of the ski area. Ms. Kronberg said mass
transit for the construction workers is very important.
Mayor Klanderud stated the public comment section will be left open for a continued
public hearing.
Councilman Torre said he would like homeowners' association's comments on this
project in writing. Councilman Torre asked what relationships this project will have with
neighboring projects if the Lodge at Aspen Mountain is approved, like parking or leased
land, access to the amenities. Sarpa said there are parking agreements, agreements on
land ownership, snow removal, snow melt, access and/or ownership of parking, the
required traffic pattern flows agreed upon with the homeowners. Mayor Klanderud said
there is a letter from JR Richards about the tenancy in the Mine Dump apartments.
Mayor Klanderud encouraged the applicants to discuss with the tenants that until they
absolutely have to vacate, they should have the ability to remain in the Mine Dumps and
that the building should be maintained to some level of habitation.
Mayor Klanderud said the city and Council are very sensitive to construction impacts,
which was one of the reasons for the moratorium. Potential impacts from this project will
be very large and deserve a lot of attention. Mayor Klanderud asked about taking away
all the parking on Dean street. Vann said when the original residential project was
reviewed, the city requested Juan street be widened as well as providing two 5' planting
strips and two 5' sidewalks within the public right-of-way. Vann said in order to
accomplish that, parking will be lost. The city stated the safe driving surface and
pedestrian access was preferential to parking. Vann said when the hotel proj ect was
proposed and reviewed by the city, they requested the same things for Juan street. V ann
said after meeting with the engineering department, they have been able to locate several
on-street spaces on Juan and on Garmisch streets. The on-street parking is being driven
by city staff.
Mayor Klanderud said she would like the city's position on on-street parking to be looked
at again. There will be no place for visitors to Juan street to park. Mayor Klanderud said
she would like Council to review the proposed changes in parking. Mayor Klanderud
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Ree:u1ar Meetine:
Aspen City Council
March 12,2007
noted the hotel is proposing 257 parking spaces. Mayor Klanderud said she is concerned
about the leasing of these parking spaces and she does not want to see storage of vehicles
under the hotel. Mayor Klanderud said she would like the applicants to investigate ways
to make this parking available to the general public. Mayor Klanderud said the effects of
excavation on this site to Shadow Mountain will have to be determined before beginning.
Sarpa told Council the applicants have had many discussions with city staff about that
and are at present installing inclinometers to get a better look before any excavation
begins.
Mayor Klanderud said she likes the mixing of architectural styles and relating it to the
area. This helps break up the massing as well as responds to the neighboring properties.
Mayor Klanderud said a lot of progress has been made on this development including
outreach with all the neighbors.
Councilman DeVilbiss said he needs more information on the annual development
allotments as well as the calculations of the community development director for each
category. Councilman DeVilbiss said he would like the ordinance amended that south
Aspen street shall not be closed for community events. Councilman DeVilbiss noted the
ordinance makes reference to the historic slope movement and he would like to know
what the rate of slope movement is. Councilman DeVilbiss said on the dimensional
requirement chart, rather than "variable" the setback should read 2.8'. Ms. Allgaier said
there are multiple setbacks all around the property. Councilman DeVilbiss said the code
states this is measured from the property line to the nearest setback. Ms. Allgaier told
Council a setback plan will be recorded as part of the approval so that each setback will
be adhered to.
Councilman Torre said the existing approvals for townhouses on this property puts
Council in a difficult position, weighing the lodge project against a residential project.
Councilman Torre said for the next meeting he would like exact breakdown of hotel units
and the percentages each type is of the building.
Councilman DeVilbiss moved to suspend the rules and extend the meeting to 10 p.m.;
seconded by Councilman Torre. All in favor, motion carried.
Councilman Torre commended the changes to the size and mass of the building,
improvements to the setback and potential new lift on this side of the mountain.
Councilman Torre said he does not like moving the restaurant to the north end of the
building. Councilman Torre said he thought the restaurant was at the south end of the
mountain was for more vitality and interaction with the ski mountain. Councilman Torre
said this seems to be a large, luxury building, not community based. Councilman Torre
said he is not happy that 3 units of affordable housing were taken off-site. Councilman
Torre said he is discomfited by the mix of the project. The 4 free market units dominate
the development. The mix seems very separatist. Councilman Torre agreed he wants
more information about the allotments being requested. Councilman Torre said a big
concern for him is future development in this area and the impact on this side of town.
Councilman Torre said he likes the changes from conceptual.
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Aspen City Council
March 12, 2007
Councilman DeVilbiss asked for a break down of the hotel rooms sizes, how many below
500 square feet and how many above. Councilman DeVilbiss said he feels there may be
too much parking on site. Councilman DeVilbiss said he does not want what happens
with this project to reflect in any way of the Lift One project across the street. Sarpa said
the hotel room sizes have been reworked and they will bring back the number of standard
size rooms, etc.
Councilman DeVilbiss moved to continue Ordinance #5, Series of2007, to March 26;
seconded by Councilman Torre. All in favor, motion carried.
RESOLUTION #18, SERIES OF 2007 - Ballot Language
Randy Ready, assistant city manager, reminded Council they discussed in a work session
in January and with the EOTC in February putting a question on the May ballot regarding
bus lanes on highway 82 on the 1.2 mile segment between Buttermilk and the
roundabout. A window of opportunity exists because of the completion of the Maroon
Creek bridge and the entrance to Aspen re-evaluation. Staff has drafted a ballot question
for approval of a change in use to allow bus lanes on the existing right-of-way which was
transferred to CDOT in 2002.
Mayor Klanderud noted the ballot title states "Entrance to Aspen" which would make it
seem that the question is about the entrance to Aspen. There must be a better way to
describe the question. John Worcester, city attorney, suggested "bus lanes from
Buttermilk to roundabout".
Councilman Torre noted the memorandum refers to this as construction of the preferred
alternative. Councilman Torre said he does not support the preferred alternative;
however, this proposal will be an improvement to bus traffic. Councilman Torre asked
why this is an amendment to the right-of-way easement. Worcester said the election in
1996 approved very specific language authorizing construction of two lanes of traffic and
a corridor for light rail. That is the right-of-way language given to CDOT and CDOT
does not have a right to use the right-of-way for anything other than two lanes of traffic
and a corridor for light rail. If the city wants bus lanes on the Maroon Creek bridge, they
have to grant additional rights to do that. This will leave the existing right of way for two
lanes of traffic and a corridor for light rail across the Marolt property.
Councilwoman Tygre suggested the ballot language state between Maroon Creek and
Buttermilk onlv to indicate this is only about one segment. Council agreed to "only" and
moved it before the clause. Toni Kronberg pointed out the question states "in addition to
the already permitted use" and does that mean there will be both bus lanes and light rail
corridor. Worcester said approval of this question would authorize CDOT to use the
right-of-way either for two lanes of traffic and a light rail corridor or two lanes of traffic
and bus lanes. This is an additional grant of use across the right-of-way. Worcester said
staff wants to make it clear that this is an additional use. Council agreed to change this to
"or the already-permitted use for a two-lane parkway".
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Aspen City Council
March 12,2007
CITY OF ASPEN - BUS LANES FROM BUTTERMILK AND ROUNDABOUT
Shall the City Council be authorized to amend the Right-of-Way Easement that was
conveyed in 2002 by the City of Aspen to the State of Colorado, Department of
Transportation, for additional uses on the rights of way across City-owned property along
State Highway 82, only from Buttermilk and the Maroon Creek Roundabout, to allow
construction, operation and maintenance of a two-lane parkway and two exclusive bus
lanes, or the already-permitted use for a two-lane parkway and a corridor for a light rail
transit system?
Councilman Torre moved to approve Resolution #18, Series of2007, as amended;
seconded by Councilwoman Tygre. All in favor, motion carried.
RIO GRANDE MEETING ROOM
Mayor Klanderud said Council directs staff to go forward with the renovation of the Rio
Grande meeting room with sound proofing and removing the carpet to allow dancing.
Council has agreed this is a city project to be paid for with city monies and to be
managed by city staff. Councilman Torre agreed he wants it done in the most efficient
and best way. Councilman Torre asked about appropriate lighting. Council agreed staff
should do what is necessary to make the room work for the user groups. Mayor
Klanderud pointed out this room is available to the entire public, not just anyone group.
Mayor Klanderud moved to reconsider Resolution #18 to change the wording; seconded
by Councilman DeVilbiss. All in favor, motion carried.
Mayor Klanderud moved to change "bus lanes from Buttermilk" to "bus lanes between
Buttermilk"; seconded by Councilwoman Tygre. All in favor, motion carried.
Councilman DeVilbiss moved to go into executive session at 9:50 p.m. pursuant to
C.R.S. 24-6-402(4)(a), 3 separate matters all 3 relate to purchase or acquisition of
property; one is the purchase of a smaUlot adjacent to Burlingame, one is the contracts
for the single family lots at Burlingame, and the other is not disclosed; seconded by
Councilwoman Tygre. All in favor, motion carried. Also present were Steve Barwick,
and Bentley Henderson.
Councilman DeVilbiss moved to suspend the rules and extend the meeting to 10:30 p.m.;
seconded by Councilman Torre. All in favor, motion carried.
Councilman Johnson moved to come out of executive session at 10:10 p.m.; seconded by
Councilman Torre. All in favor, motion carried.
Councilman DeVilbiss moved to accept staff's recommendation regarding the single
family houses at Burlingame Ranch; seconded by Councilman Johnson. All in favor,
with the exception of Councilwoman Tygre. Motion carried.
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Ree:ular Meetine:
Aspen City Council
March 12, 2007
Councilman DeVilbiss moved to go back into executive session at 10:15 p.m.; seconded
by Councilman Johnson. All in favor, motion carried. Joining the executive session
were Stephen Ellsperman, Jeff Woods and Brian Flynn, parks department, Howie
Mallory, Open Space Board, and Eric Musselman of Garfield and Hecht.
Councilman Torre moved to suspend the rules and extend the meeting until 10:50 p.m.;
seconded by Councilman Johnson. All in favor, motion carried.
Councilman Torre moved to come out of executive session at II: 10 p.m.; seconded by
Councilman DeVilbiss. All in favor, motion carried.
Councilman Torre moved to continue the meeting to March 13, 2007 at 4 p.m.; seconded
by Councilman DeVilbiss. All in favor, motion carried. Council left Chambers at 11:10
p.m.
K~citi~
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