HomeMy WebLinkAboutcoa.pz.gmc.051998ASPEN/PITKIN GROWTH MANAGEMENT COMMISSION MAY 19, 1998
Chairperson Sara Garton called the special Aspen/Pitkin Growth Management
Commission Meeting to order at 4:50 p.m. Commissioners Marta Chaikovska, Tim
Mooney, Sara Garton, Roger Hunt, Marcella Larson, Peter Martin, Charlie Tarver
and Doug Unfug were present.
Staff in attendance were David Hoefer, Assistant City Attorney, Mitch Haas, Julie
Ann Woods, Lance Clarke, Community Development Department, and Jackie
Lothian, Deputy City Clerk.
COMMISSIONER AND STAFF COMMENTS
Julie Ann Woods, Staff, stated that an action needed to be taken on conflicts of
interest. She explained that before any public hearing began, the boards and
commissions would be polled as to any conflict of interest or perception relating to
this case. Marcella Larson asked what was a perception of a conflict. David
Hoefer, Staff Attorney, answered that there may not be an actual conflict of interest
but someone in the public may think that you do. An example would be that your
son or daughter was involved with the project or something of that nature. Larson
asked objective or subjective. Hoefer said very subjective. He noted they did not
anticipate anyone having a conflict. Sara Garton stated since there was no
disclosure; the commission would proceed.
PUBLIC HEARING:
ALPINE COTTAGES GMQS EXEMPTION REQUEST
Sara Garton, chair, stated the meeting was for the purpose of granting a GMQS
exemption to the Alpine Cottages. David Hoefer, Assistant City Attorney, stated the
affidavit of notice had been provided and met the jurisdictional requirements. The
commission proceeded in the review.
Garton introduced the applicant, Larry Saliterman, and representative, Tim Semrau.
Julie Ann Woods, Staff, explained that the applicants were requesting approval for
10 deed restricted affordable housing units and 4 AH free-market units. They were
seeking a recommendation to go on to City Council and the Board of County
Commissioners indicating this would be the approved method of providing
affordable housing for this Alpine Cottages project. Woods stated the site was
located at 1240 East Cooper and Lot 3 of the Ferguson Exemption. The property
currently contains the Alpine Lodge.
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ASPEN/PITKIN GROWTH MANAGEMENT COMMISSION MAY 19, 1998
Woods said the property was currently zoned R-15A-PUD and were seeking a
rezoning before the planning and zoning commission (part of a later discussion) to
AH1-PUD. She gave the break-down of the unit mix: 5 lots; 4 free-market and Lot
1, 10 deed restricted units which will contain 2-four bedroom (Category 4), 2 one-
bedroom (Category 4), 2 one-bedroom (Category 3), and 4 four-bedroom RO units.
Woods said the exemptions were deducted from the pool of annual allocations or
allotments from the metro area development ceilings. Currently there are 93
allocations available.
Woods said the Growth Management Commission reviews this and makes a
determination based on two findings. The proposed development is consistent
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with the AACP and complies with the applicable requirements of the city code.
She said there is no scoring because it is AH. Garton noted this was not in the AH
zone yet. Hoefer commented that was a good technical point. Woods said the
action taken that the AH rezoning be a condition of approval. Garton said there was
a problem (not with this project, but with a past project) giving exemption status
prior to final review. Unfug said this project provided enough information for
review as opposed to other projects.
Charlie Tarver asked if RO units were separate from AH allocation units. Woods
replied that they come out of the same pool. Tarver questioned the right of first
refusal on 2 units. Semrau answered that when the lodge was purchased from
Pfeifer’s daughter; the right of first refusal was given to the grandsons, assuming
they qualify for 2 of the category deed restricted units under housing guidelines.
Garton said that one of the carrots given to developers of affordable housing in the
city was to have their choice.
Tim Mooney asked if the applicant agreed to the conditions. Woods said the
housing board recommendations were not agreed upon; a different set of criteria
was volunteered by the applicant. City Council will decide upon the conditions.
Woods said the housing board conditions were included in the staff memo. Hoefer
noted those conditions were not binding for this board. He said P&Z could chose to
leave out some conditions; the housing board recommendation would go forward to
Council along with the P&Z recommendations. Semrau noted the project fit all
existing guidelines; some of the guidelines were changing. He said they agreed with
the price cap and a few other conditions but when the housing board voted and
arbitrarily imposed a few more conditions not in the existing guidelines. This was
not good because they already have the people picked for those units. He said they
relied upon the existing guidelines to develop the project and then housing changed
them.
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ASPEN/PITKIN GROWTH MANAGEMENT COMMISSION MAY 19, 1998
Semrau presented neighbors letters of recommendation into the record from Lennie
Oates for Jack and Aviva Robinson, Lantz Welch, Robert and Charlotte Jones and
Doug Mikalowski. He said it was a well designed project that was an addition to
the neighborhood. He mentioned the other affordable housing project they did was
Victorians at Bleeker; well received by the neighbors. Unfug inquired about the
density; number of units per acre. Semrau said the land was about an acre.
Garton noted there was also a letter from the Swantons with their main objection
was more development without the traffic problem being solved on East Cooper.
She noted the sidewalk and the hill being a problem also; which were city issues.
Semrau stated the development would reduce traffic from the current lodge
situation. He said the idea of this project was that people would walk to work
rather than use their cars.
Mooney asked if the plans for the free market units would be shown to P&Z.
Semrau answered there were building envelopes and lot sizes with FAR restricted to
2600, but were not designed. Saliterman stated the category housing was being
built first. Tarver asked if there was any opposition from this property since it
abutted the Snyder property. He asked if the new free market unit owners would
object to Snyder AH. Semrau said the open space from Snyder adjoined this
property with lots of trees and a trail. Mooney asked what was wrong with the title.
Semrau noted the building envelopes would not change, but if the 350 sf were
gained, there would be a little more FAR. He said according to the lawyers, it was a
surveyors error between subdivisions. Woods noted there was a condition from
engineering for the applicant to provide more current title. She said there may be an
issue regarding a right-of-way, if the city has interest in or not. Semrau said the
Parks department asked for an easement for a trail, and if the title gets clear, then
they will help with that process.
No public comment.
Tarver asked if the housing conditions were viewed favorably or not. Garton said if
housing was using this project as a guinea pig, or holding it hostage by taking away
developers choice, that may not be appropriate. Saliterman supported the
modification of RO with a 550,000 maximum cap, 800,000 as income asset and a 3
person household as voluntary conditions. Tarver asked about an appreciation cap.
Semrau said they did not change the %. Tarver wanted a recommendation with the
conditions including the residency at 4 years. Unfug stated these were some of the
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ASPEN/PITKIN GROWTH MANAGEMENT COMMISSION MAY 19, 1998
findings from the RO discussions. Martin asked if there could be a way to reflect
the GMC consensus.
There was discussion of the %, maximum caps, restrictions, RO limitations and
employee guidelines. Hoefer reminded the commission this was part of another
discussion and Peter Martin’s suggestion should be taken. The May 12, 1998
Housing Board Memorandum was part of the record with commission and applicant
concerns noted.
MOTION: Charlie Tarver moved to recommend approval of the
allotment of ten (10) deed restricted affordable housing units and four
(4) AH associated free-market units subject to approval to rezoning to
AH zone by the City Council. Roger Hunt second. APPROVED 8-0.
GMC Meeting adjourned at 5:50 p.m.
Jackie Lothian, Deputy City Clerk
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