Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutminutes.apz.19630528 MEETING OF THE ASPEN PLANNING COMMISSION A meeting of the Aspen Planning and Zoning Commission was held at City Hall on Tuesday, May 28,1963, at 8:00 P.M. Present were: Mayor M.J. Garrish, Moore, Jack Walls, Jim Markalunas Richard Lai, Ken and Clyde Newell. The meeting was calle d of the last meeting were to order by Jack Walls. read and approved. The Minute s Mr. Guy Drew was supposed to be at this meeting to discuss rezoning but apparently there was some misunderstanding and he did not appear. Clyde Newell raised a question on the Minutes of last meeting regarding the contract Mr. Paul Wiener presented and the money involved. A discussion followed regarating the master plan, etc. Mr. Garrish stated that we should first listen to the preliminary plan of Wiener and then he will come in and present his final plan to the City Council. This final plan will be brought before the group in a graphic form. The master plan is definitely not static. Mr. Moore stated that he had breakfast with Mr. Wiener and discussed the contract and plan with him. Mr. Wiener will first come in with the preliminary plans and he stated that Wiener indicated that the planning commission could help with some of the work. There was a misunderstanding as to what was to be supplied to Wiener and what work he was actually going to do. The Planning Commission is supposed to help Wiener obtain the existing information he needs. Wiener has a City Land Use Map and it was suggested as a good idea that the Planning Commission work up a County Land Use Map. It was also thought to be a good idea that Wiener set up an office here in Aspen - this would be especially good for the Planning Commission so that they could share the office, files, etc. Mr. Newell thought the problem of getting all the information is Wiener's problem since he is getting paid $45,000 for this project. He stated that he was not going to research for Mr. Wiener; for $45,000 he should be doing his own research. Mr. Walls read from Wiener's contract, page 3, item no. 4, reg a r din gin for mat ion to b oe sup P 1 i e d tot he PIa n n e r . The main problem here appeared to be the question of who was going to spend the time to research for Mr. Wiener. Mr. Moore clarified the situation by stating that Mr. Wiener is merely using what the Planning Commission assembles. Mr. Wiener will make the finished study reports from the information we gather for him. Mr. Lai stated his thoughts on this. statistics which we do not even have, info rmati on. Mr. Wiener needs even for our own certain - 1 - ~ \ Meeting of Aspen Planning Commission, May 28, 1963 Mr. Moore stated that he thought it would be a good idea for the group to get their feet wet and start looking into some of these things - the stati:stics which Mr. Wiener needs. Mr. Walls suggested that we try to get some tourist infor- mation statistics by canvassing some of the town. Mr. Walls asked Ken Moore and Mr. Lai to start digging up some subdivision maps - Aspen fringe map. Ken Moore stated that a wall large enough to put such a map on was needed! At this point Mr. Newell stated that perhaps the Planning Commis sion should concentrate on the City and not the County. Ken Moore stated that he thought the Planning Commission should at least be familiar (conversant) with Mr. Wiener's problems. Mr. Garrish stated that our help should go towards checking on Wiener's figures, not towards collecting all the figures for him. Ken Moore stated that the Planning Commission should under- stand Aspen's position in the future, saying that the Planning Commis sion could not afford to be amateurs at this point. Mr. Garrish stated that we have to be familiar with Aspen's economical future. Mr. Lai stated that we can use a visionary engineer in Aspen. The Mayor said, "Aspen exists. Now what do you do with it to enhance it?" Jack Walls asked the group, "How can the City solve problems and at the same time make money? Would it not be feasible for the City to buy some small parcels of land whereby the City could gain revenue and at the same time acquire property?" Mr. Garrish brought up the problem of the street program. The City and the Planning Commission should work together closely on this. The parking problem is a critical one now in Aspen. Jack Walls stated that he was not in the least interested in having a beautiful graphic presentation of the master plan but the main thing is to solve the problems that exist and will exist in the future. He asked, "Who needs someone to de sign flower boxes for Aspen? We have enough talent here in Aspen for this." The Mayor stated that the community is a living body and that the people themselves project to the community. Ken Moore stated that this was what is called "organic planning". Clyde Newell stated that we have to remain practical. He further went on to say that in his opinion there was not another town more practical or visionary than Aspen. It was brought up at this point that perhaps these two aspects (practicality vs. visionary) were in con f 1 i c t wit h e a c hot her at pre s e n t . Mr. Newell r e p 1 re d that you have to look at the visionary idea but still remain practical. He questioned the ability of some of "us" to look at this and compromise. "Let's don't get our sights too high so that we cannot attain them." Mr. Newell stated that there has to be a place where there is smoke, stink, noise, etc. - therefore, plan for it. The Mayor brought up the problem of trailer parks. He - 2 - , Meeting of Aspen Planning Commission, May 28, 1963 stated that 90% of the people living in trailer parks would move into low-cost housing if it were available to them. Mr. Newell stated that it is not democratic or constitutional when any planning body tries to legislate where working people can or cannot live. Where, in Aspen, could you build a low-cost house? Ken Moore stated that he had set up a file on this problem. It was agreed that this is one of the big problems Aspen has to face in the very near future. The group agreed that they would discuss this in the very near future - perhaps at the next meeting. Jack Walls stated that when you specifically indicate a location for low-cost housing it creates problems of slums and se- gregation. Mr. Markalunas stated that the land speculators were more the ones who regulated where trailer parks could be. He stated that the land owners just would not sell their land for trailer park usage. Mr. Walls suggested that the City should have minimum regulations and requirements for trailer courts. It was agreed that the only example Aspen had of trailer parks was Sparky's and that this was definitely not a good example. Some trailer parks are very well kept, etc. Mr. Moore suggested that his problem be put on the agenda for a future meeting. This was unanimously agreed by the group. Jack Walls returned the conversation back to Mr. Wiener and planning. He stated that there was information in the town that now existed. Ken Moore suggested that perhaps the J. C.' s could be given the project of collecting this i n for mat ion. An 0 the r m e m b e r s tat e d t hat per ha pst h e J. C. ' s had enough to do just to keep their heads above the ground! The Mayor said that the Planning Commission should concede the fact that Wiener is an expert in his field. However, he should delegate the jobs to us. If he wasnts something he can ask for the factual information he needs. We can furnish him with statistics that we have available. But he did not see why anyone should work eight hours a day to furnish Wiener with the information he is getting paid to gather. Ken Moore stated that there was a lack of coordination in the gathering of information regarding the mosaic aerial map. The subject of the protection of historic buildings in Aspen was then brought up. This has been brought up previously to the City Council. Ken Moore stated that the whole "nut" of planning is in control and this, in essence, means a voluntary cooperation and acceptance by the people. The whole concept of planning is having the cooperation of all the people concerned or you are dead! It was mentioned that Herbert Bayer desires an ordinance on this matter. The Mayor then stated that what we have to do is to feel our own way with our own people. Buildings have to be made functional as well as being historically preserved. Ken Moore brought with him copies of the contract by Wiener and passed them about to the group. Jack Walls suggested that Clint Stewart work up a rough draft on how buildings - 3 - Meeting of the Aspen Commission, May 28, Planning 1963 could be preserved and the restrictions therein, then the Historical Society could go around to the people involved and see what their reaction was. The Historical Society will have to be very well informed to answer all the questions of the people. The plan would be submitted to the owners and if they went along with it then they must abide by the requirements set up (or ordinances and regulations, etc.). Ken Moore suggested that copies of the Minutes of the City Council meetings be given to the Planning Commission. Mr. Lai stated that not one complaint had been received on Coope r Street regarding the Mall but that the response on Hyman is not very good. Jack Walls stated that a vacancy existed on the Planning Commission Board and asked for names of people who would be interested in working and participating on the Commission The names suggested were: Phil Shitle, Francis Whitaker, Irv BWrkey. The Mayor suggested that members of the Board be other than architects! He also suggested that the Board mull it over in their minds and come up with a list of names to fill this vacancy. The problem of set-backs on alleys was then brought up. The Mayor stated that as long as he could have sunshine, the sky and green trees he wouldn't give a damn about the view. He thought the set-back problem was ridiculous. He went on to say that we are taking up more land, which we don't have, by making set-back ordinances, and then on the other hand trying to have land available for the w 0 r kin g p e 0 pIe (r e fer r i n g b a c k tot h e tr ail e r par k d i s c u s s ion) . The problem of off-street parking was then brought up and it was learned that the Supreme Court ruled against a case of this nature. However, it was agreed that it is a good idea to try and sell off-street parking to the public and future builders. It was agreed to put the following items on the agenda: l. A potential meeting with the Board of Adjustment; 2. Low-cost housing; 3. Discussion regarding stop signs (apparently two years ago someone "goofedll according to Ken Moore); A short discussion relative to tree trimming followed. Ken Moore said he would like to see the tree trimming ordinances of Pueblo. Mr. Newell stated that Aspen should get specialized tree trimmers, not just bums! It was noted by Ken Moore that the Credit Bureau in Glenwood Springs gives out "Vital Statistics", a publication relative to what is going on in the town: births, deaths, who is buying what property, et al. - 4 - Meeting of the Aspen Planning Commission, May 28, 1963 It was then moved by Mr. Lai that the meeting be adjourned. Ken Moore seconded the motion. The meeting adjourned at approximately 1l:00 P.M. Respectfully submitted, William McEachern, Secretary Recorded by Susie S. Pleger - 5 -