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HomeMy WebLinkAboutminutes.apz.19790816 BRADFORD PUBLISHING CO., DENVER RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Study Session Aspen Planning and Zoning Commission August 16, 1979 The Aspen Planning and Zoning Commission held a study session on August 16, 1979, at 5:00 PM in the City Council Chambers. Members present were Olaf Hedstrom, Welton Anderson, Nancy McDonnell and Roger Hunt. Also present were Jolene Vrchota of the Planning Office, Fawn McLaughlin, an intern drafting the Master Plan and Acting Trails Director Brian Stafford, plus about 20 interested members of the public. Trails Master Plan Vrchota said the City and County have recognized the need for trails. The City maintains the parks and the County the trail system. They found a need to put together all the information relevant to trails and to define a proce- dure to set priorities. Therefore, they drafted the Master Plan. This is to be an amendment to the Aspen Area General Plan of 1966, a City/County document. They are soliciting recommendations from the City and County P&Z'S to be for- warded to the County Commissioners and the City Council. They are drafting two documents: a handbook to be used by the County staff for technical information on construction, maintenance and acquisition of trails, plus a general pub- lic document involving the history of the trails program and a method of setting priorities on trails. Fawn McLaughlin said the Trail System began in 1973 with the adoption of the Trails Master Plan by the County Com- missioners. This plan expands on the content of the previous plan. It contains general guidelines regarding trails policies, procedures, specific goals, objectives and programs for implementation. Specific criteria regarding trails location, design, use, construction, priority of development and public demand are all con- sidered and tools to meet these needs are included. The plan begins with an introduction to the history of Aspen and the trails program, Chapter Three focuses on the purposes of the plan. Chapter Four looks at the trail system's goals. Chapter Five deals with the five year program, its objectives and programs. Chapter Six is the implementation phase. The trail program developed out of a need to preserve access to public facilities, the objective being to preserve trail corridors to facilitate adequate access throughout the City as well as to provide a viable alternative to the automobile. The purpose of the Master Plan is to guide City and County decision-makers and interested citizens regarding the future of the trails program. With the formally adopted Trails Master Plan, there will be an in- creased chance for getting funding other than from County sources. The goals are to preserve and protect environ- mental quality through the provision and promotion of a trails system, establish an effective trails network that connects frequently used destinations and follows heavily traveled routes, and enhance the trails experience for both residents and visitors. To achieve these goals, approval of additional trail alignments and dedications, as well as community support, are necessary. The plan also includes a five-year program, the rules and regulations, the pre-con- struction ~hase, construction and maintenance, standards and speciflcations. She explained the maps of the trails, which propose general corridors for future trails. Hedstrom asked Vrchota to recap the suggestions and addi- tions made by this commission and the public at the last meeting. Vrchota said the first suggestion was to map land ownership, which was done. The second was to make a state- ment that the final alignments are only suggested general alignments, not the specific trails, which was also done. The third suggestion was to include a distinction between trails made within the metro area and those leading to the wilderness area; she felt this needed more research. The fourth was to include a trail profile for turns on trails; -2- Study Session August 16, 1979 Jon Mulford Peter Vought Joy Caudill Joy Caudill Mindy Rae Amiran "" Aspen Planning and Zoning commission the problem was the different types of curves needed at different points in the trails. McLaughlin noted this is in the appendix, Vrchota said that there were three policy questions. One was whether the list of criteria should include a preference for public land as opposed to private because of the decrease in cost. They also question whether there should be incorporated in this plan consideration for motorized vehicles such as mopeds. Should there be a point in the process of planning a trail where there is public input on the specific design of the trail. Hedstrom opened the public hearing. Mulford suggested exploring the use of other surface mater- ials as alternatives to concrete or asphalt, to get a sur- face that doesn't look like a sidewalk. Peter Vought explained the specific problems he had with the County in planning a bike path near his house. He recommended considering the safety of the people who live by the trail, He noted that there was an attack on the Rio Grande trail recently. If a trail is not to destroy the privacy and safety of the homeowner, the County needs a guide on the distance from a house to a trail. In remote areas, the house is less protected if the trail is nearby than in a city with police patrolling. He also recommended that when the County expands trails that they consider the capacity to maintain trails properly. Further, he stated that he strongly felt from personal ex- perience, that the methods of acquisition are not always good. To support this, he read a letter to the Board of County Commissioners dated in March from himself concerning the Music School footpath which has run beside his house for many years. His point was that if a trail system is created it shouldn't break down the neighborhood, Joy Caudill stated that she thinks it's important to have trails with the gas shortage. Bike trails (commuter) should have priority over recreational trails. The criteria chart is too simplified and should include specific environmental impacts of trails, including wildlife, visual, geologic hazards, and vegetation. User safety (avalanche paths, steep slopes) should also be considered. Further, she felt that the plan should state that condemnation is a last re- sort for acquisition. Also, the Forest Service shQuld be consulted when trails link. Hedstrom asked that everyone speak to the use of mopeds on trails as accomplishing conservation. Caudill felt that mopeds should be on highways, not mixed with other users on trails. Hedstrom asked that emphasis be put on the user safety concern. Mindy Rae Amiran, a resident at Redwood Condominiums, sub- mitted a letter to the record which opposed the alignment of a trail near the Redwood Condominiums. The people who signed the letter felt that the impact of a trail on the environment (the riverbank and trees) would be great. She stressed that those forty-six people who signed the letter are on record as opposing the link along the Roaring Fork River from Ute Park to Cooper Street. Hedstrom stated that based on the concerns discussed, there should be a point in the trail planning when public input can be made, possibly at a public meeting before the City Councilor the Board of County Commissioners. ...J BRADFORD PUBLISHING CO., DENVER .~'~,""" '- -3- RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Aspen Planning and Zoning Commission August 16, 1979 Study Session Peter Vought Jeff White Jeff White Andrea Goodheim Brian Goodheim Elizabeth Holekamp Nick Coates Nahum Amiran Vought felt that there should be an appropriate forum for discussing the safety of the Music School trail so that criteria judgements used by the County staff would be sub- ject to review. For instance, a boulder has in the past landed on the proposed alignment, and trails are allowed to go across 30% slopes although roads are not. Jeff White stated that mopeds on jogging or bike paths is a question of sanity and safety. The greatest danger is the difference in the speed of the jogger from the moped rider. Anderson felt that mopeds may belong on the Airport Busi- ness Center trail because mopeds cannot keep up with cars or the highway. White said that he cannot understand where the trail could be located on iverside. The environmental stress would be great. Brian Staffo~ acting County Trails Director, made some general comments. He is involved in easement acquisitions for the County. He said that his experience is that every- one likes trails but no one likes them on their land. The County has never condemned or purchased property for trails but many people are upset so the County works out problems. An unpaved footpath to the Music School is being proposed, much as one has existed for one hundred years. Further, he stated that a guarantee of safety for landowners should be looked at where trails existed, but development occured later. Andrea Goodheim stated more natural trails in the City. environmental compatibility, bike speeds are cut. emphasis should be placed on The advantages are aesthetic, and reduction in danger as Brian Goodheim, representing Redwood Condominium owners, entered into the record a statement concerning the Gordon to Cooper Street trail. The main points of the statement were: 1. Demand the removal of the Redwood easement as illegal, 2. Environmental damage potential (crosses 40% slope, many mature trees), 3. Question the need for the link (trails exist to the Aspen Club, an alternate is available taking into account the Highway 82 congestion), 4. Cost of condemnation will be great. Elizabeth Holekamp advocated use of a natural bike trail material, such as clay pavement. She suggested that the material could be experimented with across Little Nell. Nick Coates stated that he went through this process when an easement was acquired through Oklahoma Flats, Little public input was made on where the trail was to go. Speci- fic owners need to be involved, He stated that trails through Olkahoma Flats carry some mopeds illegally, He mentioned that noise was a factor which made them unpleasant when they were close to residences. He felt the problem is the general map. Property owners need to make input on specific alignments because the alignment specifics make a difference to the people who live nearby. Now the trail program is becoming controversial, The City and County neec to know that the plan is not set and concrete. Nahum Amiran stated that he opposes any trail on the river -4- Study Session August 16, 1979 Jim Smith Fritz Benedict Joan Leatherbury John Prosser Elizabeth Holekamp "- Aspen Planning and Zoning Commission bank. Beautiful bank is a crime. bank anywhere in rivers are an unique asset and to pave NO paved trails should touch a river Aspen. the Jim Smith stated that he has been at North Star thirty years. He is interested to see the opposition to the trails though it is not specific. Also, he hopes that users say what they need. He pointed out that the trails in Aspen/Pitkin County are an incumberance on property if they are shown on a map. Crime is increasing in Aspen, and people in the County dOn't want crime to spread to the County on trails. Years ago, nO bikes were in the County, but jogging and bicycling are invading the country aspect of the County. Trails destroy the wilderness if they are paved, and people lose when they are allowed to go into the wilderness. Fritz Benedict made a technical point. The trail program is critized as technical and urban, but he thinks that the design needs to be paid attention to. In the bigger picture a lot of work has been put into this plan. The tough links are left, but some are critical ones. People have fOund that trails do not bring so many problems (e.g., Hunter Creek). The best example is to walk from town to the wilderness. It is good to make these links, They do not destroy the wilderness. People would use the wilderness anyway and destroy more if they could gO an~~here. Vought has a special case. The County is trying to nego- tiate, and trying to negotiate at the Redwoods. More al- ternatives need to be explored such as crossing the river with log bridges, such as the Forest Service does. In special cases there should be a workshop to examine alternatives. It is important for the public to have a link like Cooper Street to Gordon Subdivision, Joan Leatherbury stated that all residents of Redwood Condominiums were present at the meeting. They object to the trail link from the Gordon Subdivision to Cooper street for environmental reasons. Further, she feels it is nice to have natural trails in a city. Hedstrom repeated that when a specific trail is considered, adjacent owners and others in that area should be notified to specifically consider that trail. Peter Vought asked when he would have a chance to have a public hearing on the Music School's trail alignment. Brian Stafford noted that the Castle Creek process began in detail two years ago. Generally, the process involved four or five alignments. They were within a one mile COrridor. He is still not deciding the final alignment until he has more information from an appraiser, John Prosser asked that criteria for trail development, like building procedures, proximity to buildings and rivers, removal of trees, be considered. Brian Goodheim amplified on the method of evaluation for alignment and construction. Construction should be done in conformance to general building criteria, without exemption from stream margin review, slopes, etc. The government acquisition process is a search for a free lunch. It is bad when no evaluation is made of what is being required. When the Redwood Condominium easement was made, there was no survey and it is unacceptable environmentally. Elizabeth Holekamp asked how many of those who are questioning the environmental factors drove to the meeting. -- -5- BRADFORD PUBLISHING CO., DENVER RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Study Session Aspen Planning and Zoning Commission August 16, 1979 Some responded yes, some rode bicycles, some walked. She noted that there is a greater chance of a bicyclist being hit by a car than by a boulder. Nick Coates stated that there is a problem of roller- skating. Skaters have taken over trails in California and were therefore banned. The County should decide if they should be allowed. He specifically objects to river trails, such as the one from Gordon along to the north side of Cooper Street. He is not anti-trail, but needs provision for crime (physical and robbery) . Oklahoma Flats has now had its first break-in. Brian Goodheim asked if the P&Z would like to have a site inspection of some alignments. Members agreed to have an inspection of the alignment near the Redwood Condo_ miniums. Hedstrom asked Vrchota to prepare a summary of all items raised at a Public Hearing, organized by subject, P&Z members stressed that County P&Z should be involved in considering a Trails Master Plan, Hedstrom stated that the County and City will consider the Master Plan inde- pendently. Hedstrom closed the public hearing.