HomeMy WebLinkAboutminutes.apz.19791106
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
100 Leaves
~ ORM ~O C. r. H OECKfL B. B. II l. CJ.
Regular Meeting
Aspen Planning and Zoning Commission
November 6, 1979
The Aspen Planning and Zoning Commission held a regular meeting on November 6,
1979, at 5:00 PM in the City Council Chambers. Members present were Olof
Hedstrom, Welton Anderson, Lee Pardee, Parry Harvey, Nancy McDonnell and Roger
Hunt. Also, present were Karen Smith and Richard Grice of the planning Office,
Dan McArthur of the Engineering Department and City Attorney Ron Stock.
Commissionmember
Comments
Chairman Hedstrom announced the departure of Sheryl
Simmen. Roger Hunt moved to commend Miss Simmen and
Welton Anderson seconded the motion. All in favor.
Harvey had three meetings with the Lodge Association and
Karen Smith. The Lodge Association commented on the non-
conforming statis of certain lodges in town, which or in
zones where they don't belong and the other being the
issue of condominiumization. Figures that have been
noted show 50% of the lodge pillows are conforming and
50% are non-conforming. This makes it difficult for
financing and they would like to see this changed either
through a conservation zoning or conditional use or some-
thing else to be worked on. Basically, their feelings
are when the zoning was done, the lodges should be mass-
ed at the base of the mountain and taken out of the
zones where they are non-conforming uses and the charac-
ter and ambiance of Aspen is to a large extent due to the
fact that there are neighborhood lodges that are not at
the base of the mountain and are not big time and are
small personalized operations. The issues of condomin-
ization show them a means to finance the upgrading and
improvements of the individual lodges. They don't want
time sharing as a means of raising money because, they
don't agree with the principals of the way that works.
Basically you get into the problems with the second and
third owners, but, at the same time they see an avenue
for refinancing provided for them if they need X number
dollars to completely rebuild and reconstruct. They can
sell a certain number of rooms and raise a portion or
all of the needed capital, also, removing the non-con-
forming statis will allow them to get more conventional
financing. They are concerned with what happens with
money buying up the small lodges and transferring the
density to the base of the mountain. Turning these
small ledges into the employee housing, which has been
what the city has wanted and we could loose all of these
small intimate lodges in return for just large hotel
convention center type operations. We are trying to
draft some form of amendment or resolution, which will
remove the non-conforming use either through conditional
use or conservation or shatever. Also, one very im-
portant thing through these meetings are that our con-
cern is in loosing a small percentage of lodge rooms
that would be taken off the market and would not be short
termed. At this time we are seeing whole lodges being
removed from the market. For example, the Blue Spruce,
and without condominiumization or being able to sell a
few rooms, they can not upgrade, and can not get finan-
cing and remove the non-conforming use, leaving then
no alternative but to except these offers of cash from
certain parties that are transferring the density right.
Condominiumization is a way of financing these improve-
ments and we are really losing 30 or so lodge units in-
stead of 3% or so on.
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RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
100 Leaves
FORM I' c.r.HOECKHB.B,IIl.C.J.
Regular Meeting
Aspen Planning and Zoning Commission
November 6, 1979
Pardee, asked will the committee come up with a recom-
mendation to the Commission? Harvey, yes we are trying
to get a consences on and draft something that will
satisfy the problems of non-conforming use without
creating a situation where anyone in R6 Zone who has a
few lots could come in and request a conditional use for
a lodge.
Hunt, one of the problems with condominiumization is the
total lodge operation. The ownership disintegrates and
the lodge is no longer an operation with a building so
if this committee can come up with a method a retaining
the amenities of the lodges. There has been no mention
of cooperatives.
Harvey mentioned there are three basic considerations
which would be condominiumization, possibly a coop, and
possibly time sharing, which would be explored.
Hunt felt another problem is an owner not holding a room
for an entire season and getting it off the market.
Anderson felt when we loose a whole lodge in respects to
the TDR, we're loosing a lodge but gaining the rooms in
the area that the city has said they should be and
also employee housing in a residential area.
Hunt questioned the possibility of making lodges that
are now existing to conforming uses, to conditional uses
no matter what zone they are in and realizing they are
allowed that conditional use only because of the exist-
ing non-conformity due to downzoning.
Ron Stock explained to the Lodge Association that the
only way to modify their problems is to modify the non-
conforming use sections, so that it's not as bad as is
or change the zoning, which they are at or change the
zones which their at, non of those proposals know what
their looking for and have all been rejected at this
point. Karen Smith came up with a very good porposal
and it is something that has been done in Phoenix and
will be investigated further. There they found certain
neighborhoods that did not fit in to their zoning code
definitions. What they adopted was a conservaiton type
district and we could do the same with the same overlay,
that would allow for existing uses to continue as per-
mitted uses, but where it didn't exist, you fall back
to your original zoning.
Carla Astor
Rezoning
Richard Grice of the Planning Office, stated, at the
last meeting we were hung up on spot zoning. Gideon
made some arguments which have been since presented to
Ron Stock, that it was not spot zoning and the commis-
sion wanted to know Ron's opinion regarding the Spot
Zoning question.
Ron Stock supports the project Carla Astor wants to do
but felt the appropriate method of doing this was with
a housing overlay zone, not spot zoning. The R6 zoning
is very close to spot zoning. The planning ramifica-
tions are not necessarily the legal ramification, not
saying this is illegal because it's close to being spot
zoning, what is being said, is that spot zoning is
illegal because it has certain negative planning
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RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
100 Leaves
FORM \1 C.F.HOECKE:lB.B.IIl.C.).
Regular Meeting
Aspen Planning and Zoning Commission
November 6, 1979
impacts. This type of rezoning tends to have those
same impacts. He recommended a denial, to approve it
which is not illegal, but the approval of rezoning
carries with it certain negative planned aspects.
Hunt questioned if approved, one of the aspects of the
potential of everyone in that area wanting do that
exactly same thing and we not having sufficient cause
to deny it in the future, could be part of the problem.
Ron Stock stated it would and also creates a precedent
in the community of jumping over zones.
Anderson felt it also sets a precedent for a condition
on rezoning that 50% of the units are deed restricted,
which is not a bad precedent.
Stock felt the Commission should know there are a few
members of City Council at this point do not feel ~hat
they have personally had input into the drafting of
the Housing Overlay Zone and they are not certain this
zone infact is the answer they want to solve the problem
of employee housing within the community or even one
of the answers. They may vote no, simply because of
not having the ability to put input into it.
Hunt understands this property is across from R6-PUD
zone. Questions if approved on the bases that it
essentially adjoins an R6 zone, can this be defended
from every other application wanting to do the same
thing in that area?
Gideon wanted to point out that neighborhood is already
built up and look at the precedent. It is a very small
zone and is builtup except for across the street, which
is an R15A zone, which is totally different. He felt
that if this is the precendent of worry, there shouldn't
be a worry that people are going to take free market
units and voluntarily turn those free units into em-
ployee units.
Anderson felt there is very little difference between
the housing overlay and this type of picking a speci-
fic site and zoning it. He flet it wouldn't bother him
to rezone this now, for it essentially is the same pro-
cess.
Hunt felt it wouldn't bother him either, provided the
City Attorney could defend the precendent in the future.
Ron Stock stated that if the next door neighbor asked
for R6, they can not be required of them that 50% of
their deed be restricted. In the rezoning chapter of
the code, it sets up the procedure and sets up process
and doesn't specifically have review criteria. What
we are looking at is the valitity of the zones of the
piece of property. We can not require that as a condi-
tion. The only way that I can be able to enforce pro-
tection from the next door neighbor going to R6 would
be difficult to defend.
Gideon questions when a rezoning application comes once
a year, the second feature that since you have your own
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RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
100 Leaves
FOIlM \~ C. F. HOrCHL B. B. II L. C ..1.
Regular Meeting
Aspen planning and Zoning Commission
November 6, 1979
criteria, you don't have to approve a R6 rezoning ap-
plication do you? This property was all built when it
was R6 and the zoning changed to R15, so there should
not be a problem, plus a year from now we will either
have the employee overlay district or we are not going
to have it, which changes the concern of criteria.
Harvey was curious whether there was any comments from
any of the eighbors.
Karen Smith stated, No. Just one about the donkey.
Anderson questioned if the R15A minimum size lot is
20,000 sq. ft.?
Stock stated they had looked at that cause at one
point and thought R15A zoning would have been excepted
and it would have been except it is 16,000 sq.ft.
Anderson wanted to know if there would be anyway to
redrawing the lot lines between these three lots to
make two non-conforming lots and one lot of 20,000
sq.ft., so it could be calssed R15A.
Stock commented that it would be a problem because she
has only one parcel of property. There has never been
approval by the city and there has never been a formal
subdivision application for approval. If she would
have obtained the subdivision of the property as she
once wanted to do, into three seperate lots, she would
have been able to accomplish with the R15A what shes
asking for here. We thought at one time that would
be our way out but it didn't happen.
Anderson commented that the arguments that Gideon made
last week showing the precedence in legal various parts
of the country concerning spot zoning, as being some-
thing entirely different from the adjacent properties
was very well done and well thought out, compelling,
persuasive and if infact at sometime in the not so
distint future we do adopt a housing overlay district,
then the whole question of other property owners in the
neighborhood coming and saying you rezone this R6 and
R15. We have a better vehicle with the housing over-
lay for increasing the number of units and us this
method. He moved to approve rezoning request for the
Carla Astor property, from R15 to R6 as described in
Exhibit A, in Gideon Kaufman's letter to Jim Reents,
dated August 15, 1979, for the reason that this will
result in conversion of 4 free market units into 3
free and 3 employee housing units and for the purpose
of converting four free market units to 3 free and 3
deed restricted units, because of it's proximity to
existing R6 zoning and to allow this specific piece
of property to come up to the density of neighboring
property in a highly developed area.
Olof Hedstrom asked for any other additions to the mo-
tion and a second to that motion.
Harvey seconded the motion.
Pardee commented that he felt there is a very clean
precise way that we have on the adenda in the Housing
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RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
100 Leaves
FOIlM ~~ C. F _ H OrCK EL B. 8. II l. C ,I.
Regular Meeting
Aspen Planning and Zoning Commission
November 6, 1979
Overlay and is the right way.
Hunt was simpathetic to Lee's position and in a real
quandary as far as voting, because he agrees with Lee
completely but, would like to see this thing accom-
plished and puts us in an untenable position for the
future, but wants housing.
Hedstrom asked all in favor. Parry Harvey, aye.
Welton Anderson, aye. Nancy McDonnell, aye. Roger
Hunt, aye. Olof Hedstrom, aye. Lee Pardee, nay.
Motion approved.
PUBLIC HEARING
Castle Circle
Zoning
Perry Harvey stepped down due to potential conflict.
Karen Smith asked to table on the bases of inability
of the planning office to come up with a direct and
clear cut recommendation to the commission. The
plicant's attorney has agreed to allow this to be
tabled until such time that a larger question of the
Opal Marolt Property annexation and zoning is settled.
Would like to open the Public Hearing and submit the
memorandum prepared to the record and correct the size
of the parcel to 36,000 sq. ft. instead of 40,000 sq. ft.
therefore it would not be possible even under the
R15Q zone distirct to do two duplexes. It would be
however, possible to duplex the existing residence
and severe off another parcel for a single family
dwelling through a lot split. So considerations about
additional density being allowed still stand although
they are somewhat mitagated. We felt the R15A zone
district would be appropriate given the result of a
duplex where in one unit of that duplex was within the
low moderate middle income price range. Seems to be
well suited given the proximity to the hospital and
thier employee needs, however I can not recommend for
any increase in density on that parcel, knowing the
topography and the lay of the land in the configura-
tion of the parcel is. In our summary we had indicated
it was difficult to recommend a clear cut zoning to
you on the bases that the surrounding zoning is un-
settled and the issue has to do with the Opal Marolt
annexation, which comes before you on November 20, 1979
If that were settled and the surrounding zoning were
compatable we would recommend the R15A under the con-
dition the development were limited. On the 36,000
there would be allowed the same density as under R30
but under R15A there would still be two single family
units allowed by lot split, cause you could do two
parcels at 15,000 sq.ft. each. You couldn't do two
duplexes because it would delete that, but could do
one duplex and a lot split.
Anderson moved to continue Public Hearing to next re-
gular meeting, November 20, 1979. Hunt Seconded the
motion. All in favor. Motion Approved.
Hoguet Subdivision
Exemption
Richard Grice of the Planning Office introduced the
proposed Hoguet Subdivision Exemption. Both units of
the duplex are clearly not within the low and moderate
income housing pool, as the upper unit has been unoc-
cupied and never been rented and the lower unit has
been rented to the Aspen Institute. Dan McArthur has
some changes he would like to make.
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RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
100 Leaves
FORM" C. r. HO~TKfL B. B. II: L. <>1.
Regular Meeting
Aspen Planning and Zoning Commission
November 6, 1979
Dan McArthur felt since the memorandum was prepared on
August 28, 1979, the owner came in and corrected the
first five items, so those are okay at this point. Item
number six, needs to be changed from meters to one meter.
Item number seven, and the requirement of one bedroom
should be one parking space per bedroom. Item number
seven should be corrected prior to being placed on the
next City Council Meeting Agenda.
Anderson questioned if it was physically possible to
apply off street parking.
McArthur stated that at this time there is no sidewalk
in that area and the people are presently parking on
the dirt portion in front of the building. We could
take two approaches with this problem, which is either
go with code requirements which eliminates that totally
and make them provide off street parking or we can be
flexible in certain cases like this where we are saying,
you can continue doing what you have been doing in the
past, but in the future there is an approven district
and we have sidewalks, curbs and gutters, you have to
provide off street parking like we have done in the past.
Anderson and Chairman Hedstrom felt the off street park-
ing if not done before the sale of the property it
should be included in the sale price and an understand-
with the purchaser to have this done.
McArthur stated that under a full subdivision we require
them to be put in no matter what, curb, etc., but under
exemptions, we have been taking the stand that because
it is not a full subdivision we are putting it off to a
future date. Shall we make them do the same require-
ments as if they were going to subdivision.
Hedstrom felt they might should reconsider this point
and decide how this should be handled in the future.
Hunt felt where we do not get a balancing benefit com-
munity wise of employee housing shouldn't we put such
a unit more in conformance with the code at the time of
subdivision.
McDonnell felt that it is a good idea that we have the
sidewalks put in now since there are so many condominium-
zations coming up, it would eliminate future delay. What
would it take to impliment some type of program to go
through a block at a time?
Harvey stated the majority of the owners have to come in
and agree to join a district and theoretically we can
make them put it in, however many people agree but it
never gets done.
Chuck Brandt a representative of Robert Hoguet showed
the map of the property including the improvements,
which shows an overlap of the parking area where the
sidewalk is that is built for the next door duplex.
There is sufficient room and the client has no opposi-
tion to the restriction should a sidewalk improvement be
implimented.
Hunt moved to recommend exemption of strict application
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RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
100 Leaves
FORM" C. r. HOECKfL a. B.1I L. (>).
Regular Meeting
Aspen Planning and zoning Commission
November 6, 1979
of subdivision regulations for the Hoguet Duplex at 118
East Bleeker, provided that and conditioned upon the
applicant installing a water meter prior to April 1, 1980
Parking on the right of way shall be vacated and parking
provided by September 1, 1980, along with landscaping
and foliage shall be maintained in the vacinity of the
new site. Applicant agrees to enter a sidewalk improve-
ment district should one be formed and property shall be
so deed restricted, and provided the applicant agrees
to the Aspen Municipal Code 20-22, 6 months minimum
lease restriction.
Anderson seconded the motion. All in favor. Motion
approved.
Beer/Zangger
Subdivision
Exemption
Richard Grice introduced Jan Mulford, representing the
Beers' and Zanggers' and the property located at 845
North Red Butte Drive as the subject of subdivision ex-
emption. Rental history shows one of the units has been
rented for 62~ per sq.ft. since May of 1977, which re-
quires a judgment simply denial, feeling that the appli-
cant appears to be within the low and moderate rate
income housing pool and therefore recomnlends denial
until the applicant submits an appropriate plan to mini-
mize the adverse effects of the condominiumization of
the low and moderate income housing pool.
Jan Mulford stated the applicant's bought this property
10 years ago as half interest undivided as tenant's in
common. At this point, they are trying to get it into
the condominium format for financing purposes. Since
the application was filed, Zangger has sold her unit to
Ann Amobley. This is owner occupied and not on the
rental market and felt it doesn't come within the low
and moderate income housing pool, just because it is
off your 58~ per sq.ft., the rent has been kept the
same for 18 months.
Hunt moved to recommend subdivision exemption of strict
application of the Beer/Zangger duplex at 845 No. Red
Butte Drive, provided that conditions are followed.
1. Items 1-7 of the Engineering Memo dated October 1,
1979 are complied with prior to Council consideration.
2. Applicant agrees to Aspen Municipal Code Section
20-22, and 6 months minimum lease requirement and is so
deed restricted.
Anderson seconded the motion. All in favor. Lee Pardee
against. Motion approved.
Rome Subdivision
Exemption
Richard Grice introduced condominiumization of duplex
located in the Pitkin Mesa Subdivision. Rental history
shows one unit has been owner occupied and the other
rented on short term bases since last winter. Engi-
neering department has four conditions it would like to
be of approval. The planning office recommendation is
denial until the applicant submits an exceptable propo-
sal to mitigate adverse impacts. Due to lack of infor-
mation this will have to be a judgment call.
Robert Rome stated the front unit has been only long
termed this summer at a rate of $550.00 per month and
has 800 sq.ft., being 68~ per sq.ft. This unit is
short termed the rest of the time and the other unit is
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RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
100 Leaves
FORM" C.F.HOECKELB.B.IIl.C,).
Regular Meeting
Aspen Planning and Zoning Commission
November 6, 1979
lived in by the owner and never been rented.
Hunt moved to recommend exemption of strict application
of the subdivision regulations of the Rome duplex at
lot 4, block 1, Pitkin Mesa Subdivision, provided that
conditions 1, 2, & 3 are the same as items 1, 2, & 3 of
the Engineering Memo dated September 19, 1979 and item
#1 be accomplished prior to consideration by the council
and 4. 6 months minimum lease provision of Aspen Muni-
cipal Code section 20-22 and the property so deed re-
stricted.
Pardee seconded the motion. All in favor. Motion
approved.
Joffee Subdivision
Exemption
Richard Grice introduced the Hoffee Subdivision exemp-
tion of duplex located at 1065 Cemetary Lane, currently
there is one unit in existence, the second unit never
being constructed and the existing has been owner oc-
cupied for the last 18 months, which eliminates the low,
moderate or middle income housing requirments. The
Engineering office request that the approval be given
on 3 conditions found in the memo dated october 30, 1979
and the 4th condition added by Dan McArthur as agreeing
to curb, gutter and sidewalk district when one is formed
Hunt moved to recommend exemption of strict application
of the subdivision regualtion of the Joffee property,
which will become a duplex located at 1065 Cemetary
Lane, with conditions 1 & 2 same as Engineering Memo
dated october 30, 1979, and those shall be complied to
consideration of the Council. Three shall be the same
as item 3 on the same memo, condition 4 is applicant
shall enter into a curb, gutter and sidewalk district
when one is formed and the property be so deed restrict-
ed. Fifth condition be applicant agrees to comply with
Aspen Municipal Code, Section 20-22, and the 6 months
lease requirement and the property be so deed restrict-
ed.
Pardee seconded the motion. All in favor. Motion
approved.
SCI Zone
New Business. Chairman Hedstrom asked to consider the
conditional use of the SCI Zone immediately and of the
housing overlay ordinance for his personal convience.
Harvey stated the way he understands it we want the
Engineering and Planning departments to come with a re-
commendation for curb, gutter and sidewalks on a sub-
division exemption and come back to the commission.
Pardee answered no, the planning office will sit down
with City Council and ask, do you want us to inforce
the exemptions the same as we treat subdivisions by
requiring or should we not require it for subdivisions?
Hedstrom stated this involves a change in the policy
for what commissioners have sought for many years and
we want direction.
McArthur stated the other problem we have is curb, ~
gutter and sidewalk cuts in the downtown area. The
code specifically says 1-10 ft curb cut for anthing
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RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
100 Leaves
FOR'" 50 C.F.HOECKfLB.B.IIL.CO.
Regular Meeting
Aspen Planning and Zoning Commission
November 6, 1979
less than 60 foot frontage and 1-18 ft. for anything
larger than 60 ft. Do we go by the Code, making 10 ft.
or 18 ft., whatever the requirments are, or is this
another one left open to common sense?
Richard Grice felt it is not possible to come with a
conclusive list but could come up with a policy that
will work. Suggested that consideration of allowing
uses in the SCI Zone, and add the following language
to the conditional use list, will possibly solve the
problem; uses other than permitted uses may be allowed
provided they are accessory to permitted uses and pro-
vide adequate safeguards offered to guarantee that ac-
cessory statis. This is being misused in one case and
this makes it not possible to add that flexibility to
the code. Generally the flexibility could be allowed
provided there are safeguards taken.
Chairman Hedstrom called for a straw vote on instructing
the Planning office to procede with Public Hearing on
an amendment to the SCI Zone Code as follows: uses the
addition to the following to the conditional lists,
uses other than permitted uses maybe allowed provided
they are accessory to permitted uses and provided with
adequate safeguards are offered to guarantee the acces-
sory statis.
Motion seconded. All in favor. Motion approved.
Richard Grice stated the planning office would schedule
a Public Hearing and bring it back to the commission.
Housing Overlay
Ordinance
The commission discussed the Housing Overlay Ordinance
point by point and made amendments to the document al-
ready presented.
Karen Smith and Jim Reents penciled in the changes and
marked in under review criteria and under the proce-
dural aspects. Page 7, 24-8.7 D and E and B. Page 8,
24-10.10 B, Subsection 1, is eliminated due to Ron's
changes, has made reference to necessity of compliing
with the subdivision regulations when that is required
by other sections of this code. Under B 6, we dropped
of increased density, minimization of adverse enviro-
mental and social impacts. Under B 9, 10 & 11, have
been eliminated. Then page 11, subparagraph I, the
project must meet 70% of the total number of bedrooms
within the project only, not 70% of the total number of
bedrooms and 70% of floor area.
Chairman Hedstrom called for a special meeting for Tues-
day, November 13, 1979 at 5:00 P.M.
Pardee moved to adjourn. McDonnell seconded. All in
favor. Motion approved.
Meeting adjourned at 9:10 P.M.
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Sandi Meredith, Deputy City Clerk
II.
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