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Continued Meetin!!
Aspen City Council
April 24, 2007
Mayor Klanderud called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. with Councilmembers Tygre,
Johnson, and Torre present.
ORDINANCE #9 -14, SERIES OF 2007 - Land Use Code Amendments
Ordinance #9, Series of2007 - Residential Multi-family
Jennifer Phelan, community development department, gave Council a summary of
Ordinance #9, the changes to the ordinance based on the issues raised, and e-mails for the
public records. Ms. Phelan noted the ordinance proposes a maximum size of an
individual multi-family unit in the MF zone district. The proposal is to be able to
increase anyone unit by a maximum of 500 square feet of net livable with the landing of
a transferable development right. Ms. Phelan noted the language stating "maximum
multi-family units size for properties in the Aspen infill area is 2000 square feet of net
livable area and for properties outside the infill area is 2500 square feet of net livable
area" and a property owner may increase individual multi-family unit size by
extinguishing historic TDR certificate(s) subject to (I) the transfer ratio is 500 square feet
of net livable area for each certificate that is purchased; (2) the additional square footage
accrued may be applied to multiple units; however, the maximum individual unit size
obtainable by transferring development rights is 2500 square feet of net livable area for
properties within the Aspen infill area and 3000 square feet of net livable area for
properties out the Aspen infill area, no more than 500 additional square feet may be
applied/unit. (3) this incentive applies only to individual unit size, transferring
development rights does not allow an increase in the floor area ratio of the lot".
Ms. Phelan said this should clarify the language. What it means if someone develops a
triplex in the infill area with a maximum unit size of2000 square feet, their options
would be to buy 3 TDRs and land them on each unit so each unit would be able to go to
2500 square feet; buy 2 TDRs, land 500 square feet on one unit and split the other 500
square feet between the other 2 units. This code amendment states the value of each
TDR is 500 square feet and that no one unit can go over the maximum size and one
cannot change the overall size of the building. Councilwoman Tygre said she feels the
amended language is much clearer. Ms. Phelan said this language will apply to both
multi family residential zone districts.
Councilman Torre asked if the FAR at 80% in the residential multi-family zone is still a
deterrent against building single family or duplex structure in that zone. Alan Richman
said it is still a significant deterrent. Councilman Johnson asked ifP&Z made
amendments to the residential zone code changes. Ms. Phelan said no changes were
requested.
Councilman Torre moved to adopt Ordinance #9, Series of2007, as amended on second
reading; seconded by Councilwoman Tygre. Roll call vote; Councilmembers Johnson,
yes; Tygre, yes; Torre, yes; Mayor Klanderud, yes. Motion carried.
Ordinance #1 L Series of 2007 - Commercial Zone District
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Continued Meetin!!
Aspen City Council
April 24, 2007
Jennifer Phelan, community development department, told Council staffrecommendation
is to have an overall cumulative cap in floor area ratio and individual caps on different
uses permitted in the zone district. Ms. Phelan said a clarification should be added to the
code that one needs to meet the commercial design review standards, to meet the
individual floor area ratio for uses and that the cumulative FAR might not be achievable
because of other requirements. Ms. Phelan noted lodging is currently permitted in the
CC, NC and MU zone districts and at higher rates than in this amendment. Ms. Phelan
said the amendment requires free market residential and lodging be at the same ratio as
commercial on site. In the commercial core, the current allowed floor area ratio for
lodging is 3:1 and is being reduced to.5:1 so the goal is to get commercial on the first
floor in the commercial zone districts.
Ms. Phelan reminded Council there is a requirement that the commercial space has to be
at the same rate as the free market residential. This may result in 1/3 commercial; 1/3
residential and the affordable housing for mitigation needs to be considered so it could be
1/3 affordable. Councilman Torre said he would like to incentivize commercial more in
the commercial core, like space on the second floors. Any residential downtown is
eroding the commercial core. Mayor Klanderud said she likes the emphasis on
commercial in the commercial core.
Ms. Phelan said Ordinance #11 covers the SICII zone district and Council indicated some
concern about unlimited office space for professional offices. There is the desire for
incubator space for starting businesses. Council has concern about the overall uses in the
SICII. Council would like staff to look at potential redevelopment and what the zoning
would allow in SICII. Ms. Phelan said staff will come back and try to address these
Issues.
Ordinance #13, Series of2007 - Adopting of Commercial Design Standards
Jennifer Phelan, community development department, reminded Council they want
language included the ordinance as well as the land use code stating the design guidelines
are adopted. Ms. Phelan said staff will look at how to handle height variations and the
criteria to allow heights to increase. Staff will look at the first floor heights to make sure
that the third floor will not be taller than the first and how that works with the overall
height restrictions. Councilman Johnson brought up the requirement that buildings
within 30' of historic resource have to step down 28' and what is that height limitation
based on. Ms. Phelan said this is based on a two-story element, which should give relief
to the historic resource. Councilman Johnson asked for more discussion about the 28'
height limit next to a historic resource rather than a lower height to make it more
contextual and sympathetic to the historic resource. Councilman Johnson said he feels
these guidelines go a long way towards Council's goal of fine grain and context codes.
Ordinance # 12, Series of 2007 - Miscellaneous Amendments Land Use Code
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Continued Meetin!!
Aspen City Council
April 24, 2007
Jessica Garrow, community development department, told Council the miscellaneous
code amendments do two things; make grammatical changes to make the code read
clearly and clarifies language related to the moratorium, like changing "pedestrian
amenity" to "public amenity". The amendment clarifies sections where an interpretation
has been rendered by staff but is not yet codified. Ms. Garrow noted language that
clarifies quorum when a failed motion has occurred; that a failed motion is not an action
and that in order for a land use application to have an action, there needs to be a majority
vote.
Councilman Torre stated he does not agree that lots separated by a street are not adjacent
parcels for the purpose of "if not for the separation caused by a street, alley, sidewalk".
Mayor Klanderud said this applies to the stepping down next to historic resources to
protect the views and the area around the historic building. Councilman Johnson said the
streets are very wide and there may not be the necessity to step down if a building were
across a 70' street. Ms. Phelan noted staff will clarify the issue of stepping down on
adjacent properties in the commercial design guidelines.
Ms. Garrow told Council the current land use code contains a definition of demolition
and of partial demolition. The only land use code section that deals with partial
demolition is the non-conforming section, and there have been changes that no longer
require the need for partial demolition. This is a definition of demolition only. Ms.
Garrow noted there is a change that states that duplex must be attached above grade. Ms.
Garrow pointed out there is a change to add mixed unit building to the definition of non-
unit space. There is an added definition of "landscape terrace" to clarify what a terrace is
and how is qualifies in FAR count. Terraces are exempt in the FAR section because they
are slab on grade and do not contribute to the mass of a building.
Ms. Garrow said there is a memorandum outlining what contributes to FAR and
originally gazebos were exempt from FAR. P&Z discussed this and felt that gazebos
contribute to mass on a site and they felt a gazebo was like a deck or a balcony. These
are outdoor amenities but when they get to 15% of the floor area, these should be counted
in the FAR. Ms. Phelan noted there is an entire section on how to calculate floor area and
there are exemptions, like garages off the alley. In that section of exemptions applying in
all zone districts, how decks balconies, porches and stairways count is outlined. The
exemption states the first 15% of decks and balconies are exempt from floor area;
anything over that will count towards FAR.
Councilwoman Tygre moved to continue Ordinance #12, Series of2007, to April30t\
seconded by Councilman Johnson.
Councilman Johnson said he had no other issues on this ordinance. Councilwoman Tygre
withdrew her motion.
Ms. Garrow suggested that in Section 14 of the ordinance, "and an approved building
permit" be deleted because a building permit is a development order, which makes this
redundant. This will read "Any non-conforming use located in a structure undergoing
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Con tinned Meetin!!
Aspen Citv Council
April 24, 2007
construction which does not constitute demolition and has an approved development shall
not be considered. ."
Mayor Klanderud opened the public hearing.
Toni Kronberg requested more time on these ordinances because there is so much
material to absorb and the material has just become available. Councilman Johnson
agreed there is a lot of material, but Council is reviewing and approving one discrete
piece at a time. Junee Kirk asked why not increase the exemption for gazebos or decks to
20 or 25% to get more open space. Ms. Phelan explained that would result in less open
space; in order to have smaller decks or gazebos or have more count towards the FAR,
the exemption would be decreased.
Mayor Klanderud closed the public hearing.
Councilman Johnson moved to adopt Ordinance #12, Series of2007, Miscellaneous Land
Use Code Amendments on second reading; seconded by Councilwoman Tygre. Roll call
vote; Councilmembers Torre, yes; Tygre, yes; Johnson, yes; Mayor Klanderud, yes.
Motion carried.
Councilman Johnson moved to continue Ordinances #10, 11, 13 and 14, Series of2007,
to April 30th at 5 p.m.; seconded by Councilman Torre. All in favor, motion carried.
Councilman Johnson moved to go into executive session at 7:15 p.m. pursuant to C.R.S.
24-6-402(4)(a) The purchase, acquisition, lease, transfer, or sale of any real, personal, or
other property interest; seconded by Councilman Torre. All in favor, motion carried.
Also present at the executive session were John Worcester, Steve Barwick, Bentley
Henderson and Greg Hunter. Mr. Hunter left at 8:05 p.m.
Councilman Torre moved to come out of executive session at 8:10 p.m.; seconded by
Councilman Johnson. All in favor, motion carried.
Councilman Torre moved to continue the meeting to April 30th at 5 p.m.; seconded by
Councilman Johnson. All in favor, motion carried. Council left Chambers at 8:15 p.m.
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